Sierra Nevada Porter - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Lupe

New York

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Color is a dark ruby-brown-black, with a fluffy beige head, and nice lacing. Floral hop aroma with a roasted scent. Not as creamy as expected, but a nice overall moutheel (gets better as it warms). Starts off roasted malt with hints of chocolate. Hop bitterness comes through on top of warm roasted notes. A little hoppier then what I expected from a porter, but the hops are balanced nicely and do not overpower. A tasty porter.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2002 19:40:20 | More by Lupe

Jon

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sierra's Porter has been a long-time favorite of mine, but this was the first time I'd ever tried it on tap. There was certainly a difference. This poured very dark, almost black, with a nice tan head that stuck around. Smell was nice and roasty with some toffee, chocolate and coffee aromas. The taste was quite diverse, featuring all of the above flavors and some tasty, lingering hops. Mouthfeel was quite good with a nice, mellow carbonation. For a porter, this is pretty easy to drink. A typically excellent beer from SN.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2002 14:58:24 | More by Jon

brakspear

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very tasty porter although hoppier than most other American porters. Dark ruby-brown-black body topped with fluffy brownish head...looks fantastic with a decent pour. Aroma hop bitterness evident on top of warm roasted notes, not quite what I expect from a porter. Flavor is intense chocolate overtones with lingering bitterness. Another winner from Sierra....

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2002 20:40:57 | More by brakspear

ElGuapo

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours to a beautiful dark and foamy sensation. i would have to say that this was just a sexy beer. it was very smooth with a dark coffee flavor that was just right. not the best porter i have had, but very good to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2002 16:07:43 | More by ElGuapo

BeerBob

Nebraska

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sierra Nevada Porter pours a deep dark maroon with a firm head of brown foam that stays around.

Nose of sweat apricot and palate of dark bitter chocolate, intense bitter hops, and has a fairly thick roll on the plate as well.
Also, I might add that I tried to reacquire the nose of sweet apricot, after the first sip, but could not.

If you like a well bittered porter, Sierra Nevada is worth a go.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2002 15:55:45 | More by BeerBob

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I would have given this a 5.0 on appearance, but it kind of looks like soda. The head is enormous and fluffy, and I didn't even pour it aggressively, so that part was beautiful. It has a very roasted toasted coffee flavor, almost tastes like it is burnt. A very enjoyable porter.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2002 11:02:20 | More by IrishRedRock

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours with a massive dark tan head that lasts and lasts, over deep ruby/coffee-colored ale. Nose is slightly sweet with roasted barley noticable. Taste is malty, with roasted malt dryness, a bit of sweetness followed by a hoppiness that does not overpower. Mouthfeel is somewhat medium bodied. Finishes with a nice interplay of maltiness and roastiness, a very drinkable, enjoyable & respectable porter!

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2002 15:50:48 | More by beerluvr

BeerAngel

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Not the best Porter that I've had but maybe a good stepping stone for a beginner Porter-tryer-outer (?) ;-)). The color is a typical dark maybe black color and pours a larger than typical head for some porters I've seen that is tannish in color. The smell is that of burnt coffee and chocolate. The flavor has coffee and chocolate notes as well as the notorious cascade hops that Sierra Nevada uses...and I'm not sure it fits in with a porter's typical flavor. Not bad at all, but definitely not great. Again another decent brew from S.N., but sub-par for them. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2002 19:48:32 | More by BeerAngel

bditty187

Nebraska

2.9/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Looks like cola - limited head, no lace.

Very faint aroma of chocolate and roasted malt. You have to work very hard to smell it though. This beer seemed overly rough on the tongue, not very smooth, didn't really care for it.

It tastes like a Porter, no doubt, but it is nothing special, nothing noteworthy.

Overall a very average beer… Disappointing for a Sierra Nevada product.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2002 11:20:01 | More by bditty187

John

New York

3.6/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown with some indirect light penetration. Dark chocolate, medium roast coffee beans and piney hop aroma and flavor. Easy to drink, slighty above average, but unimpressive overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2002 10:08:02 | More by John

budgood1

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

dark with a thick, tan, creamy lasting head. smells of dark roasted malts and plenty of hops. chocolate malts dominate the taste, with a hint of coffee. mouthfeel is full and rich, with the plentiful northwest hops providing a semi-dry, snappy finish. if you like your porters creamy and hoppy, this is a must. delicious.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2002 15:03:04 | More by budgood1

BillyBrew

Maine

3.48/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A deep, dark brown colour with a creamy, brownish head. The scent lends more to a light, citrusy hop and the grounded, earthy. A mild hoppy flavor pulls through the brew that leaves it a few shades drier than many porters Later, toasted tones also make themselves present in the taste. A pleasing porter if one prefers the drier, hoppier renditions over the richer, maltier brews.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2002 23:13:51 | More by BillyBrew

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a dark ruby. It has a bountiful bubbly beige head that retains nicely. Beautiful chocolate and cocoa on the nose. And also some hops, believe it or not. This is my kind of porter. Great chocolate malt tones with a hefty hop load for the style. Nice creamy mouthfeel. Easy drinking. Java and coffee bean notes make their presence known also. Very solid porter.

