King Titus - Maine Beer Company

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle, 6 months old. Black pour with brown highlights, massive tan head and super lacing. Aroma is chocolate, burn toast with a subdued grassy background. Taste is roasted grain, chocolate and earthy hops. Silky and puffy mouthfeel which makes it highly drinkable. Great porter, tasty and easily drinkable. I’d be curious to try fresher for a more intense hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 16:39:13 | More by Luk13

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.06/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 16.9 oz brown bottle with a bottling date of December 2012. Enjoyed out of a 20 oz glass stein.

Appearance - Careful pour (to avoid disturbing the sediment) yields a blanketing of two-finger cocoa-colored head. The foam sits atop a body of brown so dark it might as well be black. Light does not shine through at all. Head dissipates after a couple minutes, leaving a solid film of bubbles and moderate-to-light lacing.

Smell - Notes of coffee and bittersweet chocolate dance around a base of dry earthy soil. Some faint herbal hoppiness comes through as well.

Taste - Coffee hints again with chocolate, this time a little less bitter, with a malty sweetness providing a sturdy base. Roasted malt is the predominant flavor with licorice notes as it warms. Hoppiness is less detectable except on the finish.

Mouthfeel - Silky and viscous, coating the inside of the mouth while also providing some counterpoint from the active carbonation. Finish lingers with some earthy bitterness.

Overall, a solid representative of the style. Too bad it's not more readily available (read as: at ALL available) in my part of the country.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 05:06:53 | More by LambicPentameter

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

1/18/13 bottling date. Poured into a DFH tulip shaped pint glass.

pours a pitch black color with a half inch thick beige head. Robust porter smell for sure on this one. Nice chocolate and coffee aroma. ooh, really digging the taste as well. strong chocolate and coffee on the palate. This is one strong, upfront porter. What a porter is meant to be. Heavier side of medium bodied with low carbonation. What i expect the body of a porter to be.

Overall this beer is excellent. One of the best porters I've ever had. highly recommend to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 01:22:52 | More by Axnjxn

dtivp

West Virginia

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured a midnight black with two finger tan head, good retention and thick lacing.

Aroma of roasted malt, dark chocolate and coffee.

Taste followed the nose with dark roasted malt, dark coffee bitterness, hints of dark chocolate and hops.

Mouth Feel is medium body, moderate carbonation, smooth yet bitter leaving a dry after taste.

Overall this is a very nice bold porter, it is near the top of my porter favorites. This was my first Maine Beer Company brew and I hope I have a similar experience with their other selections.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 23:50:25 | More by dtivp

mactrail

California

3.59/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Very dark color and opaque in the tumbler. Large beige head that lasts well. Quite sudsy in the mouth. This starts off as a mellow malty mouthful and shades off into the darkness. Bitterness is quite substantial. I don't see the IBU, but it's a lot of Centennial and Columbus hops. The charred flavors take over from the sweet malt.

Overall, this is a flavorful dark brew that is on the austere side. An interesting big beer that is double the flavor, if not quite double the alcohol. The bitterness finally takes its toll for me. From the 500 ml bottle bought at Whole Foods in Washington, DC.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 03:11:26 | More by mactrail

metter98

New York

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a quarter finger high dense tan head that rapidly dissipated, leaving a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of burnt and roasted malts are present in the nose as well as some hints of pine resin hops.
T: The taste has flavors of dark chocolates and roasted malts along with hints of citrusy hops and a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little crisp and chewy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a very bold tasting porter that is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 01:52:14 | More by metter98

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle into tulip.

A - Black as night with a thick one finger creamy tan head.

S - Roasty malts, top soil, toffee, sweet chocolate, hints of coffee.

T - Lots of roast, earthiness, and slight chicory flavor throughout. A light coffee hop bitterness balances everything well. Subtle vanilla bean and dark fruit.

M - Smooth and creamy. Medium-full body, mild carbonation, somewhat dry finish.

O - This is an above-average balanced porter. The chicory element was a pleasant surprise and makes this a memorable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 02:45:58 | More by mooseo

GuinnessAtRogerWilco

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

500ml bottle poured into a Chimay goblet.

AP: Solid black colour with a 1/4" light tan fluffy head that dissipates to a dusting on the surface, though the lacing when the glass is tilted is nice.
AR: Chocolate, black bread, roasted grains and some hints of coffee and vanilla.
T: Follows the nose but while in the aroma the chocolate smelled sweeter, in the taste it's more of a bitter chocolate or cocoa type of flavour. There are also hints of bitter coffee grinds and Earthy hops on the finish.
M: Fairly creamy though there's a good bit of carbonation at the end, a little too much for my liking in a Porter.
OV: A very solid effort from Maine Beer. A fine enjoyable Porter that has good balance throughout.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 05:30:44 | More by GuinnessAtRogerWilco

pmarlowe

California

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Teku glass. Bottled 12/30/12.

