Midnight Madness Smoked Porter - Rock Art Brewery

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Stopped by British Beer Company in Framingham after dinner on Sat 2/20/10. Saw they had a cask of this, and ordered a pint. Served in a standard pint glass. Dark brown color, medium white head, some lacing. Smell was very smoky, like a nice peaty scotch. Taste was actually excellent. Was like liquid smoke, which is an acquired taste for some beer drinkers. Super smoky and peaty, as the description said it was aged on beechwood. Moderate mouthfeel, as the cask softened it a bit. Only problem that I had with the cask was that I think that the combination of it being served at room temp and the woodiness from the cask made this beer hard for me to stomach, especially after a three course meal and two beers across the street at John Harvard. I would have enjoyed this beer a lot more at a different point in the evening.

Serving type: cask

02-22-2010 16:51:35 | More by morebeergood

thekevlarkid

Maryland

2.78/5  rDev -19%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Off the cask at American Flatbread (on 03/04/09) this beer was a deep, garnet color. The head was cream-colored, one-finger and displayed retention as a thin cap. The lacing was weak. The aroma was of roasted malt, coffee, smoke and hints of chocolate. The flavors were quite washed out for a porter; starting nutty I tasted hints of dark fruit, smoke and toasted malt. But there was no depth and I kept thinking something must have been wrong with it, which was only made worse by the casking process. Rock Art should not be producing a beer this weak. The mouthfeel was watery, the body medium and the carbonation soft.

Serving type: cask

03-09-2009 17:33:17 | More by thekevlarkid

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

2.58/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Pours a solid dark brown with faint ruby highlights at the edges and a decent white head that quickly dissipates to a cap on top. Smells of smoked ham and bacon mostly, with hints of chocolate at the edges. I honestly have trouble fining much else underneath the smokiness of the aroma here. The flavor is a little better, but not much. Smoked ham with hints of charcoal and ash as well as some chocolate and earthy hops. The smoke flavor here is sharp and acrid and overpowers everything else in this brew. Medium body with a light level of carbonation and a bitter smokey mouthfeel. I'm not a big fan of this one in fact I will avoid this if at all possible.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:55:43 | More by johnnnniee

NiceTaps

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12oz. bottle into a pint glass.

A- Pours a dark ruby red color with a touch of brown hue resulting in a thin mocha color head. Active carbonation, not a spot of lacing.

S- Smoke and minerals, ash. Not 'natural' enough.

T- Dark malts, chocolate make up the body of flavor here, then smoked grain finishing taste.

M- Light and mild. The smoke finishes a bit too metallic.

O- Once past the nose, the results are drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 20:44:31 | More by NiceTaps

cattersley

Ontario (Canada)

2.15/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Wow, this is disappointing I will say! This tastes like stinky dog mixed with bad ham... Only beer I have not liked from there, and rarely beer in general. I would not buy this again, and I can't say that about a lot of beers that I have sampled in my life...

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 20:41:10 | More by cattersley

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

2.96/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Into a nonic:

A: deep dark brown colored body and has a nice two finger speckled off white half inch head. Foamy speckled lacing graces the sides of the glass.

S: smoky chocolate up front coming through in an ashy/coffee sort of way, reminds me like I'm smelling the charcoal from a grill.

T: smoky and full of coffee bitterness, slightly woody and ashy again. That "meatiness" from rauchbiers comes out in the taste.

M: medium and crisp with a dark bitter aftertaste and finish. There is nothing harsh on the tongue. This is pretty sessionable.

O: woo-eeh, this is a hard one to put down the throat. I'll be able to finish the rest of this, but most likely won't come back to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 17:13:41 | More by kangarooAdam59

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Starts with a large fizzy head that dies to nothing within a half minute. Absolutely no lace. The color is ruby brown where a minimum of light shines through.

The smell is chocolatey with a touch of charcoal.

There's a good dollop of peppery hop bitterness in the swallow that I wasn't expecting. The beer is quite dry, nearly astringent. The body is thin but the carbonation is light but spritzy. The smoke is present but very subtle.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 02:09:15 | More by smcolw

alexgash

Connecticut

2.83/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle.

