Hangar 24 Chocolate Porter - Hangar 24 Brewery

Drinkerofales

California

4.43/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours opaque brow, with some light on the edges showing some red and brown. A big mocha head leaves tons of lacing.

Smell is sweet dark bread, chocolate and vanilla, roasted malts and a light fruitiness.

Taste is similar, sweet and roasted malt, chocolate, a hint of vanilla, almost rich.

Texture is smooth and light, yet still almost creamy. The beer leans from medium to light bodied in thickness, and is very easy to drink.

They got a lot of good texture and flavor into an almost thin beer. Pretty amazing. The sweetness is a nice break from the smoky char I was expecting, and if it were thicker, I would call it a stout. Very good drinking, especially for 8%.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 19:23:35 | More by Drinkerofales

TonyBoy

California

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- I knew this was a dark beer going into it, and once I poured it I wasn't disappointed. I held it up to the light and saw very little light shining through.

Smell - I picked up milk chocolate and maybe some hints of dark chocolate.

Taste - I like the taste of this 22 oz. bottled version, but I prefer the taste of the nitro version on tap at the Hangar 24 Brewery in Redlands, CA. They're both good, but the nitro version is much creamier and goes down smoother which, in my opinion, makes the nitro version on tap much better (Believe me, it's worth a trip to the Hangar 24 Brewery to try the nitro verison). Both have a distinct milk chocolatey taste with some mild bitterness but overall the nitro version is less bitter, even when it sits awhile and gets warmer.

Mouthfeel - The carbonation is much more present in the bottled version. As I said above, the nitro version is smoother and creamier. Both are good, but the nitro version goes down smoother for me.

Overall - I would choose the nitro version overall. Or, if Hangar 24 ever comes out with a nitro can or nitro bottle version, then I'd gladly buy a bunch of those and drink that. Some might read this and say, "Oh, c'mon... Guiness already has a nitro can and a nitro bottle." To that statement I would respond, "Yes, but Guiness is not 8% ABV."

I live in West Los Angeles, so Redlands is quite a drive for me. But in the meantime, until my next one-and-a-half hour drive out to Redlands, I'll probably continue to pick up some bottles of Hangar 24 Chocolate Porter (but I really hope they read this review and make some Chocolate Porter in nitro cans or nitro bottles). Enjoy, everybody!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 03:01:27 | More by TonyBoy

DM1293

California

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Taste - Chocolate and a very light coffee taste hit the palate. There's very little bitterness and coffee, but it helps balance out the beer.

Overall - Good for a porter. Its not too thick or too bitter, but it MIGHT be a little too sweet. But for how strong it is, its really smooth and sweet. So on the whole, its a solid drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 02:14:56 | More by DM1293

TaySuth

California

3.23/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Very dark brown/black with a half finger head that recedes quickly leaving behind no lacing.

Smell: Balance of coffee and chocolate for the aroma. Does not come across as too complex.

Taste: Very, very chocolaty. Coffee flavor comes in after the chocolate flavor subsides. Perhaps a touch too bitter. Not a bad flavor but not great either.

Mouthfeel: Definitely on the lower end of the carbonation scale. Heavy body.

Overall: Pretty average overall. Not a bad beer, but not worth buying again.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 03:18:40 | More by TaySuth

aknight

California

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The appearance is a deep mahogany brown. The smell has a faint roastiness with an even fainter smell of chocolate. The taste is pleasant. Not a lot of roast on the palate but a nice chocolate flavor. Not too sweet but the chocolate is definitely there. The mouthfeel is a bit thin. This is definitely a porter and not a stout but the chocolate gives it a very nice creaminess. The carbonation is perhaps a bit on the low side but that contributes to the creamy mouthfeel. Overall the beer is pleasant, a very solid porter and one I would get again. I appreciate that there is a good chocolate taste without it being too sweet. Hangar 24 has recently been growing on my radar and this is another quality offering from them.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 00:59:01 | More by aknight

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Hangar 24 in Redlands, CA.

Pours a slightly murky dark brown with a tan head that fades to a wispy film on top of the beer. Random streaks of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and some coffee. Taste is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, and slight coffee flavors. There is a nice mild roasty bitterness with each sip. This beer has a crisp carbonation level with a bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good porter with some nice aromas and flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 20:49:06 | More by UCLABrewN84

rtaps

California

2.78/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pour a dark brown with a mahogany hue to it when held to the light, 1 finger khaki head with decent retention and spotty lacing

smell is dominated by chocolate, some coffee notes. as it warms you get some dark fruits.

taste fallows the nose, dark chocolate dominated a little nutty and dark fruits can be found as it warms

light-medium bodied, medium carbonation that leaves the mouth dry

overall it wasn't all that great IMO, pretty one sided on the smell and taste. had wasn't a fan of the after taste ether.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 03:16:12 | More by rtaps

seasmokiee

California

2.55/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Appearance- Looks like any other porter on earth...Like the lacing, but that's from the carbonation???

