People's Porter - Foothills Brewing Company

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Ffejherb for sharing a growler of this. I have had it on tap at the brewpub numerous times but have never reviewed it.

A-Deep, dark reddish tinted brown with a medium tan head that reduced to a thin cap and left some nice lacing.

S-Milk chocolate up front with a nice initial sweetness. Sharp notes of dark roasted malt and spicy hops come through.

T-Dark roasted malts and milk chocolate up front. A bit of nutty, chalky, earthiness in the finish.

M-Medium bodied with nice lingering bitter sweet chocolate, dark malts, coffee in the finish. Fairly smooth.

D-A solid, go to, good to have in the regular line up porter. All the highlights I like with hints of chocolate, roasted malts and coffee. Nice and smooth with plenty of flavour without going over the top.

Serving type: growler

03-20-2009 00:04:23 | More by Deuane

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I received a growler of this from Loki in the Growling at the Moon growler exchange. Thank you! Poured into my nonic pint glass and appears a rather dark, but still translucent rich chestnut color with about a finger of creamy ecru foam. A thin, sporadic lace is left by the head as my glass slowly empties. Nose consists of medium roasted grains, sweet milk chocolate, cocoa, and earthy hops. Very nice! Flavor brings chocolate egg cream sodas to mind as well as toasted and caramelized malts and grains, mild chocolate and coffee notes. A few notches better than medium bodied with ample carbonation for the style. A highly drinkable porter. Glad I had the chance to try it. Most definitely a porter for the people.

Serving type: growler

05-12-2009 03:45:59 | More by ClockworkOrange

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.19/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown color with a one finger head and nice lacing.

S: Dark chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts.

T: More of the roasted malts and coffee up front followed by a light chocolate flavor in the end. Very nice.

M: Medium bodied with decent carbonation.

O: This is a very drinkable and enjoyable Porter. If it was a little heavier, it could be considered a stout. I'll gladly drink it anytime.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 00:56:32 | More by nUgZ

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

McNealc31

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours more dark brown rather than full on black with a creamy beige head. Smells of toffee, chocolate, and hard English water. Smooth and velvety texture. The flavor is loaded with charred oak, bitter chocolate, maybe even some roasted marshmallow. Hops really only show up in the aftertaste. More of an English take on the style and very tasty. The mineral/hard water flavor comes through a bit more as it warms. The finish becomes more bitter, as well.

I like this quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 01:33:18 | More by McNealc31

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler fill at Midtown in Nash-vegas...

Very dark roasted malt aromas with the expected chocolate characteristics... Quite pleasant aromas... Rather rich and deep and very inviting... Slightest hint of hops...

Very tasty porter here... Dark, rich, smooth... Lots of bittersweet chocolate as well as some nicely roasted malts... Surprised at how quickly this growler is disappearing... Perhaps hints of vanilla here and there as I go from sipping to gulping this beer... Really digging it...

Only complaint is that I'd like a little more feel to it... Otherwise, this is awesome...

Good effort from Foothills here... Nice session porter here....

Serving type: growler

12-17-2011 15:41:54 | More by Tilley4

Naugros

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in a BIF trade from OSUBeerStudent. He also sent one of these bourbon barrel-aged. Can't wait!

Develops a really thick head with a lot of tightly-packed bubbles. As it falls it gets rocky and the structure thickens, allowing the mocha head to ascend beyond the lip of the glass. The head has amazing retention and leaves bhind bands of lace. Body is dark with a ruddy glow to it. Very nice-looking porter.

Nice smell too. The roast comes out strong with some coffee tones, a touch of cream and some nice vanilla. The hops are also mildly present here, which come off as floral.

Very interesting flavor. Not at all like it smells. The roasted grains are really forward. Hard to emphasize this enough...the initial flavor is of roasted grains...not roasted grains within a beer. almost as if you had taken some of them from the oven and popped them in your mouth. That prevalent. Around those grains is a bitterness that works around and concentrates on the tip of your tongue. There's a slight sense of metal in that portion of it. Not too distracting, but there nonetheless.

Thin side of medium in the body, but spot-on for the style. Very little presence of alcohol, if any. Easy-drinking and 22 ounces of 6.25% will get me there nicely.

If not for the slight tang in the taste, this would be the perfect porter. I CANNOT WAIT for the barrel-aged version, but I promised someone I would share.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 01:01:21 | More by Naugros

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this at the Brewery itself with my dinner. This was in the "kettle" last month when I toured the brewery, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Came out a dark jet-black with some ruby to the edges. Capped off by a pretty weak tan head that didn't last long. Some decent lacing, but nothing spectacular. Smell was a little tamed down from my other Porter experiences. Some roasted cocoa, pecans, espresso; all there, just not strong.

