Hoogstraten Poorter - Brouwerij Sterkens N.V.

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 1 pint 9.4 oz ceramic flip-top jar. Named a freeman Porter from Hoogstraten ... brewed according to the purity law of 1516. Huh, hello this a beer brewed in Belgium who cares about the purity law. No freshness date.

Appearance: Tawny burgundy with an off-white whisp, ringed lace.

Smell: Caramel, butter, and a distinct date sweetness.

Taste: Rounded biting hop twang bitterness and carbonation with a silky malty mouth feel. Fruity earthy date essence with a semi steely sweet caramel flavour. Faint toffee like diacetyl melds with a nutty yeast character. Hints of carob in the drying finish.

Notes: Sip and savour brew, a highly drinkable Belgian brewed ale that shows some alcoholic girth so beware.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2000 00:00:01 | More by BeerAdvocate

rainydays2020

New York

3.24/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A- Dark brown, alsmost amber tint when held up to sunlight, off-white head with good retention

S- Strong smell of raisins, slightly woody, sweet

T- the date/raisin flavor is overpowering, mild alcohol heat that finishes the beer nicely

M- semi-sweet good carbonation, medium-light body

Overall a good beer. It's not something I would seek out, but still worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 23:13:36 | More by rainydays2020

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Beer poured out from a bottle. It had a clear, dark brown appearance and a white, foamy head. Not much of a smell; a little bit of malt and a little bit of toastiness. Tasted sweet and malty, with a little bit of toastedness. There was a little bit of bitterness in the aftertaste.

Would I buy this beer again? Probably.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:40:48 | More by NilocRellim

Peyton5410

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +9.9%

03-26-2013 23:19:56 | More by Peyton5410

twincano

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -31.3%

02-22-2013 03:38:27 | More by twincano

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Leffe glass on 2/4/13

23/02/16 B printed on the label.

Caramel brown that settles close to dark. One finger, fluffy head dissipates to a 1/4th inch layer. Smooth, lasting retention. Good lace.

Dark fruit aroma: raisins, plum, dark grapes. Figs, hints of brown sugar, baked bread, dough, yeast, very mild spices. Quite malty.

The taste is comparably malty with a strong bread presence. Hints of chocolate, raisins, figs, subtle yeast spice and plum. Faint earthiness.

The body is medium-full with fluffy, modest carbonation. Dusty finish.

Pretty nice drinkin' here. Seems more like a Belgian Dark Ale than a Porter, but who's counting?

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:08:51 | More by Ryan011235

OregonGrown7

Nebraska

4.75/5  rDev +30.5%

01-14-2013 00:16:55 | More by OregonGrown7

Fossilhunter

California

4/5  rDev +9.9%

01-09-2013 16:08:40 | More by Fossilhunter

scot959

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

01-07-2013 23:17:49 | More by scot959

tbeq00

California

3.75/5  rDev +3%

12-21-2012 05:16:47 | More by tbeq00

Ranz

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Thick jet black in the pint glass with a ridiculous amount of head. The bottle is a great solution for a classy growler.

S: Tons of yeast and grass, roasted malt.

T: That yeast pushes through in the beginning with a ton of bitter flavor that may be a bit too much.

M: Thick and effervescent, it has a slightly dry finish. Not bad here.

O: A bit underwhelming, but the bottle makes up for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:01:49 | More by Ranz

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +3%

11-23-2012 06:56:33 | More by UncleJimbo

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +3%

11-20-2012 06:31:36 | More by WDJersey

MystikCelt

New York

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%

11-17-2012 00:04:27 | More by MystikCelt

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown, reddish hues. Frothy, beige head. Sticky lacing.

S - Cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate. Roasty, malty, mineral water.

T - A complex mixture of nutty, bitter citrus pith, spices, apple skin and minerals. This beer has a very interesting flavor profile, with lots of yeasty notes. Certainly not a typical porter flavor.

M - Medium bodied, effervescent, wet feel, clean finish.

O - Not what you would expect from a porter. The Belgian yeast makes for a surprising palate.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 18:47:39 | More by BeerForMuscle

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Best before 8/26/16.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, dark fruits, and some cocoa aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but the mouthfeel needs improvement in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 05:23:11 | More by UCLABrewN84

harpus

Alabama

4/5  rDev +9.9%

07-24-2012 14:22:34 | More by harpus

Paul68

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +3%

05-09-2012 00:52:21 | More by Paul68

futurecode

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%

04-12-2012 19:13:33 | More by futurecode

Vylo

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%

04-11-2012 05:20:18 | More by Vylo

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

04-01-2012 23:46:39 | More by TMoney2591

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 2/2011 notes. Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a dark red brown amber with a vigorous off white head leaving nice lacing. Malt aroma with a bit of a sour, mineral component. Tastes of light sweet malt and light and dark fruits with Belgian spicing. Thin bodied, and sweeter and lighter than most porters. Nice strong carbonation is refreshing. A pleasant Belgian take on a porter, but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 02:28:47 | More by LiquidAmber

ncsutton

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Serving - Growler

A - Very dark with a nice head that retains for a nice period of time, lacing

S - A scent of roasted malts, and some dark fruit, seems like raisin

T - Tastes like it smells, however it's not quite as strong as I would have thought, nice roasted malt going with raisin and apricot, some chocolate after tones

M - somewhat light weight for what I was expecting, moderate carbonation

O - Overall not too bad, not what I was expecting for a Baltic Porter, but it's still a good brew, I thought the bottle looked cool and the beer behind it justified my purchase

Serving type: growler

03-06-2012 02:21:44 | More by ncsutton

DRC

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%

03-02-2012 07:52:19 | More by DRC

mactrail

California

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very nice foam on top. Full creamy mouthfeel. Is there something different about the Belgian carbonation? Reminds me of a seltzer. Interesting nutty flavor with a buttery touch. Yeasty and rich with a distinct tang. Caramel taste but more on the dry side.

I'd still call it a Belgian Dark Ale instead of a porter. Soft flavors, not much of the really dark roast and certainly none of the charred malt we usually find in porters and stouts. The big ceramic bottle from Mega Liquor in Hemet, Calif.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 06:04:55 | More by mactrail