Wrasslers XXXX Stout - The Porterhouse Brewing Company

Gavage

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: dark brown in color with a nice 1" head that lasts.

Smell: roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a hint of bitterness comes through to the nose.

Taste: roasted malt, some coffee tones, dark bitter chocolate, and a moderate bitterness make up a decent stout.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp at the start, smoother at the finish. Long lasting aftertaste here.

Overall: a decent drinking stout and also fits the bill for a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 19:27:49 | More by Gavage

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap 5/15/2011 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown, with a short light brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is faint but contains roasted malts, some chocolate and some dark fruit.

T: The taste starts with a dry and mildly bitter dark chocolate flavor. Then there is some dark fruit in the background. The malt character is hearty and the hops presence is very mild as it should be. The after-taste is bitter-sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp but kind of watery, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, this is definitely not one of the better beers I’ve had in the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2011 19:59:37 | More by TheManiacalOne

movingtrain

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 ounce bottle. Interesting cap with a pull pin. I have never seen anything quite like this out of a bottle cap. Bottle claims to be "Ireland's Largest Genuine Irish Brewery." Interesting.

Sampled from a small snifter.

Pours a dark black with a thin, but steady reddish-brown head.

Notes of burnt wood and sweet chocolate in the nose. Hints of vanilla, brown sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, raisins, wood, and warm oats.

The taste is quite dry. There are hints of burnt wood, dark chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, walnut, and coffee. The flavor here is quite desirable, perfect for the style it is going for here. Quite dry, resiny, and delicious.

The mouthfeel is quite dry...but the light sweetness in the beer, accompanied by the fine roasted notes make this beer very drinkable.

Overall, a really good stout. And, at only 5%, one that can be sipped on through the evening.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2011 23:26:14 | More by movingtrain

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.3/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a small cylindrical glass at the brewpub in Dublin.

A: Creamy tan head, about a finger. Very dark; opaque, with red glints in the light.

S: Quite nice. Roasted coffee and malts. Odd sour tinge.

T: Well, it starts and ends well, but the middletaste is subpar. The beginning is roasted and bitter; the ending is dry and roasted; but the middle is thing, sour, and brackish. As this is the bulk of the taste, I'm disappointed.

M: A lower grade for the reasons listed above -- to thing and ugh for too long.

D: Drinkable, but I'm tried of it by the end of this small glass. Only recommended if you really like stout.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2011 23:49:04 | More by AgentMunky

EPICAC

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This stout pours an opaque black, and is topped by a thick, creamy, brown head that retains well. The aroma is chocolatey with roasted malt notes. The chocolate gives the aroma an almost fruity aspect.

This stout has a roasted backbone, which moves into a milder center with a bit of bite and roasted bitterness in the finish that's cut by a mild sweetness. Light-bodied and smooth with mild carbonation.

I thought this was a very nice stout.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2010 02:22:18 | More by EPICAC

kojevergas

California

2.13/5  rDev -42.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: Served on-tap at the Porterhouse pub in Dublin. A half finger head is creamy and nice, but too thin.

Sm: Very, very light scent of coffee and roast. Nice, but subtle.

T: Cream gives in to understated roast flavour with a subtle finish. Not bold enough to be truly good. Amp up the flavours, and we'd have a good beer on our hands.

MF: Cream is nice, but the texture is off. There's a strange balance between wetness and dryness that doesn't work, especially for a stout.

Dr: Make the flavours stronger, and I'll drink it!

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2010 16:55:56 | More by kojevergas

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to this brewery the world has its definitive benchmark Irish stout. And this is it. No argument. Just get to the Porter House to have on tap at source and you won't be disappointed.

The full caressing body is beautifully balanced with the tingle of tasty sourness complimenting a very long and very satisfying almost earthy dryness. Every element is there to be tasted yet they merge to make a delicious whole. Ravishing. Top notch. Grand. Feckin grand.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 10:02:29 | More by Zimbo

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

2.9/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

On tap at Mahaffeys today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with a head that appears to have the consistency of whipped cream. The head is so thick, it gives the impression you could float a penny on it (maybe you could, but I didn't try). Head retention was exceptional and there was plenty of sticky lacing all around. Visually, this beer is a thing of beauty...

On the nose, I don't get a whole lot, just some light licorise, burnt toast and coffee... maybe a hint of dark chocolate. On the palate, this beer is exceptionally dry, with a boatload of licorise, more burnt toast and bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is very light and even a bit thin, with a slight creaminess. Drinkability is just not good in this beer. The beer has so much dry licorise and bitterness in the finish, that it was a chore getting it down.

