Carolina Winter Porter - Carolina Brewing Company

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Muddyfeet for this one...solid trader and all around good guy.
Black in color...some dark brown highlights w/ the help from a dose of natural light. A full finger of off-colored white head that falls a bit short on endurance...leaves some spotty lacing.
Extremely inviting in the nose with a hefty chocolate scent...an earthy base and some floral hop.
Taste is a slight letdown, but still quite good. Was hoping for a hint of spice or something w/ the name, but just a solid porter.
The slightest detection of nutty character that is less roasty and more nutella...the thicker than average mouthfeel is appreciated, making it a reason to crave in the colder months. Then again, we are talking NC...I'd still hunt this one down once a year and not hesitate to score a sixer. Actually, quite clean in the finish and goes down easy.
The folks at CBC make some quality brews and this would be one of them...never had a bottling issue with the handful I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2007 20:36:30 | More by warriorsoul

Axnjxn

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev 0%

03-09-2013 03:01:47 | More by Axnjxn

Duvel

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

03-08-2013 14:55:12 | More by Duvel

Shatter

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

02-25-2013 13:26:01 | More by Shatter

fastrodney

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

01-10-2013 01:09:15 | More by fastrodney

dwcraft

3.75/5  rDev 0%

12-30-2012 05:41:27 | More by dwcraft

BigTrubble

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

11-22-2012 01:22:15 | More by BigTrubble

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Very dark, almost black in color. Can't see through it, and a moderate thickness head that dissipates to almost nothing relatively quickly.

S - Smells of roasted malts, chocolate.

T - Pretty much follows the nose, with malts and chocolate the two most prevalent flavors. There is also the slightest hint of dark fruits.

M - Somewhat on the thin side, but also relatively creamy. Sessionable.

O - I thought this was a pretty solid offering by Carolina Brewing Company. They're a mostly average brewery. I like their pale ale and Octoberfest, but they're not the most memorable. However, the Winter Porter has a pretty good flavor. Something I could definitely see myself drinking again this season. I actually find it pretty competitive with Sam Adams' winter lager.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 23:57:24 | More by RWLawman

TheOriginal

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -20%

11-15-2012 23:53:29 | More by TheOriginal

Jason_Quad

3.75/5  rDev 0%

07-09-2012 21:45:53 | More by Jason_Quad

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle.

Pours a clear garnett ruby color with a thin light tan head that settles to a thin film. Aroma is roast malt, toffee, cinnamon, bread, dark chocolate, and earth. Milk chocolate flavor with a bready backbone and a dry, earthy bitter finish. Slightly thin, medium thin body with moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 00:29:47 | More by yourefragile

NCLorax

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev 0%

04-15-2012 16:20:55 | More by NCLorax

carrollmel7

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

03-04-2012 21:45:55 | More by carrollmel7

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Mark!

Pour is brown, definitely brown. Thin ring of a head.

Smell is light. Hints of roasted malts, but smells light and drinkable.

Yep, its exactly how it smells. Watery, but still good. By hints, I mean small tastes of roasted malts, dark chocolate, and coffee. Its all delicate and drinkable. Almost more of a brown ale.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 00:26:47 | More by VncentLIFE

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Comes out of the tap a nice opaque dark-chocolate brown with a fairly thick light tan head that leaves some good lacing. Chocolaty aroma has smoky and coffee hints. Flavor is mainly chocolaty and has roast malt and coffee undertones, as well as just a hint of molasses. Texture is smooth and somewhat fizzy, leaving a chocolaty and slightly sweet finish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2011 21:34:32 | More by Cyberkedi

tdm168

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Sawmill Tap Room 12/17/11

Pours a deep brown with a reddish hue. There's a quarter inch of white, foamy, thin head that sits on top that has great retention. The nose has notes of roasted malts and yeast, maybe a little diacetyl. The taste is roasty with very faint notes of coffee and a little chocolate in the finish. There's a strong yeasty-ness to the flavor. It's definitely an off flavor. There is a mellow hop bitterness to the finish. This is a very smooth, medium bodied beer that is a little thin at times, but it's well carbonated and drinkable.

The yeast notes make me want to shy away from this one. In year's past I've never noticed the off flavors though, so I will give it another chance.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 01:46:39 | More by tdm168

silver0rlead

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown color with ruby highlights and a thick beige head that leaves nice lacing. The aroma has some nice roastiness upfront (notes of espresso and dark chocolate) along with some burnt bread and citrusy hops, blackstrap molasses and dark fruits. The flavor is similar with huge roasted notes initially, along with some coffee and dark chocolate, molasses, dark fruits, citrusy hops and some slight alcohol. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side which is appropriate for the style, and drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 04:42:03 | More by silver0rlead

atsprings

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a DFH Signature glass pours a deep almost opaque black that shows ruby highlights when held to light. The beer is topped by a thin diminishing off white head. Aroma is a nice amount of bitter cocoa and dark malts. The taste is dark malts and smooth chocolate. The beer is quite light and smooth with mild carbonation. I have always enjoyed this beer, but I must say, this years batch is much better than I ever remember it being before!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 01:56:01 | More by atsprings

wagenvolks

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a Foothills pint glass with a best by date of 4/20 (hmmm...). Thanks to brentk56 for the great extra; I miss this brewery.

