Plain Porter - The Porterhouse Brewing Company

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.11/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Porterhouse Brewing 'Plain Porter' an Irish Dry Stout @ 5.0% , served from a 330 ml bottle with a pull tab bottle cap purchased for $3

A-pour is a very dark brown with some ruby red highlights when held up to the light , the head starts off as a medium size tan in color and remains thru out , smaller now that more beer is consumed leaving a fine lace film along the pint glass

S-smells of roasted barley , a little hoppyness

T-sweetness , so smooth on the palate

MF-ok carbonation , medium body , a very easy drinking beer

Ov-good beer , plain must mean good to Porterhouse Brewing

sampled alongside 'An BrainBlasta' & 'Oyster Stout'

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 06:11:16 | More by LampertLand

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Strong, smoky aroma has notes of coffee and molasses and a hint of unsweet chocolate. Pours a dark-chocolate brown with a VERY thick light tan head, lets a peak of light in only at the very bottom. Lip-smacking flavor has caramel, molasses, coffee and unsweet chocolate notes with a hint of hop bitterness and another of honey sweetness; the last two balance each other nicely. Body seems to be on the thin side, and fizz leaves a bit to be desired. Overall, though, a good Porter - not really plain.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 02:45:08 | More by Cyberkedi

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque very dark reddish brown (almost black) in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall creamy beige head that exhibits great retention properties and very slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a couple of small thick patches and a thick ring at the edges of the glass.

S: Light aromas of roasted malts with some fainter notes of burnt malts.

T: Moderate flavors of roasted malts, dark malts, and almost burnt malts give this beer a very rich flavor. There are light amounts of bitterness.

M: Lighter than medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Smooth, moderately creamy, and moderate amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: Very enjoyable and very easy to drink with the light amount of bitterness and very pleasant roasty flavors and smells. Very enjoyable mouthfeel with the smoothness.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 16:08:01 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear but very dark reddish brown in color (black when viewed from afar) and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high creamy light beige head that has good retention properties and consistently left a thin head covering the surface and a coating of bubbles down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of roasted malts in the nose.
T: From start to finish, the taste has flavors of roasted malts with notes of dark malts and is accompanied by a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, quite smooth and a little creamy on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation. The roasted malts lend some dryness to the finish.
O: While this beer is light-bodied, airy and easy to drink, it doesn’t shy away from packing in a good amount of roasted malt flavors. I also found the smoothness and creaminess of the mouthfeel to be rather enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 02:37:50 | More by metter98

xterra48

Rhode Island

4.23/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Just had this twice on tap at The Porterhouse at Fraunces Tavern in New York City (@ Broad st & pearl st). A dark black porter with a beautiful inch of rich head formed of tiny bubbles (nitro). Smell is slightly acidic and alcoholy. The head is as creamy as it looks and the dark malty notes of the mid-body perfectly balance the richness of the porter. There is classic British hop bittering and tasty minerality to the finish. In short this is the best porter I have ever had. If you are in lower Manhattan you should definitely try this amazing beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-13-2012 05:53:09 | More by xterra48

Eramen

Ireland

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark brown with rouge around the edges. Head is quite big for a few minutes then retreats to large suds around the rim of the glass.

S - A pleasant roasted aroma, cola, candy, heavy on caramelised sugar/brown sugar and even some rose flower.

T - Taste is just as sweet as the nose and much of the same flavor. I get prunes, other dried dark fruit, caramel and brown sugar. There is some roasted elements but the sweet notes mingle heavily with it, and not really in a bad way.

MF - Medium bodied and very little carbonation to be had here, perfect for dispersing the sweetness of this beverage.

O - A decent beer, one that I've found to be much beter in the bottle than on nitro-tap as it's served in the Porterhouse bar, and since I live near the brewery, it's one I sample often!

