Contorter - Ale Asylum

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint.

Pours a deep brown, almost black. Head is toasted marshmallow colored and substantial. Head hangs around forever and laces the glass quite nicely.

Aroma is roasted dark malt. Big aromas of toasted bread, roasted malts, spit roasted meat and cocoa powder. Light hop smell creeps in on the finish.

Mouthfeel is creamy and slick. Smooth bodied, the carbonation is spot on.

Very nice English Style Porter. the chunk of flaked malt floating in the beer were attractive to my eye, but may turn some off. Drinkability suffers as this beer felt a little heavy for a session, which is what a Porter was meant to be.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2009 22:25:50 | More by wheatyweiss

tedpeer

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce poured into a pint.

A - Poured black with a huge light tan head that subsided to a ring around.

S - Roasted scents, chocolate and coffee.

T - Coffee and chocolate with some lactose sweetness. Slightly bitter finish.

M - Moderate to thin, with nice carbonation.

D - Goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2009 00:49:00 | More by tedpeer

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pretty good beer; one of their best, I think. Poured with a tan head and some lace. Opaque dark blackish brown. Nice roasty malty nose with a little dark ripe fruit, cocoa, coffee, a hint of vanilla and chocolate. Flavor is very similar and yet fairly dry. In spite of the richness it's fairly drinkable. But at the same time very full flavored so other flavors in my mouth clashed a bit. Nice finish with no off flavors. Not too boozy. Label reminds me of Thailand.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2009 04:37:26 | More by drpimento

zeff80

Missouri

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet black color with a foamy, tan, cappuccino-like head. It left soapy trails of lace.

S - It smelled of coffee, roasted malt and chocolate. It also had some mild floral aromas.

T - It tasted of coffee with a slight bitterness. It had sweet chocolate and caramel flavors.

M - It was soft and smooth with a fairly dry finish. A medium-bodied porter.

D - This is a pretty good english-style porter. Easy drinking and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2009 22:07:54 | More by zeff80

ZAP

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Well done porter....looks the part with a creamy tan head atop a black body...a very nice aroma greets my nose..roasted and sweetish...milk chocolate as well as some subtle coffee notes

Milk chocolate and roasted malts are the big players on the taste but the java notes become a little more pronounced...

Body is creamy and smooth and slightly thin...I don't exect regular ol porters to be high gravity monsters so this is fine with me...it really drinks easily and quickly....

Loaded with flavor and aromatics....this is an easy drinker and tasty porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 05:54:33 | More by ZAP

GbVDave

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a St.Feuillien chalice. Thanks to neubernie for the hook-up!

A: Pours a dark, burnt brown sugar brown color with barely a hint of light brown head that struggles to leave anything more than a few random specks of lace.

S: Aromas of heavily roasted malt, bakers chocolate, honey, cocoa powder, and a touch of lactose.

T: Flavors of bitter dark chocolate, dry/roasty malt, brown sugar, stale espresso, and a touch of licorice and cream.

M: Thin and very bitter and dry. The middle and finish become so dry, crackly, and burnt that my tongue partially lost the ability to detect flavors. Weird.

D: Nice roasted malt and chocolate flavors in the beginning that are squandered by the strange mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2009 23:28:01 | More by GbVDave

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

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

P: Presented in a 12 oz., brown bottle with intertwined griffin-like creatures featured on the label. No freshness dating.

A: Pours black with a thin, cardboard-colored head with moderate retention and minimal lacing.

S: Chocolate malt, oatmeal, coffee, and a hint of honey.

T: Taste mirrors the nose: rich and robust with notes of chocolate and coffee, before yielding to suggestions of licorice. Finishes with a flash of molasses.

M: Silky smooth and slick on the palate with a prickling of effervescence on the tongue. Overall, somewhat thin-bodied for the style.

