Bad Elmer's Porter - Upland Brewing Company

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

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

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

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

hoosier3334

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this one on tap at Upland tap room in BTown. Didn't really expect too much out of it as I'm more of a stout person, but this porter really impressed me. Very easy to drink, but with a (pardon the cliché) robust flavor. Not watery in the least. This beer definitely piqued my interests to try more porters in general.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2011 17:15:27 | More by hoosier3334

weatherdog

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at the Bloomington brewpub. Served in a 16oz. shaker pint.

Pour is stand porter pour, deep nearly pitch black with a khaki colored head. Medium long retention with a healthy amount of lacing.

Aroma is very muted and light. Some mild coffee but overall seemingly watery.

Taste starts off with a little astringent roasted grain taste, then some dark fruit plumish esters finish off the taste. Mouthfeel is very thin and watery, nearly no body and a medium high carb level does not help it's cause. No glaring off flavors but it's just an average at best porter, just too watery tasting.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2011 18:25:39 | More by weatherdog

alleykatking

Indiana

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

Had on tap.

A- Pours a deep darker brown color..red hues come about on the edge of the glass when held to the light. One finger tan head shows medium retention. Streaked lace on the sides of the glass.

S- Roasted malts first and foremost in the nose. There is a light nutty undertone that mixes well with a light chocolate malt as well. Coffee notes dance around the ending of the beer as well. A rather nice smelling porter that seems to be a little muted.

T- Roasted malts take center stage right off the bat. There isn't really much else until the middle and ending of the beer where it turns into a dark coffee bitterness that takes it all the way to the end except for a hint of alcohol.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Roasted malts left on the palate and long into the aftertaste with a hint of alcohol. Medium drying on the palate from the alcohol. Flavors were a little one sided and needed to step it up a notch. No real off flavors were present with this beer.

D- This was a easy to drink porter. Nothing special at all with this one. Upland made a very drinkable porter for sure but I think sacrificed some flavor in order to do so.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2011 01:26:24 | More by alleykatking

wedgie9

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tasted on draft at Sugar Maple. Pours deep dark brown with a minimal tab head that leaves some lace. Nose is dark malt and good nutiness with a hint of chocolate and coffee. The chocolate, bits, and coffee are all a little more intense on the palate. The body is still fairly light with average carbonation and a long finish that reminds me of eating a chocolate covered espresso bean.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2010 21:56:31 | More by wedgie9

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a very dark brown with a slight light tan head and not too much lacing. Nose brings roasted malt, coffee, nuts, and a bit of chocolate. The taste is a bit dry with some dark roasted malt and a bit of coffee and espresso. Medium body that is a bit dry with good carbonation. Dry and smooth, a good drinking porter, especially with the low ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 14:24:11 | More by Thorpe429

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bad Elmer, go to your room. Pours a midnight black color with a red hue when held to the light. Good clarity. A soft off white head with good retention and lacing.

The nose has a nice malt profile. Some sweetness and a mix of roastiness on the back end. There is a bit of coffee but everything blends well. I do pick out some black marker aromas but not overbearing. Some coffee notes as well. The yeast is very clean with no real off notes.

The taste is similar but backs off compared to the nose. The malt is limited/wispy and really doesn't back up the roast flavor. Some good burnt notes mixes with a lactic almost chocolate flavor. Boarder line latte quality. There is a earthy hop note on the backend that is a bit strong for style.

The body is light with a wispy feel. Would like more depth and complexity overall. There are some really nice notes here but I think the body hurts it overall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2008 16:32:17 | More by Oxymoron

emerge077

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled today at the brewpub, review from notes.

Black body with a glint of crimson in the light. Aroma is faint, some slight malty notes, but not much roast.

Roastiness comes through in the flavor, blackened malt, unsweetened chocolate, light coffee, and somewhat earthy with a raisiny aftertaste.

Good level of carbonation, creamy feel. It's tasty and easy drinking, possibly the best of the current Upland taps I sampled today.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2008 05:44:49 | More by emerge077

crazybrody06

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a big tan head that fades quick. leaves a nice lace on the glass. Smell is toasty malts, coffee, chocolate.
Taste is light maltyness with roasted coffee and some vanilla.
Medium mouthfeel with average drinkablity. Overall very nice porter that I would be happy to have anytime.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2007 16:38:45 | More by crazybrody06

JamesS

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Very nice beer! It came to the table with an excellent dark appearance and a wonderful head (and ended up having excellent lacing). It had a very rich coffee and roasted barley aroma. Very heavy and dark taste, which was excellent, with nice coffee and chocolate flavors. Not the smoothest porter, but overall an excellent drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2007 14:06:11 | More by JamesS

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

I had this on-tap at the brewery because I saw on the wall it medaled at the World Beer Cup, and I felt that while it was good, it was a bit over-sold by the WBC win.

Color was good; an opaque black with two fingers of tan head. The head looked a bit industrial; identically sized bubbles of a medium size.

