Smoked Porter - Stone Brewing Co.

m1ked

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler from WF Bowery beer room. I let Neil know about the SD local favorite "Smokey Indian" a mixture of Stone's Smoked Porter & IPA...mmmm.

A- Pours with a monster sandy tan colored head that has large bubbles on the top, with fine bubbles on the bottom. The head hangs around for a long time. Once it does shrink down, it leaves behind a ton of lacing. Pours a dark cola colored brown. When held up to the light, boasts some flaming ruby edges. Looks so good.

S- Rich woody, cocoa, cola, touch of smoke, root beer, mollasses from a fruitcake. Even though the smoke is undeniable, it is not overpowering, and lingers.

T- Definetly get the smoke up front, burnt woodiness, light cocoa, light salty meat...which I am sure is the smokiness tricking my palate. Some bitterness at the end. The flavors in the middle are kind of lost between the bookends of smoke (duh) and lingering bitter.

M- Really light mouthfeel, but as I must remind myself that this is a porter, not a stout. Good carbonation throughout.

D- This is a great porter. I wonder how many casual beer drinkers have been scred off by the "smoked" oart of the label. Having lived in SD, I think I took this beer for granted. I was so happy to see this for growler fills here in NYC. Good to pair with food too!

Serving type: growler

11-17-2009 01:01:06 | More by m1ked

womencantsail

California

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

A: Very dark brown, almost black with a finger and a half of off-white head.

S: Smokey, chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, and a bit of sweetness.

T: First sip is sweet, primarily caramel. As it warms up a bit, the slight smokiness comes out, as do the traditional porter flavors such as coffee and chocolate. A nice roasted malt taste is prevalent.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel.

D: I'm generally not that big of a fan of smoked beers, but this one is light enough on the smoke, and it seems to add a bit of sweetness.

Serving type: growler

09-11-2009 03:30:29 | More by womencantsail

arizcards

Arizona

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Picked up a growler at the brewery yesterday for $8.00.

Beer poured black with ruby highlights. Head is tan with good height and retention. Nose is hints of coffee and west coast hops. Taste is wonderful, roasted malts with hints of coffee and chocolate balanced very nicely by a good dose of west coast hops. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth going across the palate. Overall drinkability is exceptional. It has been awhile since i have had this. I had forgotten how good this brew is! This is a very easy drinking beer that has few peers in this category!!

Serving type: growler

05-29-2009 21:49:22 | More by arizcards

Voonder

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown color with ruby notes. Big tan head.
Smell - malts mostly with hints of coffe and chocolate. Taste - a lot better than smell - smoked flavour hits at first, then some chocolate and coffe perhaps. Smokey flavor makes it different, delicious and easy to drink. Very rich, creamy beer, well balanced. Great beer, I love it, I haven't had a good porter for a while.

Serving type: growler

03-03-2009 06:26:59 | More by Voonder

Jwale73

Rhode Island

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

Served in a standard pint glass (thanks Stoneman78). Growler opened with a pop and a rush and left some specks of porter on my kitchen ceiling (guess it's fresh :) Poured the color of obsidian, followed by a luscious coffee colored two-fingered head that settled into a quarter-inch consistent layer of foam and ringlets. Lots and lots of lacing; just like drinking a coffee milkshake. Scent of hops, roasted malt and espresso, as well as a lingering smokiness in the nose. Nice mellow taste - unsweetened cocoa, coffee and malt with a slightly hoppy finish. Nice medium-bodied mouthfeel; not too much carbonation. Very sessionable porter.

