The presentation of this beer certainly makes one think that this could be a Scandinavian beer - something about the name and the label. Had no idea this was a Ridgeway beer until I looked at the label very carefully. A really pretty color on the pour with plenty of ruby red highlights throughout the beer. Conservative head but still gives decent retention and some nice lace. However, the color is the star in the appearance; quite exquisite. Nose and tastes give a mild smokiness that permeates...
Notes on beers in the style
English Porter
Midnight Sun
500 mL bottle thanks to lackenhauser as part of Veterans BIF. Pour is a very solid, jet black body with any initially large, light coffee colored head. Some lace is left along with a thin film on the surface of the beer. The first few sips seem a touch on the bitter side, BUT after a few minutes of warmth and a few more sips the beer starts to take on the flavor profile that a beer of this style demands. Some light licorice amongst the slightly sour cream like notes. Some more sweetness comes...
1914 Porter
First tasted at a Brick Store tasting in March of 2009, and subsequently twice more. This is a VERY odd beer that frankly I don't much care for. I seemed to remember hearing that this was built on an "original" or old style recipe for a Porter and if it was I am glad that the style has subsequently evolved. The pour yielded a beer that was essentially porter-like, but with the emphasis on brown rathern than black. Head was poor. Nose was a little non-descript and offered nothing more than a...
Nethergate Old Growler
500 mL bottle. I have a feeling that this came from Green's in Columbia, SC, USA. Excellent black colored pour with super red highlights and wonderful lace. Head is a mocha colored film that sits on the surface of the beer. Nose has a really obvious malty, licorice note that is very strong fro the style and the ABV. Surprisingly potent. Tastes are quintessential for the style. VERY, very light smoke, plenty of malts and a sweet undertone. The beer is very dry especially in the finish....
Coffee
$3.99, Brawley's, Charlotte, NC, USA. Love the 11.2oz bottle! Poured into the new Sam Adams glass. Body is an attractive, bright mid-brown with a cappuccino-like frothy head with is persistent. Looks very much like a cold coffee in the glass with plenty of mocha head on top. A brown ale look. Impressive. Love the nose! Sweet, mild coffee - great! Simple, mild coffee is dominant, but it is exactly that - SIMPLE. It's a strong beer because it is easy. Aftertaste has a nice lingering, mild...
God Jul
$6.99 from Brawley's, Charlotte, NC, USA. 500 mL bottle. Attractive label with the words "God Jul" replaced with "Winter Ale". Expecting this to make it to GA eventually, but I thought I should snag it in NC - just in case. Very impressed with the Nogne offerings so far, this was no exception. Pour into the 16 oz American "pint" glass is dark brown with a creamy head and some lace. Decent carbonation, but the body is a little murky. Roasted, malts in the nose, with a tinge of smoke. Gosh, this...
Lord Lieutenant’s Ale (Porter)
500 mL bottle, this beer is sometimes called "Ale" rather than "Porter". Taken from notes from England July 2007, cheers Chris! Not really a Porter in the truest sense of the style. A little thin and not really "stout-like" at all. Reminds me more of an ESB or perhaps a lower ABV Old Ale than a Porter. Dark Chestnut Brown pour with a splendid looking color body - rich appearance. Small head, some creamy lace. The mouthfeel is a little lighter than the color and appearance would suggest. Dry...
Santa’s Butt
500 mL bottle, F09 193. Quite an aggressive looking Santa on the label. $4.99 or $5.99 from Smyrna World of Beverage, Smyrna, Atlanta, GA, USA. Flat Cola appearance. Over carbonated initially in the pour, but strangely enough no head or lace. Body is WAY too light for the style. Disappointing. Drinks like a pretty average Brown Ale. Thin. Dryish finish and with some alcohol in the nose. A bit chalky. Described as a "Winter Porter" whatever that is, this fails on a number of fronts. I dunno -...
Samuel Adams Honey Porter
12 ozer as part of the mixed pack made up of this, the Black Lager and the Brown Ale (two bottles of each). $6.49 at Arbor Place Beverage. Looks nice with a high and dense head and a very dark brown pour. Sweetness is definitely there with the honey influence (in the aroma too) but this drinks like a high quality brown ale. Smooth, drinkable and whilst not exactly rich, still smooth and drinkable. Easy drinking and simple, but certainly sweet. Not everyone would like this but I enjoy the...
Manchester Star Ale
500 mL bottle, Greens, Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA, USA. $5.95. Black pour with some dark brown and a few ruby red highlights. Not much lace, but a decent creamy and spotty head forms on the surface of the beer that is pretty persistent. Good looking. Aroma has LOTS of sweet malts and caramel notes. Some sweet, sweet liquor in there too. This is a pretty sweet beer with some smoke character. There are some real sherry like notes in there too, and if you were looking for a description I think I...
