Contorter - Ale Asylum

pschul4

Illinois

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

Given to me by my cousin, thanks Ryan!

A- Pours a medium brown but sits very dark in the glass. Small half finger head leads to a nice lacing around the glass

S- Tons of roasted malt, of both the chocolate and coffee variety with chocolate winning by a hair

T- Same as the nose. Chocolate and coffee working together with some nice smokey notes thrown in

M- Pretty thin but not so much to make me dislike the beer

O- Pretty well done. Just reminds me that I prefer stouts over porters but as far as porters go this is a great one

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 03:18:41 | More by pschul4

okmote

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-26-2013 00:40:14 | More by okmote

jreindl

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

04-20-2013 13:35:21 | More by jreindl

Fr0stb1te

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-15-2013 12:02:29 | More by Fr0stb1te

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.09/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into a Nonic.
4.8% ABV, no date.

A - With large "glugs", the beer was poured with vigor creating a small tan head that fades to a foamy ring of suds below wispy lacing. Clear reddish-brown highlights show some clarity through this very dark porter.

S - Contorter's aroma immediately bursts fourth with really roasted, almost burnt qualities followed by bitter baker's chocolate, dry cocoa, and a light toffee and coffee-bean nose. While the aroma is assertive, it's also got a nice "light" feel that trails off with earthy notes of dirt and English hops.

T - Roasted black and chocolate malts give Contorter a strong flavor presence of dry cocoa and crumbly bitter chocolate while also bittering it significantly on the finish. Light, watered down coffee flavors are present as well but underwhelming when set next to the roasted malt.

M - Crisp and well-carbonated this medium-bodied porter surprisingly has a very smooth feel for it's carbonation level, finishing a touch dry and fairly bitter from the roasted malts.

O - Contorter Porter is one of those sinister-looking dark beers that's no where near as aggressive as it first appears. It might not be immediately approachable, but this is a dark beer that's got good flavor without really packing a wallop or "being too thick". It's an easy-drinking porter that would fit right in with the English session ales; a few at your favorite pub wouldn't be a bad start to the night!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 00:48:47 | More by BeerFMAndy

funkel81

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

04-01-2013 17:40:11 | More by funkel81

kaydee

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-01-2013 02:49:09 | More by kaydee

Localdrinklax

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

03-26-2013 18:06:52 | More by Localdrinklax

Stevedore

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Bell's tulip and quaffed today, 3/24/13

Aroma: Not a bad smelling beer. I smell a good bit of roast barley- coffee, caramel, even a bit of burnt sugar. (4)

Colour: Dark cola colour, comes with a 1cm offwhite head that dissipates quickly. No lacing to speak of. Pretty average for the porter style; I think if it were a slightly thicker, stickier beer it would help improve the appearance. (3)

Flavour: Actually its strength. Like the nose, it's got that roast barley character especially at the end. I get a little smokiness and burnt sugar to go along with hints of coffee. As it warms up, that roast barley character which I love out of porters and stouts comes out more at the end. I really enjoyed this aspect of the beer. (4)

Mouthfeel: It actually feels a bit creamy but unfortunately its rather thin-bodied. A bit disappointing but certainly doesn't make it a bad beer- just average. Solid carbonation, and the aftertaste of roast malt character is nice and thick and doesn't go away. I guess since its thin-bodied, its really drinkable. (3)

Overall: What it lacks in appearance and mouthfeel (it's basically a thin bodied porter), it makes up to a certain extent in flavour and nose- two rather related things. Not the most complex porter, but it is tasty and smells good despite having a watery, thin body. I liked its drinkability and flavours, but it does have a lot of room for improvement. (4)

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 00:30:25 | More by Stevedore

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-24-2013 21:05:31 | More by Sparky44

slavall

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-22-2013 01:29:21 | More by slavall

One

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

03-21-2013 16:48:21 | More by One

wmobley

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-14-2013 19:27:53 | More by wmobley

deebo

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle to pint glass this brew is topped with a finger fo tan small bubbled head. Weak retention but nice lacing. Dark brown with ruby highlights when held to light. Aromas of rich malt, chocolate, toasted without being burnt at all. Very nice aroma. Upfront taste is nice, chocolately malt with a silky mouthfeel. However this is a bit shortlived as the end note is slightly carbonic and lacks a malty full-bodied finish. Easy to drink with decent flavor. A solid sessionable english style porter that lacks depth but makes up for it in drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:18:25 | More by deebo

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-10-2013 20:27:29 | More by spycow

sacrelicio

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

03-06-2013 05:35:36 | More by sacrelicio

dhannes

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at the brewery in a standard pint glass.

A=No head whatsoever...just a very dark brown surface. Beer itself greyish brown and murky...less appealing than most.

S=First two whiffs produced no aroma whatsoever. Finally, a faint aroma of burnt toast emerged.

T=Initially, I enjoyed this beer...hints of bitter cocoa, burnt toast, and some undefined sweetness. Second half was dominated by the burnt toast taste.

M=Less body than most porters...a bit watery. Plus it seemed overly carbonated.

O=A decent session beer and actually one of the better porters from Wisconsin...still, I maintain, Wisconsin brewers are the absolute worst at making a great porter.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2013 19:30:02 | More by dhannes

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a nonic pint glass.

A - Solid black and still opaque when held to light. Got a great tan head with tight bubbles holding well. Decent bit of lacing to it.

S - Wonderfully complex. I get tons of earthy chocolate, hints of coffee all with caramel tones in the background.

T - Mild caramel maltiness early on, even biscuit malt. Coffee flavors are in the middle. The roastiness doesn't come in till late but it is kind of ash-like.

M - Drinks like a great english porter. Medium-light body, medium-light carbonation, Semi-sweet.

O - Awesome english complexity to this beer sans oxidative properties. Great look to it, and pouring over with aroma. Taste had a thin feel to it that I greatly enjoyed. It wasn't really creamy nor sweet ++ but still had dimensions of maltiness to it. It did however have a finish that of a cigarette ash that was unusual. All-in-all a great interpretation.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 01:47:20 | More by Jparker37

dmorgan310

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-28-2013 04:26:43 | More by dmorgan310

czfreeman

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

01-22-2013 21:53:32 | More by czfreeman

sandiego67

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-19-2013 01:39:09 | More by sandiego67

elcrawl

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

01-15-2013 03:13:16 | More by elcrawl

Gonzoillini

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-13-2013 03:38:58 | More by Gonzoillini

olafphysics

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

01-06-2013 03:38:45 | More by olafphysics

meanmutt

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-03-2013 05:23:20 | More by meanmutt