People's Porter - Foothills Brewing Company

ranger60

New Jersey

3.24/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Had a 6 oz taster at Dandelion market in Charlotte, an under-rated place not even listed yet on Beer Advocate...

Very dark, with a long lasting head. Nothing descriptive in the aroma. Flavor and mouthfeel are good...I love porters and stouts, but this is coming across a bit bitter for me...not sure why. Perhaps it is because I just finished a Birdsong Lazy Bird Brown Ale which I loved. Anyway, this is drinkable but not memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2013 00:11:19 | More by ranger60

tdm168

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Wine 101 in Wake Forest.

Pours a dark brownish black with a thin lacing of brown head. The nose smells of coffee and rich, roasted malts. The flavor is dominated up front by roasted malts, coffee, and some faint chocolate. It finishes with a mild hop bitterness that adds some balance. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, smooth, rich, and well carbonated.

This is a very enjoyable beer. It's balanced, smooth, drinkable, enjoyable. I will definitely have this again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2012 23:30:06 | More by tdm168

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at CArolina Ale House in Cary.

Pours a lucid brown. One inch white head tops it off.

Smell is very roasted, over roasted. I get hickory and smoked malt.

Taste is a little too bitter for me. It feels like Olde Hickory Hickory Stick Stout. The wood feels bitter and astringent, and almost out of place. Smoothness is absent, and I miss it tons.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2011 01:33:12 | More by VncentLIFE

harpo111

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: dark with tan head....hold up to light...get a little red color to it in strong light.
S: not to acidic. coffee, nuts, raisins and dates. malty some dark notes..but not too much
T: nice....matching smell. Espresso notes, chocolate, dates, malt...
M: a bit thin....doesn't hang around on your tongue or have a ton of bite
O: not bad at all...not near as heavy as you would think. But overall a good beer....
I would say that this is not my fav porter...but still very descent.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 00:46:51 | More by harpo111

MayLattimore

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Color is a deep, dark chocolate brown that is barely translucent around the edges, and a big, thick head that takes a while to dissipate. The aroma has some toasted malts and hints of bittersweet chocolate and black coffee. The bitter coffee and chocolate continue through the flavor, with the overall taste being somewhat similar to Guinness. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but good.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 19:59:03 | More by MayLattimore

krausenman

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer was tasted on-tap at the Foothills brewpub.

A-The People's Porter arrived with lacing on the glass with little to no head. The beer was a dark garnet to brown color. It was very clear with little to no haze.

S-The porter had a roasted coffee/chocolate like smell.

T-The beer initally had a roast taste that was prominent that was followed by a subtle bitterness.

M-The mouthfeel was light to medium bodied with a low level of carbonation.

O-The beer is a drinkable porter. It is flavorful enough to be a session beer with enough bitterness to balance the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2011 01:57:12 | More by krausenman

mklinger

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Very dark brown with a thin mocha head that dissipated quickly. Fairly ordinary looking for a porter.

Aroma is better than appearance, though. Cocoa powder & fesh ground espresso beans dominate. A slight sweetness, too. Ver appetizing & inviting.

Flavor is similar to aroma but with a little bit less dominate chocolate & coffee in the flavor. A nice bit of malt and a really pleasant bitter finish add balance and complexity.

Mouthfeel was a bit thin & highly carbonated & fizzy (but not so creamy).

A drinkable, enjoyable beer that I'd be glad to enjoy again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2011 01:34:06 | More by mklinger

avalon07

South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: On-tap at Oak Barrel Taproom, poured into a pint glass. Had a dark brown color and a thick, impenetrable consistency. There was an inch of tan-colored, foamy, long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A big, warm aroma of malt, chocolate and coffee.

T: Tasted of roasted malt, a bit of coffee and chocolate (but not too much chocolate. A well-balanced, flavorful porter. One of the best American versions of an English porter you'll find.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a surprisingly dry finish. Medium-bodied.

D: An extremely drinkable porter.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2011 20:59:19 | More by avalon07

drabmuh

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On draft at Foothills. Served in a shaker pint. Beer is brown, dark, almost ruby at the corners with a thin head of tan bubbles, small, some lacing moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is sweeter than expected, some mild roast character.

Beer is thin, light in body, probably a little too thin but it makes for an easy drinking dark beer. There is some lead off sweetness with a mild roasty / bitter finish. Mildly hopped, overall a good drinking but rather boring beer. It was fine.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2011 15:29:18 | More by drabmuh

TheKingofWichita

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On draft at Sexual Chocolate 2011.
Pours a deep russet brown color with a thick tan head and a good amount of lacing. Smells of roasted malt goodness, chocolate, and a little touch of coffee. Tastes of tons of roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, and some coffee. Mouthfeel is medium with a fair amount of carbonation. Drinkability is high.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2011 18:00:35 | More by TheKingofWichita

jpro

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at DD Peckers, West Ashley... served in a standard shaker pint...

