Smuttynose Robust Porter - Smuttynose Brewing Company

BeerSox

Virginia

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle into nonic.

A thick two finger brown head slowly settles to a thin bubbly rim. The head has large bubbles in it. After the head finishes deflating, it leaves behind a solid webbed ring of lacing.

The aroma is loaded with roasted malts and coffee. A little bit of chocolate is in there as well. A light creaminess rolls in at the middle.

Gobs of bitter roasty malts are in the flavor, contributing to most of the bitterness in the beer. The hops are minimal, maybe adding a little bit of grassy flavor to the background. There is a bit of molasses here and there, and becomes more present as the beer warms. Full bodied with good carbonation. The malts linger for a while after each sip.

This one is all-malt and loads of it. I guess you can say the name describes this beer perfectly. It even has a bit of complexity with some coffee and chocolate notes. One of my favorite porters ever. Highly recommended.

Edit: After trying many porters, and many other beers, I can say that this is my all-time favorite. I wish a "5.5" was reserved for a one-time use for each BA. This beer would receive it from me.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 01:14:10 | More by BeerSox

beer456

New York

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am on vacation in Vermont and I went into restaurant for dinner. Ordered a Smuttynose off tap and expected the regular Smuttynose I am used to off tap in my local New York watering hole. At first I had thought the waitress poured me the wrong drink but upon further enquiry I was delighted to be introduced to this fabulous Robust Porter. Simply amazing. The taste and smell is very comforting. I would love to drink this beer in the winter when I come back to Vermont to ski. I hope they keep it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2012 17:39:36 | More by beer456

RBorsato

Virginia

4.97/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Black with a full dark brown head, good carbonation, and nice lace. Nice chocolate, cappucino, roasty coffee aroma and flavor with a nice hoppy balance (almost a bit of citrus shining through). Medium-full bodied as a Robust Porter should be with a dry roasty character to finish.

Awesome must buy for style !! Best Smuttynose brew from an excellent brewery...

Per S.B.Co. website:
OG: 1064 TG: 1018
Grain Bill: pale 2-row, carastan, dark crystal, special "b," chocolate
Hops: Cascade
IBU's: 15, ABV: 5.7%
Color/Number: Dark chocolate brown

GOLD - 2001 GABF - ROBUST PORTER

Bottled: Nov '04 (notched)
Tasted: 12/28/04

(K. Richmond)

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2005 22:17:33 | More by RBorsato

Kallessin

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It pours a deep mahogany color, very dark with some slight reddish highlights. It has a very small tan head. Holds to the glass nicely. Wish it has more of head, but it may have been my pour.

Very strong smell of coffee and chocolate and roasted malt.

It's absolutely delicious. A strong roasted flavor, and again with hints off coffee and bittersweet dark chocolate. It's slightly bitter towards the finish, but very well balanced.

It's fairly dry and thin with a moderate amount of carbonation. Coats the mouth very well and goes down easy.

This beer is outstanding. No other way to put it. I could drink it all day.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 18:14:11 | More by Kallessin

AlexanderSelby

North Carolina

4.97/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the only beer I have ever had that truly earns a perfect score. Perfect coffee-milk colored head, with a dark, rich body that is very opaque. Only complaint is a simple aesthetic: I would love to see a little mahogany around the edges, but this is dark dark through and through. Smell is a perfect blend of chocolaty sweetness and freshly roasted espresso. Taste toes the same line. It is actually quite roasty, but the smooth chocolaty wash that moves from front to back of the mouth to keep it all together. Mouthfeel is not too heavy so that it doesn't become desert like, but full bodied indeed. It finishes almost dry, like a fresh shot of espresso.

Absolutely phenomenal. This is just an example of how to do something simple, but to perfection. This isn't high grav, this isn't aged in oak, this isn't brewed with coffee, this is just beer and it is every bit as exciting and flavorful as anything. Hats off to the Smutty Robust Porter.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 18:51:20 | More by AlexanderSelby

Naes

New York

4.95/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Ahh, the robust porter, one of my favorite beers.

It has a bold black appearance, with a milk chocolate colored head which stays around and clings to the glass. So dark in color, that it is almost impenetrable to light.

This beer has a semi-sweet malt aroma, with hints of roastiness that lets you know that you are in for a treat.

