Smoked Porter - Stone Brewing Co.

oberon

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep brown with some ruby tint to it with a light but creamy looking almond colored head,the aroma is very nice I think the light smoky hints along with the chocolate almost makes a fudge brownie aroma is it just me?Taste is very earthy with a raw peanut flavor with the smokiness coming in late that lingers definant resiny hop flavor intermingaled in there as well.A pretty complex beer very worthy of its high marks in my humble opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2003 02:23:01 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very dark brown in color, almost black, but with clear ruby and mahogany highlights visible at the base of the glass. It's frothy tan head holds quite well. It keeps a creamy collar and thin surface covering throughout the glass, and leaves good lace as well. The nose is quite enticing, with a chocolate and caramel base that's enhanced by a soft peat-smokiness. The smoke is just enough to add to, and enhance, the aroma of the beer. The body is medium/full, creamy, and velvety smooth in the mouth. The flavor, much like the aroma and mouthfeel, is quite smooth and round. This beer is exceptionally well balanced in all regards. It's softly sweet with a combination of milk chocolate and caramel, a light touch of smoke, a supportive bitterness and some background hop flavors. It finishes with a lingering roastiness, mild smokiness, and dull bitterness followed by some light, grassy hop flavor. Although the subtle smoke gets lost in the flavor over the course of the glass, it remains in the nose. Very nicely done, and highly drinkable with just enough smoke to give it a little bit of complexity and keep it interesting throughout one or two. Except for it's strength, this would make a very nice session beer. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2003 20:22:20 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: dark, raisiny brown hue, under a nice, big, bubbly brown head.
Aroma: initially yielding nothing, but with time we get all the whiffs of a smoked salmon session, right here in your beer! ...very clear, clean, but sharp with the smokiness, and noticably subdued beyond that.
Mouthfeel is big and warm, floods every inch...portery characteristics are secondary to the smoke involved, and you have to let it reign, it's the smoke in charge tonight.
Terrific texture, tasty tang, full body, thick, chewy,delicious, chock full of the requisite coffee/cocoa connotations I would demand out of a decent porter, but they emerge only briefly and are submerged by that smoke!
thanks to xlperro

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2003 01:53:47 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a deep dark black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades. The aroma is good. It has a nice dark malt scent that boasts of chocolate, crystal, and black barley. It is a bit dry and devoid of hops. The taste is good. It has a fine malt palate and a dry smoked malt finish. It is rich, yet smooth. There are a lot of black malts in this one. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good drinking porter. It has excellent malt complexity and drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2004 01:43:06 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Three smoked porters tasted side by side at Churchkey last night, regular, vanilla and chipotle. Served in a wine glass.

Beer is black / dark brown with a thin broken head of brown tiny bubbles that leaves minimal lacing on the glass. Carbonation is low, they all three looked exactly the same.

Aroma is mildly smoky and roasty, smells really nice.

Beer is medium bodied and has this mild sweetness to start and finishes out with a some nice roast and mild smoke. I really enjoyed this beer and the elaborations on the beer with the different flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 15:57:49 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a very dark brown color with a large tan head. The aroma is a very nice mix of smoke. roasted malt and chocolate. The smoke compliments the other flavors and doesn't overshadow them. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of chocolate and roasted malt, with the smoke mixing very well. The beer tastes smokier than the aroma, but it is still not overwhelming. Very easy to drink. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. One of my favorite smoked beers and a beer that goes very well with barbecue brisket.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 02:00:40 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out an opaque, dark black color with a thick, foamy, cappuccino-like head. It left some thin rings of lace.

S - It smelled smoky, but not over the top smoky. There were hints of coffee, too.

T - It tasted fairly smoky, but it wasn't overdone. There were subtle tastes of licorice, chocolate and expresso.

M - It was soft, creamy and smooth. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a good smoked porter. Its mild smoke quality makes it more versatile when pairing it with food and it won't wreck your palate for another brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 02:08:31 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer poured very dark amber (close to black) in color with a finger high tan head. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible and a thick ring of bubbles covers the surface near the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of smoky and roasted malts in the nose.
T: Flavors of dark roasted malts dominate the taste, which has some notes of coffee. Smoky flavors appear in the finish. The malty flavors are nicely balanced with the hops, which lend a little bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and very sessionable. It's a good representation of the style and I will definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 00:28:53 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a persistant light brown head. Aroma is first of roast malt, followed by smoke which comes to dominate the aroma, though it is not overwhelming. The taste is malty, with roasted notes, and then the smoke injects itself. The smoke is the dominant flavor, though it is not as strong as some other examples. Very well balanced for a Stone beer :-)

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2003 00:50:44 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a very dark brown, almost black with a thin beige head and leaves a good lace on the glass.

