Smoked Porter - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Stone Brewing Co.

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dark copper in color with a little beige head.

Flavor profile is a decent amount of smoke with a little hot pepper kick. The bourbon is kind of mild, but it shows. Chocolate and caramel malts with some earthy bittering hops.

Roasted and dry feel. A bit warming.

Solid beer, but I was hoping for more bourbon.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 04:04:37 | More by mothman

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

02-25-2013 02:58:41 | More by t0rin0

drop6301

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

02-02-2013 04:37:18 | More by drop6301

eawolff99

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +1.8%

01-30-2013 12:53:47 | More by eawolff99

scottiethebody

California

4/5  rDev +1.8%

09-28-2012 18:35:26 | More by scottiethebody

Andrewtfox

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.8%

07-08-2012 20:43:41 | More by Andrewtfox

PhineasGage

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

01-27-2012 18:52:18 | More by PhineasGage

OBIrish24

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

12-27-2011 03:00:15 | More by OBIrish24

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

12-13-2011 07:54:37 | More by CaptainNomihodai

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-22-2011 01:18:33 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

whartontallboy

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

11-14-2011 17:42:34 | More by whartontallboy

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

11-14-2011 17:06:32 | More by writerLJBerg

dgilks

Australia

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, dark brown colour with dark amber highlights. Small, foamy tan head.

Mild bourbon on the nose with a touch of smoke. Nothing amazing but still very nice with some earthiness in there too.

Smoky with some coffee and chocolate. Fairly simple porter but with some vanilla and oak notes coming through as well. Nice bourbon character.

Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. Good.

A well balanced Barrel aged porter with a fairly light barrel treatment. I quite liked it but felt that the aging had killed some of the great flavour that makes SSP what it is.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 22:18:18 | More by dgilks

brew3crew

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap for the stone tap take over at acre.

a-dark balck with almost no head. Seems to be a re-occuring theme with their BA beers

s-Very little smoke and a good amount of smooth bourbon

t-Bourbon is very light(another re-occuring theme with these beers). great malty body that goes down smooth

m-medium body and very smooth

o-Makes an ok beer good. But when doesn't bourbon do that?

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2011 23:31:01 | More by brew3crew

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at Three Floyds in a snifter.

Appearance: This is nearly pitch black with molasses colored edges. A creamy tan head rests on top and leaves some light lace.

Smell: The sweet bourbon aroma balances out the smoke in the base beer so perfectly. The result is a smooth aroma of bourbon, oak, smoke, roasted malt, and coffee.

Taste: The sip starts sweet with a tinge of bourbon and some light molasses. Some oak and smoke step in to impart a woody favor. Coffee and fully roasted malt lead into the finish, which has another flourish of bourbon.

Mouthfeel: This has a fuller than medium body that works well with the base beer and is not too light for the bourbon barrel aging. Smooth, creamy carbonation is just crisp enough to refresh the palate between sips.

Overall: Smoked beers are a tough balancing act for me. I enjoy them to a certain extent, but any time they taste like I am licking an ashtray, I am immediately turned off and want nothing to do with it. The Stone Smoked Porter is intense and starts to wander toward that line, but putting it into barrels for a while does wonders to the flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2011 23:55:28 | More by KickInTheChalice

readbaron

Illinois

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

Snifter served at FFF

Really enjoyed this one.

Purs a dark, crisp brown with plentiful off white head that laces well as it fades into an off white ring.

Lots going on in the nose - coffee and smoke are dominant with some sweetness, bourbon and vanilla coming in behind. It's well balanced and integrated, not too sweet or hot.

Taste follows the nose - it's rich, smooth & well integrated. There's more smoke and oak and less sweetness in the flavor than the nose. It finishes with a subtle smokey bourbon kick.

It's creamy and dry for a porter - medium bodied, and well carbonated.

Overall - I'm really happy that this was a random guest tap at FFFs. The bourbon on this is sublte - no where near overpowering, it just adds some delicious complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2011 19:24:50 | More by readbaron

AgentZero

Illinois

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

A - Dark brown beer that looks black in the dark. Minimal head, no real sick left on the sides.

S - Some smoke with a bit of bourbon and vanilla. Bit of chocolate, not bad, but not great.

T - I actually prefer the non-barrel aged version to this one. There's some smoke, vanilla, and bourbon, with just a touch of lactic sourness on the end. Generally felt that porters aren't big enough to hold up to the barrel aging process, and that's what I'm getting here. It's alright and easy to get down, but I'm not a huge fan.