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 17:39:40 | More by Eramen

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.13/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330ml bottle.Pint glass.Enjoyed on may´11.Pours brown in color.Close & dense beige froth creates a lasting crown.Roasted malt & cocoa aromas. Coffee at first sip.Dry bitter mouthfeel. Quite flat flavors.Medium body,correct carbonation.Black chocolate notes on the aftertaste.Ok as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 20:34:29 | More by GONZALOYANNA

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Showed up last year for the first time ever, I think their pull tab caps are pretty interesting I've never seen anything else like them. I had the Wrasslers XXXX Stout and Porterhosue Red last year, neither were stellar but both solid in their own regards. Here's the Plain Porter, forms a dark cola coloa nearly opaque let's reddish ruby highlights shine through around the edges. Billowing tan khaki head forms nicely with big chunky layered lacing. Aroma almost dirty earthiness with dark dry roasted nearly burnt malts coming through, maybe a hint of lingering butterscotch well hidden in the matrix. Nice cereal grains entrenched within the malts going on feeling very natural and well developed within the true Irish brewing tradition. As it warms up a nice cocoa powder tone arises along with some layered complexities that weren't initially there as it warmed up. Flavor is dry throughout, alcohol flavor more evident than it should be in a beer that's literally 5.0% abv. I'm not sold on the flavor the hops used in the bittering additions are over the top it doesn't let the malts and semi sourdough bread tones shine well enough. Dark roasted mint/herbal tones hidden in the earthy complex dark chocolate tones. Mouthfeel is fuller bodied with enough balls to stand up to any American stout or porter. Overall a classic drinking Irish beer that should be more widespread than it currently is, these guys aren't extreme for the sake of being extreme, their just trying to be flavorful with all of their styles in a mass market Guiness/Murphy's/Beamish driven culture.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 22:03:03 | More by WVbeergeek

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cask-conditioned at the Porterhouse, London
Served in a nonic tumbler.
It pours the deepest cola color with a bubbly tannish, beige head and loads of lacing.
A sweet molasses malty aroma rises at once. A mellow citrusy limey smell is in the mix.
Tastes of coffee, toffee, chocolate and faint citrus and fruit all mix nicely. A mild hint of white rum is noticed.
This is a delightfully approachable porter. Velvety smooth and highly drinkable.

Serving type: cask

10-14-2011 16:25:50 | More by BeerResearcher

thierrynantes

France

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (33 cl., BB 8/2011) bought from "Le souffleur de bières" in Nantes and tasted in 2011.

Appearance : black color, with tan foamy head (w nice lacing).
Smell : roasted malts, and coffee aromas.
Taste and mouthfeel : roasted flavour of chocolat and coffee, bitter and dry finish.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Irish Dry Stout.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 17:03:32 | More by thierrynantes

atis

Finland

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle from Riga, Latvia, 5% ABV

Pours black with tan head that slowly fades, patchy lacing. Aroma is light roasted malts, some floral notes.

Taste is sweetish and bready dark malts, hints of coffee, roasted bitterness in finish with light spicy hops; light sweet malt in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is thin, low carbonation, feels a bit watery.

Overall, quite drinkable and reasonably tasty stout, but I would prefer if it would be less sweet.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 18:14:23 | More by atis

jlindros

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Ebenezers.

Pours a fluffy dark Belgian head, sticky lacing, almost pitch black.

Nose has roasty chocolate malts, light dry Irish like stout, some oats, little biscuit malt, chewy dark malts, coffee, hint of creamy nitrous like.

Taste has creamy oats, hint of nitrous creamy dry Irish stout like, some chocolate and hints of baker's chocolate, bit of roast, drinkable porter, some bitterness from charred roasty malts and hint of earthy hops, light spicy hops, hint of nutty and aged malts.

Mouth is med to a bit heavier bodied, creamy with dec carb.