Smell - Wonderful chocolate notes and kilned malts.

Taste - Meh...the champagne like carbonation adds acidity and tough bite that detracts from everything else. Is this supposed to be a new style with this amount of CO2?

Mouth feel - feels nothing like a porter. Again, the massive amounts of CO2 make this beer one of the weirdest in the porter world ever..Take this as an example of what not to do. Good try though.

Overall- Meh...I will, and suggest to anybody else, put it back on the shelf.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 17:57:57 | More by seasmokiee

Merkur

Tennessee

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had on draft at Tiger Tiger in San Diego.

Beer pours a nice dark brown color with a bit of white/tan head.

Beer smells richly of chocolate.

The beer tastes very much like the smell. Sweet chocolate fades into maltiness. The taste is a bit too strong of chocolate and could have been dialed down a bit.

Beer is fairly creamy and laces well.

Overall, this beer has too much "fake" chocolate taste too it and is not very well blended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2012 01:41:48 | More by Merkur

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

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

Appearance: Pours a dark brown body with a half-inch of medium beige foam.

Smell: Malty notes of simple chocolate, toast, and also some roast, with a hint of beer-soaked raisins.

Taste: Moderate chocolate flavor, but seems more a product of the chocolate malts instead of a cocoa nib infusion. Straddles the line between tastes of toast and coffee-accented roast. Lightly sweet throughout. Lightly fruity. Low hop character, bitterness. Drying, fruity finish with a hint of chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: An acceptable brew, though, to be completely honest, I'm not getting too terribly much from the supposed usage of cocoa nibs and whole vanilla beans.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 18:59:07 | More by ChainGangGuy

Khazadum

Illinois

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

Good retention, collar of white bread. Lacing missing, opaque, mohogany body. Light carb.

Chocolate malt is the predominant nose. Simple.

Some pork character, a bitterness of the chocolate malt, cocoa nibs missing but possibly bitter from it.

Solid body, good amount of carb. Sticky flavors.

Cocoa nibs? Vanilla bean? Ya right.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 00:43:39 | More by Khazadum

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of ChrIs.

Pours a clear brownish orange. Lots of white head. Looks decent. Smells chocolatey and sweet. Malty rich. Tastes interesting but not great. A bit overly bitter. Well carbonated... Interesting but not great. Overall not something. Would have again

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 00:04:18 | More by Urbancaver

brew3crew

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Small gathering at Cam's for goodies

A-brown body with a white whispy head

S-nice chocolate smell with what seems like a firm malt backbone

T-follows the nose very well. Chocolate and makt

M-medium body and smooth

O-very nice beer. Would like to get my hands on more

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 00:00:39 | More by brew3crew

comfortablynumb1

California

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this one while watching the Dolphins game, and enjoying Thanksgiving with the family...

Poured from a bomber into a H24 pint glass...

A - Pours a deep brown with a two finger tan head. Head retention is decent, and there is some sticky lacing that clings to the glass...

S - Scent is pretty docile. Dark roasted malts, and some chocolate...

T - Nice and chocolately. Sweet chocolate up front followed by a good dose of roasted malts. Ends with some chocolate, and a little lingering roast. There is a good amount of sweetness to be had here, but I don't pick up any vanilla...

M - Rich and creamy. Medium bodied with a decent amount of carbonation. Smooth...

O - Not usually a big fan of the style, but I really enjoyed this one. Definitely something I will be trying again...

Cheers...

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 23:50:23 | More by comfortablynumb1

sweethome

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Opened with a rather strange "snap" - nothing more - no carbonation sound - just a snap.

Pour is medium dark brown. Rather hazy. Light tan head leaves some large bubbles as it lingers.

Nose has a bit of coconut - a little funky. Can't say I get chocolate. Medium mouth feel - gets just bit watery mid-mouth. Chocolate flavors seem like an addative rather than malt oriented.
This beer is trying hard - but just doesn't work for me. Flavors taste too much like an adjunct, and lacks a firm backbone.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 05:58:25 | More by sweethome

Murrhey

Montana

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a pint glass

A- Deep, dark chocolate brown color, heavily carbonated, but only a half finger off-white head that dissipated quickly. Ribbed lacing down the sides.