M - A little bit thin from the barrels, with moderate carbonation.

O - Nothing offensive in this beer, but it's not a big favorite of mine. Worth giving a try, but don't feel bad if you miss it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 04:30:13 | More by AgentZero

ChugginOil

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served @ Hop Juice Fest 2011

Dark brown in color but transparent enough for light to make rusty colored edging. Light oak and vanilla notes come through in the nose mixed with a bit of smoke. The taste is quite similar. Not too bold but it makes it's point. Vanilla and oak from the barrel aging is noticed first, followed by a smokey kick. The mouthfeel lacks the viscosity im looking for in a porter but it works for this beer as it is highly drinkable. Pretty good overall.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 22:18:49 | More by ChugginOil

MasterSki

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Jake Melnick's. Served in a Coors Light(!) pint glass - not sure if that was ironic.

A - Served with a half-finger of tan foam that settles to a thin cap, leaving behind sticky glass-coating lacing. Dark brown body that has some transparent ruby highlights at the fringes of the glass.

S - It's an unusual mix of caramel, light bourbon, smoked malt, vanilla and some nebulous earthy flavors - either from hop or oak. I can't imagine this was barrel-aged that long, as the base beer is still perceptible.

T - The taste actually reminds me a little of a rauchbier - there's a definite honey-glazed smoked ham sort of flavor profile. Otherwise there's a hefty dose of butterscotch and vanilla from the wood, and some sweet caramel malts. Gets a little saccharine by the end, although the smoke offers much needed contrast and balance.

M - Zesty carbonation - too much in my opinion. Medium-light body, and a surprisingly clean, dry finish.

D - Other than the high carbonation I found this pretty easy to drink. I haven't found too many lower ABV bourbon barrel-aged beers that have been very successful, and while this wasn't superb it was still fairly enjoyable. Also, kudos to Jake Melnick's for their generous serving sizes, affordable pricing, and common sense regarding the asinine CCBW bottle caps.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 18:23:15 | More by MasterSki

HopHead84

California

3.43/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

4/17/2011

On tap at Stone Oakquinox 2011 in a snifter.

A: Transparent dark brown with a light reddish tinge. Small head.

S: Strong smoke with a touch of oak and evident chocolate. Bourbon is pretty faint on this. Not a lot going on here. Perhaps some vanilla. Lots of smoke still - that characteristic didn't fade much.

T: Very faint bourbon with evident wood and a firm smoke presence. Light chocolate and a touch of vanilla. Flavor is tame, and as was the case with the aroma, the flavor has little barrel influence and the smoke seems to dominate.

M: Upper medium in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is dry, smooth, and a touch thin.

Overall: This wasn't a bad beer, but it didn't live up to my somewhat unfounded expectations and it doesn't match the quality of Stone's other barrel aged offerings

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2011 05:41:12 | More by HopHead84

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On-tap at Oakquinox

A: This one pours a dark brown, almost black color, with a creamy tan head.

S: The roast and charred oak come through quite strongly. A little bit of vanilla to it and a mild bourbon aroma. Some ash and smoke, though the smoke is not as pronounced as expected.

T: There's sort of a funky flavor to this, which seems to come from the combination of smoke, vanilla, and bourbon. Charred oak and malt with some bitter dark chocolate flavor in there, too.

M: Somewhat light in body, though it would be fair to say medium, with a medium level of carbonation.

O: My least favorite of the spirit barrel aged Stone beers at this point. Didn't really do much for me.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2011 05:07:10 | More by womencantsail

rrski198

Missouri

4.65/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Done from brief notes at a Stone Release event in Chesterfield, MO at itap.

A: Almost black. Outstanding lacing. Little head that sticks around nicely.

S: Intensly smokey, burnt brown sugar, and slight boozey scent.

T: Intense smoke up front, bitter in the middle and through the sip. Finishes with a perfect dose of bourbon on the back end. The light body of the beer really allow the broubon to shine.

M: Creamy, rich, earthy, intense bourbon boozey spice. Light yet heavy. Wow! Perfect!

O: Loved it. I could drink it all night. I think the lighter body of a porter allowed the bourbon to take center stage but the smoke gave it a whole other level of complexity. Thanks Stone!

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2011 19:58:47 | More by rrski198