A: Pours black--coffee brown around the edges, with a finger and a half of dense and very persistent tan head. The head recedes to a thick and sloppy ring with some streaks and dots of lacing.

S: Medium roast coffee on top of roasted malt, a touch of vanilla and chocolate.

T: Roast is balanced nicely with coffee and a hint of dark chocolate. Finishing dry with a long coffee finish.

M: Slightly grainy. Medium-light body and medium, lively carbonation.

O: A very well crafted porter, hitting a very good balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 05:10:25 | More by pmarlowe

DmanGTR

New York

4.59/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured very dark brown with chestnut hues in the light. The head is a creamy, billowing beige cloud that adorns the top of my Gulden Draak tulip. Long lasting, it leaves ample lacing as it descends with the beer. The aroma is quite nice: multigrain toast, touch of marshmallow, and cocoa with mineral and a hop-forward waft that is a blend of earth, grass, and spring rain. The flavors are abundant and well balanced. Lots of silky smooth chocolate, less coffee, and sweet malt comes first, followed by burnt toast, caramel, and a pleasing mild bitterness that rounds out the finish. The aftertaste reminds me a little bit of Amontillado: a sherry-like, nutty flavor. The texture is extremely smooth and rich bodied, definitely bold enough to hold up to the flavors. Well carbonated and quite drinkable. Hardly any alcohol presence. Overall, a very well made porter that I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 23:33:28 | More by DmanGTR

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.81/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Half liter bottle into tulip glass

A - Pitch black and completely opaque with a finger of tan-brown head. Good retention and lacing.

S - Milk chocolate, roasted chocolate malt, sweet. Simple and pleasant, good display of roasted malts.

T - Chocolate and roasted malt, slight balancing bitterness is that of cacao. Vanilla shows up, too.

M - Very watery, body is not quite medium, somewhat thin. Needs more. Doesn't allow the beer to linger and let you enjoy it. Drinks like water. Carbonation is low to moderate.

O - Overall a fine tasting beer that I would pay Sam Adams prices for, but that's about it. Not up to the level of MBC's other beers. From reading other reviews this seems extremely inconsistent.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:17:59 | More by greenmonstah

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled Dec 30, 2012

Beer is black with a large tan head. Great retention, good lace.

Nose contains roast malt, chocolate, coffee and some citrusy hops. The malt is dominant and very nice, but the hops are clearly there.

Roasted malt is upfront in the taste as well, nice bold flavour. Lots of chocolate and some coffee in there as well. Hops are not as noticeable as in the nose; likely they have faded since bottling. Still get a hint of citrus or tropical fruit. Fairly bitter.

Medium to full bodied, moderately carbonated. A bit chewy.

Overall, quite a nice porter. Tasty stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 00:34:30 | More by jrenihan

MCain04

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle from BostonRyan dated 11/12, thanks bro. Poured into a FFF Teku glass.

A: Dark brown/black with 2+ finger creamy khaki head with good retention and lacing.

S: A lot of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, some vanilla, and some tropical hops reminiscent of Lunch.

T: Roasted malts and coffee are abundant, but some hop fruit flavors and sweetness are present. Chocolate flavor is most apparent on the back end and lends to a nice aftertaste. No heat on the beer.

M: Medium carbonation, medium body, could be thicker for a robust porter, dry finish despite wet body throughout.

O: Definitely one of the best porters I've had. A fan of the hops melding with the typical porter tastes in a way that works very well. May be better than Edmund Fitzgerald, but comes in under Everett. Very very nice, worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:03:08 | More by MCain04

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is my second beer from Maine Beer Company, and I am starting to develop some real respect. 500ml bottle courtesy of SammyJaxxxx. Great extra!

Right off the bat, I notice the tropical fruit smells. This is actually unlike any porter I have had. The smell is incredibly similar to Darkness. But it's much lighter to drink, and lacks the sweetness and alcohol.

Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 06:53:28 | More by DaveAnderson

EspressoGuy

British Columbia (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice to have a clear bottling date (11/25/2012)
1% for the Planet company -- I like that.
A: black and opaque;
S: black licorice,; cola, root beer but without the sweetness.
T: the tight delicious taste builds and builds but then explodes into a bitter, very strong licorice finish. It's bordering on too bitter and intense. It mellows as the beer warms up but is still pretty harsh.
M: medium bodied
O: After many recommendations I was really looking forward to this beer. It started so well but that finish is just too much over the top.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 00:44:15 | More by EspressoGuy

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

From the 500 ml. bottle dated 011813. Sampled on April 7, 2013.