A: Near black with a creamy, one-finger light mocha head that manages some nice retention and leaves some patchy lace.

S: Chocolate malt and roasty goodness.

T: Very impressed... nice and chocolately, yet not too sweet; good roasted malt profile, yet not acrid; hops provide good balance.

M: Medium-full bodied; a palate coater, yet not sticky; creamy and smooth... mmm.

D: Quite drinkable, although for me, a porter isn't something I'm really into throwing back a lot of... that being said, this is really good stuff and I was impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 16:28:04 | More by jpro

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A-Pours nearly pitch black with a beautiful mocha colored head. There are some auburn hues that come through.

S-Roasted malts, hops, a hint of dark fruits, and some coffee and toffee.

T-More dark roasted malts than the nose signaled. Coffee, toffee, and caramel also play a prominent role in the flavor profile. No real dark fruit notes, which the nose suggested. It tastes delicious.

M-Thick and creamy.

D-I could drink this porter all day.

I love this beer. It is my favorite offering from Foothills. It is absolutely delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 19:02:00 | More by thegodfather2701

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours very dark brown with a nice off white to tan head with a bit of lacing and moderate retention time. Nose is roasted malt with a bit of light chocolate and coffee. The taste is a bit bland with only the roast really coming through, though that itself is well done. Somewhat dry with a good body. Drinks pretty well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2010 12:04:05 | More by Thorpe429

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Barley's, 9/17/10.

A-Dark brown with some ruby highlights, a thin mocha head and no lacing.

S-Sweet, a bit lactic and some lightly roasted malt.

T-Very flavorful. Medium roast, slightly earthy hops.

M-Medium bodied, rather lightly carbonated.

D-Nicely sessionable, a classic English porter.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2010 20:10:57 | More by sholland119

feelmefoam

South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap a few times at Nick's here in Clemson, figured it was about time I took down a few notes and reviewed it.

On the pour it's pretty black, not your Ten Fidy black, but pretty damn dark. I guess I'm just not very descriptive tonight. Either way, it put up about a finger of tan head that dissipated after a minute or so, leaving some decent lacing around the glass.

The smell was pretty damn solid too, starting out with a heavy-sweet molasses base and adding some coffee, brown sugar, and maybe a little bitter chocolate in there, too. Some earthiness later on down the road, too.

The flavor is where the beer really starts to stand out. Thick, semi-sweet molasses and brown sugar started out, followed by some bittering coffee and dark chocolate and then leading into a smooth, clean earthy-grassy hop flavor (if clean earthiness exists). The mouthfeel works so well with the flavor that I'm putting it all in one paragraph. Thick, full, and sticky, like I like my porters to be. Creamy at the same time, though; it doesn't really feel like you're chewing this thing, it's just thick and creamy going down. Like drinking a really tasty pillow. Picture that in your head for a minute.

Overall, this is an excellent porter, up there with some of my favorites of all time (Smuttynose's Robust Porter comes to mind). If you see this on tap around the Southeast, do yourself a favor and IMBIBE.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2010 03:36:53 | More by feelmefoam

moz9

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at a few places in NC, including Foothills Brewery. I have to say this is by far my favorite porter that I've ever had.

What I like most about it is that it has a sweetness and sharpness similar to a stout, but with the lighter body. However, I think the body is a more robust than the other porters I have had. To me it's an almost stout when it comes to body, but it packs a lot of the flavor you would get from a stout. Really enjoyed this beer.

I also was able to pick up a growler of the barrel aged version of this beer, and I will review that after I get a chance to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2010 19:10:37 | More by moz9

Bung

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An English? Always thought this was an American Porter. That explains why I enjoy this one so much.
At foothills, most rescently at Duckworths in Charlotte. Solid black/brown pour with brown around the edges. Finger of light tan froth.

Aroma has a balance of roast malt, peat and dark chocolate. Hint of caramels.

Taste is very balanced. Roast malt, dark chocolate, charcoal and a bit of anise balanced by the molasses, chocolate and caramel. Just a bit of spice, finishing with some dryer roast.

Fairly creamy body, lighter mid weight. Drinks great after dinner or on its own in quantity. Should try if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2010 02:05:08 | More by Bung

Walken

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Foothills: People's Porter (Tasted 06/07/10)
Tap @ Barley's Taproom [Asheville, NC] poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Black as sin with brown edges, one short stumble from opaque. Solid tan head with decent retention.
Odor: Full figured roasted malt nose, whiffs of coffee and earth with an underlying toffee richness.
Consistency: Medium body with a very full malt palate. Low, but assertive carbonation keeps the feel even and smooth.
Taste: Perfectly layered roasted malt flavors, Sumatran coffee and bittersweet chocolate with tobacco, earth and smoke in the background. Second layer reveals a subtle burnt caramel richness and assertive mineral character. Finish is malty and clean with some lingering roasted malt, like dark chocolate fudge brownies.

