Smoked Porter - Chipotle - Stone Brewing Co.

vic21234

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bought this one a few months back and its been sitting in my fridge since.

A- Pours thin and black with about a half finger of head that quickly fades.

S- The smell for me does not hint of the peppers. I get a smoky, roasty malt aroma more than anything.

T- Starts off smooth with some smokiness and chocolate. The back of each sip leaves behind a nice spiciness. An nice combination. The peppers are not overwhelming and leave just enough of a kick to make it interesting.

M- Light to medium bodied, medium carbonation, smoky and spicy.

I enjoyed this one more than the vanilla, though porters aren't really my thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 20:27:29 | More by vic21234

GPHarris

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a - poured a one finger thick coffee-colored head into a snifter that left a thick ring of lace throughout. the body was dark brown bordering on black.
s - roasted malt and chocolates with spicy peppers.
t - balanced and complex. spicy with some beef jerky smoke coming through to balance out the malt sweetness.
m - creamy and medium mouthfeel.
o - great version of the smoked porter. i paired this with some ribs and that was a great idea!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 15:30:56 | More by GPHarris

TheSixthRing

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours near black, with a dark ruby brown hue where light can penetrate. The head is light brown, a finger width thick and has average retention. Displays a decent, spotty lacing.

Smell - Oooh, nice! Tangy smoked chipotle notes catch the nostrils first, with subtle notes of chocolate sitting beneath. I can't stop smelling the empty bottle.

Taste - Intensely smokey upfront, backed by notes of chipotle pepper and bitter chocolate from the roasted malt. A bit of heat from the pepper kicks in near the finish, and provides a moderate spice burn which lingers in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Close to full body with moderate carbonation. Somewhat silky, goes down smooth and easy.

Overall - Another very good variation on the Stone Smoked Porter. I think I like the vanilla variation a tad better, if only because I enjoy the flavor of vanilla more than that of chipotle peppers, but I think this one shows better execution. I hope Stone continues to offer both, if not year round, then at least as seasonal releases, because they're both great alternatives to the OG Smoked Porter.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 03:45:33 | More by TheSixthRing

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

$5 for the single 12oz bottle
Sampled 26AUG12

[A] On the pour, a creamy light brown head rises one finger high. Excellent retention fades into a soapy everlasting film and thick uneven collar. The body is is very dark brown, nearly black, with dark amber tints along the glass's edge. Backlighting reveals a ruby interior and impressive clarity. Above average lacing in no particular pattern.

[S] Peat smoked malts provide heady smoke aromas with underlying notes of damp soily earth and well oiled leather.

[T] Earthy, charred chipotle pepper heat grazes the tongue. Peat flavors compliment the roasted character of the base beer. Bitter chocolate lives deep in the background.

[M] I love everything about the mouthfeel. Plush and creamy from front palate well through mid. Softly biting carbonation sets in briefly which prepares the tongue for the lightest splash of heat.

[O] Apparently this beer has been around for a while but this is the first year its been bottled - and it's in competition with the vanilla version for a chance at another bottling run...Stone - Get your shit together and bottle each. They are both fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 00:25:38 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

KajII

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]

The pour was a very dark brown with a slight ruby hue and a large (2-3 finger) light brown rocky head that slowly receded, down to a few puddles and large collar producing good spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a roasted dark bread malt and a leathery yeast with notes of baker’s chocolate, roasted coffee, smoke and a nice hot pepper presence.

It tasted roasty with a good bold maltiness along hints of chocolate and coffee from the onset, becoming a tad bitter with a good strong note of smoke and a spicy peppery bite that cleared the sinuses. The flavor lasted a good long while with a smoky peppery espresso taste hitting you right in the back of the throat.

Mouthfeel was a bit past medium in body with a dry, oily texture and a soft carbonation.

Overall this is a brew that possesses a strong bitter smoky flavor with a mild chocolate sweetness and a gentle heated peppery finish...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 22:11:25 | More by KajII

jmaharaj

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep brown almost black beer with a thin but resilient off white head. There is a strong scent of dried peppers that mingles nicely with the smoked malts and in the background is a faint odor of brown sugar. a nice dose of bitter chocolate is also present. Not getting much hops, but the aromas that are present seem cohesive and pleasant.
The chipotle isnt as dominant on the tongue, but it masks a little of the smokiness, or perhaps the familiar taste of smoked chipotle isnt standing out as much as the relative novelty of simply smoke in a beer does, strangely making this seem a little more mellow than the original. Either way it is pleasant if not overly interesting. The heat from the peppers will build in the back of your throat. the beer finished with a little bit of a dry char. This beer has a some meium to light thickness that works well as this beer doesnt taste overly big, and some surprisingly aggressive carbonation. finishes clean, which for a gimmicky beer is welcome surprise.
Pretty nice, but i prefer the original, although i would happily drink another one (at $6 for 12 oz. i only bought one).