D: Easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 15:25:53 | More by CaptainIPA

wardough

Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Thick, black with a nice head. Looks good so far. Head is more creamy than what I'm used to seeing on average porters.
S: Light chocolate notes.
T: Very light in body and light on the chocolate notes. Like I said before, very light.
M: Light, but nice and creamy.
D: A nice session porter.

Overall, a solid choice.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 02:08:24 | More by wardough

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

As in cutlery contorter? Pours a black hue with little color distortion when held to the light. A soft tan head with good retention, though eventually hid to the side of the glass. Limited lacing.

The nose is has a noticeable chocolate aroma but no real English notes. To start the malt has more of an American porter aroma with some chocolate notes and a touch of roast on the back end. Some lighter caramel and a hint of toffee. Clean yeast.

The taste comes out more than the nose. The malt is still top here with a slight lactic quality. Some chocolate and roast notes comes out equally. The toffee comes out more as well with some bready and nutty notes. Closer to style in taste than nose. The yeast is very clean with some minor notes but very nice. Some earthy hop notes but minimal.

The body is moderate. There is a slick quality that could be diacetyl but I didn't pick it out in the taste. Overall a good porter, easy to drink. Thanks to flyingbison for the trade.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 17:17:42 | More by Oxymoron

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black beer with a thin brown head. Couldn't get much of a head even with a vigorous pour... The lacing is sporadic. The nose is full of rich chocolate, english toffee, coffee bean and caramel. Flavor comes at you with dry cocoa powder and muddled and muddied fudge tones. Some nuttiness accents. Slight roasted malt character. And a chalky aftertaste. Solid and unique in the flavor department. Medium body. Good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2008 00:02:51 | More by Bighuge

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at the Ale Asylum Brew Pub (this one was 'billed' as their 'DisPorterly Conduct').

Poured a dark brown color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of roast, caramel, and coffee. Tastes roast and coffee. Thinner body.

Notes from and tasted on 7/23/07

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2008 01:42:07 | More by hopdog

RustyDiamond

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased at Steve's Liquor in Madison, WI on 08/01/08. Very dark brown with red hilites at the bottom. Smallish tan brown head that quickly dissipated in my SA glass. Roasty malt flavor with a slight fizz of carbonation. Some bitterness felt with some nuttiness. Slight hopinesss felt on the front end.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 20:10:36 | More by RustyDiamond

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown body, roasty tan headstarts big, begins to crumble. Looks good for the part.

Wonderful aroma, roasty, warm, earthy, with trimmings of cocoa, vanilla, cream, & a whiff of nuttiness.

In the mouth, it's a drinkable delight. Cocoa and cream. Medium bodied, with minor underlying bitterness. (Probably less than I generally like.) Very smooth, very tasty. Also, mellow. And clean.

I'm missing some grit, though, I'm wanting a bittersweet, espresso-like edge. If you're looking for an easy-drinking taste treat, though, don't pass it by.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 09:41:51 | More by feloniousmonk

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Burnt umber with generous cherry highlights. The liquid is just short of opaque, but only when bright light is available. Atop the beer sits two fat fingers of toasted tan foam that is creamyfirm and somewhat sticky. Lace that is both extensive and attractive is yet another positive.

The nose hits the bull's eye. It's obvious that plenty of roasted and chocolate malts were used. So much so that I might have guessed dry stout if blinded. Here's hoping the beer tastes as good as it smells.

Contorter is good porter. It even tastes English in some indefinable way (maybe because hop flavor is on the low end). What hops were used are probably responsible for the moderate, back end bitterness. Or, the bitterness could be due to charred black malt. Again, this is as much an Irish dry stout as it is a porter. A fine distinction, I'll admit.

The flavor is similar to chocolate-covered graham crackers, iced black coffee and English Breakfast tea leaves. Actually, the second of those is most prominent. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that a small 'tea bag' full of coffee beans was added to the kettles. The finish is relatively clean and is at least quasi-crisp. Good stuff.