Dark Star Porter
Thanks to BEERchitect for the chance to try this one. 12 oz single from Lexington, KY, USA. Nice looking pour with the dark brown body, red highlights and an impressive pitted, rocky head about half an inch deep with plenty of lacing. Looks inviting and well put together. Typical mild, burned malts in the nose, nothing out of the ordinary. Thinnish mouthfeel (I like a creamy porter) with a lack of outstanding characteristics all around. A rather exaggerated bitterness in the finish too. Low...
London Porter
Nice, heavy duty 750 mL bottle with classy looking labels. Murky brown appearance, not especially attractive (it has that nasty Dubbel color) with some ruby red highlights. The "look" is definitely the weakest point. A lot more alcohol in the nose than appears in the taste. Very chocolatey indeed. Decent mouthfeel but it does lack a creamy component. Authentic is an adjective that springs to mind.
Porter
Part of the Dragon Pack mixed sixer. Dark, classic Porter pour with some ruby red highlights. Nice looking, creamy, spotty head that sits on the surface of the dark body. Good roasty, chocolate notes in the nose. Good smooth, velvet like tastes that are very satisfying. Above average tastes and mouthfeel. Very drinkable.
Old Engine Oil
Really good jet black color with some attractive ruby red highlights. Nice creamy, thin, spotty head with a little lacing. Lovely light alcohol and malt aroma. Mouthfeel is also surprisingly light for the style and the althoguh I would prefer some more body, the lightness adds to the drinkability of the beer. Taste is also light, but not so much that it detracts from the beer. Some smooth, sweet caramel in the malts and a little drying character in the finish. This is a bit like a "light" old...
Fuller’s London Porter
Pours dark brown, almost black, with some minimal lacing, but a nice spotty film and some lacing. Solid looking beer. Mild, cold sweet coffee in the aroma, very reserved, not overpowering and lots of creaminess in the mouthfeel. Taste reflects the smell; creamed coffee and some light smoke. Slight bitterness in the finish, a classic English Porter feel, reserved but absolutley solid. This is simply a confident and well established beer, and an excellent example of the style.
General Washington’s Tavern Porter
Not too keen on this. Light brown appearance, too much carbonation leading to a massive head and a distinct acidic sourness to it that reminded me of a badly (home)brewed brown ale. Very little Porter character in there, a very pronounced lack of creaminess and a bit of a struggle to finish. Mouthfeel and body were both seriously lacking - a disappointing effort at the style. Alcohol well hidden. A sour experience was the abiding memory.
Bert Grant’s Perfect Porter
Well, the name certainly doesn't hold back, and whether this is the "perfect porter" or not is in serious doubt in my opinion, but all the same, it's an enjoyable beer. Standard Porter appearance, with the highlights for me the very distinct smoky, chocolate taste and the very nice carbonation/mouthfeel. I find that lots of beers, in several different categories, mention chocolate, but often the taste can be difficult to pick up. Not here. I was pleasantly surprised by the obvious sweetness...
Entire Butt English Porter
$3.99, Greens beverage, Atlanta, GA, USA. Black pour with a somewhat flat head that had little or no retention and no lacing. After what I had heard and read about this beer I was slightly disappointed in its appearance. Incredibly detailed label listing, by name, all 14 malts in the brew, serving instructions (including type of glass and chilling procedure), freshness date etc. I enjoyed this, but not because I felt it was excpetional, just because I enjoy the style. The usual coffee and...
Old Slug Porter
$4.99 Arbor Beverage, Douglasville, GA. Mmm, mildly disappointed, but tempered by my love for Porters in general. This brew probably resembles the style in a truer fashion than some of the more contemporary beers, but was a little too smoky, a little too bitter and a little less smooth than I have become accustomed to in a Porter. This would not be my first choice, and I believe there are plenty of other cheaper, better beers of similar style out there (St. Peter's Old Style Porter for...
Samuel Smith’s, The Famous Taddy Porter
Updated Review 02/08 === 355 mL bottle as single as a gift from Penney - many thanks. Sherry aromas are still present for me (after all these years). Simple beer, remains smooth and tasty. I like a little more cream in my Porters but still a classic standard, especially when you consider what I can reasonably get in the USA. Original Review 01/04 === A sherry/sweet coffee aroma came before a fast fading "reddish" head. The head left the beer quickly with very little lacing and no creamy...
St. Peter’s Old-Style Porter
Additional notes added 07/16/21 (pictured): Label has changed over the years, bottle has not. $4.99 bottle Jungle Jim’s, Cincinnati, OH. Classic pour, broken head and lace. Ruby/black pour when the light hits at the correct angle. Easy drinking with depth. Damn. Original notes 01/25/04: 1 Pint .9fl oz Bottle. $2.99, Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA and subsequently, 1 Pint .9fl oz Bottle. $3.29, Green's Beverage, Ponce de Leon, Atlanta, GA. I love this bottle, it looks like there is...