Oyster Stout - The Porterhouse Brewing Company

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.74/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Starts with a moderate head but it lasts and leaves plenty of ring lace with each sip. Ruby brown color where light passes easily.

Mild aroma of chalky darker malts. No coffee or even dark chocolate.

This is mild stout, perfect for introducing neophytes. There's a good blend of black patent malt and white pepper-like hop. The body is richer than most stouts. The carbonation is also high. There's a touch "band-aid" to the taste. The swallow has excellent balance of malt and bittering hop.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 17:22:03 | More by smcolw

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

4.04/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Purchased a 330mL single for $3.49 at Carl's Meat Market in Kittery, Maine. Nice beer selection they got there, hadn't been there before, wandered in on a whim. Oyster stout is one of my favorite styles and they're not very common, so I rarely pass them up. Funky pull-tab cap on the bottle, poured cold into a standard tulip.

A: A hard pour generates 3/4" of sticky, puffy, marshmallowy light brown foam. Retains pretty well and leaves a thick sticky layer on th glass as it slowly settles. Brew is nearly pitch dark, but a ruby red glimmer when held to a light indicates that it's pretty clear. Thick creamy layer endures for a long while after the head finished settling. Like a nitro tap for crap sake. Merangue or marshmallow. Really impressive head.

S: Robust dark roasty starchy malts, mild molasses sweetness, much fuller than I expected from a 5% brew. Distinctive savory brineyness from the oysters, nice and more robust than a lot of others, a good sign. Notes of chocolate syrup, tobacco, and smoke. Excellent!

T: Mild but complex, not nearly as robust as the smell. Feels like the flavor is really concentrated in the nose with little transfer to the taste. Briney notes with a good bit of herbal hop cuts through the dark stuff and gives it a thin flavor. Hop develops a strong lemony edge toward the end, hitting especially strong behind the tip of the tongue and in the back of the throat. A little buttery diacetyl hits the same parts as the lemon. Finishes with residual herb hop and a bit of caramel.

M: The feel is pretty thin and clean, nothing like the appearance implies. Carbo is crisp but not sharp or overpowering.

O: This beer is completely bipolar. The appearance and smell are huge, thick, robust. Then the taste and feel are thin and timid. Rather an odd combination of traits.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 02:14:25 | More by BeerNinja007

popery

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From notes on 3/21/11. Pours a transparent reddish brown with a smallish tan head. Some lacing persists.

Aroma is mostly roasted malt with some acidic fruitiness, a cold coffee note and a bit of chocolate-y, caramel-y malt. The caramel presence grows as the beer warms. No real oyster flavor, except perhaps a hint of brine, which may well be the result of perception bias.

The beer is a bit underwhelming in the taste department. It starts off with some fairly weak caramel sweetness, transitioning to a bitter coffee/roast flavor. The aftertaste is actually rather nice, as some good coffee/dark chocolate flavor lingers.

Carbonation is fairly low. Pretty good body for a ~5% abv Irish stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 05:23:13 | More by popery

Brenden

Ohio

3.64/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Stout it is, and appropriate: not a crushing Americanized version, but the look you'd expect and hope for from an Irish Dry straight from the source. Some brown highlights sneak through at the edges, and a tan cap of head rests on top. It offers reasonable retention and a pretty good volume of patchy and spotty lacing.
It's mostly roast in the nose, with a bit of some sweeter elements (caramel, a touch of vanilla) that's more those notes than the sugary aspects of them. A bit of a metallic element comes out, likely from the oyster, though it's not outright evident. A lightly tangy element (a factor of the roast?) sits underneath.
There's little sweetness in the flavor, but a choking dryness is avoided pretty skillfully considering what would be necessary to balance those elements. Otherwise, the taste is the same as the smell, and that metallic note is ever present.
The feel is good, appropriately full-bodied but not a huge American bruiser, nor should it be. It's mostly dry but might lean a touch gentler than some. There's enough smoothness at first, though it gets a little tough in the texture toward the middle.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 20:29:41 | More by Brenden

czechsaaz

Washington

3.86/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

One of those breweries I've heard a lot about but never seen their product until now. Guess some WA beer distributor thought it would sell for St. Pat's. So here goes.