Should have just stuck to looking this beer, as it really looks great. As for how it tastes.... mehhhh.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2010 21:10:54 | More by johnmichaelsen

AWolfAtTheDoor

California

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm currently looking at this glass (not to mention writing this review) inside the Porterhouse just off Temple Bar. Yes, this is a live review thanks to their wireless internet connection. The beer is very dark, a nearly impenetrable blackness. Mocha colours frothy head about 1.5cm tall has persisted throughout the session.
Huge nose of roasted malts with a little hop bitterness.
Taste is more of the same: lots of roasted malts, somewhat balanced by a nice hoppiness. A bitter accumulation as the session continues, but never gets overblown.
Mouthfeel is pretty typical for an irish stout.
It's fairly drinkable. I would probably opt for their Plain Porter or even the Oyster if I HAD to choose one, but this would definitely become a regular (or possibly irregular) staple beer if I lived in Dublin.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2008 13:25:39 | More by AWolfAtTheDoor

Bierschenker

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.
The beer looks like a good stout should look: A full fresh black beer with a magically floating compact white puck on top. No carbonation, no sediment. This is poured from a cooled installation.
There’s not a real sent noticeable, just a slight chocolate tad.
The taste is very strong in comparison to the bland Guinness. A spicy, burned bitterness evokes an explosion of taste. It swirls around the tongue and takes it hostage for an undetermined time. It’s a simple but respectable and enjoyable taste. The fact that it has more flavour, did make me drink slower. There’s just more to enjoy.
The mouthfeel is light and milky.

One of the only beers from Eire I will miss at home.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2007 00:34:45 | More by Bierschenker

granger10

Wisconsin

2.9/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The worst of the stouts I tried at Porterhouse. I think something went wrong when they brewed this batch. Aroma is alright with the characteristic roasted chocolate and creaminess to it but the finish of the smell imparted this weird off flavor. Taste also began good but by the middle there seemed to be a metallic, band aid flavor. This had potential but the off flavors really threw me off and although I finish my pint, it took some effort.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2006 13:54:03 | More by granger10

JohnfromDublin

Ireland

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted on tap at The Porterhouse Central, Dublin Ireland on 18th Nov 2005.

Appearence; thinnish tan head on typical black (touch ruby) body.
Smelled okay, not of anything in particular - subdued.
Tasted well; strong roast malts with maybe a trace of blackcurrent and a trace of coffee. Overall, this was a good brew that grew on me. The taste was just as strong at the end of the pint as in the first tasting. Quite impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2005 09:34:40 | More by JohnfromDublin

box299

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I loved this Porter. Great flavor... my only regret upon leaving Ireland just yesterday is that I wasn't able to bring some home with me. This very dark in color and rich tasting beer was everything I hoped for. I highly recommend the food at the Brewery also.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2005 18:26:17 | More by box299

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black, with a creamy head of espresso foam. Aromas are of roasted malts, chocolate, caramel, and a bit of smoke. The taste is roasted malts up front, chocolate and coffee in the middle, and slight green hops and smoke in the finish. This is reminiscent of a lighter shakespeare stout. The mouthfeel is creamy and full and the drinkability is good. This is a good stout from this brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2004 19:56:06 | More by francisweizen

cbl2

New York

2.8/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance:

This is my 3rd stout from Porterhouse (I got the sampler) and I'm noticing a trend in appearance: Pitch black with quarter inch tan head.

Smell:

Difficult to discern (compared to the Porter and Oyster Stout that Porterhouse offers). Mildly hoppy with some malt characteristics.

Taste/Mouthfeel:

The harshest of the beers I've sampled here. This has a chocolate/coffee characteristic to it in the beginning and finishes too bitter for my taste.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2004 20:39:45 | More by cbl2

stcules

Italy

2.5/5  rDev -33%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Black colour, with typical creamy and compact foam.
The smell is light, with prevalence of toasted.
The smell is more assertive, with prevalence of bitter, chicory, without toasted, coffe or chocolate. Maybe some hazelnut.
Herbaceous bitter.
Medium body, quite strong for the style.
In the aftertaste: there is malty too, with hints of caramel, with prevalence of dry bitter.
It doesn't have the smooth and cremosisty of a bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2003 19:14:20 | More by stcules

javier

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

In a city ruled by Guinness, a better stout can be found in the porterhouse. Wrasslers is a real stout unlike the nitro'ed to hell Guinness on tap. While G. is smooth by virtue of carbonation and lack of flavor, Wrasslers have true beer flavor and feel. While you may never give up Guinness, Wrasslers is superior. If the Porterhouse wasn't a brewpub with limited reach, Guinness would be in trouble.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2002 17:56:29 | More by javier

thierrynantes

France

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from V&B Nantes, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : black color, with tan foamy head.
Smell : roasted malt aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : roasted malt flavors with dry bitter finish.
Drinkability : a very good beer in the Irish style Dry Stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 17:07:49 | More by thierrynantes

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Note: 2007 vintage

A: Pours an opaque yet clear jet black in color with some moderate amounts of visible carbonation and some cola brown highlights. The beer has a quarter finger tall sudsy light tan head that reduces to a large patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of roasted malts with a lesser amount of freshly ground coffee.

