Wolaver's Alta Gracia Coffee Porter - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

Jason

Massachusetts

3.66/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

LOOK: Dark enough to be almost black, thin tan lacing

SMELL: Fresh coffee grounds, hint of vanilla, roasted grain, slightly sweet

TASTE: Smooth, mild crispness, semi-slick medium body, malty, sweet coffee, mild roasted character, toasted bread, mild vanilla, hint of alcohol, dark berries, roasty coffee finish

Good enough balance between the core of the beer, coffee and vanilla to make it work. Was hoping for more robust flavors though the drinkability is pretty high.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:00:03 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #36 (Jan 2010):

Brewers infusing coffee into Stouts and Porters has become sort of a no-brainer, meaning roasted malts and coffee beans simply go hand-in-hand with each other. A lot of brewers have crafted a coffee beer as a result since it's an easy marriage of two insanely popular beverages that enhance one's mood.

This week, we're tasting one of these beers, but with a couple of twists. Part of Wolaver's "Organic Farmer Series," Alta Gracia Coffee Porter is brewed with organic roasted barley and chocolate malts, infused with organic vanilla beans and shade- grown organic coffee from Alta Gracia (cafealtagracia.com),
a Dominican Republic nonprofit farm community that em- powers its farmers with tools, techniques and fair wages in order to build sustainable farms. The beans are also roasted down the road from Wolaver's (Otter Creek Brewing Co. in Middlebury) at the Vermont Coffee Company.

Pours virtually jet-black with a magnificent creamy, milky-coffee lacing that sticks to the last drop. Very robust and roasty in the nose, which is full of fresh coffee, dry chocolate and nutty brown bread. Silky smooth palate, very creamy and lush, with a malty sweet foundation. Body is surprisingly lighter than anticipated. Vanilla notes are smoothed in nicely and complement the sweetness that also has a bit of a lactose edge. Acrid notes creep in, followed by bold, roasty coffee notes, baker's chocolate, hints of toffee, nuts and slight alcohol esters. Finish is extremely dry, a bit grainy and moreish.

A very well-balanced beer for everything that's going on. Not one element dominates, but rather they all complement each other, making for a very drinkable brew. If you dig coffee, chances are you're going to dig this beer--especially if you truly care about your beans as much as your beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 01:38:36 | More by BeerAdvocate

yaksurf

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%

05-20-2013 20:35:21 | More by yaksurf

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Jet black with some consistent but thin off-white head, and scattered lacing.

S - Coffee grounds dominate the smell, followed by some dark chocolate and roasted malts, finished by some alcohol.

T - Big time black coffee up front, followed by roasted malts and a touch of semi-sweet chocolate on the back. The flavors are balanced out very well, which makes this a sessionable porter.

M - Medium bodied, moderate-to light carbonation. Definitely not watery, but not thick either.

O - Pretty impressed by the flavor and smell of this beer. Also love the fact that it's USDA Organic. Awesome!

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:58:44 | More by RWLawman

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

05-10-2013 14:05:50 | More by ncstateplaya

JakerLou

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +1%

05-10-2013 13:43:33 | More by JakerLou

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-06-2013 18:11:55 | More by ZEB89

Chris_Mac

New Hampshire

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Very nearly black, minimal head

S: Strong Coffee

T: Surprised by the carbonation, malts mix and balance nicely

M: Bitterness comes in late, but doesn't stay. Light and easy to drink.

O: Unique, multi-faceted beer with beautiful smell and appearance.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:18:42 | More by Chris_Mac

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

04-29-2013 05:55:55 | More by Kelp

MEW

New York

4.75/5  rDev +19.9%

04-21-2013 02:34:36 | More by MEW

DasPuma

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

First of all, if you like coffee, especially darker roasts, you're almost guaranteed to like this beer. Pours almost pure black with a nice tan head. The head dissipates rather quickly though and I did not get much lacing at all, the only downside to the appearance. Smells almost exclusively of coffee and hints of vanilla. Taste is the same as the smell but also has the smokiness you would expect in a porter. Overall a great porter with exceptional smoothness. I've always been a fan of Otter Creek but this was the first time I have had one from Wolaver's. This one definitely maintains the standard. Very drinkable!!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 23:12:27 | More by DasPuma

