MacTarnahan's Blackwatch Cream Porter - Portland Brewing Company

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle with no freshness date - brewed with roasted barley, wheat and oatmeal. Pours black, with a finger of light brown foam that tries to lace the glass. It looks very nice indeed. A little roasty, a little sweet in the nose, punctuated by chocolate and coffee. Tastes of roast and coffee, mild bitterness, a light astringency, and no sweetness or creaminess. Very light and thin, with high carbonation and a bit of warmth. Easy to drink, but too thin and not sweet enough to be labeled a cream porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2010 13:30:56 | More by mmmbeer

Durge

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A dark black brown color, solid and pretty, with a fair tan head and modest lacing. The aroma is a thick malty scotch, full and inviting, much like a nice scotch ale. The flavor offers tangy weak malt with just a whisper of the scotch. It's very watery, surprising after taking in its appearance and aroma. There's a touch of licorice and a little smoke in the finish. I get a bit of sweet mellon too but I don't see what makes this "creamy". The flavor and feel are nothing approaching creamy. It's effervescent and thin. Once you get used to the body, it's not too bad with good flavor and a refreshing but smooth feel that is quite drinkable with a slight warming to the belly.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 03:35:51 | More by Durge

flexabull

California

3.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown color with a nice tan head.

Aromas are creamy, nutty, and with hints of dark ripe fruits.

Taste is kind of thin. Some dark roasted malts, toast, and nuts. Finish is crisp with some light hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel is ok, but definitely on the thin side.

Drinkability is pretty good. Decent porter, but it could use some more body and a little more flavor to be a really good one.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 20:10:29 | More by flexabull

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Body is very close to black, with some amber highlights. A fluffy light tan head threatens to disappear, but is easily revived with a gentle swirl now and then. Lacing is OK.

Kind of a soapy hop aroma along with dark roasted and sweet malts reminiscent of chocolate.

Tastes pretty good. A surprising dark fruitiness joins up with pleasant roasted malt. A bit of bittersweet chocolate, maybe a hint of caramel. A brief punch of hops along with some coffee lingering in the finish. Medium bodied with lively carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2009 22:45:10 | More by PDXHops

bilyboy65

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a good porter. Nothing really special about it. Looks like a porter, although it does lack in the head department. However it does make up for that with the scent of roasted malts that hint at coffee without making a full on run at them. The flavor is up there as a well balanced beer. Nothing overpowering and nothing skewing from the baseline. The coffee plays less of a role in the flavor. What does kick up is a strong smoked wood taste. Mouthfeel is smooth and not oily. Medium bodied beer. Easily drinkable, but would need a change after a while. Kinda dry.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2009 01:03:38 | More by bilyboy65

DoubleJ

California

2.7/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce stubby twist-off from Total Wine, on to the beer:

The head has a tint of tan, and forms thick on top this charcoal colored beer. No lacing, not much head retention. Dark malt is obvious in the nose, vague roasted malt show up on occasion. To taste, it is light in the mouth, some silk-like texture is present, with little carbonation hitting on the palate. Some odd cream flavor is tasted along with a powdery, somewhat tasteless chocolate note. Flashes a vague green veggie note, could that be hops?

Decent to wash down a meal, but that's it. Lacks the robust flavor I would want from my porter, and adds a bit of an odd flavor in return.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2009 03:19:11 | More by DoubleJ

gpogo

California

4.25/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Black with a large dark brown sugar colored head. Head dissipates to a foamy covering and leaves a dense lacing.

A- Roasted malts and a bready creamy aroma.

T- Incredibly smooth tasting, the bottle mentions the use of oatmeal and wheat. Very smooth and sweet with roasted malts and a coffee flavor in the back and aftertaste. The creamy smoothness makes this almost like drinking coffee, quite interesting.

M- Medium bodied low carbonation. Incredibly smooth, almost like a nitro-stout smoothness(but smoother!)

D- Delicious. This beer is so amazingly smooth, I recommend trying it.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2009 02:28:12 | More by gpogo

charlzm

California

3.38/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Beer pours almost black with mahogany highlights. A two-finger tan head quickly subsides to a ring of foam clinging to the sides of the glass.

Aroma is muted, though nuts and roasted coffee with a minor in sweetness are easily detected.

Slightly slick, even oily, in the mouth. Low carbonation.

First flavor is a mildly acidic lactic sourness. Then comes the thin, dark roasted malt which reminds of coffee and chocolate. A hint of dark cherries. Slightly sharp on finish. Doesn't really work as well as it reads here.

Clean, nearly flavorless finish.

Easy to put one down, but not inspiring enough to make me reach for a second.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 06:01:37 | More by charlzm

magictrokini

California

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown pour with no head to speak of. Unremakable aroma; roasty malts, caramel and vanilla sweets. The taste is very smooth. The oatmeal and roasted malts are nicely balanced up front, but the beer then moves into a sour, dull finish. Its okay, but I won't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 21:47:35 | More by magictrokini

MisterClean

California

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shared at a homebrew club meeting

A - Pours a light black, chocolate head, dissipates slow, and nice legs.