Last fall, my brother ZAP and I did a blind taste test of 14 porters. This came in First Place overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2002 21:32:18 | More by Bighuge

Longstaff

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer introduced me to the world of porters and it is still one of my favorites. Nice hoppy chocolate aroma, dark brown color with reddish highlights. Initial flavor is smooth, then turns to dryish, roasted coffee flavors with a hint of sweetness. A slight hoppy flavor, but most of the hops were used to balance the sweetness of this brew perfectly. Not cloying like some porters. This is a great beer cold or warm. For some reason I love to drink this in the summer time.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2002 08:07:05 | More by Longstaff

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

Enormous creamy head, craters on top, microbubbles below. Sticks around and leaves excellent lace. Dark brown, with ruby highlights. Roasted malts in the nose. Roastiness and hops duel across the tastebuds.Chocolate in the aftertaste, along with hops. Mouthfeel could be creamier. Goes down easy. Remind me that I should drink more porters, and it's been too long since I've had this porter.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2002 18:46:12 | More by RonfromJersey

John1985

Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dark brown color, beautiful white frothy head that stays there for the finish. Not much aroma except some faint roasted malt, wonderful roast malt, chocolate malt flavor balanced with hops. Finish is smooth that begs for another draught. The most drinkable porter I've had in a long time. I'm going for another, over and out!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2002 17:23:00 | More by John1985

Murph

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a nice dark brown with a nice tan head. Smells of burnt dark and chocolate malts, coffee, and some slight hop bitterness. Taste starts off with some nice malts, chocolate/roasted, then fades into some coffee, and finally leaves the tongue as a nice hoppy bite at the end. Slightly thin in the mouth but nicely drinkable. Another good brew from SN. Not anything that will knock your socks off but a nice brew nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2002 20:55:12 | More by Murph

frank4sail

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark black cherry color with slight hops/earthy scent. Bitter with a dry finish, hints of malt, but not enough to balance the brew. I think its a little lighter in the mouth than I expected from its appearence.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2002 19:47:28 | More by frank4sail

jonnylieberman

California

4.63/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Wow. This is a beer. The best example of a porter I've ever tasted. Rich, dark, coffee, thick, beautiful... Perhaps a little more flavorful than a porter "should" be, but I am a long time advocate of west coast versions of traditional beer styles. Sierra Nevada Porter is a shining example of how to improve on England.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2002 11:00:49 | More by jonnylieberman

marc77

California

3.13/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The thick, rocky and creamy tan head is well retained. Sharp, burnt toast black patent notes hit the nose at first, but as my senses adjust there is a pleasant, slightly earthy and floral Willamette hop nose accompanied by just a hint of caramel malt. The borderline astringent sharp black patent bitterness is followed by an overly mellow and subdued chocolate malt flavor. Hop bitterness is definitely above the norm for a porter, and the beer finishes with an equal mix of roasted grain and hop bitterness. This is certainly an interesting porter, but the roasted grain flavors and high hop rate aren't quite balanced by the relatively thin body and one dimensional maltiness. As a porter, it's a bit skewed in balance, but as a creation in itself it's quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2002 22:23:50 | More by marc77

cokes

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

SN's Porter is one of the best looking beers I have had the pleasure of beholding. Dark brown (bordering on black) with a very creamy tan head that lasts the duration.
The SN trademark cascade hops make themselves known from the first whiff, along with some burnt malt aromas.
The taste is robust and dark, with the burntness really in the forefront. The cascades are actually somewhat more sudued than in many of SN brews, which surprised me given their presence in the aroma. However, they are certainly there, adding some more bitterness. This compliments the roasted/burnt malts quite well. As I drink more of this, I detect some oak-like woody notes.
A very bold, bitter brew that should please fans of the style and of the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2002 01:25:16 | More by cokes

pbrian

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. It has that signature Sierra crispy freshness(?) that makes you wonder how Sierra ALWAYS puts a quality craft brew in your glass. The porter looks beautiful in the glass, the tan head lasts to the bitter(pun intended) end. Astringent/tannic burnt malt flavors give way to cascades to produce a double bitter hit. This six is disappering quickly.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2002 10:54:54 | More by pbrian

Jordan

California

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a great porter. Seemingly straying from the Sierra Nevada tradition, the strong hops bitterness has taken a side-step and presents a strong smoked/burnt and maltiness flavor that eminates strongly throughout this brew. Woodey notes. Dark brown with a tincture of red, the head lasts long after pour. A sign of a quality craft.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2002 23:19:30 | More by Jordan

nklatt

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A good porter; light on the hops (but enough that you can drink it with pizza), medium malt makes it go down easy.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2001 10:06:40 | More by nklatt

Todd

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12oz short brown twist cap bottle. Thin layer of sediment from bottle conditioning.

Appearance: Rich dark brown (true Porter colour) with tan, creamy head.

Smell: Earthy malt aromas with some aromatic hop presence.

Taste: Upfront there's a semi-acidic twang (black malt) with a citrusy hop flavour, followed by some malt sweetness and a dry/burnt aftertaste.

Notes: An excellent West-Coast interpretation of a Porter. A must have when the weather gets cooler.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-1999 00:00:01 | More by Todd