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 16:54:53 | More by jmaharaj

brother_kenneth

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Dark brown, with reddish tint. Head doesn't last long, but it is somewhat sticky.

Smell - The smells are incredible on this porter. The main thing here is that it is smoky, smoky, smoky! Notes of chocolate and coffee are definitely present as well. But the chipotle pepper smokiness comes through very strong, along with some peat smoke.

Taste - Again, huge smokiness. Smoked/roasted malts give some coffee. The heat kicks in after a few sips. By the time you are half-way through, it becomes intriguingly spicy (but not too much). I notice some bold, spicy chocolate, but the most notable flavor is the chipotle pepper. No alcohol burn in this one either, it's just peppers. Somehow, the chipotles are very present, but I would still consider this to be a very well balanced beer.

Mouth - Medium body on this porter, slightly carbonated.

Overall - Stone Smoked Porter has always been one of my favorite porters, and I feel that the chipotle peppers are a wonderful addition. I had this one poured from a bottle into a snifter glass. Can't wait to drink another!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 19:59:15 | More by brother_kenneth

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 9/26/2012. Pours crystal clear very dark reddish brown color with a nice 2 finger dense khaki head with excellent retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing rings cling down the glass. Aromas of chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, toffee, smoke, chipotle pepper, light coffee, and light herbal hops. Damn nice aromas with great balance and strength. Taste of chocolate, caramel, smoke, roasted malt, chipotle pepper, coffee, toffee, citrus, and herbal hops. Light amount of citrus bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, chipotle pepper, light coffee, citrus, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance of classic porter flavor with the chipotle peppers; the heat does start to build up in the back as you drink, but it just fine with me. No cloying flavors on the palate at all after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and lightly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming noticed on the finish, unless the peppers are masking it. Overall this is a highly excellent porter! Fantastic flavor balance with the special ingredient; very smooth to drink despite the pepper heat build up. Highly enjoyable offering; I hope it makes a comeback around here sometime.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 04:07:32 | More by superspak

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - jet black in color. Two fingers of quickly dissipating tan foam. Leaves just a touch of lacing as it sinks to a thin film.

S - as expected the aroma is smokey but also slightly vegetal. Chipotle peppers are propionate but with hints if red bell pepper and maybe some green stalks/stems. Very slight hints of chocolate, coffee and charred malts in the background.

T - sweet caramel and roasty coffee style bitterness up front. Some milk chocolate notes in the center. The smokey and spicy chipotle pepper comes out as the liquid warms on the tongue. The flavor melds with the pleasantly with the notes of chocolate but it pepper does command the palate long after the finish.

M - medium nearing full bodied. Creamy yet slightly watery around the edges. Medium carbonation close to high.

O - good beer. Could see this going with a wide array of foods which is a plus, yet it was not as intense as I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 04:19:26 | More by Teleweizen2

tony223366

California

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

A: Deep reddish amber color, hard to see through. Huge 4+ finger head. Rich, fluffy tan head. Thick and beautiful. Nice retention.

S: Smoky malts are huge. Smoke smells awesome, like a campfire. Chocolaty malts. Chipotle pepper is huge too. Some citrusy hops.

T: Flavors closely follow the aroma. Chocolaty malts. Smoke flavor and chipotle pepper. The chipotle pepper is lightly flavored. Good balance. Some citrusy hops. Great flavor. I really enjoy it.

M: Medium body, decent carbonation. Not too slick. Nice mouth feel

O: Really great pepper beer. The rich dark malts balance with the light peppers. Tasty and enjoyable. Mole anyone?

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 04:52:57 | More by tony223366

Braseltonage

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle poured into a traditional pint.

A: Pours deep mahogany brown with the slightest garnet highlights when held to light. Thick toffee head, 3/4" from moderately aggressive pour. Slowly dissipates to richly clingy lacing.

S: Classic porter aromas, dark roast coffee, bitter chocolate, burnt toast perhaps. Wisps of smokiness, but subtle. As it warms, a nice aroma of rosted chiles lingers in. Very nice.

T: Strong roasted grain character up front, mellow, musty smoke. Spice creeps in as it warms. Muted spice, not acute. Almost comes across as a very mild Mexican chocolate note. Finishes relatively dry considering the severity of types of flavors involved.

M: Medium body, on the lighter side of carbonation. Maybe a little thin for the style but this does keep it drinkable.