S: Heavy roasted coffee and chocolate smell with the smokiness that gives the beer its name. The malt comes through as well. Very nice!

T: The smoked flavor is what dominates in the taste with a mild bitterness, both of which stay in the after-taste. You also get a bit of dark chocolate in it. Not too sweet as some Porters can be.

M: Smooth, medium carbonation with a medium/heavy body and a little more crisp than most Porters that I’ve had. The fact that it’s not as sweet as most Porters lends to less of a syrupy & sticky feel that other beers of this style tend to leave behind.

D: It’s very easy to drink since it’s not too sweet, not too bitter and not very over-powering. However it is a bit filling, which is expected in the style. Overall this was a very good beer. Stone Brewing Co. does not disappoint. The beer represents the style well, while maintaining the brewery’s signature.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2006 04:10:03 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The smoked porter pours out almost like a stout. The liquid looked pretty thick. The color was black and the head was brown. There was some good lacing too. The aroma is lightly smoked and roasted. The taste is a little salty from the smoked malts, but also has a nice roasted quality too with some hops in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is smooth and has a decent body to it. Overall it's not my favorite Stone brew but it's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 04:10:16 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours mahogony to midnight black with a massive bubbly tan head. Lacing is very good & head retention is okay

Smell: Hint of smoked malt, fruitiness, & alcohol

Taste: smokineness up front gives way to biscuity/malt taste with some raisin & alcohol taste on the finish

MF: Very smooth, but a little undercarbonated.

Smokiness is used for good effect on a good-great porter works well. But just not quite perfection. Works well as a stand-alone or with BBQ, cheese, or Heavier food, wouldn't rule it out for dessert.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2006 04:14:14 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I've had this particular bottle for six months. Not sure why I waited so long, but it's time to drink it!

Pours a dark brown, black in the middle. Not quite opaque in the light, where the edges turn a lighter shade of reddish brown. Small head of light tan foam. No lacing that sticks around. Head fizzles down to a skim, with a ring around the edge of the glass.

Banana esters in the aroma, bready dark malt like a Doppelbock. No perceptible smokiness that I can smell.

Very malty flavor, very mild hint at smoke, with slight banana from the yeast coming through at the end. Mildly sweet with a mild astringency. Creamy, lactic feel, pretty smooth with a well hidden ABV.

Had to split the bomber, as it was fairly filling. Probably won't seek this out again but it was worth trying.

$4.99 @ Liquor Stop, Highland, IN.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2007 23:57:08 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber poured into a shaker pint glass, bought at Mike's Liquor on Warner and Bolsa Chica in Huntington.

A: Very dark ruby-brown color with an off-tan, 2-finger head, creates a look of foreboding in my glass.

S: Delicious biscuity, bread malt, with a hint of chocolate and coffee.

T: Dark roasted malts with delectable barbeque notes. Hops in the aftertaste provide a good backbone balanced by sweet malts in the end.

M: Full-bodied, robust, very nice.

D: A liitle heavy on this Southern California June night, but easily a session beer at 5.9%.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2007 05:31:40 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a black color with a tan head that's about 1/2" thick. The head receded to the surface rather quickly, but that stuck around a while. Some lacing developed too. The aroma is of coffee and burnt wood. The flavor has coffee, molasses, licorice, pepper, and a hint of burnt chocolate. The smokiness is just right, not overpowering and it adds to the flavor.

The mouthfeel is smooth with a slight dry aftertaste. The smokiness and coffee tones last long on the tongue after swallowing. This is one of the better smoked brews I have ever sampled.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2004 21:48:09 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured black in the center with ruby highlights around the edges. There was a fairly thin, but well-retained foamy white head.
The smell was of smoky roasted coffee with a burnt charcoal aroma.
The taste was of charcoal, roasted black coffee and a touch of chocolate. It was medium to full-flavored (almost rich - not quite there.)
The aftertaste was smoky and burnt - almost gritty, while still being smooth.
It does hit its goal of being a porter that is good for a barbecue or as a dessert. And, of course, the bottle is cool!
This is a very good beer! IMO, it's not the best offering from Stone, but certainly a good, slightly different (but in a good way) porter, and worth the price!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2006 03:20:48 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber from lovely Missoula, Montana...