Not the most attractive porter I've ever seen, but it suits the style well with a thin, shoe polish brown body that fades to ruby cola at the edge and sports a khaki tuft of foam. Big bubbles settle too quickly, leaving behind only a wisp of tan in their wake. Aroma is spot-on for the style, with English malts giving off notes of toasted chocolate, toffee, and a rich, earthy nuttiness. A bit of dried apple, plum, and other yeasty dark fruits interplay well with the grains.

Roasted chocolate malts and a peppery, coffee-ground astringency hits the top of the tongue. Gone is the fruitiness of the aroma, instead replaced by a tinge of herbal hop varieties (English?). Bread crust and graininess lingers into the finish with a bit of mineral water and tannins. Mouthfeel does a good job of remaining crisp and well-carbonated, while at the same time not seeming too thin on the palate. A good Porter consistency, for sure. Overall, I found Winter Porter to be a somewhat under-impressive seasonal release from the CBC, but I'm still fortunate to have had the opportunity to try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 04:37:20 | More by wagenvolks

CHickman

New York

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown reddish when held up to light with a small tan head; smells of roasted malt, coffee, vanilla, bourbon and faint caramel.

Tastes very sweet and roasted up front, with roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, faint caramel, light hops, some hints of dark fruit, yeast or grass, and root beer (yes root beer). Medium carbonation with a smooth feel on the tongue and an overall roasted malty coffee taste. A good beer that had a nice mix of flavors and went down easy, it just didn't blow me away as far as the taste went.

Don't know if this brew was aged in any kind of barrel, but it sure tasted that way to me since it got better as it warmed up during dinner (at the Angus Barn). This beer is worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 03:39:56 | More by CHickman

porterwoobie

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

cask ale, poured into a standard pint glass.

A: dark brown color, clear, one finger tan head that dissipates quickly to a dusting, some lacing.

S: chocolate, roasted grains, coffee

T: still has the chocolaty malt characteristic, roasted malts, and some coffee flavors. slightly dry/bitter finish that comes from hops.

MF: medium bodied, medium carbonation.

Drinkability: a sessionable beer. very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 00:22:26 | More by porterwoobie

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 ounce bottle poured into a nonic pint glass. The porter appears a dark brown color with an inch of ecru foam. The foam quickly fades down to a thin layer. Smells and tastes of medium roasted grain, cocoa, a touch of smokey-sweet malt, mild coffee notes. Medium bodied with ample carbonation for the style. Worth at least a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 04:16:47 | More by ClockworkOrange

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Aged for 1 year. Pours a darker brown to almost black color with a off white rocky head that persists for some time. Decent lacing through out although after some time the head to hide to the edge of the glass.

The nose has a more malty aroma, but there is a carbonic aroma. Aged this one a bit long. Some nice roasty notes with noticeable esters. Some figs, prunes and licorice to name a few. A bit much on the esters for a porter. Some stale/aged notes but ok. Some distinct yeasty notes as well.

The taste is similar. The roast comes out a bit more and leaves a slight astringent taste through out. Some malt and coffee notes with a hint of chocolate. Some noticeable toffee notes and a bit of oxidation, more paper like than sherry. There is a light woody taste with a hint of vanilla that helps out. There is a noticeable carbonic bite at the end that really hides some of the hops and yeasty notes. But some esters, specifically sweet plum.

The body is closer to moderate than light. Would like more body for sure, but I think age has effected it a bit. Overall hard to really judge, but if it is an Imperial Porter this really should be able to age longer than a year.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 22:14:32 | More by Oxymoron

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle acquired in trade with Ty5592 (Mystery Swap v2.0). Bottle labeled bottled on 11/01/06.

Poured a deeper brown color (with a red tint to it) and a large sized off white head. Aromas of cocoa, roast, caramel, and lightly smokey. Tastes of roast, chocolate, light caramel, and finished with a coffee bitterness. Body on the thinner side. Some lacing left on the glass.

Notes from: 4/14/07

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2009 19:18:33 | More by hopdog

MuenchenerKindl

Germany

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle to a pint glass the liquid is dark with good carbonation. The head is close to 2 fingers light tan and leaves a nice lace.

The smell i a light roasty malt, not bad but it does not stand out a lot.

The taste is better good roasty toasty malt, and mild hops.

The mouthfeel is creamy smooth good body and nice carbonation.

The drinkability is good and worth a try. Prosit MK

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2008 04:57:56 | More by MuenchenerKindl