It pours India ink black with a humongous fluffy mocha head that stays until the end. The carbonation bubbles almost give the appearance of one of those UK nitro cans.

On the nose there are loads of Porter characters including dark baking chocolate, coffee, dark malts, and a subtle but clean hop scent.

Medium to full body with some astringency.

The taste and aroma counter one another because I get a kind of dark cherry or plum flavor up front with the coffee and chocolate played down. Low bitterness that lingers briefly allowing me to savor it for a few seconds more. This is an excellent Porter and one worth seeking out and trying.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 19:04:08 | More by puboflyons

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.96/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz bottled November 25, 2012. Served at cellar temperature.

Pours black with a one finger brown head that leaves some nice sheets of lacing and holds a persistent cap.

Aroma is heavy on chocolate, milk chocolate, baker’s chocolate, cocoa, semi-sweet chocolate chips, some coffee, nice roasted malts, decent bit of dark fruit, a whiff of cardboard, some caramel, toffee, little to no hops. Very good strength.

Flavor is roasted malts, some chocolate but not as much as in the nose, coffee, caramel, toffee, some dark fruit, a little cardboard again, earthy hops, light alcohol, somewhat astringent. Astringency fades as it warms and opens up.

Mouthfeel is medium-plus bodied, pretty creamy, a little sticky, good carbonation.

Really nice Porter, one of the better ones I’ve had.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 04:55:19 | More by elgiacomo

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 11/25/12
Courtesy of BobZ for this bottle! Thank you!

Pour: Black as night with no light penetration. The huge 3 finger billowing chocolate milkshake color head rises to the apex of the glass and says I want to be here and there is nothing you can do about it. It just does not want to recede and it is awesome. When it finally does relent the abundant amount of lacing left behind is a reminder of that head. I mean even after a long 5 minutes there is still about a fingers worth left.

Smell: Fairly classic porter with mild bitter chocolate, some bitter coffee, a ton of roasty notes with some char. Actually seem to be getting quite a bit of hops? Sort of smells/reminds me of a black IPA.

Taste: Up front the roast quality with the char quickly followed by a semi-sweet smooth chocolate taste. Actually is on the sweeter side than the nose let on and this sweetness battles with the mild bitter coffee and roasted notes in a good way making this less one dimensional and actually more complex. Sort of reminds me of a milk stout combined with a big roasted beer and it works. The bitterness tries to dominate the aftertaste but must relent some to the sweetness.

Mouthfeel: A bit on the watery side but somehow at the same time succeeds at being big and creamy. I'd call it lighter side of medium but smooth and creamy.

Overall: Great beer and a treat. I am really glad I was able to try it and I think everything in this beer is very well done and the end product is very enjoyable. Must mention that the lacing on this is just beyond huge and I find myself smiling as I look at the empty glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 01:09:40 | More by sleuthdog

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.31/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

King Titus pours a seductively deep brown, with a thick head of puffy froth capping it off. There appears to be only the faintest bubbles of carbonation present. Sticky lace is left as a reminder of the mountainous head, which eventually recedes to a little less than a half inch. It's a great caramel color and still remains covering the beer itself. Perfect appearance.

One whiff of the beer foretells powdery confections of creamy milk chocolate and roasted coffee beans. One might guess this is a sweet stout with just the nose to go by.

That initial chocolate and espresso comes through just like the aroma upon the fist sip, but now more roasted malts are revealed along with a quite noticeable hop profile as well.
The mouth feel is medium, and the finish dries out with pleasant smoky tobacco notes . Overall, It's very easy to drink and has just enough complexity to stay interesting.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 01:48:25 | More by Neorebel

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Looks good on the pour. Flavor profile is pretty smooth with a nice malty sweetness. Smooth is the keyword here. A nice pleasant drinker with light roasted and hearty tones as accents. Pretty smooth on the feel. Carbonation is a but higher than I think it should be for the beer as a whole. But overall, another nice beer from MBC.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 03:20:05 | More by RblWthACoz

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I poured this beer just below room temperature and that is really what you want with this beer. It poured almost jet black with a nice two finger brown head of various sized bubbles that leave a solid lacing pattern with holes in it sort of like street signs out on a distant farm road that has a multitude of bullet holes in it.

The aroma is of dark rosted malts, chocolate, coffee, and a hint of citrusy hops with a bit of yeast.