S - Creamy, alcohol, black patent, pineapple hops.

T - Creamy, slightly bitter from the malts, slightest taste of hops.

M - Great for a British style, might have a stronger hop to malt balance for an American.

D - Refreshing and good overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2008 02:55:42 | More by MisterClean

Japerrault

Idaho

3.98/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from a 12 oz. bottle, the beer was black in color with a brown head about 1cm tall. The head died down quickly to nearly nothing.

S: Aromas were light with hints of sweet chocolate. No hops aroma noticed.

T: Not terribly complex; Mild chocolate and roasted grain flavors with light sweetness upfront. Quite low bitterness at the finish allowing roasted chocolate to prevail. No hops to note.

M: Medium low carbonation, medium body with a light creamy texture, and mostly dry finish.

D: The mellow flavors and body allow one to drink this beer easily. Nothing offensive here. This is a good easy-drinking porter.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2008 04:17:03 | More by Japerrault

RickS95

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I really enjoyed this beer. I'm starting to realize I've got a whole Sybil thing going on...I like fruity wheat beers, and I like porters...go figure.

Anyway, this cream porter poured a thin brownish head. Very dark brown in color.

Scents of roasted malt in the nose. No lacing. Very smooth mouthfeel, buttery comes to mind.

Hints of malt and bitter chocolate in the smooothe finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 18:56:10 | More by RickS95

kemoarps

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

It poured a beautiful black with a decent tan head that fell away pretty quickly.
the smell was ok, but nothing exceptional. the malts are clearly the driving force behind this beer, and the chcocolatey coffee aroma is welcoming, but not particularly outstanding.
the taste follows the lead of the aroma in terms of flavours, with the coffee malts and chocolate malts (in that order) making themselves quite apparent. almost a faint hint of toffee.
the mouthfeel is decent, but nothing to write home about, and it does not feel as heavy as some other porters I have had, making it a drinkable dark beer. Overall an enjoyable brew, not one that is necessarily particularly exemplary, but definitely an enjoyable drink. Would probably get again, but would not go out of my way to try and find it.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2008 02:46:28 | More by kemoarps

Goliath

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black and almost completely opaque. Some ruby and amber hues appear around the edges. A nice half inch light tan head forms and lingers with decent retention. No lacing though.

The aroma is fine. Some chocolate and caramel dominate. Slightly roasty as well.

The taste is nice. Some chocolate and caramel, roasted malt dominate like the nose. Not much else going on but very nice for a session porter.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and lightly carbonated.

Drinkability is high. Good flavor and low alcohol makes for a nice drinking session porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2008 04:47:21 | More by Goliath

bkilpatr

Oregon

2.53/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass. 09/21/08.

Pours a dark brownish-black color with a thin half-finger of tan head. The head quickly dropped to almost nothing. Aroma is milk chocolate and roasted malt.

Taste is roasted malt with a bit of smokiness. A bit of light milk chocolate. Not much else - the flavor is quite bland and it doesn't taste that good. Feel is very disappointing. The carbonation is very low, and it's very thin and watery. It just feels empty. Drinkability is decent because it's so light with not much flavor.

I don't know why this is labeled as a cream porter. There's nothing creamy about it in either the taste or the feel. I'm not impressed - the taste and feel are both very disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2008 01:23:43 | More by bkilpatr

Ragedominion

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When I crack this one open my first whiff I get strong malt smell. As I smell some more I get a bit of chocolate as well. I give it a taste, it has nice carbonation, feels very nice in the mouth. Has a good malt taste with slight creaminess to it. I have had some bad porters and this is not one. An easy drinker for a porter. It didn't really weigh me down as some porters do. I will always go for one of these when I get an urge for a decent porter.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2008 00:50:12 | More by Ragedominion

KBomb

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fantastic dark rich color and creamy frothy head. Some good chocolate aroma and a hint of nuttiness. Tasted a little less interesting than it smelled; some toasty malts, but not as good of sweet flavors as other porters. Kind of weak really. Mouthfeel was a bit light, a little watery. Easy to drink, maybe its a porter for people not usually fans of porters.

This is a decent beer, but overall the flavors are pretty mild. Not as rich or interesting as others, but nothing really wrong with it either.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2008 19:00:51 | More by KBomb

smttycty

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The massive chocolate milkshake head bursting up from my shaker pint had me reaching for the emergency brake mid-pour. The rocky crown receded slowly exposing the blackish-brown opaque body. Sub-par lacing for such a nice head though. Still, the rocky cap stuck around for the session.

