Wasatch Polygamy Porter - Utah Brewers Cooperative

ALESwhatCURESya

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got this straight from Wasatch Brewery in Park City. First of all, I fell bad for any beer lover that lives in Utah. I searched high and low for some decent stuff and it is utterly impossible. Anyways, this has a typical porter appearance and smell but nothing more than average. The head had little retention. The taste was pretty decent. It had a nicely toasted malt taste and was not too dry. Hints of coffee, nut, and toffee were present but much in the background. A very easy drinker if you are in to Porters. I honestly only got this for the sweet label on the bottle. "Why have just one"

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2004 12:28:03 | More by ALESwhatCURESya

ampzilla

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks Optophobia, for bringing this back from Utah for me to try.

A - Dark (obviously), traces of ruby at the edges when held to the light

S - Nice aroma, roasted grains and coffee

T -Slightly bitter, quite dry

M - Not a thin as expected, wants to cling to my tongue, but it just can't

D - At 4% this could be quite a good session beer

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2007 01:27:17 | More by ampzilla

cokes

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a dark and clear burnt sienna, stacked with a decent rise of yellowed tan suds.
Initially, the scents are small and sweet: vanilla, hazelnuts, black cherries, chocolate. It deepens with smoke and coffee after it sits for a few moments. It's a delicious and complex smelling beer, it just lacks a bit of oomph to get it all the way off the ground. Regardless, I like it.
Enters the mouth with a more assertive sense of roasted beans and char. Black cherries and vanilla eke out places in the periphery, along with another burst of ash and some dark chocolate. It sags a bit late, but then it carried home by the peppery, dead leaf hops.
As expected, it's thin in body. And in spite of this, or because of it, it's another Utah brew that is downed almost greedily quick.
I expected very little here. Just some gimmicky brew driven by the name. But I like this. The smoke and char and acrid coffee bean essences add the character that makes up for it's lack of body and strength.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 07:31:08 | More by cokes

tai4ji2x

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

thanks to BA wasatch for the namesake extra.

12oz bottle. no date found. label suggests, "why have just one!" teehee... tasted in mid/late-may 2009. poured into shaped pint glass.

very dark brown, almost black, w red hue, esp under the light. no sediment. 1.5-finger tan head, fades to thin but persistent layer. decently consistent, albeit thin, rings of lace.

aroma: dark malt and caramel, hint of plum, gentle earthiness from trace of roast and hops. vanilla? a bit simple and faint, but unoffensive.

taste: dark malt and caramel again, w hint of coloa. gentle underlying acidity, esp towards finish. mild to medium bitterness from mildly earthy hop, reveals trace of roast or coffee hint as well. a touch watery, but nothing "off" for the style.

light to medium body, just a tad watery, but smooth w acidic and astringent textures peeking out into the finish. mild carbonation has tingle and moments of fluffiness.

not as good as their other beers i've tried, but i guess it's okay. again, at least i'm not feeling all too sorry for utah beer drinkers anymore.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2009 06:43:37 | More by tai4ji2x

dtivp

West Virginia

3.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on nitro tap at the Wasatch brewpub, park City.

Poured a dark brown with a nice light tan head, little retention and very spotty lacy.

Aroma of chocolate, light roasted malt.

Taste of semi sweet chocolate, mild roasted malt, coffee, a hint of vanilla and a very slight bitter hop.

mouthfeel was medium leaning light body, with moderate carbonation, very smooth (nitro).

Overall this is a nice porter considering brewing with all the Utah restrictions. The name is worth a few points, thanks Wasatch, one wasn't enough.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-12-2011 00:42:32 | More by dtivp

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Hard Rock Cafe Salt Lake City, UT. Pours a two-finger light tan head that fades to a thin layer leaving a good lace. Nose is roasted coffee. Light carbonation and medium body. Starts with a roasted coffee flavor, some sweetness, finish is similar but with some dryness. $4.19 for a 16oz glass.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2006 03:41:26 | More by jdhilt

dbossman

Nebraska

3.63/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Very dark--nearly black with a slight, red tint; minimal head that dissipates to a razor thin film; lacing is quite intricate

S: Dark roasted malts; hints of chocolate, vanilla, and raisins; a bit muted aromas but pleasant

T: Nicely roasted malts--a touch of chocolate and vanilla permeate but all in all the flavors are rather simple; a bit watery

F: Fairly creamy up front but quite thin on the back end

D: Although the thinness and simplicity makes this a tad boring, it is still a fairly pleasant and drinkable beer. I'm not sure if it makes me want a second wife but perhaps a second beer instead

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2010 21:44:42 | More by dbossman

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.6/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got this from Wasatch, cheers John!