Great crisp mouthfeel that felt nice and slightly tingly in the mouth. Wonderful flavors of dark chocolate, roasted nuts, coffee, and some dark fruits wash over the palate. My wife doesn't really like darker beers, but loved this one. Great warming brew to enjoy a colder evening with. Delicious. Recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2008 17:29:30 | More by Onenote81

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Rich aroma has burnt wood, unsweet chocolate and quality coffee notes with undertones of molasses and licorice. Got my mouth watering! It pours an opaque dark-chocolate brown with a thick, fluffy and rather persistent light tan head. Delicious flavor lives up to the aroma, having roast coffee, chocolate, molasses and licorice tones plus a hint of caramel and a bitter hoppy undertone that actually helps round out the flavor rather than detract from it. Texture is the beer's weakest point - body is on the thin side, it seems, for a porter, and there is just a little fizz.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 01:13:07 | More by Cyberkedi

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler from Riverside beverage company in Chattanooga. Dark black, puffy tan head. Smells good, roasty malts and very inviting. Flavor was rich, hint of dark chocolate but none of the coffee that other reviewers have noted. Overall this was very tasty and I was not sad I chose this over the hoppyum this time. I think I may need some sexual chocolate at this point...

Serving type: growler

07-31-2011 02:43:31 | More by ArrogantB

oberon

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Glad to have this on tap where I work,poured into a stadard pint glass a a deep dark brown wirh some ruby highlights thruought the glass,a very tight formed beige colored one finger head atop.Aromas of charred fruit,dark roast coffee,and molasses,I love the char.Flavors are alot like the aromas,quite charred and fruity with just a hint of smoke,there is a molasses-like sweetness to it and a nice dry lingering finish.Smooth as all get out,just an awesome porter from Fotthills.Good job Jsmie.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2008 19:38:51 | More by oberon

yamar68

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark brown with a swelling, dense, dimpled brown head that laces perfectly.

The nose is nice and roasty - hazelnut, cocoa, coffee, slightly sweet and entirely balanced. A touch of bitterness keeps things interesting.

Super creamy. Soft chocolate, nuts, stale coffee, chocolate milk, an abstract bitterness dries out the finish. Very good.

I wish this saw MN distro because it is so approachable but complex enough to satisfy any porter lover.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 03:54:42 | More by yamar68

atsprings

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one on draft at the Brewpub in Winston Salem. On some levels, it is not much different from most average porters. I am, however, much more accustomed to American style porters. The flavor was definitely on the robust side, with subtle coffee and cocoa coming through in the aftertaste. Very warming on a cold rainy winter night for a beer of normal alcohol strength. I hope to see this at the Raleigh Flying Saucer so I can have it again this winter.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2007 17:56:52 | More by atsprings

HeyItsChili

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler of this at the Charleston Beer Exchange's Foothills Kickoff.

A - Poured from a growler into a Foothills pint glass. Pours Coca Cola brown with a thin khaki head.

S - Slightly faint odor of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, roasted malt.

T - Initially sort of a fizzy coffee flavor, with a lot of malt backing it up and smoothing out to a chocolaty finish.

M - Thin bodied, decent carbonation.

Serving type: growler

03-01-2009 19:46:10 | More by HeyItsChili

nickd717

California

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

Draft at the brewery.

A - Nice darkest brown appearance with a small tan head that settles to a ring with good lacing.

S - Aroma is roast, coffee, and bitter chocolate. Smells great.

T - Roasted malt, chocolate, and some smoke. Some subtle piney hop flavor as well. Good stuff, second only to their Seeing Double DIPA on this trip to Foothills.

M - Medium body with a nice dry finish and some lingering bitterness (from the roasted malt).

D - This beer is tasty and keeps you coming back for more.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2009 01:31:19 | More by nickd717

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

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Super dark brown color shows beautiful shades of jeweled ruby red when held to light. The head is also a beaut, two fat fingers of light tan foam that holds and clings like Styrofoam. Gobs of lace once it starts minimizing.

Exceptionally roasty nose, hints of cocoa nib and a less subtle helping of green hop bitterness. It's really the roast that shines through the most though.

Great balance here...some porters tend to be overly roasty, getting into total char territory, but this one exhibits plenty of balance. Roasty toasty flavor is pleasing and somehow kind of warming, while the fresh hop grassiness comes in just enough to add depth and never gets too astringent. Lightly mineral-ish, with subtle flashes of the sweetness-vs.-bitterness found in dark chocolate and a nice milky latte.

Although the carbonation is very healthy, this goes down smooth as silk. Very soft, aided by the creaminess that the ever-present head provides.

Foothills have proven their worth with big beers and sessionable beers alike. People's Porter is just another impressive brew on their can't-lose roster.

