Elevator Horny Goat - Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip. Received in the Birthday BIF from normyk; thanks Rob!

a - Pours a very dark brown color with one inch of tan head and light carbonation evident. No head retention and no lacing on the glass.

s - Smells of whiskey, oak, roasted malts, light vanilla, toasted malts, and light chocolate. Whiskey is there in the front of the nose, but it's not overpowering at all.

t - Tastes of whiskey, vanilla, oak, roasted malts, and dark fruits. Tastes a little watered down to me. Again, the whiskey is not overpowering here.

m - Pretty light body for a porter and low carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink.

d - Overall I thought this was a pretty good porter. I thought it was very drinkable and the whiskey is there, but never overpowering. If you find other barrel aged beers too much, you might really like this one. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 02:21:00 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to the THECPJ for this weird and interesting looking beer. I'm always a sucker for whisky barrel aged beers.

Pours a fizzy 1 finger head that fades semi quickly, no real lacing, over dark-ish auburn brown colored beer, much lighter than I thought.

Nose explodes with whisky and oak barrel aromas, some whisky but don't get bourbon, lots of woody oak aromas, vanilla, hints of creamy dark malts and porter like malts, and touch of what may be a soured infection like aroma but not necessarily as it could just be the whisky and barrel aromas tricking me.

Taste brings lots of oak barrel again, tons of vanilla and bit of woody esters and toasted oak, bit of whisky but not a lot, then some creamy malts, bit of darker malts and hint of caramel, but no real roast or porter like flavors. This reminds me of Innis & Gunn but those aren't supposed to be dark, this is. Finishes with more creamy malts and hint of nutty brown malts and caramel, as well as sticky. Touch of spicy hops come out in the background almost as if it was a memory of a previous beer and wasn't even part of this one.

Mouth is med bodied, not very full, with lower carbonation.

Overall nice at first, but doesn't really come through. The barrel aging is nice, lots of barrel, vanilla, oak, and hints of whisky, but there is no beer to back it up. Lack of carbonation doesn't help either.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 21:05:22 | More by jlindros

thagr81us

South Carolina

3/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big thanks goes out to cmrillo for sharing this one after a ticking session this evening! Thanks brother! Infected! Served from bottle into a Ommegang Three Philosophers chalice. Poured a reddish brown with a half finger light tan that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark chocolate, vanilla, and tart cherry. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart cherry, vanilla, and dark chocolate. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was an average brew. I was really disappointed to find that this one was infected. It seems like a young infection though, so there is still hope out there for some bottles. The tart cherry was really noticeable upon first investigation in the nose. So be warned. Hasn't come over to the flavor as much, but it is on the way.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:55:18 | More by thagr81us

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Elevator recently started bottling this beer, here's my first non-draft review of an Elevator beer. Available in 4-packs, about $10 in Columbus.

The beer is dark ruby reddish brown with a thin off-white foam that never quite dissipates away. The aroma is mild oak barrel, vanilla flavors mostly, along with some lightly roasted malts. This beer is tasty, bitter and sweet malts, roasty and toasty, long after-taste of vanilla. The body is much thinner than you'd expect from a barrel-aged dark beer, but this is a porter after all. Light carbonation gives a little pepper to the mouthfeel, otherwise light and easy to drink.

An excellent example of local beer in Columbus, and I'm looking forward to seeing other beers from them in bottles.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 01:17:44 | More by TurdFurgison

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle (from a 4-pack), I assume it's a new batch since a bunch of it came to the store just the other day. Served in a Dogfish Head Signature glass, the beer pours dark brown with about an inch tan head that went away quickly. There's a good amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is whiskey, wood, roasted malt, and vanilla. Nice sweet, woody aroma. The brew tastes like vanilla, whiskey, wood, roasted malt, and some chocolate. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and slick, with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's smooth and easy enough to drink. I think it's a good brew, I'd definitely buy this again in the future. It's good to see Elevator bottling a lot of their beers, it's nice to see a decent selection of their products around town.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 01:40:26 | More by bluejacket74

nickd717

California

3.28/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle received as a trade extra. Now, as most of the world knows, the love affair between me and the -bals has been as heralded throughout history as that between Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, Joanie and Chachi. Sometimes though, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, and I’ve HAD IT with this motherf**king barrel in this motherf**king beer! This is a case where the barrel, and especially the whiskey, has gone a bit too far.

