José Martí American Porter - Cigar City Brewing

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.04/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Thanks to Momar42 for the bottle! 12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a very dark red color. The head is a one finger offwhite shade with poor retention.

S: I'm sure a fresher bottle would provide a better hop profile, but in its current state, it offers light notes of citrus and herbal pine. The malt itself provides light chocolate, hazelnut, toffee, and roasted malt.

T: The hops are evident at the onset - and even in their faded state, still offer notes of grapefruit peel and evergreen. After a while the hops fade to reveal more of the dark, chocolaty malts. Like many robust porters, it's ultimately too acidic, especially near the finish. The hop profile picks back up after the midtaste. Not bad, but there's something here holding back (maybe the catty Simcoe-esque tone on the aftertaste? That's what ruined Night Stalker for me) its potential.

M: It features a strangely chalky dryness to it - for some reason, it makes this very hard to drink. Or maybe that's because of how heavy it feels. At least the carbonation fits its resiny, heavy texture.

O: Don't hate it, don't love it. I'm finding it hard to drink, if not quite completely unpalatable. These robust porters never fully work for me. Still, I'd like to try this fresh - we can't look a gift horse in the mouth, can we?

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:48:27 | More by ThisWangsChung

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-19-2013 03:31:52 | More by MarkyMOD

clay23

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-19-2013 01:38:00 | More by clay23

SSEngelbrecht

Louisiana

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a standard pint glass.

This pours super dark brown with a light tan head that fades quickly. Bits of lacing remain on the glass as it is emptied, not heavy.

The smell of this beer is amazing. It has roasted malt, caramel, brown sugar, smoke and molasses very prominently.

The taste is quite smoky and tangy at first with a burnt smoky finish and bitter hop after taste. I really didn't know what to make of it. As it came up to room temperature, the flavors really bloomed. The complex roasted malts and caramel, the hoppy bitterness, the smokiness that were all present in the aroma came out fully.

I also picked up flavors of dark fruit, earthy leather, cocoa and tobacco that I found pleasant.

Overall, this is a really complex porter that stands out among those I've tried. I think its better as it warms to 65-70 degrees. The smoke is heavy on this one and the aftertaste is really strong

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:08:38 | More by SSEngelbrecht

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured into a Cigar City sniffer glass (yeah, kinda nerdy but it seemed right). Near black with deep mohogany accents and a 1.5 finger tan head. Solid retention as a cake of creamy head remained on top all the way to finish. Very nice lacing. Not sure why this porter seems to receive such average appearance ratings. It's a mean looking porter.

S- Big chocolate, toffee, mocha, and roasted malt notes. Chalky, earthyness also comes through with coffee on the back end. Similar to Maduro, but more intense.

T- Just like the nose indicates, but the hops step up to the plate a little more here. Just the way I like my porter...Lots of chocolate, caramel, and hop bitterness to finish it off. Bitter and dry.

M- Full flavored, mid body. Avg drinkability, but a wonder creamy feel. At 8%, it lets you know what you are getting yourself into without taking over the palate.

O- Certainly an american style porter with the hop presence. Love the balance and complexity. Maybe not for those that prefer the English style porters with lower IBUs, but damn, it's so good. Right there with COOP Gran Sport as my favorite porters.

No bottled on date that I could find
$7.49 for a 4 pk

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 17:03:03 | More by Bosoxfan20

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-16-2013 02:55:49 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

ffOpusx

California

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Got this via trade!

S - roasted malt, chocolate and some hops

A - dark brown color with a brown head little lacing

T - roasted malt comes through with chocolate flavors, nicely hopped

M - Nice full body

O - This is a good beer easy drinking, will enjoy the rest of it!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 18:49:42 | More by ffOpusx

MatthewPlus

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-15-2013 14:37:46 | More by MatthewPlus

Ethan-UF

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-14-2013 19:00:05 | More by Ethan-UF

Eastside151

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-14-2013 12:04:07 | More by Eastside151

aLenwell

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-14-2013 00:52:53 | More by aLenwell

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours out deep brown, almost black, solid tan head, moderate lace.

Roasted chocolate, earth and heavy citrus make up most of the smell.

Chocolate, roasted malts and lemon rind start this off. Wood and earth follow, with a nice roasted, grassy finish. Does down thick and smooth.

Very nice, heavily hopped porter. Would certainly grab another if given a chance.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 21:47:19 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

Ford

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-12-2013 03:04:19 | More by Ford

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-11-2013 22:29:10 | More by DaveHack

kell50

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-11-2013 03:15:56 | More by kell50

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

05-10-2013 22:18:54 | More by mikeburd1128

JRBecks

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-09-2013 21:45:16 | More by JRBecks

InVinoVeritas

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

05-09-2013 02:36:58 | More by InVinoVeritas

ckk527

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-08-2013 03:54:13 | More by ckk527

StArnoldFan

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-05-2013 20:41:59 | More by StArnoldFan

buffs9

Colorado

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-04-2013 20:52:09 | More by buffs9

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

This poured out as a nice deep brown color with a moderate tan head on top. The retention and lacing are very good on this beer. The smell of the beer is robust and hoppy. The taste is bitter, plenty of piney hops in there with a chocolatey roast flavors in the finish. The mouthfeel is smooth and dry, nice bitterness also. Overall this beer is basically a Black IPA but very good regardless.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:36:39 | More by Knapp85

stealth

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-02-2013 01:31:08 | More by stealth

Gobzilla

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-29-2013 22:04:33 | More by Gobzilla

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bottle from Total Wine in Tampa. From notes.

A - Poured black with a two finger brown head that was thick and creamy. Good carbonaiton coming up. Great lace rings and a film of retention.

S - Yup this was robustly hopped. Vanilla, cocoa beans, coffee bean fruits?

T - Nice hop profile. Nice and roasty, citrus and lot's of sweet malt. Some dark fruit, roast, and light coffee.

M - Good carbonation, medium body, dry and slighty bitter finish. Lacking a little body.

O/D - Complex and very drinkable. A tasty, hoppy porter. Pleaseure to sip and the 8% is well masked.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 19:41:46 | More by tbeckett