Barley's Ivan Porter - Barley's Brewing Company

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery. Pours dark brown with along lasting off- white head. Aroma is of dark fruit, toasted malt and hints of coffee. Body is medium, creamy and smooth. Toasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, prunes fill the mouth. Very nice porter.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2012 01:05:22 | More by mikeg67

Brewsed

North Carolina

4/5  rDev 0%

08-07-2012 15:39:54 | More by Brewsed

ne0m00re

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

01/28/11- Had this one on-tap at Barley's Ale House 1.
A: Very dark brown with a nice thick tan collar and film with lacing.
S: Subtle chocolate, caramel, slight roast... very mild, but nice.
T: Nice creamy chocolate roast, slightly dry, with pecans and a little banana. Good.
M: Creamy, good.
D: Great.

A good example of a porter. One that surprises me every time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2011 02:55:47 | More by ne0m00re

MbpBugeye

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark looking but when held to the light plenty of reds shine through. The head is quick to rise up to a nice froth but also quick to fade down to a thin spotty film.

S- Cocoa powder becomes evident at first. Investigate this closer and one will find a very grassy hop presence. The roasted malts, chocolate and coffee pair with the grassy hops to create a smell that can best be described as mulch.

T- Pretty smooth throughout most of each sip. Light coffee and cream come out at first. All those hops then follow. They lend a very floral and dry finish to this beer. Some coffee bean bitterness lingers.

M- Smooth, a touch on the light side and dry.

My brother and I recently got a growler from these guys (FINALLY!). While Ive had many of their beers on tap at the bar it is hard to remember my impressions. Out of the few Barley's beers that I have reviewed, this one is close to the top for me.

Serving type: growler

06-11-2010 06:47:30 | More by MbpBugeye

Otesanek

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler from the Ale House #1 poured into a snifter. Watching the pouring liquid shows it to be a dark amber/golden brown. In the glass it's a deep brown nearly black at its center. 1/2" khaki head drops to a sold ring, no real lace. Lots of chocolate and coffee, it seems a little cool so I'll let it warm for a minute and see if more character comes forward. Flavor is lightly sweet, the coffee comes in more towards the end with some hop bitterness. No real hop character in the flavor or aroma, just bitterness. The flavor is super clean, this porter is almost refreshing in its crispness. There's a hint of soot on the back-end. As it warms there's a hint of nondescript fruit in the aroma. The mouthfeel is really clean, light and faintly sweet. Drinks super easy, probably lower alcohol, I wouldn't imagine above 6%.

Serving type: growler

11-07-2009 15:27:19 | More by Otesanek

UDbeernut

New York

3.73/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on tap at Barley's Tap House 1, poured into a pint glass

a: dark brown color with very small off white head

s: chocolate and roasted malt

t: chocolate and roastyness dominate flavor, slighlty smokey and nutty. Very nice porter example

m&d: crisp mouth, medium body. Pretty decent beer.

Cheers!!!

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2009 20:11:51 | More by UDbeernut

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black with white crowning head. Chocolate aroma, medium mouthfeel. Served room temperature which was appropriate. Roast, was secondary. Nicely undercarbonated as almost all of the beers are, and therefore easier drinking as less bloated factor. A chocolate porter.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2008 03:13:44 | More by northyorksammy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the table with a coffee brown color but a rather modest head that leaves only a few splashes of lace

Smell: Milk chocolate and other roasted notes

Taste: Chocolate notes up front are joined by a building coffee bitterness, mid-palate; after the swallow, the both the sweet and bitter flavors intensify

Mouthfeel: Medium body and moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Eminently drinkable; the balance of this beer is extraordinary

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2007 03:14:38 | More by brentk56

Buildscharacter

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Thin heavy chocolate malt aroma. On first sip it's got a nice burned flavor, but I was immediatly hit with how thin the mouthfeel was. Much too thin for this much flavor. The light brown head dissipated in about a minute, leaving a little bit of lace on top. There are deep chocolate and coffee tones throughout the aftertaste.

It wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I have had beer that I've enjoyed a bunch more.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2006 21:07:23 | More by Buildscharacter

Osiris9588

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nearly opaque dark brown. The head, tan and thin. I found with growlers from Barley's the Stouts and Ports seem to lose carbonation, but the ales not as much. The head dissipated quickly, leaving just a suggestions of lacing.

The smell is of deeply roasted malts, chocolate, and molasses, which are the three flavors that dominate the flavor profile as well. The mouth is medium bodied, somewhat flat on the front, malty with a touch of hops on the back, finishing with a syrupy tang.

Rather drinkable, but seems to be a little lightweight, lacking the complexity which I have come to expect from Barley's. I have not had this one on-tap at the Alehouse, which I predict would deliver a better experience.