This beer pours a surprisingly light and clear reddish-brown color with a one-finger light khaki head that lasts.

The aroma is all about whiskey and barrel notes, oak and vanilla, with just a touch of roast and caramel.

The flavor has a little sweet caramel malt and a load of fairly boozy whiskey flavors and oaky coconut and vanilla. Feels like the brewer took his -bals and slapped you in the face with them. Some people may love that, but it’s not as much for me, although I do appreciate the whiskey flavor.

Medium-bodied with decent carbonation for a barrel aged beer (take notes, Tomme Arthur), mild tannins, and a slicker mouthfeel.

This is a decent enough beer with some good things about it, but you have to wonder if they cranked up the -bals to 11 to hide a subpar base beer. Definitely a possibility, as the base beer seems like a pale porter without much interesting about it. The Jekyll and Hyde of -bal aged beers, you may love or hate depending on your taste for the -bals.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 01:57:40 | More by nickd717

mdaschaf

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours somewhat lighter than most porters as a rather dark brown, but certainly not black. When held up to the light it takes on a ruby color. No head formed, just a ring of foam around the edge with thin lacing that forms and is gone rather quickly.

S: There is a little bit of whiskey and a slight oak aroma up front, some toasted malt and a bit of roasty chocolate on the back end. There is a slightly off-putting aroma that I can't quite put my finger on though.

T: Nothing off-putting here. Definite whiskey presence, with some oak and vanilla. There is a little bit of roast, but not as much as I would like.

M: On the light side for a porter, rather smooth with low carbonation.

O: It's interesting, not like most porters I have had. I wish it had a bit more roast/chocolate/coffee in it, blended with the vanilla and oak.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 02:09:46 | More by mdaschaf

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #50 (March 2011):

Three months in the making for this whisky barrel-aged Porter. Sizable head gets whacked by the fusel alcohol from the barrel aging, but still holds to a sticky lacing. Smells of charred wood, with a bit of leftover barrel juice and a kiss of beery Porter. Dry-ish palate with a lighter body than expected. Lots of wood flavor with a well-rounded vanilla flavor. A bit of boozi- ness in the middle—not hot, but more straight-up flavor. Hops take a backseat here and just go for the ride. Roastiness melds well with the barrel flavors, and the alcohol warmth grows slowly. We took our time with this one and enjoyed every sip.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 13:28:36 | More by BeerAdvocate

mcallister

Ohio

2.2/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

No real resemblances to a porter. More like an unfiltered amber ale. A small tan head az well.

Sour whiskey at the forefront of the nose with some milk chocolate like aromas. Caramel and some dried fruit aroma as well.

Hmmm maybe Elevator should worm on the base porter before aging. No depth or complexity. Tastes just like the aroma, whiskey from middle to end, milk chocolate, caramel, hints of oaky wood.

Mouth is thin and a bit watery.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 16:19:02 | More by mcallister

Bierguy5

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle, 7.5% abv. Interesting dark amber color for a porter. Some ruby highlights. White head fades away quickly.

Toasty oak, vanilla, bourbon. More of a toffee malt character, rather than roasted notes. Slight butterscotch feel.

Very slight chocolate malt feel, with an odd sourness. There is very no character to this base beer. The barrel aging did not add much, a bit of oaky tannins but not much else.