Aroma was of chocolate malt.

Flavor and mouthfeel were a bit confusing. Flavor was pretty good; coffee-ish and pleasant. However, the flavor seemed to be sort of hiding behind a rather watery mouthfeel which made me lukewarm on this beer.

By no means is this a bad brew, but I’d recommend other Upland beers, or a Great Lakes Edmund Fitzergerald Porter.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2007 02:07:52 | More by BeerBelcher

fretlessman71

Colorado

2.75/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pertinent preliminary comments: Much thanks to my friend Bruno_78 for sending this one along.

AROMA: Pretty high roasted malt content, a bit of fruit (plum?) and a fair amount of chocolate. Yep, it’s a porter, all right.

APPEARANCE: Jet black with only the faintest of mahogany coming through the edges when held to light. Beige head doesn’t get too big, but cap lasts. Light to moderate lacing.

FLAVOR: Very similar to the aroma; heavy on the roasted malt almost to the point of being too bitter. Mild to moderate acidity; not much chocolate. Almost getting cigarette smoke here. Hmmm… Carbonation okay; a little too “fizzy” on the palate. Finish is pretty dry, hops are coming through here, of all places. Picking up on some diacetyl – just got a mouthful of butter. Hmmm, indeed…

MOUTHFEEL: Decent; a little fizzy but well-weighted.

DRINKABILITY: Okay – I think I’d be bored of this one after one beer, though.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This beer is alright… if you’re a really big fan of the burnt character of black patent malt, you might really be able to appreciate it. Not really my thing, though. Maybe this one needs a little less time in primary and a smaller chocolate malt/black patent malt ratio.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2005 05:43:43 | More by fretlessman71

cerevisiaephilus

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is decent. Its a great session porter, if there is such a thing. Has some great chocolate notes that aren't overpowering. A fairly sturdy hop character stands up to the chocolate malts quite nicely and adds to the slightly sweet, flavorful finish of the beer. This beer is really quite drinkable for a porter. But its not something like a Taddy porter or anything as flavorful if that's what you're looking for.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2004 03:52:59 | More by cerevisiaephilus

aracauna

Georgia

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

Pours basically black with brown at the edges. The head is a light tan and forms easily and fades into a thin creamy layer. Thin flavor. There’s not a lot of chocolate, but it’s there. The aroma is actually a bit thin and a little metallic. The flavor consists mostly of a bit of char mixed with some cocoa. Not the most exciting of porters.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2004 06:58:03 | More by aracauna

GuinnessSmurf

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An excited me sat at the bar awaiting a fresh pour of Bad Elmer's Porter. How bad could Elmer be? A nice dark colored Elmer sat in my glass wearing a small cap of khaki head. What makes Elmer bad? Perhaps its the pour at this bar in Bloomington, Indiana. I am quite sure this beer had a carbonation problem - it was looking way too active after the pour. The taste was a great blend of coffee and alcohol - it was actually pretty malty. This beer is more stout flavored and feeling than characteristic of a porter. Bad Elmer, bad! Act like a Porter!" The finish is way too clean - didn't last in my mouth at all.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2004 16:21:39 | More by GuinnessSmurf

Jason

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

Appearance: Lean lacing from a somewhat weak head, nearly full on black in color.

Smell: Suggestions of vanilla and creamed coffee. Touch of acrid roasted grain.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Smooth with a quick undertow of crispness in the medium body. Light maltiness with more roasted / burnt character for the palate to deal with, slow draw on the hop bitterness with a smidge of flavor in the end. Faint suggestions of vanilla and dark fruit middle to end, roasted grain and dry in the finish.

Notes: This is a stand up porter, well made and a joy to drink. Middle of the road, yes … but still flavorful.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2004 01:51:18 | More by Jason

Brent

Kentucky

3.1/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured with a gigantic mocha colored head, immediately filling a pub mug to overflowing. Once it finally settled down, the aroma was unusual for a porter with some sharp, fruity notes. The flavor profile was a bit unusual, as well, with some yeasty fruity notes and an unusual acidic sharpness that rode above the malt. Nice coffee notes in the malt, but there was also a bit of mustyness that I couldn't tell if it was some oxidation or just part of the malt flavor (no date on the bottle).

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2004 16:51:03 | More by Brent

Indybeer

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. Poured a deep dark brown, tinged with a reddish hue when held up to the light. Massive head that really stuck around, and lots of lacing on the glass. Aroma is roasted malt and coffee with a hint of chocolate thrown in. Taste is more of the same! Medium carbonation and finishes nice and smooth. This is one great porter.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2004 03:20:34 | More by Indybeer

TheDM

Indiana

3/5  rDev -15%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This brew poured a medium head of fine to large sized light brown bubbles that left a fair lacing and an opaque black colored body. It has a mild malt aroma and a medium strength coffee flavor with a slightly fizzy start and a bitter finish. The best thing about this beer is its color.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2003 22:53:49 | More by TheDM

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