The flavor is a roasty malt, with a nice balance of hops. The after taste includes hints of chocolate and coffee.

So creamy and rich, you could almost chew this brew. It has a thick mouth feel that lingers on the palate, yet drinkable enough to have a few more.

5.7% ABV and delicious.

After trying countless numbers of porters from around the world, I think that this is one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2005 02:49:21 | More by Naes

Wamesit

Massachusetts

4.95/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pours a near black with ruby edging. Thick rocky dark tan head that gives way to webby lace.

S - Deep chocolate and coffee malts. Hints of caramel malts and raisin.

T - Gorgeous. Deep and rich. Coffee and chocolate malts create a dense and yet dusty base. Hops appear slightly in the finish to create a dry end to a lushly sweet beer.

M - Rich.

O - Simply an outstanding porter.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 03:31:57 | More by Wamesit

datalager

Connecticut

4.93/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

In a word, "mind-blowing"! This beer is so smooth that even Lando Calrissian would be proud.

Pour is an opaque black, with just a hint of "root-beer" brown a the edges when held against bright light. The head is a warm tan, with stiff suds, leaving photogenic lacing as it slowly dissolves.

The nares are immediately confronted with a mix of baker's chocolate, molasses, earth, coffee and hops.

The flavor is undoubtedly dark chocolate and roasted malts, but the finish is blessed with a smooth and lingering light "hoppiness" that sits nicely until it fades a minute or two later.

It goes down smooth, but lets you know it's there.

It's simple, yet well executed. This is exactly what a porter should be. Drinking this ale straight from the refrigerator would be a sin. Rather it is served best just cooler than room temp, IMO, which allows the flavor and aroma to be best appreciated. I cannot recommend a better porter to anyone who enjoys the style.

A seasonal "elixir of the gods". Thank you, Smuttynose.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 22:56:34 | More by datalager

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

4.91/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Served in a traditional pint glass, poured from a bottle.

Aroma: A big dose of roasty malt, coffee, earth. and some chocolate. The nose is well-balanced, and might be one of the best I've sampled on a porter. No individual part of the aroma dominates--all the parts blend together.

Appearance: Coal black, as if it were swallowing the light. A sea foam head, with dimples and a bit of a meringue quality. Nice lacing as I drank the beer.

Taste: I don't usually give a "5" because there always seems to be room for improvement, but this one's it. Rich chocolate and coffee notes, with roasted malts mixed in. Big flavor. The aroma still came in with the flavor, which was nice.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and full, like a loaf of chocolate bread. Smooth at the same time. Wonderfully done.

Overall: An excellent beer, and a great example of the style. One of my favorites overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 23:25:00 | More by Beerstorian

CountLupulus

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Pours to a lovely licorice near-opacity. Earthy brown head flexes and then tumbles, lengthening sticky fingers and tracking ivy lacing that keeps its hold.

Smell: Gorgeous: chock with malts, and a fiesty roasted crackle. Pour this one into a glass: the scent needs room to roam, and the bottle keeps it a caged beast.

Taste: Early flick of bittering hops yield to a brilliant blush of malts, densely integrated, with a long roasted aroma that rolls in slow, and hangs about the cave at the back of the mouth so that it finishes a ghostly aroma, wrapped almost to the nose. A nip of bitterness anchors the breadth of the tongue throughout, giving that burgeoning bouquet of malts plenty of arc before they fold and recede.

Drinkability: Each gulp is like a shooting star: there is a distinctive fluid sequence that is seamless and brief, so there is sure relish in paying attention to what's making you happy. The promise of a deeper glow drains one's glass with steady meter. As mine just has!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 00:25:01 | More by CountLupulus

esv

Virginia

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A) Deepest dark brown, black at first glance. Muddy brown head, 1/4" - 1/2". Thin head sticks around and keeps the top covered.

S) Candyish malts and mild chocolate sweetness, medium roasted malts. No hops in the nose. Nice balance, so enticing. I want to gulp it and leave residual on my chin.

T) Roasted grains, roasted grains, roasted grains. Bitter, burnt malts. Sweet, a little like candy and then the robust, roasted grains. So nice, so balanced.


M) Medium mouthfeel. Slightly rich. Med-low carbonation. Slightly sticky lips.

D) So drinkable. Man I love it.