Lighter body, some warmth from alcohol. Carbonation is good. Not much to say here.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 16:24:43 | More by Bierguy5

Brenden

Ohio

3.54/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Well, I'm expecting some whiskey in this beer, but I never expected this. One might think all this hard-hitting fusel alcohol might prevent much of a head; to be sure, it's not very much, but it manages better than I'd expect. A bit of a creamy off-white cap does manage to linger and even drop bits of spotty lacing. Most beers with this much booziness don't manage all that well unless they're phenomenally attenuated, so give some credit here.
Holy whiskey, Batman. Actually, the nose does let some of the porter quality come out with some roast from the malts (which one would assume there's plenty of to form this beer's backbone). A bit of vanilla comes through with lots of wood as well.
Everything at first gets absolutely decimated by the raw fusel booziness. Give it a chance, though, and you'll discover there's beer here. Otherwise, you might be convinced this beer really is a whiskey. Anyway, a bit of peat comes through with a very lightly earthy/smoky note along with lots of drying oak.
Well, the alcohol doesn't thin the body as much as one might think, but a bit. Otherwise it's a solid medium body, appropriate for a porter, with a reasonable creaminess to it off a bit of a crispness and moderate carbonation.
If you're looking for whiskey, give this beer a shot. You may be just a little disappointed by the lack of subtlety, and a bit more skill would ensure that the flavors meld better, but it's a pretty good beer by standards.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 12:51:15 | More by Brenden

Bung

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz. Not a real dark brown pour, layer of off white, lasted nicely.

Aroma, molasses, brown sugar, some vanilla, oak, booze.

Taste, light chocolate, some peatiness. Vanilla, oak, also pretty light. Kind of a weird cola-coffee combo. Just a little odd.

A little thin and a smidge high on carbonation. Drinks pretty easy though, only a little abv presence.
As a brewer if you don't have enough patience to do 6 months in the barrel, I don't think you should bother. A descent porter, an average barrel aged attempt.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 02:24:24 | More by Bung

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap in a snifter at the Brewpub on 1/29/10

A - Very dark brown with crimson highlights. One finger foam thins quickly to a skim. Spotty lace. Swirling revives a bit & improves lacing.

S - Roasted malt aromas with a boozy swoon. Coffee notes & dark sugars. Vanilla undertones.

T - Tastes of roasted coffee, caramel & dark sugars. Bit of earthy hops. Whiskey, wood & vanilla. Maybe a hint of raisins.

M - Medium-full body; reasonably low carbonation. Some alcohol heat. Rather dry.

D - Pretty good drinkability. Not nearly as bold as I was expecting. Not bad, but not great.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2010 02:36:44 | More by Ryan011235

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a chalice.

Pours a very dark black with some mohagony hints with a very light brown head and no lacing. Nose is wonderful, lots of oak and vanilla, quite sweet and malty but still very fresh. A tiny bit of booze but it's very subtle.

Taste is sharp with some smoky whisky notes, the taste is a bit light but this is a porter not a stout. There's more vanilla and chewy malt as well. Carbonation is fine and sharp. Very easy drnking for what it is!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 01:17:35 | More by kingcrowing

MbpBugeye

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A- Looks really clear and rusty brown on the pour. A sizable fluffy greyish white head is coaxed out but slowly dissapears. The beer is totally black in the glass.

S- Plenty of whiskey on the nose. There is also vanilla, oak, chocolate and dark fruits.

T- The vanilla and chocolate of the porter is well in front of the whiskey. The whiskey and oak rear their heads from time to time, peeking in here and there. This is quite good with lots of complexities from lots of vanilla to some dark fruit and whiskey barrels. I just wish some aspects were stronger.

M- Lots of carbonation. The body is on the light side for the style. I could tell it was going to be from the pour.

D- The higher alcohol is no problem here. This is a very enjoyable beer. Im glad Elevator is bottling this and that it can be found around Columbus easily.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 16:32:21 | More by MbpBugeye

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours from a 12oz bottle into a standard issue hotel glass. The beer emerges very dark in color similar to that of Pepsi or Coke. Actually, the head is about the same size as one present on a soda; small and wispy. No lacing.