Overall not bad, nice creamy flavors, dry finish, nice hops, but roasty, overall pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2011 00:56:08 | More by jlindros

digita7693

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Porterhouse (both central and temple bar).
Trying out a few different stouts, trying to find a good replacement for guinness, and I definitely found it.

A wonderful dark stout with a solid creamy head that lasts the entire time

S roasted malts, slight coffee smell

T this is what I want in an Irish Dry Stout. dry, creaminess with a hint of sweetness followed by a nice coffee presence and bitterness

M excellent. dry, creamy mouthfeel

this is what guinness should aspire to be

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-01-2011 08:24:27 | More by digita7693

Northsider

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Fountainhead Chicago. I think I've found a new replacement for my Guinness taste.

A - Thickest, foamiest head I've ever seen! Dark brown body, almost black...red at the bottom of the glass. Probably one of the prettiest beers I've seen in a glass.

S - Smelled of roasted coffee

T - Taste of slight hoppiness. Coffee comes out strong in the aftertaste

M - smooth smooth smooth

O - A new frontrunner for Dry Irish Stout. Too bad I can't get this everywhere.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2011 18:20:26 | More by Northsider

AEK

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330ml brown bottle poured into a Hobgoblin pint pot.

A. A clear brown beer with a deep red tinge, topped by a slightly tanned, foamy head.

S. Wet cardboard and sadly not a lot more.

T. Chocolatey and slightly woody. Some light fruit notes and a dry, bitter finish with a little liquorice too.

M. Medium.

D. A below average porter that really disappointed me. I was hoping for much more.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 12:45:41 | More by AEK

JohnnyChicago

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On nitro-tap at the Porterhouse Central; poured into a tulip pint.

A: Deep ruby with a tight nitro head; looks just like a Guinness.

S: Nothing much here, a bit of coffee and a bit of hops.

T: Again, nothing too defined. You can taste the roast and a bit of hop bitterness, but everything is just too subtle to really pull any flavour from.

D: Although the alcohol is nowhere to be found, at 4.3% ABV, that's hardly a great accomplishment. Too boring to order a second.

Overall: I know they were attempting to make a classic Irish Dry Stout, but that's no excuse to make something boring. This beer is a bit too thin, watery, and close to the macro stuff to praise it. Grab a Wrasslers XXXX; the name in "Plain Porter" speaks for itself.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-18-2011 15:10:41 | More by JohnnyChicago

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

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

A: Small, creamy head. Translucent red-brown. No bubbles. Good lacing.

S: Neutral. Some roasted bitterness if I really search.

T: Very nice, but not overwhelming. Perhaps a tad warm (which would be my fault -- I let it sit for a while). Thinnish but vibrant hops hold hands with vaguely chocolatey malts; expertly balanced. The aftertaste is thing and more bitter than not.

M: Only moderately substantial, but well-carbonated. Pleasant but not special.

D: Perhaps were it colder, I would have liked it more. Still, a very good porter and recommended who all porter-lovers.

Notes:
Grain -- Pale, Black, and Crystal malts; flaked and roast barley
Hops -- Galena, Nugget, and East Kent Golding

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2011 01:59:01 | More by AgentMunky

kojevergas

California

1.98/5  rDev -48.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A: Poured on tap in the Porterhouse pub in Dublin, Ireland. Pours a one finger head, with a nice bubble show akin to that of Guinness. The usual tripartite cream>tan>black colour that slowly becomes all black. Looks very appealing.

Sm: Light scent of many notes, but the roast note I'm used to in good stouts is missing. What is there is good, but there ain't much.

T: Cream on open turns to an oddly balanced porter without the usual stout roast taste and a strangely empty finish. "Plain" indeed.

MF: Too smooth, too wet.

Dr: A flavourless porter that isn't worth its high price.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2010 16:40:56 | More by kojevergas

jikvig

Norway

3.33/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this at the Porterhouse in Temple Street

This guys really like their creamy foam, not a big suprise with all the Guinesse going around in the town...
Not the biggest of porters, and it feels unbalanced, like a coffee mocca with water.
And that is not a compliment

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2010 08:17:51 | More by jikvig

nickfl

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - A small, medium-brown head on top of a dark brown body with amber highlights and good clarity. The foam has excellent staying power and leaves nice lace.

