Tasted directly alongside the base beer for comparison. 12oz bottle, from Tavour, bottled 03/29/21. Pour is largely indistinguishable from the original. Perhaps oddly, the ABV comes in at 6.8 as opposed to the 5.5 of the base beer. The added Raspberry Purée gives that much more fermentable sugar? I guess. Equally oddly, no significant raspberry on the nose. Tastes are also relatively muted after the initial assault. It’s obviously raspberry up front, but as the base beer builds a lot of that...
Notes on beers in the style
American Porter
Black Butte
Sweetwater Dank Tank Mean Joe Bean
22 oz bottle in the usual Dank Tank presentation this time with a brown and yellow motif. The pour is basically black with a few brownish highlights at the extreme edges. Head is quite small and lacks any retention or lace, a little disappointing. Nose has a surprisingly lack of coffee element and is mainly dominated by a malty, alcohol note. The mouthfeel is very light which I suppose could be taken one of two ways. Either the beer is very drinkable and easy, or it lacks presence for a beer...
Tokyo Black
12 oz can from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA, a little while ago. Genuine import since the adhesive sticker that yields the Government warning obscures the original Japanese text that is printed on the can. Black pour with a few red highlights, largely in keeping with the style. Head is not great, but sticky lace does suggest some quality. Also in keeping with the style it lacks refinements and delivers an aggressive, watery feel without depth or creaminess. Bitter character comes through quite a...
Anvil Porter
On Tap at Taco Mac, Prado, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA, USA. Nice to French Broad bringing out a new product. Requisite black pour but with a somewhat poor head - maybe as a result of some dodgy Taco Mac barstaff, but not sure. Pretty standard fare here. Light roasts sit throughout the nose and tastes and deliver a mild charcoal amongst the sweet malts. Well balanced and somewhat less aggressive than many American versions of the original, this beer delivers a fair bit of sweetness and most...
Chief BlackHawk Porter
12 oz bottle, usual stubbie presentation from Tyranena, thanks go out to Kevin for a chance to crack this one. Surprisingly black pour with little or no brown elements that one often sees with porters. Head and lace are frankly both a little disappointing even if they are a nice mocha color. The nose reveals a touch of coffee but not any bitterness or hop character to speak of. I like my porters, mild, smooth and creamy and although Blackhawk hits to some degree on each of these attributes,...
Thrilla Vanilla
Thanks go out to Scott for bringing this one back from TN. Cheers Bud. The beer looks great. Large, off-white head with some serious red highlights and good density of color. Nose gives the vanilla as expected but quite reserved. Plenty of vanilla in the taste too and perhaps some smoke too. The degree of chocolate malt character is quite pronounced as well. That was surprising. Mellow, drinkable and a tasty brew. My first from this brewhouse and I am impressed; definitely want to explore this...
Baltic Porter
12 oz single at Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Chestnut brown pour, mocha head and looks solid and sticky. Nose is a roasted malt combo with some light vanilla and a touch of sour lactose. Tases are solid, but perhaps the weakest part of the beer. Lacks punch for me, even though it sits squarely in the style. I'm a little confused with the relatively light feel and shallow depth. I dunno, quite nice but ultimately feels somewhat lacking in some way. Can't really put my finger on it but it leaves...
Smoke Jumper Smoked Imperial Porter
22 oz bottle. I'm not an enormous fan of smoked beers in general, BUT it could be argued that if you are going to smoke anything, the Imperial Porter would be a great candidate. Pour is impresive. Black with a few reddish highlights and a SOLID head. The head looks like a piece of bread, and is well sustained and produces some beautiful lace. Sweet, light smoke makes up the nose. The tastes obviously reflect the smoke, and we get the typical...