The taste starts off with dark roasted malt sweetness intermingled with a chocolate and vanilla creaminess and as it works its way back a charred bitterness cavorts with hop bitterness and some yeasties and finally ending up both sweet, dry and acidic. Well balanced.

The mouthfeel, to me, seems medium to full bodied with a silky creaminess that leaves a bit of slime on the toungue. Not much, but it's there. The carbonation is just under moderate and pert near perfect leaving you with a dry taste on the tongue.

Overall, I would have to say that this beer nails it for the style. It's perhaps a little too dry for my taste with a bit too much on the hop side. All in all, it's roasty, smooth, creamy and bitter which is pretty much what an american porter tends to be. This beer is getting at the very least 4 out of 5.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:56:16 | More by WissBrauSean

Jmamay22

New York

4.19/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I have had a few beers from Maine Beer Company and they have each been excellent. And I've been looking forward to trying this one. It pours a very dark black coffee color with a creamy mocha colored thick ring of foam that leaves wonderful lacing on the walls of the glass.

The beer smells of dark roasted malt, brown sugar, and faintly fruity. The taste is more robust than the scent with a very heavy mouthfeel. It begins sweet with a taste of raisin and finishes with a bittersweet pleasingly burnt caramel. The finish lingers nicely begging for the next sip. A very robust and straightforward take on the porter style, but extremely well done in doing so. I wouldn't call it unique, but it is an wonderful example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 00:14:26 | More by Jmamay22

Thickfreakness

New York

3.48/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

O- Ridiculously pitch black pour. Not a hint of light gazing thru. A billowing coffee stained head rises on the pour and gently glides down the glass leaving some absolutely crazy lacing. The head still has at least 1/2 inch even after almost 5 minutes.

S- Reminds me of alot of a mild Black IPA in the nose. A ton of citrus and some smokey, charred malt. Not as aggressive as Storm King or something like that. Some hints of sweet raisin and fig, dark Belgian cocoa powder and really bitter coffee.

T- Really hoppy and citrusy right up front. It gives way to some milk chocolate sweetness, black coffee, dark dried fruit, pine sap, and yeast. Nice at best. Not extremely complex. I've had much better for much cheaper.

M- Kinda thin and crisp. Far too much citrus for my liking. I was really hoping for something with some body to it. The orange and tangerine peel just strip away any coffee and cocoa goodness that it had.

O- I'm not a huge fan of Porter's that kick you in the mouth with citrus zest and pine. It's a shame because I can really smell some nice cocoa and coffee underneath. It's certainly not bad by any means, but just doesn't suite my liking of an American Porter. It's too bad every style has to be pushed over-the-top by hops. JMHO.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:29:01 | More by Thickfreakness

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16.9oz bottle with 112512 on the side. Pours a black color with over an inch of thick, frothy tan head. Tons of lacing. The aroma is dark chocolate, roasted malts, Hershey's syrup and some citrus hops. The taste is bitter dark chocolate with some hints of orange peel. Notes of light and sweet coffee. Bittersweet chocolate syrup at the finish. Thick, heavy mouthfeel. Overall, this is a hearty porter that packs alot of flavor. I'll be buying this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 17:58:19 | More by PicoPapa

Kendo

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle says it was bottled on 12-30-12. Consumed on Pi day - 3/14/13 - so this is pretty fresh (about 75 days old).

A: Poured from the bottle - fairly aggressively beginning about halfway through the pint glass - into a Harpoon pint glass. It appears thick - Imperial/Double Stout-type thick - and black. A cascading chocolate-milkshake-colored head nearly 3 fingers deep settles on top and spends about an eternity just sitting there. Seriously; I poured this beer more than 5 minutes ago now and there's a curtain of lacey chocolate on the sides of the glass and still a half-inch of meringue-like foamy head.

S: Modestly roasty with a touch of coffee and chocolate. Also something sweet at first that led me to think of molasses, but after it warms a bit, that's overpowered by the more roasty and chocolatey scents.

T: Oh my, this is good. First impression is how chocolatey it is in the taste. But it's not a one-note beer; after that first impression there's a lactic, Milk Stout-like creaminess mid sip, then a nice roastiness, a touch of coffee, earthiness and some roasty, bordering on char-like, bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste at first, only to be beaten back by the sweeter flavors after awhile. Very nicely balanced. This just may be my favorite porter.

M: Like many porters, it's a tad bit thin in weight, but this one makes up for it with a low carbonation that makes it feel thicker and slightly slick. Drinks more like Yoo-Hoo than a carbonated beverage.

O: Very impressed. On the fence about bumping up the taste score to a 4.75. . . it's that good.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:44:31 | More by Kendo