Portamarillo - Dogfish Head Brewery

whatthehull

California

4.45/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tulip

A - a deep dark ruby red brown, 1/6 finger tan head and some minimal lacing

S - dark fruits, sugar, spices, huge sweet malts, caramel, vanilla, hops, wood, earth and maybe that fruit/veg

T - very nIce fruit, dried dark berries, flowers, sugar, nice biting hop, cherry, wood, terrior, I may be tasting the fruit used for this ale, I have never had it though so I can't tell. All the flavors are very nice

M - medium body, low acidity, well balanced, awesome complexity and medium very nice finish

D/O - one of the most drinkable beers I have ever had. Lots of taste. Not overwhelming. Refreshing and just an all around lovely beer. Huge flavors all are awesome

Final thoughts - $11 is really high, but worth the try. 7% abv could be higher. But this is a huge delight. Dogfish has done a great colab, need to try more epic stuff

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 07:59:37 | More by whatthehull

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2013 04:12:43 | More by megamass

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-10-2013 17:54:19 | More by twenty5

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

03-10-2013 19:10:56 | More by spycow

Lare453

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

01-08-2013 19:31:29 | More by Lare453

Furtanken

Australia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

08-31-2012 03:54:01 | More by Furtanken

Nickfellow007

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

08-14-2012 20:51:16 | More by Nickfellow007

rab53

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

07-14-2012 06:03:26 | More by rab53

demgoth

New York

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

03-12-2012 02:01:33 | More by demgoth

Gavage

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark brown almost black in color with a short 1/4" head.

Smell: malt sweetness, some earthy tones, and a bit of a vegetable aroma rose from the glass.

Taste: toffee, mild roasted malt flavor, brown sugar, and that interesting vegetable tone lingers in the background. There is a bit of a woody / earthy flavor here. Bitterness is nicely balancing.

Mouthfeel: smooth from start to finish. A medium bodied beer.

Overall: not knowing what tamarillos are, nor the wood they were smoked on, this beer had a unique flavor. Easy to drink this beer. On tap at the brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2012 17:26:01 | More by Gavage

MalReever

Delaware

4/5  rDev +3.4%

01-23-2012 12:15:23 | More by MalReever

jaysephx69

New Jersey

1/5  rDev -74.2%

01-21-2012 03:16:09 | More by jaysephx69

duceswild

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

01-14-2012 15:07:25 | More by duceswild

gbbass16

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

12-24-2011 17:35:58 | More by gbbass16

southhousebrew

Indiana

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-09-2011 14:44:10 | More by southhousebrew

Bmoyer0301

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +29.2%

12-01-2011 19:26:34 | More by Bmoyer0301

Gatordaddy

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

11-18-2011 23:19:30 | More by Gatordaddy

urrachris

California

5/5  rDev +29.2%

11-17-2011 22:12:33 | More by urrachris

Brew33

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.4%

11-17-2011 16:31:37 | More by Brew33

BeerThursdays

Delaware

3/5  rDev -22.5%

11-15-2011 17:08:33 | More by BeerThursdays

oline73

Maryland

3/5  rDev -22.5%

11-15-2011 03:50:47 | More by oline73

PerHops

California

4.47/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A- JET black. Perfect head that slowly settles and hangs around for the ride. I have to believe this is a porter or stout.

S- Grass, Flowers, Cherries, and just a hint of chocoalte.

T- A whole lot of chocolate. Not too sweet though. Some cherries and ripe berries. Very little cofee present until the finish which goes perfect with the lingering smoke. Has near perfect balance

M- Fits perfectly with this beer. Malty but good carbonation to lighten it up a bit.

O- I remember watching the episode where they made this beer and it did not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 00:38:10 | More by PerHops

mavbrew

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown color with amber highlights when held up to light. The head is about a finger thick and light tan in color, there is no lacing apparent.

S: The scent is very malty, I'm not picking up any roasted characteristics, but a molasses like malt scent.

T: The taste is much different than the smell, it is malty, but there is more of a roasted/smokey flavor to it. Now, I've never had a Tamarillo before, but there is an upfront tart flavor, it must be it. There is bitterness in the middle and the finish is dry and malty. Not your everyday "Porter."

M: This beer has a thin medium body with some tingly carbonation. The feel is malty.

D: Definitely not a typical porter, the tamarillo seems to add an interesting kick to this beer. The flavor is very malty but it blends together fairly well.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 00:14:46 | More by mavbrew

SolomonGrundy

California

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

OK, that's damn irritating..Why the HELL did stupid fB just make me replicate a Captcha to post on my own freaking page???!!! That happens again they're getting the what for!!!

I'm curious if this has been imported to the U.S. I'm sure it has, because that label I used as the picture says it was imported by Shelton Brothers...It musta been a small allocation though 'cause I haven't seen it round these parts...

This is a collab with Dogfish Head, as many of you will remember from the episode of Brewmasters. Thanks to great trader Mr. Kennedy of Oz for this brew!! Cheers!!

Pours a dense mahogany, very dark. Close to opaque. Beautiful, creamy head which persists and leaves pleasant, sticky lacing. Medium carbonation. Nice looking brew...

Very robust and super-unique aromas. You get the sense of both the weird wood smoke and also the tanginess of the tamarillo used. Nice malt bacbone to it also...Also a nice herbal note in there, kind of like oregano. Very excellent thus far.

Flavor is interesting, and now I see where the folks in NZ didn't offer a medal to it. Not nearly as robust as either the aroma or appearance would suggest. Rather than evolving through flavors, it all seems to be mish-mashed together into one, very long flavor. The smoke aspect is almost completely absent, which is a bummer. I woulda liked to have seen that more forward. Carbonation is excellent and sets up the middle well. The flavor is definitely a porter, but slightly thin for one.

Almost forgot - The Basics: 7.0% ABV and no idea on price. Heck, it would be in Aussie dollars anyway!!

Where was I - oh, yeah: This is DEFINITELY the Nicole Kidman (yeah, I realize she's not from NZ, get over it) of beers: Looks fantastic, smells great, but is too thin.

Finish is long and bitter, and I like the bitterness.

What I like Most: The wonderful appearance and unique aroma profile.

What I like least: The confused cavalcade of flavors all mish-mashed together.

Verdict: Good enough to definitely try if you see it, but not as excellent as I had hoped.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 01:11:18 | More by SolomonGrundy

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What an awesome collaboration. So pleased we're really getting some craft beer love down here in the Southern Hemisphere, even if most of the impetus is coming from our New Zealand friends, who (let's face it), are killing our Aussie asses on the craft beer front.

Purchased this one from Platinum Liquor in Bellevue Hill in Sydney.

Pours a dark, but relatively clear black-brown colour, with a light dusting of tan for the head. Body looks quite lightweight, although the carbonation is fine enough to stay quite static when swirled. Lacing is patchy and sudsy. Not a bad look.

Nose is a little meaty, with just a twinge of smoke character (certainly not a big emphasis). Some dark grains and a little leavened sweetness, perhaps sticky dates. Very nice.

Taste is similar, with big roasted notes on the front that slip away to a cleansing and soothing light sweetness on the back. Flavours of carob and dried fruits arise on the back with a smooth vanilla note, while the tantalising roasty, smoky character dances on the finish. Feel is light, but slick and smooth despite this. It makes for a nicely balanced and rather delicate palate.

Very nice brew, although probably not as out there and envelope-pushing as I expected from a trans-hemispheric collaboration between two breweries that are not averse to pushing the envelope individually.

But what they've come up with instead is a really nicely balanced, interesting, and drinkable brew. Let's hope for some more such collaborations in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 07:30:27 | More by lacqueredmouse