Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Porter Craft Beer Tasting February 6th - 12th 2012

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  February 5, 2012

  The Porter Craft Beer Tasting runs from February 6th - February 12th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Any iteration of Porter (Brown Porter, Robust Porter, Baltic Porter, etc.) may be tasted. Some choices might include; Fuller's London Porter, Samuel Smith Taddy Porter, Burton Bridge Burton Porter, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Meantime London Porter, Anchor Porter, Smuttynose Robust Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, Nøgne ø Porter, Neuzeller Kloster-Bräu Neuzeller Porter, Hill Farmstead Fear & Trembling, Cigar City Puppy's Breath Porter & Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter.

  The Porter Craft Beer Tasting runs from February 6th - February 12th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Any iteration of Porter (Brown Porter, Robust Porter, Baltic Porter, etc.) may be tasted. Some choices might include; Fuller's London Porter, Samuel Smith Taddy Porter, Burton Bridge Burton Porter, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Meantime London Porter, Anchor Porter, Smuttynose Robust Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, Nøgne ø Porter, Neuzeller Kloster-Bräu Neuzeller Porter, Hill Farmstead Fear & Trembling, Cigar City Puppy's Breath Porter & Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  February 6, 2012

  Highland Oatmeal Porter
  Highland Brewing Company, Asheville, NC
  12 ounce bottle, 5.9% ABV, 35 IBU
  
  Thanks to Ken for sending me this Oatmeal Porter from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, North Carolina. The Oatmeal Porter pours out a dark, cola brown with some ruby hues and is topped by a one finger, frothy tan head that very slowly recedes down to a thick film. On the nose, molasses, deeply roast grains with a hint of coffee. In the mouth, roast grain flavors are predominant with coffee bitterness and a slight sweetness followed by a mild hop bite. Full side of medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Beautiful lacing on the glass. Silky texture to the mouthfeel. The finish is long with a deep roast flavor and is more on the bitter than sweet side.
  
  An excellent porter that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you like your porter, deeply roast with complex flavors that are in balance this is a must try for you. Highly recommended.

  Highland Oatmeal Porter Highland Brewing Company, Asheville, NC 12 ounce bottle, 5.9% ABV, 35 IBU Thanks to Ken for sending me this Oatmeal Porter from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, North Carolina. The Oatmeal Porter pours out a dark, cola brown with some ruby hues and is topped by a one finger, frothy tan head that very slowly recedes down to a thick film. On the nose, molasses, deeply roast grains with a hint of coffee. In the mouth, roast grain flavors are predominant with coffee bitterness and a slight sweetness followed by a mild hop bite. Full side of medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Beautiful lacing on the glass. Silky texture to the mouthfeel. The finish is long with a deep roast flavor and is more on the bitter than sweet side. An excellent porter that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you like your porter, deeply roast with complex flavors that are in balance this is a must try for you. Highly recommended.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  February 7, 2012

  This one was sent to me by Paul a while back, if I new it was this good I would not have waited so long to try it.
  
  Sprecher "Generation Porter"
  Sprecher Brewing Company - Glendale, Wisconsin USA
  Porter (ABV 5.73%)
  
  [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass]
  
  Rating: 3.8/5.0
  
  Aroma: 7/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 8/10
  Palate: 4/5
  Overall: 16/20
  
  The pour was a pitch black with a large (2-3 finger) light brown frothy head that was mostly lasting and produced some really excellent sheets of lace that coated the glass throughout.
  
  The aroma had a pronounced raspberry and mocha odor with a nice roasted chocolate malt and a mild leathery yeast with a nice hint of dark roasted coffee.
  
  The taste was malty and a bit sweet with notes of coffee and raspberry right off and then became slightly bitter sweet with a nice dose of cocoa and a lightly roasty sweet raspberry finish. The flavor lasted a wonderfully extra long time letting the raspberry mocha taste settle nicely on the taste buds.
  
  Mouthfeel was just a few shades under full in body with the texture being a tad oily yet just a little dry and having a nice soft carbonation.
  
  Overall a uniquely tasty mix of flavors, which in turn created one fantastic tasting Porter that had a nice fruity roastiness to it.
  

