Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Porter Beer Tasting May 13th-15th 2011

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 13, 2011

  Please post your Porter tasting notes/beer reviews below. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Thanks!

  Please post your Porter tasting notes/beer reviews below. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Thanks!
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  May 13, 2011

  OK I guess I will be the first to put up a review this month. For Mays Porter selection I chose the Smoked Porter by Stone Brewing Co. in San Diego, CA. I know some of you will have a nice long review to put up but I like to keep them short, sweet and to the point. So here it is.
  
  Stone Brewing Co. "Smoked Porter"
  (ABV 5.9%)
  Seving type: 22 oz. Bottle
  
  Rating 4.1/5.0
  
  Poured a dark muddy black with dark ruby red highlights beaming around the edges of the glass. It had an average sized light brown creamy head that lasted a nice while, leaving a layer of foam floating on top of the brew which resulted some excellent lacing. The aroma was was bold to say the least. It had a strong scent of roasted caramel malts, a leathery yeast with a subtle smokey odor and had notes of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a touch of raisons. It tasted wonderfully lightly bitter-sweet with nice notes of dark chocolate, caramel and dried fruit in the beginning then became a tad more on the bitter coffee side and had a mild smokey finish that was left lingering on the palate for a really nice long time. Mouthfeel was medium to full in body (I am leaning more towards full) and smooth and creamy in texture with a nice light soft carbonation. Overall this was an awesome brew. I am always a little leary about smoked beers but the flavors in this one melded so well together that it left me wanting more.
  
  

  OK I guess I will be the first to put up a review this month. For Mays Porter selection I chose the Smoked Porter by Stone Brewing Co. in San Diego, CA. I know some of you will have a nice long review to put up but I like to keep them short, sweet and to the point. So here it is. Stone Brewing Co. "Smoked Porter" (ABV 5.9%) Seving type: 22 oz. Bottle Rating 4.1/5.0 Poured a dark muddy black with dark ruby red highlights beaming around the edges of the glass. It had an average sized light brown creamy head that lasted a nice while, leaving a layer of foam floating on top of the brew which resulted some excellent lacing. The aroma was was bold to say the least. It had a strong scent of roasted caramel malts, a leathery yeast with a subtle smokey odor and had notes of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a touch of raisons. It tasted wonderfully lightly bitter-sweet with nice notes of dark chocolate, caramel and dried fruit in the beginning then became a tad more on the bitter coffee side and had a mild smokey finish that was left lingering on the palate for a really nice long time. Mouthfeel was medium to full in body (I am leaning more towards full) and smooth and creamy in texture with a nice light soft carbonation. Overall this was an awesome brew. I am always a little leary about smoked beers but the flavors in this one melded so well together that it left me wanting more.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 13, 2011

  Telegraph Stock Porter
  Telegraph Brewing Company, Santa Barbara, CA
  Alcohol by volume: 5.7%
  750ml bottle $6.99
  
  Stock Porter by definition comes from the old name given to porters that were aged in beer cellars. The aging added to the complexity of the beer. Back then, a 'regular' porter was called a 'Mild Porter' and was cheaper, less complex and intended for consumption right away. This left me wondering whether I was holding a beer that was meant to be cellared even though Telegraph says it is a blend of fresh ale and oak aged ale.
  
  Telegraph's Stock Porter pours out a dark chocolate brown with some light getting through showing of a reddish hue. The mocha colored, rocky head is two fingers deep and hangs around for a little while. On the nose aromas of chocolate and coffee are intertwined with bruleed sugar and some vinous notes.
  
  In the mouth plantain like fruit flavors come first followed by coffee and chocolate flavors with a touch of roast grains. More acidic and astringent than the sweetness that I could smell on the nose. A little bit of funk there too. This porter exhibits more than a medium body but the acidity fools you into thinking it is lighter. Nice lacing on the glass. Moderately carbonated. Pretty thin mouthfeel.
  
  This is a good beer but it doesn't really come across as a true porter which takes me back to the name, Stock Porter. I'm beginning to think this needs some time in a cellar to age and mature before consumption. I'd buy it again but I would cellar it and try one every six months or so.