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle > Pint Glass

A - Pours totally black, thick 2 finger caramel head, and decent lacing going on too.
S - Toasted grains, roasted coffee beans, caramel and fresh bread malt, a tinge of chocolate and vanilla.
T - Very balanced and smooth coffee flavor, you get a mild bitterness that sets well in the mix amidst the nice roasty malts and beans, a hint of vanilla in the finish, but it could be a little more bold overall.
M - Creamy texture and well carbonated, lingers on your palate just right.
O - While not the best coffee porter out there, this is very balanced and smooth, It does have one of the best mouthfeels Ive ever noticed in a beer, but it needs to boast those coffee flavors just a little more.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 01:42:55 | More by Omnium

elizard

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -30.6%

04-14-2013 01:36:47 | More by elizard

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

04-12-2013 02:53:06 | More by Dave_Treat

Stranger5582

New York

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I usually don't expect much from bottled beers, but this one was excellent. On its label it stated that it was made using Vermont Coffee Company coffee and it doesn't disappoint. I stopped drinking coffee many years ago, but this beer is how I've always felt that coffee should taste.

Instead of having a miraculous nose, it was more subdued; average. The aftertaste is just as good as taking a swig from the bottle. It has a deep burned taste, but almost none of the sour taste of improperly brewed coffee. In fact, I find its finish sweet without being overly sweet. (Rohrbach's Vanilla Porter is overly sweet on it's finsh, comparatively).

This may well become the benchmark through which I measure other coffee porters. I just wish its nose belied the taste for which the drinker is in store.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 19:46:54 | More by Stranger5582

AL89BR

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

04-07-2013 03:47:53 | More by AL89BR

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

03-25-2013 23:27:00 | More by acurtis

Marty91

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

03-24-2013 23:08:42 | More by Marty91

jefftuck47

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

03-24-2013 00:03:53 | More by jefftuck47

Beergelden

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Wolaver’s is a Vermont based company, that produces USDA Organic beers in different styles, all of them true, classic examples. This one is an American Porter style ale, with a local Alta Gracia Coffee added. Wolaver’s is also part of Otter Creek Brewing and you usually see their beers next to each other in your favorite beer store.



Appearance: In the glass, it’s a dark brown, almost black color, with a light brown head about 1/2″ tall. The head hangs on to the edge of the glass after it dissolves and leaves an awesome lace around the glass as its swirled and drank.

Appearance Rating: 3 out of 3

Aroma: Right off the bat, the coffee hits you leaving no doubt of what this beer is all about. You get very nice dark chocolate, caramel and vanilla aromas along with the a slight fruity, estery quality that hangs around. Little to no hop presence to compete with the roasted and coffee.

Aroma Rating: 9 out of 12

Flavor: As you would expect, the coffee dominates the first sip, in the best way possible. It gives you a nice, smooth coffee flavor, not the dark, bitter espresso so many other coffee beers bring to the table. Some of the dark chocolate, roasted malt flavors in the middle and a good nuttiness that rounds it out. There is a slight estery, yeast character that holds on the back-end, and it finishes with a little roasted dryness overall.

Flavor Rating: 15 out of 20

Mouthfeel: A silky medium body with some minor astringency coming from the coffee and roasted malts. Medium to low carbonation and coats the mouth slightly as you drink.

Mouthfeel Rating: 3 out of 5

Overall: Overall this beer is all about the coffee! It has a solid Porter backbone with the roasted grains supporting and enhancing the coffee, in the aromas and flavors, as it should to make it successful.

This is one of my favorite coffee brews out there and it goes REALLY well with any dark chocolate for dessert or a nice seared steak. The coffee seriously brings out the best qualities of each.

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10

Total Rating: 38 out of 50

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 15:26:14 | More by Beergelden

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Dark brown to black in color. Poured with a short beige foam that quickly reduced to a wispy cap. Light roasted malt, chocolate and intense roasted coffee aromas. Smooth, light creamy, incredibly delicate feel. Sweet dark chocolate and bitter malt flavors up front. Flavors transition to dark coffee and bitter hop bitterness toward the finish. Finishes smooth and clean with a dark chocolate and light coffee aftertaste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 04:27:25 | More by IronLover

idResponse

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A nice dessert beer. Very much a porter but has the bitttersweet bite of coffee in it. Smells of malted coffee and has a slightly sticky sweet tasting feel to the mouth. Would be great with some rich desserts. I'm drinking this beer straight from the bottle and you can't see through the liquid at all. Worth a shot if you want a sweet porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:57:46 | More by idResponse

chippo33

Vermont

2.75/5  rDev -30.6%

03-13-2013 23:05:48 | More by chippo33

Manannan

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

03-08-2013 03:41:56 | More by Manannan

emceecue

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1%

03-07-2013 05:13:28 | More by emceecue