There is some nice whiskey aromas. Loaded with vanilla and a touch of woody oakiness. For being a robust porter, I get no robust nose. There is a lack of any roastiness. The nose is basically filled with the whiskey notes.

Big whiskey flavors as well. Again, the underlying porter is hidden and everything is masked by the whiskey. The whiskey isnt necessarily overdone, but the porter underneath is hard to detect. Actually, as the beer warms, the whiskey is about all there is to this one.

I liked the beer but this wasnt anything outrageous or mindblowing. I like the vanilla and whiskey notes in the beer but at times, the whiskey becomes overbearing.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 00:10:47 | More by SaCkErZ9

Wildman

Ohio

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a dark red amber color and formed an off white foamy head that left latticed lace as it subsided. A small amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, chocolate, and anise. The flavor was of malt, chocolate, burbon and coffee. The body was medium light and the finish bittersweet. One of their better beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 03:56:12 | More by Wildman

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.08/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Turdferguson for this one. 12oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours a .5 finger fine, light caramel colored head with poor retention. Beer is a dark, clear amber. Lacing is spotty and spare with little cling. Nice color but not much else here.

One sniff and immediately, I can tell that this one is infected. Roasted malt, chocolate, liquorice, and barrel notes are instead replaced by cherry and a distinct fruity tartness. Not bad, but that isn't what it should smell like.

Opens mellow and fruity. Tart cherry fruitiness. Mildly sweet with a strange, roasted malt and cane sugar combo towards the middle. Very thin. End is an overtone of sweet booziness supplemented by vanilla and cherry coke sweetness. Aftertaste is more of the same. Awkward but not half bad.

Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Thin and bubbly in the mouth and grainy and coarse going down. Finishes messy with a lingering aftertaste. Would have really liked more of a body on this one.

I'm not sure what the brewer was going for with this offering but this beer is obviously infected. Yet the results are actually not half bad. The sourness hasn't really taken over and the fruit notes are a nice complement to the very mellow barrel presence. Though there's nothing to suggest this is a porter. A bit on the thin side too. An interesting beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 04:23:06 | More by SpeedwayJim

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep chestnut brown with red highlights when held up to the light. There is a bit of off-white foam that left some decent lacing on the glass. The aroma is sweet, with a decent amount of the whiskey coming through, some caramel and vanilla. Sweet caramel flavor with some vanilla helping it out. There is just a hint of whiskey. Its medium bodied but still a little thin though it has a crisp carbonation that I don't necessarily like. I'd call it OK, but wouldn't find another.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 05:52:04 | More by mikereaser

Spider889

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Bodega. Served in a tulip.

Supposed to have been aged in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels.

Dark brown and thin looking. Unfiltered or unclarified, the beer is fairly murky. Not a ton of head.

The aroma is very weak for a barrel aged beer. A bit soapy up front. The barrel provides sodden dank oak and a hint of bourbon via coconut and sweet boozy arroma. Not much malt to be appreciated thus far.

The flavor is much better, though again an anomoly. Very little barrel characteristics, and instead of tasting like a traditional porter this is a very sweet beer. I tasted enough chocolate to make a true chocolate beer blush.

Overall not bad, but also nothing impressive or on par as a porter, and largely underwhelming as a bouron barrel beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 06:32:29 | More by Spider889

mattcrill

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Given to me by the owner. Much thanks to Dick for the sample!

Barrel aged Robust Porter

Aroma: Vanilla and chocolate notes right out of the snifter. Warming alcohol aromatics open up as the beer warms up. Very inviting and well-knit together.

Appearance: Deep chocolate colored pour with a batter-like off white head.

Flavor: More vanilla and chocolate notes. Just a hint of roasted coffee flavors and a little bit of wood and leather round out the finish. Balance is to the bitterness and finish is clean and dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with high carbonation. A bit prickly on the palate and nice warming alcohol notes.