Highland Big Butte Smoked Porter
$4.99 for the 22 oz bomber from Asheville Wine Market on the Brewgrass trip. 2009 Highland Cup Winner, look out for this in the GABF Pro-Am competition. Poured into the Brewgrass sampler glass in small doses. Solid if unspectacular mahogany body with some nice lace left behind by the mocha head. Nose has some solid, caramel sugary notes but a lack of much that one would call smoky. Sweetness comes through the more you sniff it. Tastes are really quite significantly bitter but not in a really...
Founders Porter
12 oz stubbie as per usual with Founders. Pour is surprisingly motor oil-like. From appearance one might have said that this beer was a stout or even a RIS. Quite viscous considering the style. Head is poorly formed with no head and no lace. From that, I get the impression that this has a higher ABV than 6.5%. Confusing. This is absolutely an AMERICAN porter. It has far too harsh a hop profile for me and its roasty, bitter notes take me to a place that I do not want to go with a Porter. I'm...
Imperial Espresso Porter
12 oz bottle from nerofiddled. Light brown, cold coffee color with small head and ring of collar left on and around the surface of the beer. Vapors that gather in the nose are quite surprisingly alcoholic with a touch of malt. Tastes are quite sweet with some lovely, light coffee notes and general understatement all around. Light warmth is left on the tongue as the alcohol spreads and leaves its mark. Some touches of light, roasted beans in the finish too. Sugary aftertaste. VERY thin in the...
Black Butte Porter
Notes added 09/05/21. 12 oz bottle from a six pack, bottles 04/01/2021. This particular pour is better than my notes for 12 years ago below. Lacing is good and head holds up nicely. Unmistakably still the same beer as it was in 2009. Still a little different to the English version of the style, but still a restrained version of the American take. Drinkability is the same, and a really nice beer to point people toward. 12 oz bottle. Best before 06/11/09. Pour is a slightly ruddy, black pour...
Paradise By The Dashboard Light Doubly Blessed Cherry Porter
12 oz stubbie as pictured. Poured into the Terrapin snifter, the beer is perhaps not as viscous as I was expecting. Head is a light mocha color but very fine and light. Nose has dry, baking chocolate (or cocoa/Cadbury's drinking chocolate) with some light fruit infused. The fruit seems like a cross between cherry and raspberry, but to be honest it is more on the raspberry side of things to my nose. Tastes are light but at the same time have some decent presence. There are plenty of slightly...
AleSmith Decadence 2007 Imperial Porter
Thanks go out to the groovy one for the chance to try this beer. Cracked it at The Brick Store with the intention of spreading the love around amongst several BA's, but ending up drinking the whole thing with only brickstoredave sharing the "burden" with me! The reason I mention this is that this is a reflection of the drinkability of this beer - it was exceptional, and went WAY beyond my expectations in that regard. 750 mL, gold-foiled and capped champagne style bottle. I was concerned about...
Red Brick Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter
A quick note on this beer. This is the same beer that used to be called the "Red Brick Winter Brew" up to and including 2007. In 2008 the Winter Brew reverted to a new style, a Belgian Ale. Whether this becomes the norm for the "Winter Brew" or it becomes a rotating style remains to be seen, but for now my review of this beer (The Double Chocolate Porter) sits here, under the heading of the original Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter; http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/864/8574/?ba=Ding No...
Imperial Smoked Porter
$4.75 for the 16 oz pint at Taco Mac, Lindbergh, Atlanta, GA, USA. AT LAST, a new SN beer that is NOT the umpteenth hop based, IPA clone for the bazillionth time - in itself that's a minor miracle for SN! Congratulations! Anyway, back to the beer. Fairly standard pour in terms of color, with a smallish coffee colored head. The lace is very good as the beer is consumed. The nose is quite alcohol based but this does not manifest itself in the taste. The alcohol IS there, but not as astringent as...
Ninja Porter
Split the 22oz bomber with some of the usual suspects down at The Brick Store on a Friday afternoon. Long live these gatherings. Very standard pour with the black/brown body yielding some reddish highlights when held up to the light. Head is generally a short-lived affair with a rather sparse amount of lace. Looks still, low levels of carbonation as there should be. Nose has a touch of roasted malts and very little hop presence. The nose is continued into the taste and in that respect I was a...