Pour chestnut with 2 fingers of tan head.Above average lacing & average head retention

S: Coffee & toasted malt & some caramel

T: Dryness, coffee, & roasted grain up front. Dryness dominates as this warms, along with chicory, & roasted malt. Finishes with some caramel, more dryness & roasted malt

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation up front. Pretty good balance

Drinks alright, too much coffee & dryness for me. Not a bad porter

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2008 20:25:55 | More by russpowell

jdense

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Squatter's Pub SLC airport, waiting for the frickin' fog to clear in Pasco WA 11.28.10.

One finger light tan head, quick dissipation with some lacing. Dark brown body with garnet highlights, no visible carbonation. Nose features roasted malt, some coffee, pretty sweet, negligible hops. Taste is coffee, chocolate, roast, a bit sweet, noble hops on back end, coffee more noticeable as it warmed. Medium light mouthfeel, pretty thin for style. Pretty sessionable drinkability, but in terms of flavor, this is no Black Butte Porter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 03:24:09 | More by jdense

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Basically, this is a good but not great porter. It's got the trademark roasted chocolate malts with a hint of coffee, but it all tastes a little watered down compared to full strength (say, 5% abv) porter. Still, that helps the drinkability, and it's nice to have a dark beer besides an Irish stout, that's highly sessionable. Worth a try for the name alone.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2008 23:02:07 | More by tempest

TheSteiny

Nebraska

3.58/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is my first official review, so please excuse any inaccuracies in my review process.

For my review, I poured the porter from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

A- Had a nice dark amber-brown color. Clarity was more akin to a heavy ale than a typical porter. Head left a little to be desired, but I have a feeling this was more due to bottle pouring. Good color to it, but sadly it maxed out at a quarter inch thick or so.

S- First whiff and the roasted/malty smell came roaring out. Not overbearing, but apparent. There was just a hint of a dark chocolate smell.

T- The taste was solid, but definitely not the best porter I've ever had. The roasted malt flavor was definitely there, but by no means overbearing. I only noticed the chocolate if I let the beer sit in my mouth for a bit or really paid attention to the aftertaste. I think strengthening the chocolate would have improved my opinion a bit.

M- This is where the beer loses some points with me, sadly. I can't really put my finger on it, exactly, but the beer almost felt watered down. While this added to the relatively light texture of the beer, I think a heavier feel would have been more appropriate for this style of brew.

D- Overall, I enjoyed the Polygamy Porter. It went down easily and had good flavor. If I saw it on tap, I'd likely have a glass. Wasatch has done a decent job, and I look forward to trying their other brews.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 08:38:58 | More by TheSteiny

drumline

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured in a pint glass

Appearance - Pours a dark black, head dissipates quickly. Slight lacing.

Smell - Chocolate a dark malty smell

Taste/Mouthfeel - Earthy and burnt flavors, with a thin, light body. Almost no sweetness or hop bitterness. Slight chocolate flavors.

Drinkability - Very drinkable with the low ABV

Pretty standard porter, although a little too thin for my tastes. Very low ABV makes this a pretty good session beer. "Why have just one?"

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2007 02:18:49 | More by drumline

Jason

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown with a freshness date.

LOOK: Dark brown w/ garnet highlights, decent lacing

SMELL: Caramel, cacao nibs, chicory, light raisin note, mild roastiness, mild

TASTE: Smooth, wet, mineral, grassy, toasted, roasted, Korean roasted corn tea, brown malt, herbal hop, lighter body, dry finish

For a smaller beer it does pretty good, more than enough flavor and a pinch of complexity to keep it interesting. Perfect early afternoon brew to break up the day.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 03:03:59 | More by Jason

Traquairlover

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Colts9016 for this bottle.

A = Clear dark red almost garnet color with little to no head, light tan bubbles on surface.

S = Cocoa powder, fresh turned soil, buttered toast, sharp walnut. Well balanced.

T = Little watery, mixed flavors of cocoa, soil, sharp bitterness at midpalate, but overall balanced, finish is slightly like a sweet medicinal children's cough syrup but far lighter.

M = Light body, light mouthcoating, slightly too aggressive carbonation.

D = Not a bad drinking beer, but a little light in flavor and body. I could see enjoying this as a session brew quite readily.

