Mayflower Porter - Mayflower Brewing Company

expatCanuck

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I'll preface this by stating that, by & large, I'm not a fan of porters.

That said -- I enjoyed this beer, which I recently picked up at a local shop.
The bottles indicate that they were packaged ~7 weeks ago.

A - It pours black. Looks like a porter. Amber-brown head. Attractive. Head fades, tho' not overly quickly. Minimal lacing.

S - Smells like a porter, but more refined than most. The coffee predominates over the chocolate, which works just fine for me.

T - As I said, I'm not a fan of most porters as, to me, they tend to be overly rich, too 'chocolatey' & in your face. But this one has the richness of taste without being cloying. An excellent balance of bitter & sweet. Really nice.

M - As some other reviewers have observed, I find it just a *bit* too much on the carbonated side. So it's not perfect. But this is a matter of degree -- the porter is not so carbonated as to prevent enjoyment. I enjoyed it plenty.

O - Overall, a really nice beer. A porter that I'm happy to have on hand -- I'll happily pick up another 6-pack if nothing else on the racks jumps out at me.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 18:27:49 | More by expatCanuck

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.44/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

We have a dark brown beer with ruby tones, and a tanned bubbly neck that disappears fast. The aroma emanates coffee (very well pronounced), and chocolate. The coffee is also very present in the taste, with low fruit esters and discrete hops. The malt gives the idea of bread and toast, slightly caramelized, with a medium-light body. The palate is very oily, and has low carbonation, with - guess - coffee in the aftertaste. Very pleasant session beer, for sure, although I expected more caramel expression in the malt.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:16:22 | More by HabiMendes

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Mayflower Porter
12 oz brown bottle
Packaged 03/14/13
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass

Pours a jet ink black with ruby highlights on the bottom of the glass. A thin lace, khaki colored circle forms on the top of the pour. Nice spots of sticky lace decorate the sides.

Whiffs of malts, chocolate cake and spicy hops.

This is a really solid porter and I'm enjoying every sip as I review. Flavors of dark roasted malts (think dark roast coffee) and chocolate syrup. I also detect a caramel and molasses sweetness. There is a mini hop snap on the finish. Nicely balanced and well crafted.

One of the better local porters I've had. I will certainly re-visit this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 21:47:42 | More by Hibernator

TheLostGringo

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Real nice look to this brew. Dark black with a solid 1-2 inch full bodied head that leaves some nice lacing.

S: Unimpressive, not a lot going on here.

T: Nice sweet malty flavor.

M: This is where this beer disappoints, to thin and to much carbonation for the style.

O: Not bad and would drink again, but feel it is a bit overrated.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:19:51 | More by TheLostGringo

dheacck11

Connecticut

3.79/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Nice deep brown with tan head that fades almost instantly.

Nose is very soft, some hints of coffee and licorice.

Taste is pleasant with coffee tones up front, followed by very light smokiness. Nice earthy malt. Maybe a hint of cocoa as well.

Mouth feel is on the lighter side of medium, with a bit of a bite on the finish.

A nice porter, very user friendly and satisfying. Nothing not to like, but nothing to really write home about either.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:50:16 | More by dheacck11

alexgash

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle. Packaged on 02/15/13.

Light cola brown with ruby highlights on the edges. Seems clear and clean. Small, pinkie-ish, light khaki brown head. Not a lot of lacing. Nose of roasted barley, light roasted coffee, earthy tobacco, a little peat, and a touch of vanilla. Nice!

Bitterish mineral notes and moderately roasted coffee up front. Cocoa and chocolate mix with tobacco and earthy peat mid-palate. Some flinty, smoke notes. Caramel comes on late, accented by licorice, vanilla, and molasses. Coffee and dark chocolate bitterness in the finish. Lingering caramel and vanilla. Medium bodied, with slightly prickly feel. Body feels maybe a pinch light for a porter, but still pretty good. Might be transcendent on cask.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:08:07 | More by alexgash

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.89/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This was my second Mayflower beer. The pour was very nice, a deep black porter with a slightly brownish head that was substantial.
The aroma was of a typical porter. Nice malt bouquet but nothing along the lines of chocolate/coffee.
The taste was very clean and flavorful, but also a bit on the light side.
Again as with the other Mayflower I've had, it was clean and enjoyable. Nothing outstanding in this one.
But I really believe that is because I have been tasting some real heavy hitters in the Porter and Stout lines recently. So, this one was like a child of the big guys.

