Off Color Grown Gnome 4Pk is a 9% ABV imperial brown porter from Off Color Brewing in Chicago, sold as a four-pack. This robust porter distinguishes itself by replacing traditional dark roasted malts with roasted chicory root in the mash, yielding a convincing coffee-like depth without relying on conventional brewing shortcuts. Quick Facts: ABV: 9% | Origin: Chicago, Illinois | Style: Imperial Brown Porter | Brewery: Off Color Brewing Production & Heritage Off Color Brewing operates out of the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, a brewery recognized for bucking mainstream craft trends in favor of historically inspired and unconventional styles. Grown Gnome is fermented with lager yeast rather than the ale yeast typical of most porters, lending a cleaner fermentation profile that allows the adjunct ingredients to take center stage. The grain bill is augmented with roasted chicory root in place of heavily kilned dark malts, while gentian root and licorice root are added for botanical complexity — a formulation that nods to pre-prohibition American brewing traditions when bittering herbs were common. Tasting Notes Aroma: Roasted chicory root dominates the nose with an aroma reminiscent of dark-roast coffee, followed by subtle herbal bitterness from gentian and a faint anise-like sweetness from the licorice root. A toasted biscuit quality rounds out the bouquet. Taste: The entry is rich and malty, with toasted biscuit and chicory-driven coffee flavors arriving immediately. At mid-palate, the licorice root introduces a gentle, almost salivary sweetness that gives way to the gentian's firm botanical bitterness, preventing the 9% ABV from reading as cloying. The interplay between sweet and bitter creates a drying sensation that keeps each sip surprisingly balanced for an imperial-strength beer. Finish: Medium-long and drying, with lingering roasted chicory and a trailing herbal bitterness. The lager yeast fermentation keeps the finish clean, avoiding the heavy, boozy warmth found in many imperial porters. How to Drink Grown Gnome Pour Grown Gnome into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — to let the chicory and botanical aromatics fully develop. At 9% ABV, this porter rewards slow sipping on its own, but it also works in beer-cocktail applications. A Black Velvet (blended with dry sparkling wine) benefits from the porter's roasted depth and herbal bite. A Beer Flip — shaken with a whole egg, sugar, and nutmeg — becomes intensely rich against the chicory backbone. A simple Boilermaker paired alongside a pour of rye whiskey creates an effective mirror of the beer's own spice and bitterness. Best For Cold-weather evening sessions with bold, warming beers Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who seek out unconventional styles Pairing alongside a dessert course at a dinner gathering Gifting to a porter or stout lover looking for something beyond the typical roasted malt profile Frequently Asked Questions What does Grown Gnome taste like? Grown Gnome delivers rich toasted biscuit and dark chicory-coffee flavors balanced by herbal bitterness from gentian root and gentle sweetness from licorice root. The lager yeast fermentation keeps the body clean and the finish drying despite the 9% ABV. How does Grown Gnome compare to Known Gnome? Known Gnome is Off Color's standard-strength porter in the same Gnome series, while Grown Gnome is the imperial version at 9% ABV, bringing amplified chicory intensity and greater body. Both share the brewery's signature use of botanical roots in place of conventional dark malts, but Grown Gnome delivers a significantly bolder, more warming experience. Is Grown Gnome good for sipping neat? Yes — the 9% ABV and layered botanical complexity make Grown Gnome an ideal sipping porter, best enjoyed slowly from a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature to appreciate the full range of chicory, gentian, and licorice flavors. Where is Grown Gnome made? Grown Gnome is brewed by Off Color Brewing in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Off Color is known for producing historically inspired and unconventional beer styles that diverge from mainstream craft brewing trends. What foods pair well with Grown Gnome? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the chicory roast character. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the beer's depth without overwhelming it. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the malty sweetness effectively. Chicory or endive salads with bitter greens create a thematic echo of the beer's own botanical profile. Pecan pie pairs naturally with the toasted biscuit and licorice notes. What sizes does Grown Gnome come in? Grown Gnome is available as a four-pack of cans, Off Color's standard packaging format for this release. Is Grown Gnome worth the price? Grown Gnome positions as a specialty craft imperial porter with an unusual production method — chicory root in place of dark malts, plus gentian and licorice root additions. For drinkers interested in historically minded brewing and botanical complexity, it represents strong value within the imperial porter category. Why Grown Gnome? The defining move behind Grown Gnome is the substitution of roasted chicory root for traditional dark roasted malts — a technique that produces a coffee-like character without any actual coffee or heavily kilned grain. Fermentation with lager yeast rather than ale yeast further separates this porter from nearly every imperial porter on the market, yielding a cleaner, more precise fermentation that lets the chicory, gentian, and licorice speak clearly. Off Color Brewing has built a reputation for exactly this kind of historical curiosity executed with technical precision. Grown Gnome is not a trend-chasing beer; it is a deliberate, well-constructed imperial porter that earns its place through genuine originality.
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