My description (especially of the taste) may make it sound much worse than it is. It is actually a perfectly enjoyable beer but a little lighter in the flavors than I would prefer and I think that highlights some of the less desirable qualities. OVerall it is a decent beer though.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2009 15:03:25 | More by Traquairlover

Tolnik

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a wonderful brown beer that poured a fair amount of head that reduced to wisps of lacing. The aroma of a robust, slightly smoke, caramel. The taste follows close suit to the aroma of the beer with a sweet malt tone that follows suit. Overall a good sweeter porter to have.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2009 06:00:14 | More by Tolnik

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice dark brown color, some carbonation, nice small creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing. Scents of malts, and chocolate. The taste is malty, very slight hop, with some toffee/chocolate. Medium body. Very drinkable would make a nice session brew. This brew tastes alot better on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2009 07:32:53 | More by Wasatch

harrymel

Washington

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at airport.
Black with a night light tan foam surface. Wood, coffee, dry hazelnuts and hints of toasted cream on the nose. Smells dry and I light that in a porter. Taste follows with a dry and woody flavor with hints of cold pressed coffee and some soil or dustyness. Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and salivating finish. I like the beer, particularly at 4%.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2012 22:09:44 | More by harrymel

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer #4 in the great Utah Brew Hunt.

Honestly, this beer struck me as more of an English Porter than an American one. It was mellow and even with minimal vibrant flavor tones that really stood out. Even and consistent and an easy one to drink, but for the style, I'd hope for a bit more kick in the mouth.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-08-2012 18:16:35 | More by RblWthACoz

RBorsato

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Almost black with Ruby Red highlights / Cream colored head. Caramel aroma ... not my favorite for porters. Nice flavor with a light roastiness, light chocolate and light coffee tones. Body was too light for a porter. A decent session beer ... after all "why have just one".

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2002 11:24:41 | More by RBorsato

Vancer

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

From a nice trade with Wasatch:

Welp, nuttin’ like starting off a brew with semi-naked women on the bottle label! Nice.

Pour of dark brown with a tannish top. Filtered brew, darnit. Nice aroma of malt and sour ale, followed up with a dry and crisp quaff of porter style malt. Somewhat a little thin, but that’s what a 4% cap can do to a brew if you’re not careful.

Smooth and easy drinking brew, this would be a good cross-over brew for the beer newbies that don’t know about “those dark and heavy” beers.

“Why have just one?” indeed.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2007 14:13:24 | More by Vancer

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown, looks like a soda during the pour. Good-sized tan foam has good stick all around. Nose is lightly roasted with hints of bittersweet chocolate. Hops are mild, maybe a little herbal. Tiny whiff of DMS-soft veggies.

Flavor is pretty easygoing, with the roasted barley notes melting nicely into a light hop resin. Not much for complexity, but the carbonation and low abv make it a decent session.

Nice that Utahans can laugh at themselves and brew a decent despite their draconian brewing laws. Recommended, but not too highly.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2010 00:51:21 | More by BretSikkink

ottovon

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on October 5, 2011 at the pub in SLC airport.

A: Deep Brown with a ruby hue. Brown head that lives lacing down the glass.
S: roasted malt, dark chocolate. A touch of sweetness, with hints of coffee.
T: a lot like the aroma. Roasted malt is the dominant flavor. I get dark chocolate and coffee. Starts out with a touch of sweetness and finishes with some roasted malt bitterness.
M: medium thin body with low-carb.
O: pretty good porter. Would definitely drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 05:04:06 | More by ottovon

morimech

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Medium brown color with two fingers of head that quickly settled to a thin cap. Some spotty lacing is left down the glass.

Aroma of malted milk balls with a little roast.

Flavor has a surprising amount of roast but the chocolate and other dark malt flavors fall away pretty quick.

One of the lightest bodied stouts I have had. Not really surprising considering the low ABV. Nice level of carbonation.

Ok for a low ABV beer. I want more of everything from my porters however.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 21:05:40 | More by morimech

shanem

Vermont

3.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Used to get this pretty often when I lived in Salt Lake, not the best porter in the world, but pretty good and easily drinkable given the constraints

A: dark brown, a little lighter than most porters i really enjoy with small tan head

S: a little bit of chocolate roasted malts, bit smokey

T: no surprises, tastes like it smells

M: a little watery for the style,

D: low abv so certainly not overpowering and the lightness makes it an easy drink

only big complaint with it can be the light body for a porter. Unfortunately, UT has abv laws and I had heard that sometimes breweries would literally need to "water down" brews to drop the original gravity

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2009 03:04:29 | More by shanem

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Look - jet black with about 2.5 fingers of khaki/dark khaki-colored foam that dissipates slowly.

Smell - malty-smelling. Maybe hints of the chocolate flavors hinted at on the label, but smells a bit more like molasses.

Taste and Mouthfeel - malty and molasses-tasting. As hinted at on the label, it does indeed fade into a slightly dry finish. Might actually taste a little better with fewer chocolate tones. Texture is pretty well-balanced.

Overall - not a bad brew, but not terribly complex either. Easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 03:02:27 | More by Nerudamann