Dark garnet to maple syrup amber body. Small, bubbly, sandy-beige head. Not much lacing. Plenty of smoke on the nose. Campfiery, with some meatiness. Light roasted malt notes underneath, along with a little peat and chocolate. So far so smoky good.

Wet cardboard quickly gives way to cindery, ashy, smokiness. Slight meatiness as well. Very light roasted malt underneath. Not much "porter" here. The smokiness is nice and stays throughout, but there is not much else. Some coffee-ish bitterness in the finish. Faint notes of chocolate. Body is also thin, much too thin for the style. Maybe a bit too carbonated too. Disappointing, but finishable.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 22:19:46 | More by alexgash

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a deep ruby color. The rocky, sand-colored head stands at a massive four fingers before it audibly sputters into a thin cap. No lacing left behind at all.

S: Fruity with scents of plum, cherry, and grape skin. Hints of cola, coffee beans, and powdery chocolate. Some charcoal and a thin blanket of acrid smoke cover all of this.

T: Cola, a faint woodiness, and plum and cherry tastes open. Roasted coffee and a whisper of cocoa. Smoke asserts itself toward the back end and starts to get acrid with a touch of that rubbery taste that smoked beers sometimes exhibit. Finishes with bakers chocolate, hints of wood, and acrid smoke.

M: Medium bodied. Slightly creamy, but perhaps a bit thin and watery. Ample carbonation.

O: The smoke starts to stray a little; there's just not quite enough body behind this beer to tame it. Needs some work.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 01:36:17 | More by ryan1788a5

kJohn

Vermont

2.25/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I tried a Growler from a local beverage mart... I love the Double Smoked Porter (part of their Xtreme offerings), so I thought the Midnight Madness smoked porter would follow along. I will say that I am disappointed. While the nose was there, nice smoky note, what followed was, er, weak, at best. The dark color belied the thin, spare mouth feel. This porter seems more like a porter mixed with a pale ale, rather than a stout mixed with a bitter, like a true Porter should be.
I have had most of the Rock Art offerings, and this is atypical of their other brews, which are really good.

Serving type: growler

10-22-2012 23:57:26 | More by kJohn

SpeedwayJim

New York

2.9/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Adam for this one. 12oz bottle poured into a Sam Adams sensory glass.

Pours a .5 finger coarse, light brown head with no retention. Beer is a clear, dark brown amber. No lace. Below average.

Nose is smoke, roasted malt, liquorice, and logan. Some dried date too. Moderately aromatic. Average.

Opens sweet and roasty. Some notes of liquorice, smoked malt, peat, dried date sweetness, and stale coffee beans. Finishes smoke and roast. A bit of ash in the aftertaste. Decent.

Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly in the mouth and abrasive going down. Messy finish with a slightly lingering aftertaste. I could use a little less bubbles.

Some odd flavors swirling around in this one. Its not bad but not one I'd revisit again.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 23:41:40 | More by SpeedwayJim

smakawhat

Maryland

3.48/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured on tap at Rock Art Brewery in Morrisville into a taster shaker pint glass. Listed as a smoke beer.

A real nice mix of red and toffee brown colors on the body. Faint white collar presented not much else. Really like this body color.

Nose has a real nice beechwood like rauchbier smoke. BBQ and charcoal but also some faint band aid like phenols.

Taste is very light on the palate, with light toast and faint char. There's a strange mild burn to this on the aftertaste. Light and airy malts but doesn't come out on the swallow. Another very wet and watery body.

Even as a porter this really doesn't cut it, seems pretty weak. But it looks and smells great.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2012 01:44:59 | More by smakawhat

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Hadn't really noticed this beer until today. Redundant to say this but I always support cheaper 12oz locals of good styles, heh.

A- Poured into a pint glass with a pitch black body. Light tan cap builds up to about two fingers but lacks a bit in the retention department. Small creamy ring sticks around leaving a few tiny spots of lace.