Nice roast aroma. Black Barley and coffee notes with just a little fruity yeast ester.

Dark. Just like you'd expect, dark. Nice long lasting half inch head that's not quite white but not tan either. Looks exactly like a glass of stout should.

Funny, tastes like a stout. Full of roasty bitterness and hop bitterness balanced by sweetness of malt. But roasted malt is the big flavor. It's got all the bold roast flavor of a quality stout without any astringent or burnt flavors like some stouts. Also, I've had oyster stouts where you can really taste the ingredient. Here, there's something in there that sets it apart from what you might be used to but if you didn't know, you wouldn't be able to put your finger on what it is. A subtle added bit of complexity.

Not as big bodied or as creamy as other stouts. The carbonation level is more lively and aggressive than the two 'famous' Irish stouts.

It's a very nice well balanced beer. I don't think it is so different that it would convert your average industrial stout drinker but it's every bit as good. I like the little guys so I'll get it again. Need to get back to Dublin some day so I can try this fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 06:49:45 | More by czechsaaz

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.11/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 11.2 oz. pull tab bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark blackish brown with hints of amber. Lots of rising bubbles and a huge four finger light tan head. Good retention and lacing around the glass.

Smell: A very creamy and sweet dark aroma with fruit and a kick of oyster. Dark roasted malts with hints of cocoa, coffee, cream, milk, caramel, toffee, grains, and yeast. Hints of the salty oysters come through giving an ocean like scent. Fruit hints of dark cherry, raisin, plum, and fig. Fairly earthy with some hints of floral and grassy hops. A pretty interesting and nice aroma.

Taste: Follows the nose with a creamy and sweet taste of roast, oyster, and dark fruit. Roasted malts with a taste of chocolate, coffee, creamy milk, grains, caramel, toffee, yeast, and smoke. The oyster taste is pretty noticeable giving a fairly salty, mineral like taste. Notes of dark dried fruit including plum, dark cherry, raisin, and figs. Some earthy, grassy hops provide some balancing bitterness. A pretty good Irish Stout taste.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a fairly high level of carbonation. Very creamy and somewhat slick. Finishes fairly dry.

Overall: A pretty good Irish style dry stout. Good roasty flavors and a nice kick from the oyster.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 05:11:52 | More by MattyG85

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.16/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Porterhouse Brewing 'Oyster Stout' an Irish Dry Stout @ 5.2% served from a 330 ml bottle with the somewhat annoying pull tab bottle caps purchased for $3

A-pour is dark brown/almost black in the glass with a good size off white head that leaves large spotty lacing along the pint glass

S-salty ocean surf after a storm , some sweet smelling floral/fruit hints

T-smooth tasting smoked oyster's on the shell , almost sweet tasting , smokey , salty , creamy

MF-thin viscous medium body , low carbonation , dry roasted finish

Ov-oyster thru out this beer but is never overpowering , easy drinking beer , yes I'll have another it's St.Patrick's Day , not the best Irish beer butt a damn good one

sampled alongside 'An BrainBlasta' & 'Plain Porter' also of Porterhouse Brewing

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 07:32:52 | More by LampertLand

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The color is dark brown with hues of red. The pale brown head is somewhat compact and leaves fantastic lacings.

S: Hard roasted almost burnt dark malts. Bitterhops and dark dried fruits, but not sweet. Quite some tobacco. Cocoa.

T: Very close to the smell, but also with smoked ham and some vanilla. Quite strong black coffee.

M: Aftertaste is short, the body on the thinner side while carbonation is mild.

O: Not bad, but not very exciting.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 19:45:15 | More by Sunnanek

Maltmaiden

Alabama

3.05/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Very dark brown with some amber. Clear.

S: Smoky, caramel malts, salty, tiny bit of floral hops. tobacco.

T: tobacco, caramel malts. salty. Some bitterness comes through. I keep getting lots of saltiness. Feels like i'm at the beach...savory though.