Serving type: growler

09-11-2006 18:09:09 | More by Osiris9588

mcallister

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nothing special in the looks department. Deep brown but thin and watery feel to it. Light penetrates very easily. A slight tan head fades quickly and leaves no lace.

Thick chocolately aromas. Roasted marshmallows as well with a hint of bitter hops and the slightest bit of espresso.

Sweet chocolatey, roasted malt. A espresso twist with heavy cream. Just the right amount of carbonation and RS. A very good easy drinking porter.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2006 00:11:53 | More by mcallister

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had the chance to taste this beer on tap at the brewpub.
From their website: "Our first dark beer was named after our brewmaster's son. A generous dose of British crystal malt gives this beer a caramel chewiness that is quite satisfying."
Pours out of the tap a deep brown, almost black, color with thick and creamy looking tan head that left nice thin lacing. The smell is full of chocolate and roasted grain aromas. A very tastey porter, with lots of chocolate malt and toastiness. Full flavored, without one thing overpowering another. Nice creamy smooth mouthfeel. If their other brews are as good as this one, I could stay all night.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2006 05:32:24 | More by BigBry

TheEclecticGent

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Had this beer on tap out of their house pint glass. It poured a black/deep brown color with a nice tan head that left good lacing.

S: The smell is rich but light. A malted chocolate and roasted barley nose.

T: Oooo this is good! Wow, what an interesting balance this porter has. It comes off light but flavorful. Wow again. It has notes of malt, chocolate and roasted grain. It has a bit of creaminess but a flavor that is light and airy. Very atypical but very good.

M: Mouthfeel was medium and had a bit of creaminess.

D: I lost count during the week. This and their Scotch Ale (cask conditioned or standard pour) are their best brews by far.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2006 18:41:17 | More by TheEclecticGent

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

How'd they do that? They acheived all of the classic Porter characteristics with absolutely not astringency or agressive roasted charcoal qualities. An opaque ruby-brown color. Head retention was lacking, but easily understood. Solid chocolate, molassas, and roasted coffee (Columbian) flavors. Mouthfeel is perhapse a bit light after drinking all of those Baltic Porters lately, but still to style. Finishes barley-like sweet. Not powdery, astringent, or roasty bitter. Quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2005 20:00:36 | More by BEERchitect

Ahhdball

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Doing this from old notes i just found, should do it justice.
Deep dark brown nice beige foam 2 fingered head.
Cocoa and malt aroma but I may be out of my head because my buddy was smoking next to me.
The taste was great. Burnt chocolate and a great helping of malt while finishing off with coffee. Vague sense of hops in here but no matter, still a fantastic drink to be had.
The mouthfeel was smooth and clean and carried a fine sense of drinkability. I'd love to have a few more.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2005 22:12:40 | More by Ahhdball

gentlebubbles

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A thing of beauty, served in a tulip glass framing a creamy dense mocha head over oily black. Sweet caramel scent. Perfect, mouth-filling tender carbonation wraps the tongue with a light fizzle and a constellation of malty flavors: raisins and caramel, port and vanilla. A fantastic match with my steak. Nice warming liquor that drifts up to my head faster than dinner could ballast me for the drive home.

Serving type: cask

08-20-2004 17:19:45 | More by gentlebubbles

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served as a sample at Barley's #1. The color was a very dark brown, with a nice white head. The smell was of coffee malt. The taste was a very strong coffee/dark chocolate malt taste, more towards the bitter end than the sweet. Mouthfeel was very smooth. Drinkability-wise, could have many of these!

This one is probably my next favorite after the Pale Ale. A quality porter, and certainly another to have again if and when I return.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2003 02:47:33 | More by beergeek279

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An exquisitely crafted porter that is as nice to drink as it is to look upon. The body is a deep ruby hued mahogany that has a nice tan head. Good retention and nice lacing down the glass. The nose is full and contains plenty of toasted malt. The flavors include the toasty malt and bring in a nice chocolate sense to go with it. Decent body and a clean finish. This is a nice, refreshing beer at any time, but I'd like to try it on a cold winter's eve.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2003 18:35:53 | More by AtLagerHeads

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was fortunate enough to get the cask-conditioned version of this. Pours a deep, dark brown with a sea-foamy head. Aroma is not strong but it smelled pretty good. Smooth and slightly flat because it was cask-conditioned, I still thoroughly enjoyed this. Roasted malty flavor with a slightly bitter finish. This is a great beer for a cold winter evening.

Serving type: cask

11-18-2002 07:18:46 | More by Dogbrick

Wildman

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a very dark brown amber color(almost black). It formed a nice medium brown head which left some lace. The aroma was slight, but of malt and chocolate. The flavor was definately of chocolate(but not overpowering) and burnt malt. Maybe a little hops. The burnt malt flavor gave it a slightley bitter finish. This and the other aspects give some stout elements. A beer that has been getting better with each batch. Worth checking out.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2002 15:58:34 | More by Wildman