Serving type: growler

02-02-2008 20:58:16 | More by Jwale73

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

A: poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass, dark orange brown with a large foamy tan head that lingers leaving good lacing, clear

S: smoky malt, caramel, toasted bread, brown sugar, coffee

T: smoke up front, hickory, coffee, malt, light hop bitterness, finish is bitter and dry

M: velvet smooth with perfect carbonation, soft

O: nice smoke flavor without being overpowering, well balanced

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:31:02 | More by M_C_Hampton

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A-dark brown black color with light tan head and good lacing

S-dark roasted malt, coffee, light smokiness, earthy

T-dark roasted malt, earthiness, good smoke flavor, coffee, little bitter finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth and creamy

O-a nice porter with good smoke flavor, enjoyable on its own or with food

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 02:23:49 | More by MDDMD

Greywulfken

New York

4.06/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: black beer in a stout flute glass with a fat dark tan head; slippery, milky lace all the way down

S: smoky roasted dark malt, wood and earth

T: bitter dark malt, smoke and charcoal, very distant cold espresso and bittersweet chocolate (more bitter than sweet)

M: medium body, modest carbonation, smooth and coating, mellow bittering

O: very simple and flavor-specific porter - high quality product from a high-quality brewer. Smooth, dry, mellow bitter porter riddled with smoky char.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 18:43:00 | More by Greywulfken

bbluemzbeer

California

1.46/5  rDev -63.9%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: Black with ht browhe edges of the beer
Smell- Malty with a slight smoky aroma
Taste- Where is the smokey part? Tastes like hoppy beer to me. and I did not find anything else
Moutfeel- Stingy and terrible
Overall- I am not a fan of this type of beers and basically tasted llike old Guiness beerr and no smoked flavor in it. SHould save my money!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 07:39:48 | More by bbluemzbeer

godlessape

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured this one into a Samuel Smith Imperial pint glass. The body is dark, like a storm cloud on a moonless night. The head is creamy tan and inviting.

The aroma is dominated by roasted barely malt simmering in high-end coffee. I'm also picking up some not so subtle dark chocolate notes along with wisps of BBQ smoke. Close your eyes, employ a little imagination and your sitting by a campfire, chowing down on s'mores.

This brew has a uncomplicated roasty mocha flavor to it, and trailing along on the back end comes a pretty decent hop bite for a porter.

The mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied with not much carbonation--which, considering the style, is perfect.

Overall this is a great porter, and it won't be my last.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 23:13:35 | More by godlessape

LCB_Hostage

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into an imperial pint glass (two pours)

A: Deep coal black with a 3-finger, sturdy tan head and moderate lacing. Same head for the second pour (remainder was refrigerated, open for about 30 minutes from opening to second pour)

S: More of a burnt coffee than "smoked" with hints of chocolate and plum. Richly malty and pleasing with minimal hops coming through.

T: Presented as a fairly typical porter on the front end, but the smokiness came on strong in the after-taste. Malty without being sweet, despite the lack of any noticable hops. The smoke gave a very dry, woody finish that lingered long on the tongue. Lighter bodied than the intense aroma would have suggested.

M: The smokiness and a nice level of carbonation gives the tongue a dry tingle. Very smooth and refreshing for a porter. Not at all syrupy.

O: I'm glad I gave this a try. It's not necessarily something I'd work into a regular rotation, but I could definitely see stocking a couple more bombers for when the mood strikes. The clerk where I bought it "warned" about the smokiness, but I didn't find it that over-powering at all -- certainly not enough to be off-putting. It fell right in the range I'd expect from a self-proclaimed "smoked porter." Another fine product from Stone, reasonably priced a $4.99 for a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 16:00:14 | More by LCB_Hostage

MisSigsFan

California

4.16/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a dark brown color with a finger of bone white head. Smell isn't very strong but is mostly roasted malts. Taste is roasted malts up front, with coffee and hints of chocolate. Mouth is very smooth with a little more carbonation than I was expecting. Overall, another great beer from Stone. I don't think I've ever been disappointed by them.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 03:59:38 | More by MisSigsFan

HappyPappy2X

Oregon

4.09/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-Tap, pint glass at Mississippi Pizza, Portalnd, Oregon March 11, 2013

Appearance: Dark, almost opaque. Off white head, good retention

Smell: Not strong, slight malt sweetness

Taste: Malt forward, slight roastiness, smoke flavor hidden deep. Milk chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Lighter side for porter. Above average carbonation.