M: Thin. No carbonation. Bitterness stings the tongue.

O: Not sure what to make of this. This is the first oyster stout I"ve tried so I don't know how this does in the style. I did enjoy drinking it even though I found it salty.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 18:20:38 | More by Maltmaiden

atr2605

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours black with a tan head with good retention that leaves a thin lace
S-roasted coffee, caramel, unsweetened cocoa
T-more roasted coffee and some minerally taste, unsweetened cocoa in the finish
M-medium bodied
O-Oyster adds complexity and nice flavor with the roasted notes. Pretty solid stout

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 01:24:17 | More by atr2605

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Purchased at Nikki's Liquors in North Providence, RI.

A- Pours a very dark brown body with amber highlights. Leaves a small 1" head with little retention.

S- Coffee, toffee, dark chocolate. Not too strong, I really had to strain to get a good whiff.

T- Upfront I get a coffee, malty, caramel flavor that transcends into an indescribable sweet-chalky flavor. Interesting. It kind of works.

M- Medium carbonation, slightly watery. I'd prefer a little thicker for the style.

Overall and interesting stout with a twist. I'll admit that I've never had an oyster before, which is probably why I can't put my finger on the strange mineral-like note that's present in this beer. For the price, I'd recommend another oyster stout if possible.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 15:46:25 | More by gcamparone

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle, thanks to the anonymous rep (to me, at least) who left this for we discerning beer vendors. Another of those weird-ass pull-cap enclosures.

This beer pours a very dark chestnut brown, cola-highlighted colour, with two hefty fingers of rocky, foamy beige head, which leaves a complex pattern of chunky, disparate, honeycomb-esque lace around the glass as it evenly sinks away.

It smells of roasted, grainy caramel malt, a saltwater, ever so slightly seafood essence, some bitter cocoa notes, a prominent mineral character, and leafy, earthy hops. The taste is dry, grainy, lightly toasted malt, a strangely earthy, more than sea-borne meatiness, some powdery milk notes, a childhood chalkboard essence, and tame leafy, weedy hops.

The bubbles present as a low-fi burbling effect, the body a middling medium-weight, and smooth enough, I suppose, nothing really screwing with it. It finishes rather dry, the lightly toasted malt, and ethereal salmon smokehouse effect still lingering, some bitter chocolate and sassy weedy hops adding to the offsetting mix.

A quite interesting twist on the Irish Dry Stout trope, wherein the soft, dry roasted malt mainstay is gently nudged by some mild seaside characteristics. Enjoyable, surely, but more for the memory of Eire, than the promise of a current pub session, methinks.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:51:19 | More by biboergosum

ThickNStout

Georgia

1.65/5  rDev -55%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

330mL bottle from Hop City (Atlanta, GA). 4.29. No discernable bottling date. Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Pours a deep golden hued dark brown with a frothy two and a half fingers beige head. A good bit of lace anywhere that the head settles.

Aroma is strange and almost off putting. Sweet and sour malty. Not quite like anything else I've tried.

Taste is just as odd as the nose. Salty cheap bitter cocoa and something I can't identify. I want to say fishy/ oyster but that's most likely because I know it's an oyster stout.

Thin body with sharp carbonation. Long sharp nasty aftertaste. I know it's subjective, but nasty is about as accurate as I can describe.

As my first oyster stout, this proves that I can't unilaterally say that I like stouts. Apologies to anyone upset if I'm not rating "to style" but I just couldn't finish this. To me this was foul, weak, thin and devoid of merit.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 04:15:59 | More by ThickNStout

dogma46an2

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

sooo good. appearance was dark and rich, like midnight. the smell was decadent with robust malt roasted notes that had a hint of mineral trueness. taste didn't let anyone down, it had deep rich black notes of chocolate and tobacco with a slight finish of a fresh briny mineral note. the mouthfeel was solid and coated the pallet well. overall it was the best.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 02:58:47 | More by dogma46an2

BhamBeerLover

4.55/5  rDev +24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Overall an impressive beer and seemed true to style. While not in the least an Oyster Stout afficianado, I greatly enjoyed this beer and give it high marks. Slightly on the hoppier end from my taste buds but the mineral qualities seemed right on cue for this style. Will buy again anytime I am in the mood for a saltier sort of beer with good malt and hop qualities. Thanks Ireland and Porterhouse!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:53:17 | More by BhamBeerLover

JamesMN

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Very dark brown (and translucent when held up to the light). Thin light brown head.