O: Best example of a chile infused beer that I can recall tasting. Perhaps because the base beer is of such quality. A good fall beverage.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 02:00:51 | More by Braseltonage

prototypic

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The chipotle pepper variation of Stone’s Smoked Porter pours a darker mahogany brown color. It’s clear for the most part. A good bit of light cuts through and reveals burgundy and crimson highlights. A lighter tan head covers it and stands rough a finger and a half tall. It recedes to a surface covering quickly, but holds there for a while. Lacing was moderate.

The nose is pretty good, but is just a little weak in terms of aromatics. Needs a bump in strength. Smells like nice mix of chocolate and roasted malts. The chocolate variety smells like cocoa. It does have that classic smoky scent that defines the original release. It is complement by a bit of a spicy note. It’s tough to say how well the flavors will gel, but the scents work well together. Alcohol isn’t noticeable at all. Smells pretty good. Could be a tad better.

The flavor is likewise pretty good. The malt base is flavorful and features really nice chocolate and roasted malt flavors. It definitely tastes like cocoa. It’s not sweet at all. Coffee is noted and tastes really nice. The smoked flavor is, as expected, quite tasty. Definitely reminiscent of the original there. The use of chipotle peppers is easily noted. It adds a spicy flavor that works pretty well with the malt base and the smoky flavor. It does have a warmth to it that’s not present in the original. Alcohol is masked very well and goes unnoticed for the most part. Finishes roasty, smoky, spicy, and warm.

The body is lighter. Carbonation seems light and soft. A little more body would smooth it out. If you handle a little bit of heat and spiciness, it should go down easy enough.

Stone’s Smoked Porter is a very good beer. I can’t say that the addition of chipotle peppers improved it. It didn’t. It does make for an interesting beer that’s pretty good. I do like it. Nice experimentation that’s worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 02:51:50 | More by prototypic

shand

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Stone Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers pours out a deep brown with a small head. The aroma is malty and smoky with just a hint of sweet and smokey peppers. The peppers become stronger on the nose as the beer warms up. The taste is very good, it's got the strong smoke flavor that the original beer has, but complimented with some smoky and slightly sweet peppers that provide just a bit of heat to the finish. The peppers actually bring the smoke more to the forefront than the base beer I feel, and it's better for it. The mouthfeel seems fuller than I remember the base beer to be, but that might just be faulty memory. The drinkability is great. Overall, this is a great treatment of a solid beer. It's just really tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 00:47:12 | More by shand

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a large snifter.

A: Black on the pour with ruby and brown hues. Good clarity. One inch beige head settles quickly into nothing. Delicate rings and small, spotty patches of lacing.

S: Cola, caramel, faint molasses. Camp fire smoke. Cocoa powder, roasted grain. Chili pepper spice starts subtly on the nose, but builds until it becomes the main focus.

T: Cola, creamy milk chocolate taste, cocoa powder. Slight vanilla. Campfire smoke. The spicy jalepeno tastes build on the mid-palate and begin to dominate. Finishes with chocolate, a brief touch of black coffee, and a strong chili spice.

M: Medium bodied. Very full and creamy. Silky and smooth. Little to no carbonation.

O: I feel much the same way about this beer as I did about the vanilla smoked porter. The chipotle starts to run away with the show, and it could do with a bit more carbonation to give a little dimension to the mouthfeel. That being said, I liked this beer just a bit better. The chipotle is more of a natural compliment to the smokey flavors, rather than being at odds with it like the vanilla seemed to be.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 00:23:09 | More by ryan1788a5

circus_cat

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Four fingers of light khaki, marshmallowy head leaving pretty nice lacing. Inviting black body with ruby hues in the light.

S: I'm getting some jalapeño heat along with a LOT of smokiness...it almost has a metallic smokey smell like a coal-powered train is going by. Tootsie roll in the background.

T: Chocolate up front, followed by that metallic smokiness, with chile heat on the exhale.

M: Medium bodied, with pretty low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 20:42:44 | More by circus_cat

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

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

Dark as night with a bountiful head on top. Leaves good lacing. 4.0

Light smoke, salty porter malts, and a whiff of chile heat. Very roasty in the nose. 4.0

Solid porter with malty flavors of bitter cocoa, char, and peaty smoke. Smoked malts take the low road with hefty roastiness and a slight chipotle burn rounding out the profile. Lingering spice is very mild, but matches up to some rich malt bitterness. 4.0

Noticeable body built up on a smidge of rolled oats. Humpy suds feel smooth. Great for a session of drinking. 4.0

Nice porter. True to style and with that delectable smoky spice element. Recommended. 4.0

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 12:42:10 | More by thecheapies

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

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

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out a dark deep brown with three fingers of tan craggy head that lasts for several minutes, leaving decent lacing behind on the glass. Medium-light body and carbonation levels.