One of the highlights of my trip to NC. Exceptional porter, exceptional beer overall. This beer incorporates elements of an American robust porter, without pushing things too far off style or hurting drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2010 15:19:36 | More by Walken

firkinhophead

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

dark brown with a thin ring of foam and some spotty lacing.

deep malt aroma, with some roasted notes of coffee, chocolate, and malted milk balls.

taste is rich and roasty, with a flash of bittersweet chocolate and a lingering coffee bitterness. hint of sour malt, smoked meat and some herbal hops.

smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel. nearly full, almost chewy body, low to medium carbonation is just right for letting the malts shine.

huge complexity for a standard porter and a perfect example of why porters are my favorite style when done right.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2010 00:31:31 | More by firkinhophead

jpmclaug

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed this at the Flying Saucer in Columbia with the help of my girlfriend

A - Dark brown a shade away from black, tan almost non existent head with light lacing

S - faint hints of chocolate / coffee but it is really difficult to pick up any smell from this beer. Probably due to the lack of head

T - bitter coffee aftertaste with a slight chocolate malty taste throughout. I know the hops are there but none really stick out to me.

M - medium body with a light amount of carbonation

D - Pretty easy to drink. A solid representation of the style and a good beer but it certainly isn't the best of the style. This is a good fallback beer if I can't find anything else I really like.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2010 20:34:09 | More by jpmclaug

GJ40

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at Peak City Grill in Apex, NC.

A - Deep brown with a moderate beige head.

S - Cocoa and a touch of coffee.

T - Cocoa and a mild but lingering sweetness. There's also a touch of roasted malt. The flavor is pretty complex but well balanced.

M - A mild chewiness with a nice low carbonation.

D - I really enjoyed this beer. It's another solid NC offering.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2010 23:28:18 | More by GJ40

glid02

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the brewpub.

Pours one shade from black with a half-finger light brown head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of smooth roasted malts with loads of lightly sweetened chocolate. Also present are hints of charred malts and vanilla.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth and robust roasted malt flavors up front are augmented by dark chocolate flavors almost immediately. The chocolate flavors turn mildly bitter midway through the sip and carry through to any equally mildly bitter ending. Hints of vanilla and molasses flavors wander in and out throughout.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very nice thickness with smooth and grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is also very good. I finished my glass quickly and could have a few more.

Overall I was excited about trying this beer and it didn't let me down. A very well-done porter with excellent subtleties. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2009 01:46:12 | More by glid02

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at 12 Bones in Asheville, NC on 11/27/09.

A - Dark brown in color with attractive deep ruby and burgundy hues and a dense finger's width of creamy tan head that settled into a patchy film and a modest amount of stringy lacing.

S - Huge roasty, malty nose with lots of chocolate and coffee character. In addition, there is a fair amount of earthy and woody hop notes, giving the nose of this porter a nice underlying bitterness.

T - Like the aroma, the roasted malt character dominates the flavor with plenty of bittersweet chocolate and coffee notes. A nutty character emerges in the middle, which then segues into a toasted malt quality. Finishes with lots of earthy and bitter coffee notes.

M - Medium bodied with a robust mouthfeel and moderate carbonation. Finishes with moderate bitterness and a hint of astringency on the palate.

D - This is fast becoming one of my favorite porters, if not my very favorite! This stuff is good competition for Great Lakes' Edmund Fitzgerald, another fine porter. The People's Porter is easily one of the finest examples of the style out there.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2009 23:42:46 | More by ffejherb

grayburn

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A solid porter from a very solid brewery. I missed the Sexual Chocolate offer in myrtle beach a couple weeks back, but got this at the griffon in chucktown at least...
A dark brown beauty with some nice reddish highlights. The head is small, but I think that might just be the bartender trying to give me an extra ounce or two. Lacing and retention are both good.
The smell and taste are both roasted deliciousness, malty depths are rounded with ample hopping for the style. Very nice beer, perhaps a touch hoppy in the grand scheme of things.
The mouthfeel is thick but finishes nicely, not cloying in the least. I could drink quite a few of these. Not too bad at all.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2009 20:54:39 | More by grayburn

devilben02

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've had my home kegerator for about a year and a half and half of the kegs I've had have been from Foothills because they put out quality products in all styles. This time I went with the People's Porter, which I hadn't have much of before, and I'm going to be very happy to have gallons of this one to go.

A heavy-handed pour results in a big, thick head that takes a while to dissipate, leaving a ton of lacing all over the inside of the glass. The color is a deep, dark chocolate brown that is barely translucent around the edges. I'm a little stuffed up, but I can still identify the toasted malt aroma with hints of bittersweet chocolate and black coffee. The bitter coffee and chocolate continue through the flavor, with the overall taste being somewhat similar to Guinness (in a good way) but with a more roasted character and greater depth of flavor. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but the overall drinkability is terrific.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2009 23:06:05 | More by devilben02