S - Sweet malty aromas of caramel and toffee. A little candy sugar and just a hint of dark chocolate.

T - Sweet, bready malt up front with dark chocolate and brown sugar notes. Smooth, dark bread character in the middle that is complimented by a rising note of molasses. Finishes with some coffee like roast notes and balancing malt bitterness as well as a strange, lingering spicy note that burns in the back of the throat like ginger or licorice.

M - Medium-thick body, moderately low carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Complex and unusual. There is a nice roast quality that is complimented by complex caramel malt flavors. This would make for an interesting and drinkable beer by itself, but the spicy notes in the finish really put it over the top and make it something special.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2010 05:59:30 | More by nickfl

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle bought from Beerritz.co.uk

Poured pretty black with just a hint of brown around the edges when held up to the light. Tan head poured pretty bubbly and frothy then faded quickly to thick wispy covering... some light lacing...

Aroma - Coffee and dark chocolate mix, lots of roasted malts with a slight hints of smoke and leather, sooty traces, tobacco notes, some cola traces, some brown sugar sweetness, very faint dark fruits - some plums and blackcurrents...

Taste - Very nice lightly roasted chocolate malts mixed with cappuccino notes, again some light smoke / peat notes, light dark treacle sweetness, some roasted / burnt nuttiness, earthy some vanilla, plum and date fruitiness, light sourness, faint rosemary herbal notes...

Feel - Smooth with just a hint of sharpness underneath... medium / full bodied... Very drinkable at only 4.3%...

Overall - A very good porter... recommended..

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 10:53:43 | More by mdagnew

bbarrows

District of Columbia

3.33/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Clear, dark brown color. Light tan thick head from a nitrogen tap.

Slight roasted malt aroma, thick head would mask most aroma.

Roasted malt dominates, with a crisp and dry hop finish. Light malt finish.

Thick mouthfeel.

Easy drinking, but nothing too special.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-03-2009 02:09:23 | More by bbarrows

Yeastcakes

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brewpub near Trinity College
Serving notes - served cool, imperial pint glass, nitro tap.
A - Clean aroma, no noticeable hops. Some doughyness.
A - half-inch nitro head, dark body that shows up ruby red around the edges.
M - Light carbonation and body. Smoothness from the nitro head.
T - Light chocolate notes with the expected roasted malts.
D - Nice sessionable porter.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-10-2009 22:47:43 | More by Yeastcakes

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on April 21, 2009 at the Porterhouse Brewing Company, Dublin (Temple Bar):

A: The beer appeared a dark, opaque black with a thick, dense, creamy, dark tan head that lasted the entire beer.

S: The smell was of dark roasted malts, a hint of coffee and a little sweetness, but very well balanced.

T: The flavor of the beer was really well done; it had a very well done roasted malt flavor with a hint of coffee and a hint of sweetness, just like the nose. The beer left a very slight bitter and smoky aftertaste, but it certainly was not a put off.

M/D: This is a very drinkable stout, rich, creamy and full of flavor. A very nice example of the style that dominates Dublin and one of the better ones at that.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2009 20:24:59 | More by PhillyStyle

TommyW

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Opaque black with a lasting off-white head.

S- Subtle overall. Sweet, roasted malts are all I really notice.

T- Deep-roasted malt character with some almost burnt notes. Slight, pleasant bitterness toward the end.

M- Creamy and smooth with a light carbonation.

D- Very well-balanced. Easy to drink a few of these.

Overall, a great representation of an Irish stout. I like the Wrasslers 4X and Oyster a little bit better than this one, but it's still an amazing brew.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-25-2009 16:49:06 | More by TommyW