Overall: A great porter. One I would revisit. Smokiness almost not enough, although better to err on too little, perhaps...

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 15:03:21 | More by HappyPappy2X

mattbk

New York

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark brown, light does pass through it, pours with a thick, rocky head, may be a bit overcarbonated.
Smell: Roast, chocolate, maybe a bit hoppy. Not much smoke. Seems good, not especially unique.
Taste: A nice beer, good amount of bitter roast, some chocolate back there too, maybe just a little bit hoppy, but certainly taking a back seat to malts. I don't get much of a smoke character, maybe just a tad pheonlic. I am enjoying this beer.
Mouthfeel: Medium mouthfeel. I like this kind of mouthfeel to my porters, they really shouldn't feel so full as a stout would in my opinion. The mouthfeel on this beer is just about perfect.
Overall: A very solid beer, easily drinkable, not very complex, but complex enough to make it interesting.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:37:37 | More by mattbk

Hunter

Arizona

3.55/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Black ale, tan head of dense foam with good tracing.

Smell: Smoke, coffee, cocoa, dark malts, and so help me - blood. I actually smell blood. Not entirely unpleasant, either.

Taste: Surprisingly not as complex or heady as the smell would suggest. Smoked malts, espresso, and bitter chocolate notes dominate.

Mouthfeel: Again, not as chewy as one would expect. Thinner than some porters/stouts, but still leaves a nice aftertaste.

Overall: This might be a good transition for those looking to move into the darker, heavier beers without being overwhelmed from the get-go. It's a fine porter to sip slowly, letting it warm to room temperature and discover more subtle flavors/aromas, or a good one to quaff straightaway.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 20:14:18 | More by Hunter

RenaudNW

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Overall a very nice experience in a Porter. It has a very good appearance with a moderate head and good carbonation. The aroma is what really makes this beer an experience. A nose fulling experience with good complexity and a nice smokiness. In addition, the taste does not disappoint. It is both full flavored and relatively clean. I can drink a full 22oz bottle and never feel like I'm being overwhelmed; very satisfying. The one potential weakness of this brew is the mouth feel. From the initial aroma, one gets the impression that it should be smooth and silky on the tongue. Unfortunately, after the fine initial experience with the aroma and color, the mouth feel comes across as somewhat watery. However, close your eyes and concentrate on the flavor and you won't notice the weak mouth feel after a few sips. Overall about a 4 out of 5. It's good enough that I keep a few bottles in the back of the refrigerator as a regular stand by.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:17:49 | More by RenaudNW

vkv822

Oregon

3.76/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz : tulip
Enjoy By: 03/30/13

Very nice looking, very deep brown, near black with a thick, billowy tan head and nice lacing.

Roasted cocoa and coffee, lightly smokey malts. Fleeting hints of smoked meats.

Medium- body with mild, foamy carbonation.

The smoked aspect of this porter is well done, with just barely enough to be noticeable, but at no point becomes overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 10:15:49 | More by vkv822

hreb

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cold 22 oz bottle served in pint glass. Beer pours black, opaque except for a tinge of red, and a medium chestnut head. Aroma is smoky, as expected. Smoke and roasted malt pick up the front of the flavor, too. Smoked flavor is the major player here, but it doesn't overpower the substantial malt bill here. Burnt toast is big here. In the background there are subtle coffee and mocha flavors. Finally, there's a bitter edge to bring out the dry finish. This is a really good smoked porter and worth coming back to again and again.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:17:38 | More by hreb

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes taken 02/17/13.

Served on tap, 12oz. pour, at Yard House in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Very dark brown, not quite black, certain hints of red. Thin light mocha head with lots of lacing.

Roasted/spiced malt aromas are light; not too prominent or pervasive. Wish it had more.

Roasted/spiced and smokey, definitely more hoppy than expected. It tastes very good.