The nose was mild; a little dark chocolate and a tang of fresh cut hardwood. I realized on first sip that I let this one de-chill a little too long. This usually results in any deficiencies of the brewer's skill to lay naked and exposed, yet this subtle porter faired quite well on the palette. Sitting at probably 60 degrees the upfront flavor maintained the dark chocolate and drifted to a coffee-with-cream. Very soft, even demure, on the finish.

The mouthfeel was smooth and not quite medium bodied, with a pleasing carbonation. Very drinkable if not too thin on personality. Bitterness and astringency is something I often find too much of in America porters, yet the total lack of either here doesn't produce much excitement. That not withstanding, it's drinkable and doesn't give me any reason to kick it out of the fridge

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2008 07:30:33 | More by smttycty

blackjack000

Kansas

2.65/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: This beer pours as a beautiful dark brown, like black coffee being poured, and turns solid black in the glass. It was topped with a frothy, eggshell head. The head quickly dissipated and entirely disappeared within a minute.

Smell: A light scent of roasted coffee beans.

Taste: The beer tastes a little light for a porter. A taste of black coffee after you add water to cool it off quickly, metallic- and twangy-feeling hops, and a hardly noticeable dark chocolate. Something odd in the background, almost like a cleaning agent, or when your tongue brushes against the aluminum can when taking a drink.

Mouthfeel: Feels too watery for it's color. The frothy head might have been a giveaway--the feel is equally "frothy" and feels empty. The image of the head was giving me this uncomfortable feeling like I had accidently poured dishwater into the glass. There wasn't much "cream" going on in the porter.

Drinkability: Very light feeling and easy to drink. However, I was looking for more flavor from a porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2008 01:20:29 | More by blackjack000

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer confirmed my initial aspirations about the flavors, textures, and aromas. Begins with an impressive pour of dark roastiness, nice airy head formation that retained well and left traces of lacing on the glass. Aromas are typical in the roasted barley and sweet malt profiles with hints of coffee and cocoa. A grain aroma follows up and threatens to take control of the beer. Flavors are a medium balance of stout-like grains, softened by chocolate and nutty character. Hopped assertively for bitterness and a grassy flavor. Again, the grain flavors take hold late and give an astringent taste to the aftertaste. Feels airy, dry, and round due to the abundance of carbonation, but not as creamy as the label suggests. A balanced blend of raw barley, chocolate, and hops in the finish. It hits the stride with many to-style Porters, however ordinary nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2008 21:58:57 | More by BEERchitect

MillRat

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A deep brown-black pour with one finger of tan head that disippates into a ring that stays around the glass all the way down, but leaves no lacing. A mild chocolate malt aroma with a little sweetish malt. Flavor is rather mild for a PNW porter, with a smooth creamy malt and oat base with a solid but proportionate dark chocolate malt flavor. A very nice, medium-light mouthfeel that completes a very nice session porter. Don't expect this beer to wow you in the first sip, but you will appreciate the balance and brewer's restraint as you reach for the second and third pints.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2008 03:48:10 | More by MillRat

olimax

Arkansas

3.33/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

This realy looked like a good beer when it was sitting on the shelf but in truth it is unremarkable.

Appearance: Dark, thin head, and looks thick.
Smell: Not much. A little bitter. Metalic?
Taste: A little bitter and smokey. This beer should have more taste than it does.
Mouthfeel: It is a little thick and not too carbonated.
Drinkability: I have no objection that would affect the drinkability of this beer.

There is nothing wrong with this beer...just unremarkable. I probably won't buy this again but I'm sure I'll drink my other bottle in the next couple of weeks.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2008 06:06:56 | More by olimax

stephendr

California

3.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. glass bottle- color of dark brown , with a thin tan head - nose of milk chocolate , mocha , and light – taste of milk chocolate , some sourness, and nice mocha - body is smooth , and medium with low carbonation – aftertaste of nice chocolate, light, and milky

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 04:27:42 | More by stephendr

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.05/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz my fiancee brought with her on our trip.. poured into a shaker pint.

Fairly aggressive pour made the head cascade over the side of the glass .. "my fault.. not the brewers." Dark DArk DARk DARK brown.. only the slightest bit of lite brown reveals when held to a light. Fantastic lacing.. tan head.

Aroma is muted dark malts and chocolate.. lite black licorice... cinnamon??!!

Flavor is dark malts and very lite brown sugar.. could use more body.. and sweetness... yeasty fruitiness on the end of the palate that is a little distracting. A little watery.

Just an OKAY porter.. nothing to shake a stick at.. definately not drainpour.. but not as good as a PNW porter "should" be. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2007 09:50:08 | More by JohnGalt1

SargeC

Japan

3.83/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep brown-black. Prosperous tan head.

Smell: Smoky malt. Metallic/mineral tones.

Taste: Initial smoky malt flavor evolves into metallic/mineral flavors. Has a bit of a hard water quality.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body.

Drinkability: Tasty porter. Drinkable and complex. This brew has a great, working class quality to it. Very genuine.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2007 20:11:40 | More by SargeC