It's American, it's a porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2009 00:21:12 | More by esv

Fyourface316

New Jersey

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Delicious, my favorite porter. Whether out of a bottle or poured into a glass, this beer is delicious, aromatic and wonderfully drinkable.

It has a great chocolatey, strong flavor and really fills your mouth with its good thick porter strength. Absolutely fantastic. I would recommend this beer to anyone who has either had a bad experience with porters or hasn't had one before.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2010 22:09:15 | More by Fyourface316

Brad007

Vermont

4.85/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a deep dark color with a brown head. Strong aroma with hints of coffee and chocolate. Taste is rich and smooth with the hints of coffee and chocolate. Creamy mouthfeel that leads to a dry finish. Very well balanced porter. Not too much of a stretch to say that it's one of the better porters I've had in a while.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2007 00:15:40 | More by Brad007

jellis00

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow is this a tasty beer.

A: Very dark with a smooth tan head.

S: Lots of coffee and chocolate. All the smells that you would want in an American porter.

T: Wow. Intense deep flavors of chocolate and coffee. Malty.

M: Nice and comfortable. Smooth with a nice carbonated kick when it goes down. Very thick. Feels like drinking a meal.

O: I plan on drinking this porter more often.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 02:13:04 | More by jellis00

kegerator

Maryland

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Excellent offering here.
Poured a deep brown almost black in color with a decent 1/2 inch head. There was some slight lacing left behind as well.
Smell was big chocolate, coffee with some sweetness in the background. As it warmed I caught wiffs of port as well
Taste was just about the same as the smell. Chocolate up front with a coffee bitterness blending in and hints of port and raisin in the background, especially after it had warmed up.
All in all a very nice brew

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2004 13:22:14 | More by kegerator

Doomcifer

Rhode Island

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

mmm, Smuttynose! Probably my favorite East Coast Brewery. I have been hooked on this Robust Porter for the past couple weeks since Autumn has crept in and the weather has cooled down a tad.

This baby pours almost pitch black with a nice, frothy, brown head that slowly simmers down leaving a ring of brown froth floating on top. Great lacing to boot. The smell, oh the heavenly nose. Smells of dark roasted malts, milk chocolate, raw chocolate, coffee, etc. Absolutely wonderful.

The taste is even better than the nose. The flavor is HUGE and roasty. Tons of roasted coffee beans and roasted malty goodness. A lot of dark bitter/sweet chocolate as well with a faint hop bitterness in the finish. The roastiness clings on for dear life on your palette. This beer blows me away.

Mouthfeel is heavy and silky smooth. Perfect carbonation of tiny bubbles.

By far, THE best porter I have ever had. Smuttynose has absolutely NAILED it with this one here. A Masterpiece. Obviously, I cannot say enough about this brew. Robust Porter...what a perfectly apt name.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2006 20:33:18 | More by Doomcifer

SickPythons

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Jan '11 on the Best By label

Poured a bit warm at 60° into a stemmed tulip glass.

In through the nose are some great roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee aromas. I also get some citrus hop characteristics that seem to strengthen as the beer makes it way to my belly.
Smelling this beer makes me want to cuddle up with it for a while.

As for the taste, more greatness. Beautifully balanced roasted and smokey malts with the hop bitterness culminate into an aftertaste that playfully bounces from sweet to bitter and back again. The coffee and chocolate flavors make me want to have this beer for breakfast with my crossword puzzle.

As you can tell, this is one of my favorite porters. I also give it some props for having a cool label.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 23:55:01 | More by SickPythons

creal92

Kentucky

4.8/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A - Very dark brown with a tan brown head. Very silky.

S - Chocolatey and fruity malt that makes a great smelling beer.

T - Chocolate, coffee and raisin.

M - Texture is extremely creamy and silky. Very pleasant.

Overall - This is an extraordinary porter. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 04:11:32 | More by creal92

rousee

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Wow--my favorite from Smuttynose to date. Black-cherry-dark ruby with dark tan head. Impressive lace is left almost before the first sip. This thing is beauty in motion. It reminds me of a really fresh version of Sinebrychoff. After I had the sampler of 10 beers at the brewery--this is the pint I opted for. It holds up real well in the DBF.