Very smooth up front, with a dry finish; light to medium carbonation.

Overall this was surprising, did expect it to be as good as it was. Will try to again. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 23:28:59 | More by rodlavers

Kerrie

Michigan

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

Hmm, for a smoked porter, I don't detect any smokiness, but it's still good.

A- Nearly opaque black with a nice frothy head (good retention) and heavy lacing.

S- Smells hoppy, like an IPA, with the porter smell being more in the background.

T- I can taste the hops, so this isn't a typical smoked porter. More hoppy than malty. Thankfully, I've been getting into IPAs lately or else I probably wouldn't like this as much. But it just doesn't taste like a smoked porter. Hoppy finish/aftertaste, too.

M- Not too thick or thin.

Overall, I don't think it's a good representation of the style. IPA lovers would most likely enjoy it if they're trying to branch out to porters and stouts.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:37:50 | More by Kerrie

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Lost Abbey chalice.

A- pours black with a 2 finger tan head. Big trails and blotches of lacing remain on the glass.

S- big chocolate and pine.

T- smoked malt, chocolate, pine.

M- medium body and carbonation. Very easy drinking.

O- good beer, but very one dimensional. All smoked malt, chocolate and pine hops.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 07:10:58 | More by kawilliams81

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: A relatively clear deep rich brown. Appears black until held to light. Pours with a solid, creamy tan head. Retention is decent. Drops to a small creamy cap over a few minutes. Sheets of sticky lacing. Very pretty.

Smell: Chocolate and coffee. Roasted malts. Slightly burnt with a nice solid smoky push. Some char. Cocoa and ash. Vaguely grassy with some corn and earth. It smells like every porter should. Sweet caramelized malts in the back. Smokiness builds a bit as it warms.

Taste: Light smokiness. Solidly, but not overly, roasted. Some backing coffee bean and dark chocolate. Hints of cocoa. Some ash and char, but more smoky than either. Underlying nuttiness. Some caramel malt sweetness. Sweet smoky roast.

Mouthfeel: Slightly creamy and smooth. Mediumish body with a moderate carbonation. Drinks like a champ with a bit of warmth.

Overall: Because...screw you!

Another benchmark provided by Stone. This isn't a knock your socks of porter, but damn if it's not tasty and sets a bar for the style. I'm not a huge porter fan, but this could change my mind.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 00:17:27 | More by Goblinmunkey7

bnes09

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dark color while still allowing some light to pass through. Creamy foam with excellent retention and lacing.

Roasty, smokey, even burnt aroma. Lots of coffee and smoked meats.

Burnt toast malt character provides a pleasant bitterness. Smoked sausage compliments the roasted malt. Earth and spinach hop bitterness. HInt of maple sweeteness. Finishes dry with lingering bitterness.

Medium bodied with a crisp, dry feel throughout. Plenty of lingering malt texture.

Solid porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 00:44:31 | More by bnes09

Theheroguy

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dark reddish brown with a thin head (as expected for a porter)

Smoky aroma with hints of sweet chocolate
Taste wise you get chocolate, roasted malt, licorice and a tiny bit of coffee. Bitterness in the beer is minimal.

I would happily recommend this porter the flavors are very complex and I would need to have it several times to identify them all.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:08:42 | More by Theheroguy

TheConnMan

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass, 2012

A: Pours dark amber brown, two finger dissipating head, leaves a lasting film

S: Chocolate, dark berries, and a little bit of cinnamon. As it warms up, the smell really becomes great, the best aspect of this beer

T: Starts with chocolate and roasted malt, followed by cherries and blackberries. Finishes with a pleasant slight bitterness. Really great caramelized flavor without going too far. Not as sweet as some other porters, which is a good thing.

M: A little thin, but carbonated well

O: A really great porter, one I would recommend to anyone looking for a benchmark porter, or trying to get into darker beers in general. I think its one of the best go to bombers widely available

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 02:04:43 | More by TheConnMan