This beer pours a nice solid black, with caramel highlights, and two fingers of thick, foamy beige head, which leaves an unbroken wall of lace around the glass as it melts away. It smells of roasted malt, smoke, some brine, and a bit of earthy hops. The taste is lightly toasted, but heavy caramel malt, some mild peaty smoke, and grassy, floral hops. The carbonation is average, rendering the body smooth, medium weight, and somewhat creamy. It finishes fairly sweet, the soft smoky malt hardly dented by any lingering hops.

A very enjoyable and easy to put back smoked beer. Perfect as an accompaniment to watching this week's Weeds - Stone is 'advertised' in the show.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 04:50:38 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is a bomber served cool in a Chimay goblet.

A: The porter is black in color with a thick white head that dissapates rapidly.

S: Aroma is a roasted, chocolately nose, no hint of smoke.

T: The taste is smokey up front and gives way to a chocolatey, roasted flavor. The smoke pops back up in the finish and lingers.

M: Smoking the malts for a porter is interesting and that flavor pops up at interesting times throughout the drink.

D: I am not a huge fan of smoked beers, but this one is alright (but nowhere near my favorite stone brews).

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2006 11:37:34 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Definitely a step away from other porters, I might have even mistaken this for a stout, but taste is really what matters right? Not some silly style guideline. The beer was a bit heavy, but not syrupy like some big stouts, and tasted of dark cocoa, a bit of espresso, and smoke. The bitter bite was a perfect pair for my spicey turkey sandwich and the remaining beer after I finished my meal was a nice dessert. Give it a try on tap, the bottles are too expensive.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2007 02:42:58 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Huge 22oz. bomber, pours with an very dark ruby almost opaque black in color, with a moccha toned nicely constructed head. The aroma is mainly of darker roasts with a background of a smokey screen in the aroma. The flavor is has mild cocoa notes along with roasted barley all wrapped up in a wonderful rauch style smoked. Leaves a nice dryness on the tongue, I am guessing this beer goes really well with a nice juicy steak. Very good porter, if just getting into rauchbier this is a nice one to start with, very mild smoke taste and aroma. All together very well done, everything is tied together to form a complete full flavor. A medium to light bodied porter, this beer definitely turns the tongue into a desert, very dry mouthfeel. All in all very drinkable smoked porter, but even with my love for Stone this is a dinner beer for me. Not a beer for chilling at the bar and drinking one right after another, but a very enjoyable experience none the less.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2003 23:16:12 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Mmmm. A nice and long lasting flow over the palate. The tones are even and it leaves a long taste in your mouth. I have saved trying a lot of the Stone productions in order to build up my palate, but I have to say that I am satisfied with this one beyond what I had expected. I have tried others with stronger flavors, so this won’t be an all time favorite, but my opinion of it will always remain high.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 02:36:38 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a very deep brown with a small dirty tan head, very little carbonation. Nose smelled of a little smoke and roasted malt, coffee but let down on the nose much like the taste. Tasted like it smelled. I almost detected smoke smoked meat or something in there. The bottle did not do this brew justice.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2009 02:30:01 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

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

Solid brown color; leaves some spotty lace.

Dark malty and touch of what reminds neighbours liquid smoke.

More cocoa than smoke in the flavor; rich bodied and smooth. The finish is like powdered hot chocolate. Good hop aftertaste, which I wasn't expecting. Overall, a very interesting porter on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2010 19:40:08 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a black in color, nice carbonation, nice small foamy tan head, very nice lacing afterwards.

S - Scents of malts, toffee, caramel, and a slight roasted/smoked scent.

T - The taste is of roasted/smoked toffee and sweet, nice clean finish.

M - Medium body.

D - Very drinkable. An awesome brew from Stone, a classic to the style. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2006 23:49:08 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

( Served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer pours a dense black body with a nice tan head that holds in the glass.

S-Very nice smoky grain aroma with some deep roasted barley smell and almost a chocolate hint with it.

T- This has a great roasted barley flavor with some good depth of malts and a nice spicy hop finish that has a hint of smokiness with it. The finish hops have hint of tangy almost pineapple resin flavor but it is very faint.

M-This has a pretty creamy mouthfeel but no alcohol heat or astringency.

D-This beer is a spot-on-porter very solid on its own but the nice gentle smoke shows its present. The smoke is not overpowering and really compliments the deep roasted grain. Next time I'm in the distributing area I must stock up.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2005 01:20:10 | More by rhoadsrage