  Telegraph Stock Porter Telegraph Brewing Company, Santa Barbara, CA Alcohol by volume: 5.7% 750ml bottle $6.99 Stock Porter by definition comes from the old name given to porters that were aged in beer cellars. The aging added to the complexity of the beer. Back then, a 'regular' porter was called a 'Mild Porter' and was cheaper, less complex and intended for consumption right away. This left me wondering whether I was holding a beer that was meant to be cellared even though Telegraph says it is a blend of fresh ale and oak aged ale. Telegraph's Stock Porter pours out a dark chocolate brown with some light getting through showing of a reddish hue. The mocha colored, rocky head is two fingers deep and hangs around for a little while. On the nose aromas of chocolate and coffee are intertwined with bruleed sugar and some vinous notes. In the mouth plantain like fruit flavors come first followed by coffee and chocolate flavors with a touch of roast grains. More acidic and astringent than the sweetness that I could smell on the nose. A little bit of funk there too. This porter exhibits more than a medium body but the acidity fools you into thinking it is lighter. Nice lacing on the glass. Moderately carbonated. Pretty thin mouthfeel. This is a good beer but it doesn't really come across as a true porter which takes me back to the name, Stock Porter. I'm beginning to think this needs some time in a cellar to age and mature before consumption. I'd buy it again but I would cellar it and try one every six months or so.
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  May 14, 2011

  SweatWater Mean Joe Bean (Tank Tank March 2011)
  
  Brewed by:
  SweetWater Brewing Company
  Georgia, United States
  
  Style American Porter
  ABV 8.50% ABV
  
  A+ / 4.8 rDev +16.3%
  look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
  
  APPEARANCE – Solid Black, A thick cocoa brown head that dissipates to a good ¼ inch head and stays there. Real nice lacing but not the rings around the glass, but a continuous curtain linger on the side of the glass. Beautiful.
  
  AROMA – Strong notes of coffee with a hint of chocolate following behind, subtle hints of alcohol as well.
  
  TASTE – in a nice complementary, the taste of the Mean Joe Bean match the Aroma with a strong blast of coffee and a chaser of Chocolate to mellow it out. Also some good roasted malts linger on the pallet.
  
  MOUTHFEEL – Very smooth and creamy with a nice carbonation on the tongue
  
  CONCLUSION – It saddens me that this beer is no longer available as it was a onetime brew. By far the MEAN JOE BEAN is a superior beer

  SweatWater Mean Joe Bean (Tank Tank March 2011) Brewed by: SweetWater Brewing Company Georgia, United States Style American Porter ABV 8.50% ABV A+ / 4.8 rDev +16.3% look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5 APPEARANCE – Solid Black, A thick cocoa brown head that dissipates to a good ¼ inch head and stays there. Real nice lacing but not the rings around the glass, but a continuous curtain linger on the side of the glass. Beautiful. AROMA – Strong notes of coffee with a hint of chocolate following behind, subtle hints of alcohol as well. TASTE – in a nice complementary, the taste of the Mean Joe Bean match the Aroma with a strong blast of coffee and a chaser of Chocolate to mellow it out. Also some good roasted malts linger on the pallet. MOUTHFEEL – Very smooth and creamy with a nice carbonation on the tongue CONCLUSION – It saddens me that this beer is no longer available as it was a onetime brew. By far the MEAN JOE BEAN is a superior beer
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 14, 2011

  Mean Joe Bean sounds like a winner!

  Mean Joe Bean sounds like a winner!
• ibbjamin

  

  Member
   

  May 14, 2011

  Bell's Porter
  5.6% Kalamazoo, MI
  
  Paid $1.33 for a loose 12oz bottle from Festival Foods in Manitowoc, WI. Poured into a standard pint glass to review.
  
  Light tan head of about an inch after a standard pour. Head is moderately frothy and dense. Opaque dark brown in color. Good lacing.
  
  Robust aromas of roasted malts and fine coffee.
  
  Coffee flavor dominates with medium roasted malts. Some nutty and brown sugar hints.
  
  Medium body, clean mouthfeel. Smooth and very drinkable.
  
  A solid American Porter great for everyday enjoyment.
  