  This one was sent to me by Paul a while back, if I new it was this good I would not have waited so long to try it. Sprecher "Generation Porter" Sprecher Brewing Company - Glendale, Wisconsin USA Porter (ABV 5.73%) [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass] Rating: 3.8/5.0 Aroma: 7/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 8/10 Palate: 4/5 Overall: 16/20 The pour was a pitch black with a large (2-3 finger) light brown frothy head that was mostly lasting and produced some really excellent sheets of lace that coated the glass throughout. The aroma had a pronounced raspberry and mocha odor with a nice roasted chocolate malt and a mild leathery yeast with a nice hint of dark roasted coffee. The taste was malty and a bit sweet with notes of coffee and raspberry right off and then became slightly bitter sweet with a nice dose of cocoa and a lightly roasty sweet raspberry finish. The flavor lasted a wonderfully extra long time letting the raspberry mocha taste settle nicely on the taste buds. Mouthfeel was just a few shades under full in body with the texture being a tad oily yet just a little dry and having a nice soft carbonation. Overall a uniquely tasty mix of flavors, which in turn created one fantastic tasting Porter that had a nice fruity roastiness to it.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  February 7, 2012

  The Sprecher does sound good. Chocolate, raspberry porter. Yum! Did they brew it more than once? Looking at their site there was just one brewing so this is almost aged 7 years?

  The Sprecher does sound good. Chocolate, raspberry porter. Yum! Did they brew it more than once? Looking at their site there was just one brewing so this is almost aged 7 years?
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  February 7, 2012

  I am not sure, Paul would be the one to ask...

  I am not sure, Paul would be the one to ask...
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  February 7, 2012

  I see other people have tasted it recently so maybe they've made it more than once.

  I see other people have tasted it recently so maybe they've made it more than once.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  February 7, 2012

  Ya Ratebeer has it rated every year going back to 2005

  Ya Ratebeer has it rated every year going back to 2005
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  February 8, 2012

  This brew was sent to me by Mark (Thanks), I am not a super big fan of smoked beers but this one was quite tasty...
  
  Alaskan "Smoked Porter"
  Alaskan Brewing Company - Juneau, Alaska USA
  Smoked Beer (ABV 6.5%)
  
  [Best served in a Dimpled Mug]
  
  Rating: 3.6/5.0
  
  Aroma: 7/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 8/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 15/20
  
  The pour was a very dark murky brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) frothy light brown head that dissipated slowly into just a few puddles and a ring of residue, leaving behind some really good sheets of lace.
  
  The aroma was right of front with a strong smoke odor and a moderate burnt dark bread malt, a light resin hop and a meaty yeast. It also had decently strong notes of dark chocolate, a dark roasted coffee and a hint of wood.
  
  The taste was smoky and mildly sweet with a hint of chocolate at first and then became moderately bitter and quite roasty with a nice dose of coffee and had a pronounced smoky finish. The flavor lasted a really long time after the swallow, being mostly of chocolate and coffee but having a strong smoky ending.
  
  Mouthfeel was right between medium and full in body with the texture being nice and creamy yet just a little dry and having a mild carbonation.
  
  Overall an impressive smoked beer that had a ton of flavor with a very nice blending of the smoke, so it did not become too overpowering on the taste buds.
  

  This brew was sent to me by Mark (Thanks), I am not a super big fan of smoked beers but this one was quite tasty... Alaskan "Smoked Porter" Alaskan Brewing Company - Juneau, Alaska USA Smoked Beer (ABV 6.5%) [Best served in a Dimpled Mug] Rating: 3.6/5.0 Aroma: 7/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 8/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 15/20 The pour was a very dark murky brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) frothy light brown head that dissipated slowly into just a few puddles and a ring of residue, leaving behind some really good sheets of lace. The aroma was right of front with a strong smoke odor and a moderate burnt dark bread malt, a light resin hop and a meaty yeast. It also had decently strong notes of dark chocolate, a dark roasted coffee and a hint of wood. The taste was smoky and mildly sweet with a hint of chocolate at first and then became moderately bitter and quite roasty with a nice dose of coffee and had a pronounced smoky finish. The flavor lasted a really long time after the swallow, being mostly of chocolate and coffee but having a strong smoky ending. Mouthfeel was right between medium and full in body with the texture being nice and creamy yet just a little dry and having a mild carbonation. Overall an impressive smoked beer that had a ton of flavor with a very nice blending of the smoke, so it did not become too overpowering on the taste buds.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  February 9, 2012