Smell is dark cherry-mahogany and some chocolate coffee licorice. This beer is extremely impressive given the complexity it has and the reasonably low cost. For all the people looking for good beers for cheap--this one is an excellent recommendation. It has some fruity elements too--cherry or dried fruit like a dried sweetened plum. It is good and smooth but I have to say I am reviewing it at the wrong time of year. This is better as the weather gets colder not wamer.

Excellent beer. I think this is my highest rating for an American beer to date.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2005 00:36:52 | More by rousee

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

It's a total eclipse - pitch black with nary a highlight to be found. Topped by three fat fingers of breathing rocky tan foam. Good lacing.

Big inviting nose of raosty coffee and chocolate.

A first splash of morning roast coffee. quickly followed and enveloped by a wave of chocolate. Then, while you're enoying all this mocha goodness, you realize you're standing in a rising tide of hops whose bitterness pulls the coffee flavor back out in the forefront and gets the mouth all atingly.

Lush full mouthfeel. Incredibly drinkable. Where has this bottle gone ?

Simply a wonderful porter. Seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2006 06:23:34 | More by RonfromJersey

bort11

Missouri

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This sample is courtesy MrRetardedMonkey. Thanks Scottie!

12 oz bottle, best by Oct 08, poured into a imperial pint glass. Solid two finger light tan head and slow to recede. Does not leave much lacing at all. Color is a deep dark black with just a hint of dark mahogany brown highlights around the edges.

Smell is a fantastic blend of dark malts, burnt raisins, bitter coffee, and a hint of floral chocolate. Taste is rightfully dark. A bit of charred wood, more dark chocolate, and dark fruits.

Creamy medium body. Very nice texture, smooth and enjoyable. One of the best porters I've had in a while.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2008 03:00:01 | More by bort11

jeffthecheff

Connecticut

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown at the edges with black in the center. Head is a mocha brown color.

I'm picking up all the great roasted aromas. Slight coffee smell and the rest is a mix of roasted malts.

This is one of the most flavorful beers I know of that fit into the session category. Reminds me of coffee ice cream, it has a pretty big coffee flavor that compares to something that uses coffee, and it is incredibly creamy. Some bitterness is in there too, completely complementing the beer and not standing out too much.

Lightly carbonated with an incredible creaminess that I mentioned before. This is one of the top beers from the bottle in terms of mouthfeel. Drinkability is high. Sips are small because of how dark the flavors are, but the intermissions between sips are very short.

This beer is very enjoyable and at a good price. I'll be getting a lot more of these, and then missing them when the season is over. I have to give a strong recommendation on this one.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2008 02:00:14 | More by jeffthecheff

gizman609

New York

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Black as night. Robust, yet easy drinking. Extremely balanced. Very pleasant on the palate. Malty, chocolate tones. I'll skip all of the alliteration...simply put, this is the best Porter I have ever ingested! I would recommend keeping a constant supply on hand.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 03:48:49 | More by gizman609

halo21

New York

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: I enjoyed this one in the Sam Adam's Perfect Pint glass; it is a black, opaque beer with a dense thin head, that was tan with spots of espresso crema. It left massive lacing on the way down.

Smell: A rich chocolate roast bomb with nice sweetness in the background with some vanilla and yeast.

Taste: Awesome; liquid dark chocolate - the ones that are over 60% cocoa. It is as sweet as it needs to be; big coffee finish at the end. Opens up nicely as it warms up.

Mouthfeel: Slightly creamy, smooth and medium bodied. Perfect mouthfeel; thick enough, but still distinctly a porter and not a stout.

Drinkability: High

Notes: A ridiculously well made beer. This is everything I want in a porter; big black coffee and nice creamy mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2010 01:45:10 | More by halo21

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance. Pours a deep dark brown, almost black with a finger of thick, dark brown head that leaves some nice lacing.

Smell. Dark chocolate and roasty coffee, toasty dark grains and a hint of vanilla.

Taste. Roasty malts, dark roasted coffee, bitter dark chocolate. Flavours are rich and full. Very nice.

Mouthfeel. Lighter than medium body with smooth, medium carbonation.

Overall. The best porter I've had to date. Wish I could get this stuff around here. Will look forward to the next time I can get this.

Big thanks to Sammy for getting this one for me. Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 03:35:36 | More by Rutager