Terrapin Dos Cocoas Chocolate Porter
#4 in the Side Project series from Spike. 22 oz bomber, gold foil on the top, same (edited) green and blue label as the remainder of the Side Project series. Apparently black, or at least very dark brown, pour with some nice rust colored highlights at the bottom of the glass. Some lucious, thick, tight-bubbled head, and lace which lends a smokey, yellowish tinge to the color of the suds. Nose reveals very little which is a touch surprising considering the "chocolate hype" surrounding the...
Chocolate Porter
Oh dear. Porter only in name and color. Decent color, but no head, lace, retention or presence in the glass. Weak, weak body with a dreadfully acidic taste and nose. Possibly even infected to my thinking. Lacks any kind of creamy nature and the roasted malts seem bitter. The combination of unbridled bitterness and thin body come together to give a really nasty, heartburn inducing, watery beer - nasty. Southend is getting a reputation for producing some below-par brews and this is a good...
Moor Porter
Pretty interesting find at the Mellow Mushroom in Charleston, SC, USA. 750 mL bottle as pictured in the BA db. Approx. $12. Massive gusher with froth everywhere and a large amount of the beer wasted. It would have been good to read some other reviews before opening this one but either way there are carbonation problems with this brew. It's black with a real, toffee colored head. Very roasty, quite hoppy and in that respect it's a typical American version of the Porter style. I'm not really...
CoCoNut Porter
Thanks go out to BA...for the opportunity to try this one. 355 mL can as pictured in the BA db. Pour is a jet black with some brownish highlights and a good deal of mocha/coffee head. The head fades to give a lovely, tight, espresso like film which is quite thick and beautifully formed. Some lace. Very smooth but not in a thick way. Quite light in the mouth but has good presence. Simply balanced porter with good sweetness but very well balanced. The beer has a toasty nature to it and a...
Dirty Old Man Imperial Rye Porter
12 oz stubbie twist top from unclejedi as part of the Good, Bad and Ugly BIF from sometime ago. Pours with deep brownish/black with some nice ruby red highlights. Head is mocha and very well formed. Fairly short-lived, but there is a little lace and some spotty residue and collar left on the surface. The nose has quite reserved for a barrel aged beer. I like that fact. I think that the Whiskey as opposed to the Bourbon barrels help in that regard. Overall the beer is very light, smooth, well...
Nissefar
500 mL bottle, $7.99 from Green's on Ponce, Atlanta, GA, USA. Batch NR 98. Oct 07, Oct 10. Worry lack of "pop" on opening and this lack of carbonation is overwhelming experience. It is so severe I am wondering if this is a problem with the bottle or the batch. Anyway, there's obviously no way of knowing. Lack of carbonation means little head and no lace. Dark coke-like pour which is largely lifeless. Nose is very nice with some very rich, light alcohol, sherry filled character. it promises...
Black Butte XX
22 oz bottle, thanks go out to unclejedi for this as part of Good, Bad and Ugly BIF. Poured into the Ommegang chalice this appears just about jet black. Even relatively strong light fails to reveal much in the way of red or brown highlights. Head settles to give a thin film of mocha on the surface and in the ring around the edge. Nose is a mild espresso that is not overwhelming. Gentle but strong coffee beans. The mild coffee persists in the tastes but this is accompanied by a very warm...
Porter
Slightly confusing since this has a label that is different to the one in the BA database and has the words "Norse Porter" in addition to an ABV of 6.5% as opposed to 6.0%. For now, this review will sit here. $8.99 for the 16.9 floz bottle from Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA. Pours HUGE at first giving a mountainous espresso like, fine bubbled head. This recedes quickly to leave (disappointingly) no lace. Nice fine and small mocha head sits atop the jet black, Guinness like body....