  Founders "Porter"
  Founders Brewing Company - Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
  Porter (ABV 6.5%)
  
  [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass]
  
  Rating: 3.9/5.0
  
  Aroma: 7/10
  Appearance: 4/5
  Taste: 8/10
  Palate: 4/5
  Overall: 16/20
  
  The pour was a pitch black with a slight ruby hue and an average sized (1-2 finger) medium brown creamy head that totally lasted throughout and produced excellent streaks of lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a roasted chocolate malts and a mildly sweet leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, a bit of caramel and a touch of dark fruit.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet with a hint of chocolate and some dark fruit in the beginning and finished a nice bitter sweet with a healthy dose of coffee and a mild caramel sweetness at the end. The flavor lasted an average amount of time proceeding the swallow, with a mild bitter sweet coffee taste that was left to linger.
  
  Mouthfeel was just about full in body and absolutely creamy in texture with a soft carbonation.
  
  Overall an outstanding Porter. Not to surprising though, seems everything this brewer puts out is just incredible.
  
  Sampled: 2/4/2012

  Founders "Porter" Founders Brewing Company - Grand Rapids, Michigan USA Porter (ABV 6.5%) [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass] Rating: 3.9/5.0 Aroma: 7/10 Appearance: 4/5 Taste: 8/10 Palate: 4/5 Overall: 16/20 The pour was a pitch black with a slight ruby hue and an average sized (1-2 finger) medium brown creamy head that totally lasted throughout and produced excellent streaks of lacing. The aroma was of a roasted chocolate malts and a mildly sweet leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, a bit of caramel and a touch of dark fruit. The taste was lightly sweet with a hint of chocolate and some dark fruit in the beginning and finished a nice bitter sweet with a healthy dose of coffee and a mild caramel sweetness at the end. The flavor lasted an average amount of time proceeding the swallow, with a mild bitter sweet coffee taste that was left to linger. Mouthfeel was just about full in body and absolutely creamy in texture with a soft carbonation. Overall an outstanding Porter. Not to surprising though, seems everything this brewer puts out is just incredible. Sampled: 2/4/2012
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  February 11, 2012

  Left Hand Fade To Black Volume 3 Pepper Porter
  Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO
  12 ounce bottle, 7.2% ABV, bottled on 12/17/11
  
  The Fade To Black Volume 3 Pepper Porter from left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, Colorado pours out jet black in color with just a little light making it through on the edges showing of some mahogany brown hues and is topped by a two finger, mocha colored, densely bubbled head that slowly reduces to a film. On the nose, this is redolent with chocolate, smoke, coffee, roasted malts and hints of pepper. In the mouth, this is smooth. Flavors of chocolate, roasted grain, hints of coffee, a little licorice and a peppery warmth on the back end. Medium to full bodied. Moderate carbonation. A silky, creaminess to the mouthfeel. Sheets of lacing on the glass. The finish is long and warm from the pepper but the pepper does not hide the other complex layers of flavor.
  
  A different porter that is a treat to drink. Perfect for a cool night or après-ski with the added warmth you feel from the pepper. Recommended.

  Left Hand Fade To Black Volume 3 Pepper Porter Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO 12 ounce bottle, 7.2% ABV, bottled on 12/17/11 The Fade To Black Volume 3 Pepper Porter from left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, Colorado pours out jet black in color with just a little light making it through on the edges showing of some mahogany brown hues and is topped by a two finger, mocha colored, densely bubbled head that slowly reduces to a film. On the nose, this is redolent with chocolate, smoke, coffee, roasted malts and hints of pepper. In the mouth, this is smooth. Flavors of chocolate, roasted grain, hints of coffee, a little licorice and a peppery warmth on the back end. Medium to full bodied. Moderate carbonation. A silky, creaminess to the mouthfeel. Sheets of lacing on the glass. The finish is long and warm from the pepper but the pepper does not hide the other complex layers of flavor. A different porter that is a treat to drink. Perfect for a cool night or après-ski with the added warmth you feel from the pepper. Recommended.