T: Upfront there are strong flavors of roasted malts with a light amount of sweetness. There are light notes of coffee and a light to moderate amount of bitterness.

M: Just heavier than light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Very smooth with moderate to heavy amounts of dryness.

O: Great example of the style and a beer I could easily drink through an entire session - smooth and easy to drink with low ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 19:56:15 | More by dbrauneis

popery

California

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a very dark brown with a mocha head. Ruby highlights at the edges. Average lacing. Significantly darker than the Oyster Stout.

Aroma is rich milk chocolate, milky coffee, molasses, caramel, roasted malt, raisins and some herbal hops. It’s dominated by the chocolate note, which is quite nice.

The taste starts mildly sweetly with chocolate and coffee and finishes with roast and hop bitterness with a dash of dark malt acidity. There’s some good stout flavor in there. The aftertaste is rather hoppy.

Mouthfeel is creamy and full. Relatively low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 05:32:42 | More by popery

tylerzander

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - pours with a two finger pillowy darker tan head with good retention and a mix of small and larger bubbles to give it volume; quite dark, verging on blackness but shows some slight, dark ruby highlights when held to a light source

S - dark fruits in the nose, like a Belgian dubbel; also a sweet and sticky molasses aroma buttressing a hefty roastiness

T - a strong lingering bitterness follows the initial taste of the aroma: a rich licorice and molasses flavor; yet due to the low carbonation there is nothing pricky or astringent about the bitterness: it's about as smooth as a strong cup of cold brew coffee

M - low carbonation enhances a very full and smooth mouthfeel - this is a full and chewy beer and there's nothing wrong with that

D - a great beer to nurse and savor, especially in cooler weather; it would be hard to tip back multiple of these "full stouts," but you wouldn't want to, as you just want to sip and enjoy slowly

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:13:54 | More by tylerzander

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

A: Pitch black pour with a small but compact and thick brown head that sets into decent lacings.

S: Kind of alcoholic. Hard roasted dark malts. Smoked notes. Strong black coffee and some dark chocolate. Dry.

T: Hard roasted dark malts, vanilla and smoked notes. Strong black coffee and bitter dark chocolate. Very dry.

M: Long bitter and roasted aftertaste. Rather full body for this style and very low carbonation.

O: Not bad, very dry.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 18:01:18 | More by Sunnanek

Murrhey

Montana

3.46/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a pint glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. Reviewed live. Paired with barbecue steak.

A- Half a finger mocha head. Bubbly lacing, moderately long retention. Very dark brown, some ruby color. Too dark for light to escape. Very attractive looking beer.

S- Sweet. Malts are sweet and roasted. Slightly peppery and spicy. Very appealing smell on this brew. Slight alcohol notes, which is odd. Molasses. Yum.

T- Roasted malts, almost burnt. Not as nice as the smell. Leaves a bitter, burnt taste in the mouth. The sweetness is overpowered.

M- Grainy and dry.

O- Taste was average, especially considering the delightful smell. But this was a fun beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:22:32 | More by Murrhey

jgurley

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my tasting snifter. Beautiful thick, black color with a quickly dissipating tan foamy head. I really love the smell on this one. Dark, smoky and sweet, malty aroma. It just SCREAMS stout. Taste is on point. Slightly sweet on the front, silky and dry across the middle, with a really smoky bitterness on the back. Lacing down the glass is nice as I get further in. I LOVE the smokiness in the flavor. Mouthfeel is refreshing with the right amount of carbonation to be refreshing but still suitable for the style. Finish is bitter and satisfying with the smokiness hanging around just long enough. Once again, I can't overstate how much I enjoy the AROMA of this beer. I will buy this again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 20:54:37 | More by jgurley

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm a bit torn on this one. While it's certainly a good beer, it doesn't really fit to the dry irish stout style. Too much molasses there, in my opinion. Which makes it more boisterous than what I think would fit the style. It's kind of one dimensional as well, to throw an overall review in there.

I know we're supposed to grade the beer to the style it's placed in, but I've seen beer styles switched on beers a few times after I've reviewed them, so I don't really care. People don't care whether a beer fits to style. They care about how good it is when they drink it.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 00:40:53 | More by RblWthACoz