Winter Ale - Chocolate Mint Porter - Bootlegger's Brewery

portia99

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle picked up on a recent trip to San Diego. Poured into a Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a very dark brown with so-so clarity, appears a bit opaque and muddy. A thick finger of cappuccino colored dense foam sits on top for a minute or two before falling to the surface...light lacing only left on the glass.

S - Peppermint up front, like a candy cane backed up lightly by some milky chocolate. Has a bit of the cool, sinus-clearing quality of a cough drop that unfortunately masks most of everything else that may be in there.

T - Yep...peppermint here too - bordering on taking a swig of peppermint schnapps with what feels like a quick hit of alcohol muted by a background chocolatey presence. Unfortunately, the mint comes off as a bit heavy handed and really covers up the base beer.

M - Medium bodied with a foamy mid level carbonation. Each sip brings with it a cool nasal hit of peppermint. Beer itself is smooth and creamy feeling all the way thru to the swallow.

O - An interesting idea...I think the combination of flavors could work well. Definitely needs to have a bigger base beer with more intense flavors to stand up to the mint. The mint here really overpowers everything else. Perhaps minting up an imperial stout would be a better execution of a chocolatey mint beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 00:52:55 | More by portia99

tourdot

Wisconsin

2.25/5  rDev -33.2%

05-14-2013 06:43:00 | More by tourdot

Suboptimus

California

3/5  rDev -11%

05-12-2013 07:41:36 | More by Suboptimus

Braz

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +11.3%

04-27-2013 15:31:52 | More by Braz

drgonzo2k2

California

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

04-20-2013 14:32:16 | More by drgonzo2k2

AlexChillton

Arizona

2.75/5  rDev -18.4%

04-02-2013 09:43:23 | More by AlexChillton

kojevergas

California

2.36/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Acquired at Total Wine on-sale for $1.99. 6.1% ABV according to my bottle. "Ale Brewed with Mint." Expectations are low given the brewery and its current ratings. 650ml brown glass bottle with branded pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a three finger creamy tan colour head of good thickness and retention (~4+ minutes). Love the creaminess. Light lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. Body colour is a solid nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Atrocious spearmint. Herbal, minty, and unappealing. Redolent of extract. Dark malts. Brown sugar. I struggle to find chocolate; the mint is so overbearing. An average strength aroma. Not terrible, but I've experienced far better mint chocolate porter aromas.

T: Ugh. Herbal mint leaf. A bit suggestive of spearmint toothpaste. Maybe a bit of chocolate. Dark malts. Minimal hopping, if any. No yeast or alcohol comes through, but it's just plain bad. A bit creamy. Imbalanced and poorly built. That's just bad construction. Definitely needs more chocolate to even satisfy the premise of the beer.

Mf: Lightly coarse. Awkwardly dry for a porter. Overcarbonated. Too thick for the lack of flavour diversity and depth. Unrefreshing. This isn't up to par for the style - or for the flavour profile.

Dr: Swing and a miss. This just isn't up to par. I like the idea, but it's been far better executed by other breweries. I can see why Total Wine had this on clearance for $2.00 and still couldn't get rid of it. This is in serious need of work. A giant disappointment from Bootlegger's. I wouldn't bother with it again. Overbearing and difficult to drink due to the low quality.

D+

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 05:47:29 | More by kojevergas

Jessenimmo

California

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

03-10-2013 00:27:45 | More by Jessenimmo

tasteegood

Illinois

2.14/5  rDev -36.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

One of 5 sample tastes that I had during my first visit. I specifically went to Fullerton to check this place out. Very humble beginnings but their beers are well made. Unfortunately, of the 5 beers I did try this was my least favorite. It was about a 4 oz pour and I didn't finish it... :(

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2013 05:34:54 | More by tasteegood

dbfp210

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

02-08-2013 02:12:02 | More by dbfp210

oline73

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

01-26-2013 20:52:43 | More by oline73

Strwrs777

California

4/5  rDev +18.7%

01-22-2013 17:45:46 | More by Strwrs777

mkotsayfan

California

3.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a snifter. Pours a deep dark black with a couple fingers of light mocha colored head. The aroma is no surprise - mint and chocolate, with the mint being more of the focus. There's some malts lingering in the background as well. The taste has a lot more roasted malt than expected - kind of oddly annoys the palette. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with decent carbonation, but again is slightly lacking.