Serving type: growler

12-12-2010 19:20:33 | More by Metalmonk

LilBeerDoctor

New York

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

Reviewed on 06/21/2009. I had this on draft. This beer pours brown with a small head. The aroma is of coffee and roasted malt. The flavor is of bitter chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt. Robust palate and quite delicious. This was a surprisingly top-notch porter.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2009 17:52:58 | More by LilBeerDoctor

kels

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up this growler after an awesome lunch trip to Foothills with BA Metalmonk and friends. This review is from a pour into my pint glass.

Beer is super dark chocolate brown and more or less opaque. The initial 2 finger creamy mocha-colored head fades and retains at a solid 1/2 finger bubbly skim. Bits of lace string along the sides of the glass.

Not tons to report about the smell. With some effort, the deeply roasted malts become more and more evident.

This porter is very flavorful. The malts are deeply roasted, almost to the point of being burnt. There's a dryness to the taste that's really nice and balanced by a sweet stickiness in the aftertaste. Sweet notes of caramel and some chocolate malt add a nice creamy dimension. Feel is pretty well carbonated, keeping things light despite the richness of the flavors.

Drinkability is immense. This is a tasty, easy-drinking porter. A very nice dark beer for the summer.

Serving type: growler

07-13-2010 01:11:53 | More by kels

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

PDXHops

South Carolina

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

Growler poured into a Duvel tulip. A finger's worth of crmy tan head atop the deep brown body, good retention and quite a bit of lacing.

Pleasant nose with a good balance of milk chocolate and burnt and roasted malts with what seems to be a hint of pine underneath. And indeed, a nice piney bite ensures that sweetness is kept in check. Exceedingly enjoyable flavor profile, not too dry, not too sweet. About as robust as a 'sessionable' beer can get. Plenty of lingering burnt malts and tangy chocolate chips in the finish.

Overall impression: Good stuff, worth seeking out.

Serving type: growler

12-15-2010 01:09:07 | More by PDXHops

Agold

Pennsylvania

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

Got this beer from a recent trade with Lantern. Thanks a lot.

This beer is beautiful. Pours close to black with an off white head. There is great retention and beautiful lacing. Aroma is outstanding as well. Lots of roasty bitter coffee. A bit minerally which I am not the hugest fan of, but very nice nonetheless. The beer is crisp and roasty with some coffee, a mild earthy hop character, a little bit of smoke, and a bit of nuttiness. The roast is verging on being overdone, but I think it is not quite there yet. Mouthfeel is thin yet somehow has a fine, creamy carbonation. It does make it very drinkable, but I would like a bit more body.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 07:21:14 | More by Agold

eclipse54

Idaho

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A 22 ounce bottle from inlimbo77; thanks! Poured into a tulip glass.

Body is deep brown to the point of appearing black (and entirely opaque) in the glass. An inch of foamy khaki head develops, but subsides relatively quickly. Scattered legs of sticky tan lacing are left on the glass.

Aroma is of lightly toasted malt, toasted marshmallow, caramel, milk chocolate, cacao, roasted grains, barley, a hint of rye, and maybe some vanilla bean towards the end. It smells rather sweet, and traces of coconut seem to come through on top of some cane sugar notes.

Flavors of cane sugar, marshmallow, cacao, and roasted grain come forth almost immediately. Some coconut, caramel, milk chocolate, earthen grains, and vanilla follow suit. Finishes with a sweet and almost tangy note reminiscent of a chocolate covered orange; strange, but not at all bad.

Mouthfeel begins crisply while the carbonation releases on the tongue, but the finish is much more velvety and very nice. Relatively clean finish and not overly dry. Very well done here.

Overall, this was quite good for a porter. I highly enjoyed it and would welcome more of it anytime.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 03:19:25 | More by eclipse54

axeman9182

New Jersey

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

22 oz bottle, allowed to warm before being poured into my Duvel tulip.

People's Porter pours black, with just the faintest bit of ruby red highlights. Three fingers of khaki colored foam rise up atop the beer and stick around for a minute or two. There's a bit of lacing left along the glass, but not necessarily a ton. The nose has lots of caramel and a smooth chocolate aroma. The flavor's got a good bit of roast going on, though it's trending more towards coffee than chocolate here. A healthy dollop of caramel rounds out the malt profile. There's a light bitterness, and distinct earthy/herbal hop finish that's almost too intense at times for a relatively malt driven the style. The body is nice and firm, giving solid support to the malts, and the carbonation is just enough to cut through the sweetness and let the hops have their say. People's Porter is my first beer from Foothills, and I'm really enjoying it. I almost want to say it's too hoppy for its own good, but that's not quite the case.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 06:24:12 | More by axeman9182

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: pours a dark brown color with a short tan colored head.

Smell: roasted malts with a big earthy tone is what is detectable by the nose.

Taste: roasted malts, bits of dark chocolate, hint of coffee, dark ripe fruit sweetness, and a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp at the start, smoother and a bit dry at the finish. Long-lasting roasted aftertase.

Overall: a solid porter with a full flavor. Easy to consume this one. Definitely worth trying this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 18:46:19 | More by Gavage