The mouthfeel is the only minor misstep. Very minor. When it comes to scoring, I prefer fuller over lighter in most cases. For an ale that tips the scales at an estimated 5.0% ABV, however, it ain't half bad.

Ale Asylum has done a good job with Contorter Porter. While it doesn't venture out of the safe, cozy confines of the style, it's tasty as hell and is unlikely to lose its charm over the course of multiple bottles. In fact, I could go for a few more right now.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 13:07:54 | More by BuckeyeNation

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I thought this a good, but not great, porter. I got some defect in the aroma, and the mouthfeel is a bit thin, which is forgivable as I think my mouthfeel expectations have been shaped by Imperial Stouts and Baltic Porters, so it is entirely possible my mouthfeel expectations are unfair.

Poured a deep black color, but appeared a bit thin. Head formed nicely, but didn't last long. Aroma was very roasty with a significant mercaptan presence. Flavor is straight roastiness, and quite good. Mouthfeel was just a touch thin.

I would recommend this beer. I bought this bottle at 3 Cellars in Franklin, WI.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2008 22:45:14 | More by BeerBelcher

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled at the brewery. 4.8% abv.

A: Black with a tan head, some retention & lace.

S: Coffee, brown sugar, bread.

T: Coffee, dark chocolate, nut bread, good bitterness. Great flavour for its weight.

M: Moderate body is also impressive for its weight.

D: Quite drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2008 01:50:09 | More by Derek

Atron67

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- poured a dark but clear brown/black, like a dark chocolate color clear body with a tan head that stayed awhile but didnt really leave much lacing

S- very smooth, malty and full of chocolate character

T- this is a very nice chocolate flavored porter, smooth slightly sweet character, light roasted notes and lots of chocolate

M- full bodym, medium/strong carbonation

D- definitely a keeper

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2008 02:05:01 | More by Atron67

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Deep ruby brown with a thin tan head reducing to spotty lacing.

S-Light roated malt, not overly aromatic.

T-Good robust, roasty flavour, belies what little comes thru in the aroma. Hints of chocolate in the finish.

M-Medium body with a pleasant smoothness and a nice dry finish.

D-A solid English robust porter. Not much to complain about with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2008 07:54:58 | More by Deuane

emerge077

Illinois

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

This was released recently, this bottle came directly from Madison a few weeks ago. Stubby bottle with a tribal tattoo on it, reminds me of Hot Topic.

Pours a ruddy brownish-black, and ends up opaque in the glass. It leaves a thin ring around the glass. Initial tan head dwindles down to a bare skim. Not much creaminess to the head, or much head at all.

Smells sweet like brown sugar with some smoky roastiness.

Dry roast malty flavors, some mild smoke, barley husks, and cinnamon (?) sweet and savory. Light feel to it, mild bitterness, definitely works well for session purposes.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2008 00:05:11 | More by emerge077

brdc

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Small capped bottle, poured into a pint. Thanks to stoutsNipas.

This is a very dark brew, with a nice cocoa colored head that shows average retention and lacing.
Pleasant aroma is dominated by roasted malts, cocoa andsweetened coffee.
Light body, which is not exactly the way I like my porter, but that also added a lot to its drinkability; making it a nice summer choice. Taste is also dominated by cocoa and coffee, roasted and lightly bitter at times, but a bit sweeter than most. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2008 00:51:00 | More by brdc

dirtylou

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz single, Steve's

I have no indication to suggest this is the same as the other porter listed for ale asylum but correct me if i am wrong

appearance: pours into an imperial pint glass, dark mahogany/cola body with a creamy chocolatey lace

smell: ground chocolate, chocolate malts, light espresso and milk

taste: flavor profile dominated by cocoa powder and chocolate malt, very trace licorice and other spice...light bodied and easy drinking

mouthfeel: creamy and light

drinkability: easy

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2008 21:19:01 | More by dirtylou