Overall, and ok beer, and could've been executed better. I think a more pronounced chocolate and sweetness (no diabeetus though!) character could've helped this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 03:32:08 | More by mkotsayfan

LuauLarry

California

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

12-30-2012 02:03:59 | More by LuauLarry

Sark

Montana

3.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance- pours with a half finger of head subsiding rapidly with minimal lacing. Quite a dark porter.

Smell- MINT! Really not too overpowering, almost more anis than mint, but a funk that I've never expected from a brew...and it's fun. Still has undertones of rich toasty malt.

Taste- a brighter porter. Licorice flavor arrives in the after taste out the nose. The mint gives attributes of a little unbalanced bitterness but the maltiness comes back to finish well.

Mouthfeel- full bodied and well smooth

Overall- one of those beers meant for sharing in the 22. Meant to keep your taste buds on eir toes. Something to get again next season.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:33:39 | More by Sark

CEDAMA

California

4/5  rDev +18.7%

12-15-2012 16:24:16 | More by CEDAMA

Gregfalone

California

2.5/5  rDev -25.8%

12-13-2012 18:38:35 | More by Gregfalone

BucannonXC5

California

3.88/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Type: 22-oz. bomber
Glass: Stone pint glass
From: Bine and Vine in Kensington (San Diego, Calif.)
Price: $5.99
BOD: None

Almost complete black with 1-2 fingers of tan head that dissipated had a fast rate. No lacing on the sides. Below average retention on the top.

Smelled dark chocolate and bitter coffee beans up front, also toffee and caramel. That gave way to some mint and candy cane in hot chocolate. Reminded me a tad of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.

Tasted close to the smell, only a bit mintier. Got that heavy dark chocolate malts (also coffee and hot chocolate), then right to the mint (a lot faster transition than the smell). Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream was the common theme here with the chocolate chips being more dark chocolate than anything else.

Full body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long minty chocolate finish.

Not a bad beer, definitely something different. I guess I was expecting a little better, considering my love of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. I’d have it again though.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 04:49:10 | More by BucannonXC5

Rudy

California

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

11-24-2012 08:38:04 | More by Rudy

FullObs

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -18.4%

10-25-2012 23:02:39 | More by FullObs

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +18.7%

08-24-2012 03:14:00 | More by t0rin0

BilbosNuts

California

3.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to McD0uche for hooking me up with this one.

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a very, very dark brown most nearly black color. It appears pretty dense as it is poured. It has a two finger mocha colored head that reduces to a thin film rather quickly.

S: The aroma is a nice balance of chocolate and roasted malts with a bit of bitter dark chocolate and a little kick of mint towards the finish. Quite pleasant.

T: Unfortunately, the taste doesn't match up to the aroma. The malt characters are a bit flat as are the chocolate and mint additions.

M: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. The minty finish sort of acts as a palate cleanser. Pretty good.

O: I enjoyed this take on a porter. The additions of chocolate and mint were wonderful in the aroma, but like other aspects, they fell short in the taste. Not a bad offering overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 01:56:57 | More by BilbosNuts

billab914

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Devil's Backbone tulip. It poured black in color with a thin tan head sticking to the edges of the glass.

The aroma has a nice mix of mint and chocolate to it. A little malty, caramel sweetness is there as well. I'm not usually a mint fan, but it compliments the chocolate pretty well and doesn't feel overdone.

The taste has a little more of the mint coming out giving it more of a herbal, toothpaste like flavor. The chocolate is a little overshadowed in it but I get some sweet, caramel to it along with a little roasty, slightly burnt bitterness in the finish. The mint is a little too dominant in the taste though unfortunately.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being moderate. Overall, it was an interesting beer but the mint was too much for me. It reminded me a little of toothpaste. The mint could have definitely been a little more subtle in it.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 01:29:15 | More by billab914

AApparel

California

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

03-25-2012 23:34:39 | More by AApparel

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

03-25-2012 01:01:36 | More by acurtis