  A- / 4.1
  look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

  Bell's Porter 5.6% Kalamazoo, MI Paid $1.33 for a loose 12oz bottle from Festival Foods in Manitowoc, WI. Poured into a standard pint glass to review. Light tan head of about an inch after a standard pour. Head is moderately frothy and dense. Opaque dark brown in color. Good lacing. Robust aromas of roasted malts and fine coffee. Coffee flavor dominates with medium roasted malts. Some nutty and brown sugar hints. Medium body, clean mouthfeel. Smooth and very drinkable. A solid American Porter great for everyday enjoyment. A- / 4.1 look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 14, 2011

  At $1.33 that is cheaper than a soda. Bless the Beer Gods! Good beer, good price!

  At $1.33 that is cheaper than a soda. Bless the Beer Gods! Good beer, good price!
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  May 14, 2011

  ibbjamin said:
  Bell's Porter 5.6% Kalamazoo, MI Paid $1.33 for a loose 12oz bottle from Festival Foods in Manitowoc, WI. Poured into a standard pint glass to review. Light tan head of about an inch after a standard pour. Head is moderately frothy and dense. Opaque dark brown in color. Good lacing. Robust aromas of roasted malts and fine coffee. Coffee flavor dominates with medium roasted malts. Some nutty and brown sugar hints. Medium body, clean mouthfeel. Smooth and very drinkable. A solid American Porter great for everyday enjoyment. A- / 4.1 look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

  
  
  I tried this one last year I don't remember the price but it was reasonable for a craft beer, and very tasty as well.
  

  [blockquote][b][url=/profile/ibbjamin]ibbjamin[/url] said:[/b] Bell's Porter 5.6% Kalamazoo, MI Paid $1.33 for a loose 12oz bottle from Festival Foods in Manitowoc, WI. Poured into a standard pint glass to review. Light tan head of about an inch after a standard pour. Head is moderately frothy and dense. Opaque dark brown in color. Good lacing. Robust aromas of roasted malts and fine coffee. Coffee flavor dominates with medium roasted malts. Some nutty and brown sugar hints. Medium body, clean mouthfeel. Smooth and very drinkable. A solid American Porter great for everyday enjoyment. A- / 4.1 look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5[/blockquote] I tried this one last year I don't remember the price but it was reasonable for a craft beer, and very tasty as well.
• Norm

  

  Member
   

  May 14, 2011

  Ass Kisser Smoked Porter
  Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
  8.03 ABV brewed by Rahr and Sons Brewing Ass Kisser Beverage Company Fort WorthTX
  Nice rosted smokey taste, rich mouth feel, has a coffee finish, pleasant late night brew.

  Ass Kisser Smoked Porter Rahr & Sons Brewing Company 8.03 ABV brewed by Rahr and Sons Brewing Ass Kisser Beverage Company Fort WorthTX Nice rosted smokey taste, rich mouth feel, has a coffee finish, pleasant late night brew.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  May 15, 2011

  Norm said:
  Ass Kisser Smoked Porter Rahr & Sons Brewing Company 8.03 ABV brewed by Rahr and Sons Brewing Ass Kisser Beverage Company Fort WorthTX Nice rosted smokey taste, rich mouth feel, has a coffee finish, pleasant late night brew.

  
  
  Norm you have so much to say in your video's, and may I say I do enjoy watching them very much. What happened here? I can't even get a feel for the brew, basically sounds like every Porter I have ever tried (Generic). Or did you just drink to much of it and writing a review was not a priority? LOL

  [blockquote][b][url=/profile/Norm]Norm[/url] said:[/b] Ass Kisser Smoked Porter Rahr & Sons Brewing Company 8.03 ABV brewed by Rahr and Sons Brewing Ass Kisser Beverage Company Fort WorthTX Nice rosted smokey taste, rich mouth feel, has a coffee finish, pleasant late night brew.[/blockquote] Norm you have so much to say in your video's, and may I say I do enjoy watching them very much. What happened here? I can't even get a feel for the brew, basically sounds like every Porter I have ever tried (Generic). Or did you just drink to much of it and writing a review was not a priority? LOL