Pipeline Porter
On tap at the Austell Taco Mac, East West Connector, Austell, GA, USA. WOW! What a pleasant surprise. Delighted. Jet black body - exceptional. Small, perfectly formed head, this looks very reminiscent of a Guinness. Lace is good. Nose is exceptional too. A beautiful, rich coffee-laden experience that is very memorable and reminiscent of a much more expensive beer. Mouthfeel and tastes are equally memorable with a paradoxical cacophany of coffee creaminess and porter satisfaction coming...
Devil Over A Barrel – Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee Imperial Oatmeal Porter
12oz bottle. Thanks go out to Unclejedi for the bottle as part of the Good, Bad & Ugly BIF. Poured into the Terrapin 22oz snifter in three separate portions. No discernable head after a few moments following the agressive pour. A little spotty lace. Nose is MASSIVE - full on coffee. Didn't really get an enormous amount of Bourbon. The coffee seemed to overwhelm everything. A touch acidic and quite thin, even for a Porter. Coffee dominates. Very drinkable considering the size and emphasis of...
Smuttynose Robust Porter
12 oz bottle from a trade some time ago! This one has been sitting in the DBF for a long time, but I am happy to report, that (as expected), this has aged beautifully. Notche (approx.) best before April 08. Jet black pour and a huge, mocha head, this basically looks like a BIG RIS. (It lacks the depth of mouthfeel of a RIS, but outside of that it resembles one in many other ways). Head is beautifully maintained, creamy and produces some great lace. Lots of roasted chocolate notes in the nose...
Parris Island Oatmeal Porter
An unusual combo this one, oatmeal used in a Porter rather than a Stout. Struck me as a pretty light body for the style, with good color, head and lace. The light body adds to the drinkability, but could do with a little "beefing up". Josh desribes this, thus; "Crafted from chocolate and crystal malts, this medium bodied porter has a sweet distinct chocolate taste, followed by a smooth mellow finish. Plenty of smooth, creamy notes to this, and the chocolate malts shine through. Mild roastiness...
Mocha Porter
Drunk on my June 2008 visit to HHI. Standard color in the pour but little or no head and zero lace. Looks a bit flat, which is strange because the beer has an odd, prickly over carbonation that is inappropriate for the style. Interesting tasting beer though. Quite light and lively with a decent malt base and some chocolate notes. Quite a distinct coffee finish. Not the worst beer that I have drunk at HHB, so in that respect it was not too bad, but still an "amatuerish" feel about the beer -...
Porter
12oz bottle as part of the mixed 12 pack - thanks go out to Rob for the chance to try this. Different label to the one in the BA db. Standard dark brown pour with a small, nicely formed head but not much (if any) lace. Solid if unspectacular look. Some red highlights. Very standard and solid example of the style. More bitter than the English original, less creamy with a higher hop profile, but simply solid. Mild raost. A simple, unspectacular brew without much charm but a decent example.
Tiger Shark Dark
TSD as it is advertised on the tap handle, this is described as a Porter. Drinks well, with a good Porter color, plenty of malt upfront, and a decent chocolately based, initial taste. Decent balance, with some lace. Fairly smooth. Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. A simple beer that has potential to be a decent offering.
Butte Creek Organic Porter
12 oz single, Jax, sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA, USA. $1.69. Pour is a bit of a lacklustre, mid-brown effort with a fading head and a tiny bit of carbonation. Nose is pretty strong with a mild sherry like aroma. Very chocolately. Lots of bakers chocolate in the initial tastes and this hangs on. Average mouthfeel and the chocolate lingers in the finish. Slight alcohol bite in the end that eventually overcomes the chocolate. OK, but I wouldn't purchase again.
Stegmaier Porter
Thanks to SilentSabre who gave me this a few months ago. It finally made it to the front of the DBF! Cheers Matt. 12 oz bottle. WOW, what a pour! This looks exactly like a high quality RIS! Jet black body and the (high) head has the appearance of that mocha/dark espresso type head - very impressive to look at. Nice malty chocolate nose, quite strong and is nice. Some sweetness in taste but the mouthfeel is where this beer fails a little. I like a creaminess in my Porters and this fails to live...