S- Chocolate, obviously. But super delicious smelling flavor. Maybe wafting a little caramel or vanilla with it?

T- Dark chocolate and roast malt. Bitter, but finishes creamy. Very tasty. Like a milkshake almost.

M- Rich and creamy, full bodied, maybe a little too well carbonated.

O- This beer has some flaws, but one thing it does extremely well is hit you in the mouth and nose with chocolate. The weak head and the heavy carbonation take nothing from the overall quality of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 04:19:13 | More by Murrhey

Klym

California

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the brewery.

A: Dark brown with some maroon parts and a small off-whtie head. A somewhat syrup-textured look.

S: Baker's chocolate and lactose come through separately in this; if the nose was more well-blended it's likely it'd just come off as milk chocolate. There's a little burnt cereal and a small sense of very watery stale coffee.

T: The taste is much more blended and balanced than the nose, with a pretty strong dominant note of milk chocolate, a little baker's chocolate bitterness in the end with a small sense of burnt cereal but no coffee. Simple, but surprisingly tasty.

M: Medium bodied, a little light on the carbonation and I actually get some heat in the nose/roof of the mouth.

O: Not such a bad offering from Hangar 24. It's a little too simple and straight forward for my taste, but it's hard to imagine really disliking this if you like chocolate.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 23:32:49 | More by Klym

ehammond1

California

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

A dark brown porter with ruby highlights at the edges. The most incredible lacing shines down the glass. Leaves the glass sticky and messy. Looks rich and decadent.

Roasted malts on the nose. Smells like a roasty and robust porter, though I don't get much chocolate aroma.

There's certainly more chocolate in the flavor and it's actually really nice. Balanced, sweet, bitter, roasted malts, chocolate--very good.

Medium bodied. Ample carbonation.

A tasty yet unaromatic porter. This beer has a decidedly nice chocolate character. I enjoyed it a lot and it made for a wonderful dessert.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2011 04:45:37 | More by ehammond1

PeprSprYoFace

California

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Bruery Annaversary Party. 4oz taster. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a dark brown almost mahogany color. Thin light tan head. Ok lacing.

Aroma is kinda fake chocolate smelling like hersheys chocolate syrup. Little bit of roast.

Taste is a roasty tasty porter. Little bit of chocolate that's not fake like the aroma. Smooth with a nice roasty bite.

Mouthfeel is a little high on the carbonation but pretty smooth.

Overall a tasty porter. I would buy it if it was in 6 packs.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2011 08:22:36 | More by PeprSprYoFace

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Bruery Provisions

A: The beer is sort of light for a porter. Dark amber/mahogany would be the best way to describe it. At least the head looks nice: a solid finger of khaki foam.

S: Way too much roast on the aroma, smells almost burnt. Charred malt and sugar with a little bit of licorice. I don't really get any chocolate, but there is some coffee to it and maybe some overripe fruits.

T: Much more chocolate presence on the palate. Nice cocoa powder and dark chocolate notes. There is a moderate sweetness to it and a hint of bitterness. Nice roasted malt and coffee flavors, too.

M: Medium in body and carbonation.

O: The flavor was nice, which is what's important, but the nose wasn't that great.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 01:10:23 | More by womencantsail

Gobzilla

California

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

A: poured a dark brown in color with brown highlights when held up to the light and had a thin head leaving a little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: lots of nuttines upfront on the nose alongside caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, mild dark fruits, and some booze pop out as well.

T: the nuttiness flavor also dominated the taste with mild chocolate notes but had brown sugar, caramel, dark fruit accents and a touch of underlying grains.

M: the brew was medium in body with a moderate amount of carbonation which had a sweet, chocolatey, mild dark fruity, and creamy finish.

D: reall good beer that was like my dessert beer to cap off my session at 38 degrees; drank good.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 20:28:19 | More by Gobzilla

DoubleJ

California

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Catch. Nice to see more of Hangar 24 in Orange County. On to the beer:

This is very dark colored brew with a creamy white head on top with good retention and good lacing. The nose has some resemblance of chocolate, particularly in the form of fudge and chocolate brownie. Some of the joy seems just a pinch muted though.

Sweet tasting with a little alcohol is the first impression I get. Milk sweet. There are light cocoa notes and a modest boost of smokiness. It's also got a modest hoppiness, especially in the trail end of each sip, and it builds over time. Piney hoppiness, to be specific. It's very smooth in the mouth with a medium heavy body. All in all, a worthwhile porter.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2010 01:14:20 | More by DoubleJ