S- Hard to pick up right off the bat, really have to try hard. Smoked malt off the top and just a bit of dark malt behind it. Opens slightly as it warms.

T- Starts out solid with notes of leathery smoked malt and cocoa cereal grains. Dark fruit begins to build, which I don't normally mind but it brings along a slight metallic hint with it. Something about it all doesn't seem rich enough, the flavor feels thin and leaves me wanting more.

MF- Lighter body but still in the Porter range. The carbonation has a silky feel but the beer overall is thin and slightly watery. Smoky palate finish.

The flavor is not nearly bad, it drinks easily and balances smoke with porter elements. It just doesn't feel rich enough. The thin feel doesn't support the smoky and chocolate flavors all that well.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 02:02:28 | More by cbutova

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a one finger light brown head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Deep brown with faint ruby highlights, ton of yeast left in bottle. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Smoky nose and flavor is more smoke than any thing else, hints of coffee. $1.65 for a 12oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 22:09:16 | More by jdhilt

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Effervescent: a tan head erupts from even a light pour. Dark root beer brown color. Head quickly fizzles out and leaves nothing in it's wake.

Smells like smoked meat with a soy sauce sweet tang. Tastes like it smells and while the soy sauce is ok in the aroma it's off-putting as a flavor. Tiny in the back which I'm beginning to sense is par for the Rock Art course.

Despite leaving a lot to be desired I like a smoked beer with a blatant smoke character. I've had a few smoked beers lately where that couldn't always be counted on.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 00:08:03 | More by donkeyrunner

ksimons

New York

2.5/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A-dark chestnut with a small layer of creamy head that leaves a ring around the top.

S-light roasted malt, tobacco, a bit of coffee.

T-taste is a little thing all around. I am getting some smoke and a little bit of malt but not much else.

M-thin body, light carbonation, leaves a smoky mouthfeel.

Overall I am not going to be getting this beer again. The smell started out promising but things rapidly declined. Thin body, thin taste, just really not good.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 21:10:32 | More by ksimons

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a smaller but slightly darker off white fizzy head covering that fades fairly quickly with just a touch of lacing, over dark brown almost black beer like a cola brown with hints of ruby light.

Nose starts with some smoke, a phenolic light campfire like smoke, almost peat but not quite, a hint of smoked meat but not quite that kind of smoke. Then creamy malts, a malt profile like a cross between porter and brown ale, some crystal malts, and a bit of darker malt aromas, but fairly thin in the malt profile overall.

Taste starts with more smoke, a smoked cheese like profile a bit but that disappears quickly as campfire come through, smoldering log, and hint of phenols from the smoke. The malt profile is fairly thin giving it a thin feel overall and little flavor other than the smoke. The malt brings a hint of chocolate, and touch of crystal malts, hint of caramel, and a light creamy malt feel. A very slight medicinal like flavor comes from the smoke as well that ties in directly from the phenols I think, again giving it a slight peat like profile. It also gets a very slight chalky feel. Finish gets a bit creamy, slightly sweet still, and some bitterness coming from the malts mostly the smoke I think, and just a touch of chalky chocolate malt.

Mouth is thinner, and lighter carbonation.

Overall way too thin, def could have used quite a bit more malt in there to balance the smoke especially, which comes through as a bit phenolic and peat like since there is barely any malt to back it up. The bitterness at the end is nice, and it's fairly tasty for the most part, but could use some beefing up.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 16:43:01 | More by jlindros

jmerloni

Massachusetts

1.28/5  rDev -62.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

A - A dull, dark color that doesn't seem very thick. It looks like you can almost see through it. Head is pretty pathetic for a "smoked porter."

S - This just smells like smoke. Very little chocolate aroma here. Surprisingly unappealing.

T - Wow. Awful. Tastes like ash and brown sugar. Awful. Cheap. Gross.

M - Light to medium bodied and comes apart at the first possible instance it could. Wow. This is headed toward the worst beer I've ever ingested.