New World Porter
12 oz single purchased in Lexington, KY, USA. Despite this being available in GA, I only recently got around to buying it when I was in Lexington at the Liquor Barn simply because I was allowed to purchase singles. Take note all stores/law makers. Very dark pour, bordering on a blackish stout rather than dark brown porter. Very little light passing through even at the extremeties. Some nice lacing. First off a WONDERFUL aroma that is apparent the second that the cap is removed. Very big...
Bell’s Porter
12 oz single, $1.25 Liquor Barn, Lexington, KY, USA. Batch #7316. Dark brown, nearly black pour with a small, tan head. Ruby red highlighs at the bottom of the glass. Good, strong and balanced aroma with malts prominent. Slight bitter chocolate taste with a fairly dry finish. A touch of alcohol, all together a nice balance. More chocolate in the aftertaste. A very mild roasted taste, nothing very strong. Simple, quality product. Lacks a little body, perhaps a little too much carbonation but...
Vanilla Porter
12 oz single, $1.25 as part of my haul from Liquor Barn in Lexington, KY, USA. Mid-brown body with a small, creamy head. Some lacing but not much. Looks like a brown ale rather than darker porter. Mild vanilla tones in the nose, nothing too overpowering which is a good sign because this type of beer has a tendency to go over the top. This seems relatively balanced. A very mild nutty character too, almost like a hazelnut sweetness. Definite mild lactose sweetness, but again this is in check and...
Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer
Oh dear. I first saw this in Atlanta a few weeks ago at the Taco Mac in Marietta and at that time the barman advised me against it since he thought it was sour or perhaps even off. I avoided it then, but a couple of weeks later a barman gave me a taster at the Decatur Taco Mac. I thought it still tasted very sour and it seemed very, very thin. So, fast forward to today and I find myself at Taco Mac in Douglasville which had just got this in yesterday, and I finally decided I should order it...
Alaskan Smoked Porter
22oz bomber acquired in a recent trade - apologies for now, but I forget who. When I remember, I'll post. 2005 Vintage. Pour is close to black with some dark brown/red highlights at the extremeties. Not much sustainable head, and not much lacing. Some creamy spottiness on the surface. A little more carbonated than I was expecting. In fact, quite fizzy hen you listen carefully - takes a little away from the mouthfeel for me. Aroma is amazing. Sweet, sweet smoke that is obvious but beautifully...
Sweetwater Exodus Porter
Taco Mac, East West Connector, Austell, GA, USA. On-tap in October 2006 as part of Sweetwater's re-introduction of Exodus as an ocassional guest (not a seasonal, but an infrequent re-visit) - maybe ESB will do the same soon. A bit flat. Lack of life makes this look like a coke. This beer is much better than this sample suggests (see my bottle review) and this is a bit of a worry if they are going to re-release this from time to time at this lower quality. A little more bitter than usual too....
Duck-Rabbit Porter
Classic Porter color with it varying between black and dark brown depending on the light. All the different lighting conditions have some red highlights at the extreme edges. Short lived head but there is some lacing and a little spotty film left on the surface. Good chocolate aromas with the standard lightly roasted malt and nice sweetness. Mouthfeel has the good creamy nature that I demand from my porters but is often lacking in many examples of the style. Nice, light cocoa powder tastes,...
Brewer Patriot Collection – George Washington Porter
Well, interesting if nothing else. Pour is good looking. Nice Porter color, dark red/brown and a really rather impressive head (if somewhat airy) and lacing - looks good. Smell is really nice too. Creamy alcohol sweetness and some dark treacle. As far as the taste goes I was impressed with the way it literally mimicked what it claimed on the label - DEFINITE "licorice" notes, "assertive hop finish" and "medium bodied" so at least it has that going for it. However, for me the licorice was a...
