Bad Elmer's Porter - Upland Brewing Company

rlee1390

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear brown when pouring, black in the glass, one finger white head, that doesn't last.

S-Roasted malt, almost burnt, good deal of candied sugar.

T-Overly sweet, that candied sugar from the nose is too much here and with vanilla it doesn't get any less sweet. Good deal of roasted malt and some chocolate as well.

M-Light, not much carbonation and watery

O-Way to sweet, way to much excess sugar in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 01:34:15 | More by rlee1390

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I really like this porter. its a good example of the style, particularly as its evolved in America. it has a nice chocolate brown color and shortlived white head an inch high. the aromas is deep roast malt, bold, robust, almost smoky. there is some ashy burnt bitterness, and a soft nutty aroma as well to mellow it out. the taste is quite deep for a porter, probably closer to a stout in many ways, but drinkability remains. very complimentary to barbeque and dark chocolate cake I would imagine. dryer in the mouth, but full bodied and plenty bubbly. bitter in the finish, reminds me a lot of the smuttynose robust porter, but a little lighter on body. overall a good easy drinking example of what American porters have become, and a beer I wouldn't mind seeing make its way out to the Colorado market. I think it could fit in nicely here.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 20:42:32 | More by StonedTrippin

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.06/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This poured out as a nice looking brown color with a tan colored head on top. The lacing was thin and the retention was too. The smell of the beer is earthy and lightly roasted. The taste of the beer has a subtle chocolate and earthy roasted malts. There is a very light bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is dry, light to medium bodied with a good carbonation. Overall it's a decent porter, I enjoyed trying this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 01:49:58 | More by Knapp85

homebrew311

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Chimay glass. Appearance is typical for a porter, dark brown, mainly opaque, minimal brown head, no lacing. The aroma features nice firm roasted malts and chocolate along with a touch of oatmeal and cream. Not much in the way of hop presence. Taste is somewhat thin in regards to the malt profile, a bit of toasty bread, a tad of hop bitterness on the finish. Carbonation is a little high and the body is a bit thin. Overall, nice flavors present and a tasty beer, just lacking in the robust category.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 04:28:17 | More by homebrew311

mdfb79

New York

3.85/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 06/08/12 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in DC at their Upland event.

a - Pours a dark brown, almost black color, with one inch of off white head and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of roasted malts, sweet chocolate, bitter chocolate, nuts, light coffee. Very nice nose, I like it a lot.

t - Tastes of roasted malts, coffee, cream, bitter chocolate, light vanilla, light fruit. taste has less chocolate and more coffee.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Super smooth and creamy body, awesome mouthfeel.

o - Overall I thought this was a very good porter. Looked and felt fantastic, and had a very good nose. Worth checking out, would like to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2012 19:08:21 | More by mdfb79

Bung

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. Solid dark brown pour, not quite black. Thin layer of cream colored head.

Aroma, toffee, peat, toast malt and some milk like chocolate. A little subdued, but not bad.

Taste, earthy caramel and toffee. Some peat and chocolate. Finishes with a slight roast and coffee.

A little lighter bodied, but it is not watery thin or anything. Low abv makes this very much a session porter. Thought this was solid, maybe a tad much caramel. Maybe more of an English Porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 04:37:22 | More by Bung

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Label says bottled October 2012. Don't think that's right. Maybe September 2011?

Pours very dark brown, effectively black in the glass, but clearer and lighter at the edges (where it looks coffee-colored). One finger of medium tan head, little retention, decent lacing.

Smell is a nice blend of sweetness and roast, though it's heavier on the sweet. Smells fine, but not all that interesting. Not much to it - just the sweet, slightly fruity malts, backed with a hint of very lightly charred wood.

Taste is better than I expected. It's sweet but not overly so, and it has more of the roasty notes I expect from a porter. A touch of bitterness gets stirred up late. But overall, it's just kinda bland, with little depth. As with the smell, it tastes like what I'd expect from an average porter. Which is... average, or maybe a bit better.

Mouthfeel is okay. Medium-light body, some carbonation.

I find this beer disappointing, though I can't say exactly why. I didn't have huge expectations, but I just don't find it all that enjoyable. It's kinda light (in body), kinda dark (in appearance and flavor), but there's nothing I can point to that I really like about it. I'm chasing it, looking for something to latch onto, but failing with every sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 01:31:50 | More by zeledonia

Treebs

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to mattboyer182 for the extra. 12 oz. bottle served in a Surly Darkness tulip. Bottled February, 2012.

A: Pours a dark brown, almost black with a one finger light tan head forming on the pour. The head subsides rather slowly to a nice thick collar. Some splotchy, soapy lace is left on the glass.