Still, I would recommend this porter to someone who has never had one.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 15:57:26 | More by rdilauro

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Consumed 1/8/12

Appearance: Deep brown, with some nice clarity - small, light tan head - fades to nothing rather quickly, with the exception of a small ring - some shards of lacing

Smell: Nicely roasty with a ton of surprisingly interesting chocolate - roasty coffee grounds, dark coffee - lightly burnt - chocolate malts, dark chocolate, and semisweet chocolate - hints of toffee and caramel, too - some odd, almost cola-like sweetness

Taste: In a word, mocha - roasty coffee - burnt, vaguely charred chocolate malts - dark chocolate, semisweet chocolate - sweet caramel and toffee notes - biscuits and bread - light, roasty bitterness - lightly sweet, with something that tastes like vanilla

Mouthfeel: Medium body, nicely carbonated, smooth, clean, quaffable

Overall: Perhaps the best English porter not brewed in England

I've been intending to review this for a while. I've had samples of it on a number of occasions, and it's always been exceptional. It's not going to blow any minds, but it's a very tasty porter, especially for the surprisingly low ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 06:04:24 | More by angrybabboon

401J

4.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewing this beer in an Irish Pub on a wednsday night in December.. Broke college kids to my right sharing a burger and a shitty looking margarita (there's 6 of them)

This joint has a solid beer list and I'm digging porters in a major way right now so I went with this relatively local brew that I had never tasted.

Extremely good.. A bit of a lackluster head but everything else was super on point.

Beautifully balanced nose that gave me exactly what I was looking for from a porter.

Taste, everything .. Just balanced and full like I was looking for.

Well done

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 04:10:43 | More by 401J

RichD

Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 8/22/12 poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass.

A: Pours a dark, dark, pitch black. 1 finger of a light tannish color.

S: smells of coffee. Also smells of some caramel and roasted malts.

T: Notes of java and roasted malts are prominent with a little espresso and chocolate coming through after. This is some good stuff. Nicely balanced.

M: A medium mouthfeel is followed by some chewiness as the coffee flavor lingers. Not bad

Overall: This is a very delicious porter and an excellent example of the style. I'd recommend to anyone who likes an English porter that is done accurately. Good brew and I will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 22:37:01 | More by RichD

PatriotsRule

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A dark beer with a light heart
A: Essentially pitch black with medium carbonation. Average off white head
S: Coffee and hops with a bit of chocolate and some smoke
T: Hops and roasted malt, coffee aftertaste with just a hint of smoked chocolate
M: Lip-smackingly crisp, almost minty. Certainly full bodied and full flavored
O: This porter does not mess around. Compare w/ Otter Creek's Stovepipe Porter

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 01:44:43 | More by PatriotsRule

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mayflower Porter is black, but like a good porter teases out a trace of clarity along its base. As for highlighting, no such luck. This has the complexion of onyx. Its head, while not exactly flourishing, does have a concrete-coloured tint to it and refuses to fade.

The aroma has the air of a gourmet Oreo. It has a chocolaty cookie base, with vanilla and mocha flavours that require no effort to notice. Tantalizing though not exactly 'dessert-like', the prominence of roasted black malt keeps this squarely in 'grain-y' (not sweet) territory.

The flavour has a moderately strong malt flavor and showcases a lightly burnt black malt character that is chalk full of roasty dryness. That in and of itself is gratifying but it doesn't end there; traces of espresso and molasses spring up in the secondary. More bitter than sweet, it nonetheless manages a nice balance.

Mayflower Porter has a big, mouth-filling texture that has notes of coffee lingering in the finish like long guitar reverb. You might think it was made by a barista. The impression of chocolate-covered coffee beans is unmistakable. Despite dark and roasty flavours, leave the knife and fork behind; this ain't so heavy.

Mayflower Porter requires no "further search or consideration" - it was obvious right from the outset that this is a world-class porter through and through. When it comes to brewing hearty porters no one yields a sharper bayonet than the Americans. It's hard to find anything to nitpick about in this quintessential robust porter.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 16:22:33 | More by biegaman

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, RI.

A- Dark brown-black body with a beautiful, cloud-like mocha head that reduces slowly. Medium-high puffy lacing.

S- Coffee, vanilla, toffee, dark roasted malt.

T- Slightly smokey upfront, fading into dark chocolate, coffee beans, roasted malt bitter aftertaste. Nicely balanced. Quite delicious.

M- Low carbonation with a medium, borderline thin body.

Overall, a tasty brew. Mayflower porter is a nice traditional interpretation of the style. What I really enjoyed about this beer was the slightly smokey, dark chocolate aftertaste. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 22:49:08 | More by gcamparone

heatherishoppin

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sometimes I am in the mood for an extremely full-bodied and smoky in-your-face beer. The Mayflower Porter is not the smokiest and wildest porter I have had but still quite tastey for what I am craving at the moment!

It has nice and not over-powering smoky and chocolate flavors. The aroma is subtle but pleasing. I also feel a nice bitterness from the hops on my tongue. This beer is nothing extreme but it is a very nice balanced porter.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 02:04:33 | More by heatherishoppin

bum732

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

S: Bready, roasted coffee, some dark chocolate.

L: Dark brown, light tan head that dissipates.

T: Roasted coffee with a bready backbone. Slight English fruity esters, medium low earthy bitterness, little hop flavor. Some tobacco flavors near the finish. Finishes semi-dry with some breadiness.

M: Medium bodied, medium carbonation.

The best American "English" porter I've had. Absolutely phenomenal, all the flavors pop.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 01:39:57 | More by bum732

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown with a foamy, fizzy light brown head that builds and fades quickly with no lacing or head retention.