Pump House Porter
$3.00 on draft, Mellow Mushroom, Hilton Head Island, SC, USA. Nice looking beer with an excellent head and lacing. Served way, way too cold, I had to let this stand for about 15 minutes before the aroma and taste even began to manifest themeslves properly. Very servicable Porter with a decent combination of chocolate malts, burned caramel and malts in the nose and the tastes. Did not finish too dry, which I like in my Porter's, and it maintained a nice level of creaminess; another good...
Palmetto Porter
Good creamy head with decent retention and some lacing. Nice chestnut brown base with amber highlights. Nose is nuttier than most Porters. A hint of smoke, but it drinks clean. A little thin in the body for my taste, but just about standard. Easy drinking with a slight chocolate bitter finish
Smoke (Smoked Porter)
Thanks go out to BigLove for the opportunity. Dark brown, dirty and murky body with a hell of a lot of yeast(?) sediment at the bottom of the glass. Not much head and no lacing. Very little smoke in the nose, but lots in the taste. Mocha coffee mixed with the more obvious and expected bacon and ham chewiness. Much more smokey than a simple smoked porter to me, in fact this is really a Rauchbier in my book. Drinkability is OK, BUT you have to real like the Rauchbier style to enjoy...
Summit Great Northern Porter
Thanks go out to feloniousmonk. Lovely black coffee appearance with a lingering spotty head and some lacing. Body has a cola or black coffee color. Alcohol is quite strong in the nose and is really rather apparent in the aftertaste too. Burned malts are there as well, but there is a fairly bitter taste that is very noticeable. I prefer a creamier Porter, with a bit less harsh bitterness but that is just personal preference and this is still a solid example.
Saranac Caramel Porter
Pours with a very nice color, with a really deep red brown body and a decent head with good lacing. Actually rather attractive. To me this lacks many characteristics of a Porter, but IS a decent, malt based brown ale. There are some really nice caramel overtones both in the aroma and the taste and there is a malt bitter balance which is quite pleasing. Body is lacking but it doesn’t detract too much. It is thin. A bit unusual to say the least, but I sort of like it! As I say, there are no...
Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter
1.0 L swingtop, an impressive presentation but it does set the bar very high for what follows. 2005 vintage. Black body, with brown highlights at the bottom of the glass. Large head initially but not much retention. Some layered lacing. Well, it's difficult for me to distinguish this from a strong stout. Whatever "Imperial" means in this context (and it is a moving target) it imparts a fairly harsh roasted bitterness and a sharp hop based finish here. Drinkable and I enjoyed it, but I prefer a...
Saint Bridget’s Porter
All very simple and good. Standard pour, with great looking black body and creaminess around the head. Mouthfeel is super. Mild coffee overtones in both the nose and the taste, but it's not overpowering and is very simple. Enjoyable, goes down real easy and has the creamy aspect that I like in my Porters. Very nice example of the style, sticks to a tried and tested formula and does a nice job.
Stone Smoked Porter
Jet black body but with some ruby red highlights at the bottom of the glass. Only at the bottom though. Definite "Guinness like" appearance with some very nice lacing. About one-eigth of an inch of dense, tan colored head persists all the way to the bottom of the drink. Very smooth mouthfeel. Liquorice start, with sweetness prevailing upfront. Increasingly sweet as the bottle is consumed. I was suprised at the lack of "smokiness" given the name, but I enjoyed more because it was lacking that...
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter
Original notes 11/29/2005. Picture from 2021. Good, black color, nice creamy head and some surprisingly good lacing. A little red highlight at the bottom of the glass too. Smell is sweeter and less bitter than many American Porters, and emphasizes the smooth aspects of the style. All good I feel. Taste is rounded and subtle with a distinct lack of bitterness, and a very nice smooth feel. Too often I find American Porters to concentrate on the bitter, hoppy, dark coffee flavors rather than the...