S: Milk chocolate, toasted malts and a slight dry roasted coffee are all present. There is a really nice sweetness on the nose.

T: The taste definitely takes a step back. Just some dry roasted malts and very mild chocolate. The flavors leaves rather quickly to some lingering pale malts. The sweetness from the nose isn't present at all.

M: A bit thin, almost bordering on watery. I wish the flavors would stick around.

O: The beer started off nice, but overall the flavor profile was rather weak and it was a touch too thin for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 00:58:05 | More by Treebs

Sean9689

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Indy Tasting Room.

A - Pours dark brown, off-white head, spotty lace, thin collar.

S - Nice level of roasted malts, chocolate, some toasted bread. The roast is nice and is right-on for the style, enjoyable.

T - Simliar to the nose but a bit more chocolate and good amount of roast with light cream.

M - Medium, good carbonation, creamy finish.

O - A solid porter that easy to drink at only 5%. I really like my porters with a bit more alcohol and "oomph", but this goes down easily and is enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 17:58:58 | More by Sean9689

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tried the Bad Elmer at a recent beer tasting party. The beer pours an opaque brown with about good offwhite head that laced nicely. The aroma includes sweet malt, earth, vanilla bean. The taste is primarily sweet roasty malt peat and hints of coffee. The mouthfeel is light in body and ok carbonation. For me, it is too light for a porter. Overall it is ok, but there are many porters that are better.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 23:26:42 | More by WoodBrew

tsauce2

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

P: 12 fl oz bottle in to a globe glass

A: SRM is dark brown. Translucent. Head is very light tan, 1 in, dissipates to 1 cm. Medium carbonation. Light lacing.

S: Hops up front followed by roasted malt and carmel/brown sugar.

T: Hoppiness mixed with dark malt base and a light sweetness. Aftertaste is malty with a touch of hops and sweetness.

M: Medium body. Hops and malt create a mf that both stimulates the palate with hops and coats it with malt. Finish is a bit wet and of citrus, adding to the different sensations in the mf.

O: This beer is still good, but I liked it much better before the current ownership took over. While they have done many, many great things for Upland and Indiana beer in general, I miss the way this beer used to be. That said, this beer is hoppy up front, with a nice dark malt base and some sweetness. I drink it fairly regularly, but mostly to remember the good old days.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 07:05:47 | More by tsauce2

JGrooveDrums

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This was a very good beer, but I wasn't amazed. You definitely get all the aspects of a porter but, it's nothing to blow you out of the water. Good coffee chocolate taste, but leaves you with an odd bitterness. Definitely something I would drink again, but not anything special.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 07:35:58 | More by JGrooveDrums

jale

Michigan

3/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had on tap at the tasting room in Indy.

A: Pours dark brown with 2 quarters of tan head.

S: Dark roasted malt, coffee and a bit of bitter cocoa.

T: Dark roasted malt followed by bitter coffee and bitter cocoa. Nice mild finish.

M: Medium body, yet thin for a porter.

O: Just an average porter.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2011 12:25:53 | More by jale

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a dark almost black brown with a finger of tan head. Poor head retention with no lacing.

S- hints of latte, cocoa powder and semi sweet chocolate blend in with a predominate roasted grain aroma. A touch of caramel and char on the finish.

T- slight astringent roasted malt flavor is the largest componet to this brew. Subtle notes of brewed coffee and burnt caramel on the finish.

MF- smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and soft average carbonation.

D- good drinkability.

Overall an average porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 03:57:42 | More by Viciousknishs

loweball727

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a dark brown/ruby, not quite opaque. Tan head after the pour but quickly disappeared

S - Very faint malty/roasted/coffee aroma

T - Initial taste is just as it smells, with a hint of a sweet, kind of chocolatey aftertaste

M - Color had me hoping for a full bodied beer but felt very thin for a porter

O - Overall it was a decent brew. Good porter for drinking when not focusing on all aspects of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 13:08:24 | More by loweball727

theRooster90

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at Upland Tasting Room Indianapolis

A: Dark dark brown with nice creamy tan head.

S: Little bit of chocolate, maybe some coffee, malt, small amounts of wood.

T: Smoky burnt chocolate with hints of coffee but barely any.

M: Pretty smooth, not much alcohol.

O: Pretty nice porter with decent complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 18:54:01 | More by theRooster90

Tone

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, dark brown color. 1/2 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and slight lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, alcohol, hint of oatmeal, hint of wood, and hint of dark citrus. Fits the style of an American Porter. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt, slight hop, sweet malt, slight dry hop, hint of wood, and a hint of grain. Overall, good blend, body, aroma, and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 22:57:24 | More by Tone

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into DFH Signature glass. 11/10 bottling date/notch on side of bottle.