Indeed it does smell of a quite nice blend of chocolate malt, smoke, and chipotle peppers. I have a special fondness for combinations like this, it reminds me of a good mole sauce. The flavor is a bit more complex than the nose, it also contains a fair amount of coffee and herbal tobacco flavors. It's got a good gentle warming heat from the chile that is neither too strong nor too weak. A very solidly constructed chile beer all around!

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 05:07:12 | More by WastingFreetime

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - near pitch black, thumb of tan head retained very well, decent lacing
S - definite smoke and roastiness with sweet & spicy chipotle
T - super smoky and charcoal flavours up front, the flavour of the chipotle rises but without much heat until several sips later, mild tobacco on the finish
M - medium to heavy, a little chaulky, chipotle pepper heat starts slow but builds as you get through the beer and warms the innards
O - a smoke bomb with the chilli heat complimenting rather than stealing the spotlight, very well done

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 02:04:38 | More by joemcgrath27

Danny1217

Florida

3.84/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown with a thin tan head.
Smells a bit smokey, roasted malts, and chocolate.
The taste has some smoke, chocolate, roasted malts, and just a hint of chipotle spice. Not too overpowering. Medium body and carbonation.

Was hoping for a bit more of a chipotle kick. This tastes fairly similar to the regular smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 16:51:34 | More by Danny1217

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a near opaque black with very light tan head that retains fairly well and laces nicely. Nose has quite a bit of pepper smoke on it, plus a hint of "green" from peppers - a vegetal or almost herbal quality. On the palate is just a tingle of pepper heat, roasted malt, silky smooth body, and some bitter chocolate. Finish is roasty and peppered with a dancing tingle of heat on the palate afterwards. One of the mildest pepper beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:38:30 | More by yemenmocha

Jaycase

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

a: black. small, tan, frothy head.

s: roasted malts, chocolate. Not picking up any chipotle pepper in the aroma.

t: Smoked roasted malts & spiciness from the chipotle peppers. some chocolate.

m: bit thin. medium body.

o: Smokiness and heat from chipotle peppers are upfront as advertised. The peppers are strong but not overly so. I enjoyed the flavor. So many times I've had beers which are flavored in a certain way and it is barely detectable to me. I would not necessarily seek this out again but it was enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 02:28:36 | More by Jaycase

XicanoBeerRun

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Cola color with cola head

S: I don't pick up on the chipotle; toasty but not smokey, chocolate

T: I never get the same smoke quality from the Stone Smoked Porter as I do from German smoked beers; however, the chipotle imparts a nice smoky aftertaste in this one. Chipotle heat is not apparent at first, but it pleasantly builds.

I don’t usually enjoy porters, but this was really good. It was much better than the vanilla porter. Typically, I don’t think about pairing beers with food, but I bet this would be good with a grilled cheese or fruit. The guy at the beer store said it makes really good boracho beans.

This beer made me think. I appreciate that.

I'll have another.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 15:13:31 | More by XicanoBeerRun

Beaver13

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Pours Pours brown with a medium rocky light tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet roasted chocolate malts, smoke and light peppers.

The flavor is sweet chocolate malts with a little smoke and a bit of heat from the peppers and some bitter char in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit watery.

Overall, the flavors seem a bit subdued and washed out. It's decent, but I was expecting more. I do like this a bit better than the vanilla version.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 04:15:14 | More by Beaver13

gtermi

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: This pours a dark muddy brown body with a thick and creamy tan head that takes forever to fade and leaves a tiny but of lace on the glass.

S: There is a nice chipotle pepper sting, some smoked malt and a little bit if chocolate in the smell of this beer.

T: Wow this beer really kicks ya in the teeth with the first sip. There is an explosion of smoked malt and chipotle pepper. The chipotle pepper isnt really doing for me because it doesn't mix too well with the smoked malt. As the beer lingers, it has a nice malt sweetness.

M: This beer goes down very smooth and has a nice creamy mouthfeel. There is barely any crispness as the beer goes down and it is just easy to get down.

O: This is a solid beer. This isnt anything I would go crazy about getting, but I would sure try it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 03:59:42 | More by gtermi

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a dark brown, appearing black in the glass. One finger medium brown head with good retention and lots of lacing. Aroma of toasted malt, chocolate with a hint of smoke and an undefineable vegetable component. Flavor is a mellow mixture of toasted and smoked malt, dark dried fruit and chocolate, finishing with nice hot pepper and smoke. The pepper is distinct, but deftly done. The base flavor is most like the English export style of porter. This is very well integrated with an excellent balance of flavors. Nice medium to heavy, creamy body. A great smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 03:51:21 | More by LiquidAmber