S: Boozy and malty. Roasted malt, molasses and caramelized sugar dominate.

T: Deliciously sweet, roasted malt with molasses and brown sugar in the finish.

M: Great body for a porter. Fantastic malt flavors in the finish.

O: A fantastic beer of this style that I will most certainly drink again.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 23:53:45 | More by Gatch

troysoy2

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a sixer at Julio's Liquors in MA, and glad I did. Definitely a really nice porter.

Poured into a pint glass, the body is mostly opaque black, with red shining through on the edges. Very appropriate for a porter. Nice, thick finger of light tan head sticks around for a long time and leaves a decent amount of splotchy lacing.

Slightly charred grains are the main focus on the nose. A hint of licorice, coffee, and just a touch of mild citrus hops.

The taste is much like the smell, with the slightly charred malt coming straight to the forefront. Complimented masterfully with a subtle citrus, and followed by a very mildly dry finnish. Bitter, burnt coffee, just barely shows itself in the aftertaste, while still somehow keeping the overall impression of the beer as "refreshing". Carbonation is light, and the mouthfeel is appropriately medium bodied.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 02:37:01 | More by troysoy2

Treebs

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle served in a DFH signature glass. Bottled on 12/23/11. Big thanks to Gushue3 (Mike) for the extra.

A: Pours a dark black with some dark cherry edges. A light khaki head forms on the pour and recedes to a nice thick collar.

S: Nice oaty malts, light green hops and bakers chocolate fill the nose.

T: Nice roasted oats up front with a nice chocolate and slight raw coffee bean flavor in the middle. There is a slight hops presence from the nose in there as well. The finish is a dry bitter coffee.

M: Medium bodied with a nice carbonation. The finish is chocolatey with a mild dryness.

O: A very solid porter across the board. Very balanced and the drinkability is solid as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 23:23:16 | More by Treebs

andrewinski1

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. The color is nearly black, with amber hues. There is a medium tan small head.

The aroma is full of char and bitter coffee.

The taste is full of burnt coffee and burnt toast. There is a slight bitter hop finish. The taste is flavorful and hits the roasted drinkable porter spot. This drinks nice and light, with sharp carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 04:19:35 | More by andrewinski1

Bendurgin

Maine

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. This one pours a cola brown with a bubbly light tan head that is about two inches high.

The aroma has nice roasted malts with hints of bitter cocoa and some notes of coffee. Pretty standard and pretty enjoyable. A little bit more of a roasted malt character on the pallet with some English toffee notes and bitter espresso on this finish. A little of a metallic hop bite rounds this out.

The body is robust and silky with soft carbonation. Real enjoyable here. Well made and solid all around.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 02:01:09 | More by Bendurgin

quinoarex

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a black-brown with a little less than a finger of creamy tan head. Doesn't leave much lacing.

S: Coffee comes through strong, along with some molasses, smoky caramel notes. A bit of chocolate, too.

M: It's light for a porter and a little disconcerting in that it's so light as to be atypical for the style. I'd have expected something a bit chewier, perhaps, a bit heavier. It certainly helps with drinkability, but it's odd.

T: Starts off nicely malty, then a smack of coffee and caramel through the middle that turns into a big dark chocolate at the end.

O: I would polish off a few bottles of this. It's not my all-time favourite porter, but it's certainly up there, and would be up a little higher if it weren't quite as thin-feeling as it is. It's very drinkable, though, and a solid example of the style for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:30:51 | More by quinoarex

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer on tap at the brewery as part of the brewery tour. Pours a black body and a tan head. Smell is great. Chocolate milk shake, some smoke, faint grass.

Taste is chocolate milk shake and some herbal flavor just for some tang. Good medium body. Great porter. I really like this beer. Real respect for the style and the gives me the impression that this is what a style of this sort tasted like way back.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2012 02:34:00 | More by jneiswender

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 3/18/11 and given to me by Maddog! This beer has held up extremely well for its ABV; a testament to how well it is made.

A: near opaque, clear, deep, deep copper color, incredible dense rocky head
S: great roasted-treacle malt, rich and decadent
T: deep roasted malt taste with good hop balance, an incredibly made beer
M: creamy, rich and extremely drinkable

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 02:16:54 | More by wisrarebeer

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Goddamn Lunch, you are bringing the tasty. Poured from a bottle into a tulip.

Dark brown / black, brown head, small bubbles, decent retention, some lacing. Moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is a little sweet, malty, mild roast, some chocolate.

Beer is medium in body and has some coffee bitterness at the back of it, decent body throughout the palate and a nice finish. A good beer for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 02:13:15 | More by drabmuh

mltobin

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle picked up at Julio`s.

Appearance is dark brown, a small tannish head, a pleasant look. The nose on this porter is oatmeal, malts, some coffee and brown sugar. Its` taste has earthy grains, chocolate, malts and chocolate continue to make their presence known here. Mouthfeel is light-medium, a very easy drinking porter. A solid beer from this small brewery outta Mass.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 04:00:18 | More by mltobin