A: This pours a deep brown with reddish notes, 1/2 finger tan head that dissipates quickly, nice tab lacing

S: Lots of chocolate notes, dark, roasted malts, some faint coffee espresso notes, not deep though

T: Flavor doesn't match the noses that I got, it's watery in consistency, roasted malts but don't get the coffee or the chocolate

M: Medium but actually quite watery

O: Good but nothing spectacular

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 19:22:35 | More by inlimbo77

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a dark chocolate mahogany, barely any light getting through. Fluffy 1 finger head that dissipates slowly.

S - Notes of chocolate and dark fruit. Very malty smell, don't smell a lot of coffee or anything, but definitely those dark fruits.

T - Taste has a good amount of coffer, bitter chocolate, and a touch of those fruits. It sort of finishes with a sort of overly bitter aftertaste.

M - Not as thick as I expect from a porter. Leaves a certain dryness in the mouth afterwards as well with a sort of bitter aftertaste.

Overall - I thought it was a decent porter. Not spectacular, and while elements of a great porter were there, I felt like it lacked in some areas that prevented it from being a really good porter. Would definitely drink again, though.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 20:02:04 | More by BeerBuckeye

mcallister

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Nice looking porter. Deep mahogany with a tan head of quarter inch that leaves a sticky residual lace behind.

Roasty aromas, with some nutty ester, milk chocolate, a hint of raisin and other dried fruits. A light black fruit maybe currant comes through. Regardless smells of your typical english style porter....a good thing.

A porter by definition. Roasty malts, charred with but not overly so. Nutty with some burn caramel and toffee. Light milk chocolate flavors on the finish. Medium carbonation and a quick finish that start sweet then dries out quickly.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 22:04:25 | More by mcallister

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Black as night with a rich tan colored head that reached a height of at least two inches before settling down to a respectable inch of head that did not go away. Lots of chocolate and coffee leading the way here. Hints of molasses as well. Huge flavor here, maybe the best tasting porter I have come across. Lots of cocoa and chocolate, rich, huge flavor with a smooth creaminess that was second to none in my eyes. Really fantastic balance here as the chocolate really starts to come out as it warms. Lots of flavor here with a ton of mellow notes that were just all over the place.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 02:02:32 | More by mikesgroove

chugalug06

Colorado

1.95/5  rDev -44.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - Nice straw colored head with moderate lacing. Brew holds a nice black color with purple and brown hues. Rather basic looking brew.

S - Super homebrew esque funk... Very weird scent. Not much of anything other than chocolate funk. Smells almost like a Coca-Cola...

T - Taste is better than scent, just not by a lot... Taste is buttery chocolate with side of soy sauce. The flavor in this one struggles.

M - Overly carbonated with dry and distinct funk. Light bodied and underwhelming. Horribly out of balance.

O - Brew is smooth, but missing a lot!!! There's not to talk about with this one. I wouldn't go out of my way to find this one again. Thanks for the extra in a good trade!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 01:55:31 | More by chugalug06

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, bottled in Nov. 2010. Deep brown color, chestnut highlights. Tan head disappears after just a couple minutes, leaving no lace at all.

Roasty malt with hints of cocoa. A caramel edge as well. Slight hints of dark fruit.

Lighter roast in the malt character. Bittersweet cocoa, slightly harsh and grainy. Not much caramel character or fruit. Finishes on the dry side.

A bit light in the body, with more than ample carbonation. Pretty easy to drink, but lacks depth. Not bad, but not really great either.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 00:28:22 | More by Bierguy5

Heischman

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Beer/Brewery - Bad Elmer's Porter - Upland
City/State- Bloomington, Indiana
STYLE – American Porter
ABV – 5%
IBU – 19.6
DATE – 3 JUN 2011
SERVING TYPE – 12 oz Bottle
GLASSWARE – English Pint
LOCATION - HEISCHMAN's TAVERN
APPEARANCE – Black and solid in color, little to no head
AROMA- Chocolate and roasted malts
TASTE – Mild chocolates with a nice bitter of coffee on the tail end
MOUTHFEEL – Smooth and creamy
CONCLUSION – I like the first impressions of chocolate, but they go way to fast. This is a good porter, but nothing special.
-JH-

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 21:27:52 | More by Heischman

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled in January 2011

A - Pours a cola-esque brown filling out to a deep dark brown body with a decent tan head with good retention.

S - Dark fruits, roasted malts, toffee, coffee. Nice nose.

T - Sweet on the front, dark malts on the back, and coffee sticks in your mouth. As it warms, the carbonation really overdelivers the sweetness.

M - Pretty serious body for a 5% abv beer. Nicely done.

O (D) - This is an ok porter, Nothing great. If it was local and cheap, I would drink it.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 20:30:32 | More by ColdPoncho