Bully! Porter
Best before 01/16/06. Highly carbonated pour leads to a dark brown body and a airy and bubbly head that leaves some lacing. Sweet and malty aroma that promises much. Surprisingly the taste does not really reflect the aroma. The initial tastes are much, much more bitter than the smell suggests, or that the style would normally allow. I like my Porters more creamy and mild in thier nature and this drinks a little more like a stout. Mouthfeel is that of a thin Porter. Drinkability OK, but not...
Odell Cutthroat Porter
A red-brown color than the more typical black color of a Porter. Nice looking, tall and frothy head with good retention and some attractive lacing. Some chocolate and coffee notes, with an above average nose. Some pleasing smokiness & bitterness in the finish complements the fullish mouthfeel. Pretty drinkable but lack of creaminess and nutty tastes take this a little more into Brown Ale territory than I was expecting. Not a classic within the style, but a pretty nice dark ale.
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Image from 2021. Original notes 10/05/05 Very nice. Good Porter color, extremely dark, but not quite black - there are some definite brown highlights coming through with this one. Aroma's are very creamy, coffee based, and this is replicated in the tastes. What I like about this Porter is the mild ABV and the creamy body rather than some huge assault on the senses. In that respect this Porter reminds me of the more traditional English Porters that combined easy, smooth drinkability with...
Coffeehouse Porter
If the truth be told I didn't much care for this. I prefer my Porters to have a creamier body and some substantial depth rather that the thin nature of the brew that I experienced here. Pours well and looks good, but the aroma immediately gives away the nature of the beer. Artificial would be the word I would use. Lots of cold coffee smells and tastes, and not much else. Couple the disappointing tastes with a very, very thin mouthfeel and this is a "Porter" to forget. Very false coffee...
Little Yeoman Porter
Nicely put together package. Somewhat murky brown appearance, but a nice head, good nose and initial tastes, and a perfect level of carbonation combine to make this Porter a very drinkable example. Some chocolate in there, but mainly dark malts that make the beer sweet enough to be noticed, but not so much that it takes over the brew. A bitter sweet balance is struck. Mouthfeel is nice, and a satisfying finish completes the deal.
Highland Oatmeal Porter
Disappointed. The body had a lot of red highlights and was quite transparent around the edges - I like to see a fuller body. It was poured for me with virtually no head, so subsequently there was no lacing, but I am sure this beer, if poured correctly, can look much better than it did on this ocassion. Distinct lack of aroma, again probably due to the ridiculously cold serving temperature. Quite a thin mouthfeel, without any coating on the tongue or teeth. The taste? Well it went from a...
Coal Porter
Standard jet black, opaque appearance with a fairly small tan head that falls away quickly to give a very small film for the remainder of the drink. No significant lacing. Definite bitterness in the finish and a distinct smoky taste. Good mouthfeel, but not really a "coater". Quite light and relatively refreshing. Generally I like a little more creaminess and less smokiness in my porters, but nonetheless a drinkable beer.
Red Brick Winter Brew
This is a hidden gem - at least in the Atlanta/SE beer scene. I've been living in Atlanta for the best part of five years, all that time paying close attention to the beer scene, regularly going to all the best stores in the metro area and have been on the ABC brewery tour, and I didn't know this existed until I found it in Mac's downtown on the individual bottle clearance shelf! Great looking Porter with an amazing aroma coming from the opaque, black body. Chocolate up front, with a hoppy,...
Oliver’s Pagan Porter
A weak and pissy beer that lacked any body or creaminess. I thought this was/is a very poor example of the style. The thin body was the overwhelming experience, to the point of feeling it was watered down. A flat pour with virtually no head, there were some roasted notes in the nose. The most distinguishable taste was that of smoky, burning wood - not something I've encountered before, nor would want to again. Very disappointing. The thin mouthfeel made whatever little redeeming features this...
Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter
Dark, dark brown with some feint ruby red highlights. Nice pour, but head is minimal with some, but very little lacing. Lots of chocolate and nuts in the aroma, with a little of the advertised herbs. Nice, mild hoppy upfront with a lovely body and mouthfeel. Finish is more bitter and dry than I was expecting, in fact more dry stout-like. Very nice beer, but lacks the creaminess I often seek in my porters. Enjoyable all the same.
The Captain’s Porter
Definitely got the semi-sweet character that is in the advertisment, but missed any chocolate. This is a fine example of the style, good smooth body (which is really the most imortant part of the style for me) which made it very drinkable. Lovely opaque black pour, but smaller than I would have liked head. Initial toasty malts are present that lend the beer a warmth that attracts you into the taste. Really enjoyable, in fact the MRB gave me two really enjoyable beers on my visit.
Alpha Klaus Christmas (Xmas) Porter
Well, another beer where the reputation has gone before it on BA, and the actual experience is somewhat different. This is much more like a stout than a porter to me. It's thinner and less creamy than a porter should be in my book, and there is a distinct bitter finish that lets the beer down. Simple, dark brown/black pour with nothing else to report. Some head, but no lacing. The smell is low key, with very little clout and the tastes are mainly bitter with some hops. Very stout like, weak...
Road Dog Porter
Well, it's OK, I quite like it, but it's not a very good Porter. If you really want to investigate Porters this isn't where you want to be. I note that BA has this as a Scottish Ale so perhaps I'm getting the wrong end of the stick anyway, but whatever, the name is misleading to say the least. Alcoholic aroma with a light brown body, too light for my liking if this really is a Porter? A good color, but a weak head and way too thin. A taste that is on the creamy side, but again way too weak for...
Youngblood’s Imperial Porter
Pours absolutely jet black with a dark tan, small head that disappears quickly. Gentle aggitation reproduces the head with some effervesence just like a coke. In fact the whole appearance is *exactly* like a coke! All the characteristics of a fine Porter, with some extra coffee/chocolate bitterness thrown in at the end for good measure. I prefer a little smoother edge to my Porters, but I think my taste is a little unfaithful to the style and this beer is much closer to where they generally...
Anchor Porter
Extremely nice. All that you would want in a Porter, plus a little bit of an unexpected bitter and dry finish as a bonus. Classic black pour, with a small but creamy head. I like my Porters to exhibit that creamy quality and the smoothness of this beer is really rather good. Not quite up to the standard of my favorite, St. Peter's, but nevertheless a fine example. Aroma is that of some burned malt, and the hops are well understated until the end. Another beer that I would recommend to people...
Mocha Porter
In typical Rogue fashion this is an extremely hoppy offering with a lot of body and plenty of bitterness. For me, for this to be described as a Porter is misleading. It's much more like a stout. From the tan bubbly head, through the bitter and hops, onto the smokiness, right through to the dry aftertaste, this has none of the creaminess or the smoothness that I associate with the best, most drinkable Porters. Don't get me wrong, Rogue makes some fine beers, but as a Porter this isn't one of...
Sweetwater Exodus Porter
Pours a very deep, dark brown with a very slight smoky aroma. This is a light Porter in my book that has a nice mouthfeel, but lacks the real creaminess I love in my Porter's. The head was creamy and thick but faded very quickly with little or no lacing. I enjoyed this brew but it lacked a certainly depth and complexity compared to some others of the same style. Nevertheless, I would buy it again. Nice multi-colored label on the six pack that I bought in early 2004.
Sierra Nevada Porter
$7.29 Six Pack Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA Very nice. Poured a dark chocolate color with a very small head that disappeared quickly. Some lacing. The fact this is in the Porter style is very much on its side, and this counteracts what I found to be a fairly acidic aroma and initial taste. Once you have consumed about half a bottle the aftertaste becomes quite smooth - in the Porter style. A little thin in the mouth for my taste but nevertheless a good brew.