D - This is one of the five worst beers I've ever tasted out of over 400. This is a pathetic offering, I can't believe that it's bottled and offered in a store that claims to sell craft beer. Embarrassing. This beer has nothing, and shame on this brewery for bottling this piece of shit and trying to make money off it. TRY MAKING GOOD BEER, YOU CHEAP FUCKS! This beer is pathetic and irresponsible enough that I will NEVER ever try another beer from this brewery. Like, this is baddd. Woah. Try trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 04:53:43 | More by jmerloni

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very dark black with a light beige head around one finger in height.

Aroma: Smokiness, notes of wood, roasted chocolate malts, Espresso and wisps of vanilla. Hops are well roasted as well.

Taste: Lots of smokiness in begining along with dark roasted malts and hops. A lightly crisp mouthfeel but it mellows out very well. Solid amounts of coffee, dark roasted.

Notes: Drinkable, tasty solid all over. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 04:52:08 | More by horshack7

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from Rock Art mixed 12

A- dark reddish black, non translucent, slight brownish off white head that dissipates very fast, slightly above average carbonation for a porter.

S- smoked malts, chocolate, slightly sweet.

T- smokey, slightly sweet, chocolatey. Slightly sweet smokey aftertaste.

M- medium bodied, alcohol well hidden, well balanced, defintely drinkable.

O- This was defintely my favorite of the 4 different beers from the Rock Art variety pack. Nice balanced smokiness mixes well with a light sweetness. In my opinion definitely an easy beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 04:28:24 | More by jaasen64

FickleBeast

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Pours near pitch black with a finger of whitish foam. Aroma is quite smoky, with dark roasted malt flavors as well.

First sip is nicely smoky, with a sweet, roasty finish. nice roasted bitterness on the finish. This is really a pleasant beer. The smokiness is nicely balanced. It is present but not overwhelming.

I haven't had too may smoked porters, but I am really enjoying this one. Would certainly buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 04:33:51 | More by FickleBeast

9InchNails

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Interesting look to the beer. When I poured it, it poured like a cola. The brown head faded away very quickly. There are five sections ontop of the beer where the Carbonation is creating a whirlpool effect. Dark ruby red, not opaque as I can see some dim light. Very bubbly. Absolutely no lacing.

Chocolate, caramel, toffee, coffee and smoke. That's about it.

Chocolate, burnt coffee and caramel that all seem to be watered down. A lingering dry burnt toast taste; that's it, its not bad nor good.

The mouth is watery, light Carbonation quite boring.

I really wanted to try this beer for a while. I think most of Rock Arts Brews are pretty tasty and to sneak a average brew like this one into thier line of beers can only sum it up with one word -- disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 02:20:05 | More by 9InchNails

Brad007

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I haven't seen or had this beer in years. I saw the 6 pack and picked it right up.

Pours a slight reddish-brown color with a nice brown head into my glass. Looks right for a smoked porter.

Sweet, smoky, malt with a burnt cocoa/coffee touch to it. Very appealing.

Deep, rich smoky malt upfront with a touch of cocoa, cream and burnt caramel. It's the right combination of flavor.

Mouthfeel isn't much different, except that there's nice smoke imprint on the tongue.

Wow. I missed this beer and glad to see it back.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 00:37:58 | More by Brad007

surprenant1138

Connecticut

3.08/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very hazy, swamp mud brown. Minimal head, but light tan, and minimal kacing as well. Aroma is of some chocolate, some malt, and very light on he smokiness. Mouthfeel is fairly light, with a zing of carbonation. Taste is malty, with some light hops, only slightly smokey, and a hint of pecans and chocolate. Not the best smoked porter, but decent to sip on occasion.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 20:52:04 | More by surprenant1138

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle with a Bottled On Date notched at Jan. Pours a semi translucent dark copper color with a very thin head. No lacing. Aroma is smokey and chocolatey. Some burnt coffee. Taste is a good amount of smoke upfront. Coffee and malts as well but that nice smokey flavor is the main attraction here. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but still decent. Overall, this is a pretty smokey beer. Nice surprise in the mix 12 pack. I would like to have this on tap given a chance.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 05:09:24 | More by PicoPapa