Overall impression: A well blended barrel-aged robust porter. I liked the fact that this was a barrel aged beer that still had beer character. Too many beers get lost in the wood aging but this had a wonderful porter character to complement the barrel aging. Nicely done!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 01:12:30 | More by mattcrill

joepais

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Csmiley for sending this one out to me bottle poured into a tulip glass produced a small off white head that turned into a thin lace. The body of the brew was a typical black stout color with burgundy highlights'

It had a nice whisky aromas that just won't quit there is also some great dark fruits as it warms. Before I get to the flavors the only real hit I will give it is that it is a tad light for its mouth feel. The flavor of warming alcohol and nice barrel aged whisky dominate this one. With just the right amount of sweetness from the malts to keep this extremely drinkable.

I was real glad I got to drink this one and I will say that I wish I had another I probably would have drank it right after this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 20:50:11 | More by joepais

hustlesworth

Ohio

3.59/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A- hazy dark chestnut brown with copper highlights. Meager looking tan head settles quickly and doesn't leave much lacing.

S- chocolate and woodsy with definite oak and vanilla aromas. Whiffs of alcohol are prevalent even when cold. Nutty, caramel, toffee and dessert like. Overall a powerful, well rounded vaporous bourbon barrel nose.

T- dry coffee up front becoming chocolatey with big vanilla, oak, and bourbon flavor.
It's a very heavy whiskey taste which I don't mind, but it mostly drowns out all the other flavors whereas a stout might be better able to stand up against it. Some dry grainy and coffee flavors near the end with a flash of hops in the finish.

MF- nice body for an aged porter, smooth and creamy while maintaining drinkability. Dry tannic oaky feel on the palate gives the impression of whiskey. Carbonation is tight and zippy like the little pins & needles you get when your tongue falls asleep. Wait.. What?

D- dominated by oak and whiskey flavors, this should please most fans of barrel aging however the beer itself just isn't big enough to shine through.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 02:54:35 | More by hustlesworth

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.43/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Review from notes, 22JAN12.

12oz bottle (thanks Steve) poured (partly) into a Glencairn taster/snifter.

A: Pours a dark brown with a distinctively ruddy red hue. A decent amount of light tan head forms and maintains pretty well.

S: Interesting...the barrels and spirit seem to be pretty prominent @ 7.5% abv. This porter also seems to have an underlying brown malt presence with caramel and wood notes. While there is oak & vanilla, there is some odd sweetness, and a slightly off-putting cherry note. The booze wafts out of the snifter like a Scotch Whisky or Sherry.

T: Slight tartness mixing with a very clear whisky note, and the alcohol has some bite. There are some chocolate and vanilla notes, and the malts are still identifiable. Finishes with a slightly odd burnt note.

MF: Creamy medium body...the tartness, wood and alcohol make for a slightly drying and bitter aftertaste.

O: Not entirely pleasant. For a beer of this size I wouldn't expect the alcohol and barrel notes to be so in-your-face. There are other oddities about this one too. Can't say for sure...

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 15:36:34 | More by Scotchboy

Traquairlover

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to ne0m00re for this bottle.

12-oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A = Very pretty dark ruby as it pours but a much darker mahogany with red oak tints at the edges once it is in the glass, very small off white head of small bubbles forms quickly and leaves almost as fast leaving only a slight ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass and a nice steady carbonation bubbling up to keep it in place.

S & T = Hints of vanilla, cocoa powder, oak, very nice smells but a bit on the light side. This tastes very nice, with the same things picked up in the smell being prominent in the taste. If it had as much smell as taste it would have garnered higher scores. It is almost like a chocolate malt shake but not quite as milky creamy.

M = Good thick body that is cut somewhat by the carbonation. At the front of the mouth I find the sting of carbonation a bit too strong, but that calms down quickly and I must admit by the time I swallow, it is creamy and has done a very good job of mouthcoating, leaving a very long, sweet finish.

D = This is an enjoyable beer for sure. Not sure more than one at a sitting would be up my alley, but I could definitely enjoy this again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 23:21:57 | More by Traquairlover