Aroma: Soy sauce and some malt.

Taste: Light and decently malty. Sort of milky and chalky. There's really not much flavor here so it would pair well with food (i.e. oysters). Dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Between light and medium bodied. Above average carbonation and average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: A little disappointed in how thin and watery this one was. There just wasn't much to taste. Although there is an interesting aftertaste that I can't define. Would I drink it again? Nah.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 00:20:41 | More by JamesMN

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Grain: pale malt, roast barley, black malt and flaked barley
Hops: Galena, nugget and EKG

A: Deep dark ruby colour with a nice 1/2 inch head

S: Med roast, coffee and a hint of toffee

T: Bitter to malt well balanced ( I found it more bitter then malty and that is my preference) and it has a nice dry finish

M: Carbonation is med to high, cuts right in with food. Finish is dry

O: A well balanced stout. Carb is on the high side so I would have this with a rich greasy food (deep fried mars bar or deep fried chicken)

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 22:41:46 | More by Kremlock

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Interesting cap design. Instead of the traditional crown, it's capped with a form-fitting crown that is opened with an odd sardine-can type pull ring. I've never seen anything like this, I wonder if it has any advantages over the traditional crown. No bottling date, so I have no idea how fresh this is. I purchased it from a less-traveled liquor store, so it could be older than I'd like.

A: Pours a translucent black with hues of brown and ruby. the head is large, pillowy, and sandy colored. It has excellent retention, and a thick cap always adorns the beer. A thick veil of lacing coats the entire glass.

S: Roasted barley, espresso, dark chocolate, slight earthiness and acidity, hint of salty brine. A touch metallic. Perhaps some slight raisin/fig and a tight berry scent.

T: Roasted barley and a slight metallic taste. Acrid and smokey. Touch of cola and molasses. Mild burnt malt acidity. Hops interject briefly with a moderate bitterness and some grassy tastes. Minerals and salty brine mid-palate. Espresso and dark chocolate toward the end. Finishes with cola, brine, salt, and minerals.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied. Very full, creamy, and fluffy in the mouth. Subtle astringency. Mild carbonation lifts the body a bit.

O: There aren't a hell of a lot of oyster stouts on the market. This one is on par with the few that I've had. It could benefit from a bit more depth and malt character, but it's solid enough. It does seem that it would make a great pairing with some oysters.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 01:30:15 | More by ryan1788a5

chinchill

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

undated 11.2 oz bottle served in a Unibroue snifter.

Pours essentially clear but very dark brown with a smallish light tan head that has moderate retention and lacing.

Aroma and flavor: I have limited experience with oysters, but the unusual aroma and flavor is consistent a significant contribution from what I remember of raw or stewed oysters. Nonetheless, there seems to be a more pronounced flavor component attributable to some spicing (nutmeg?); this makes it seem to me like a "Winter Stout". Slightly more sweet than bitter, especially after some warming, this stout also has a hint of sourness. (T=3.25)

Mouthfeel: near medium bodied; crisp, lively carbonation, and a good bit of dryness in the finish.

Overall: a good and, in my experience, unique stout. {3.75} Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 22:09:49 | More by chinchill

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I do believe that this is the first "oyster stout" I have had to date. Or, at least, the first one in a very long time.

Unique profile. Flavor is interestingly inky. Definitely different. I like it. Very smooth feel. Carbonation is low and seems appropriate for the style. Interesting brew. I like.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 01:25:48 | More by RblWthACoz

Beaver13

Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

11.2 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with a medium creamy light tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is a bit subdued - sweet roasted chocolate malts.

The flavor is sweet chocolate malts, roast and maybe some salt with a dry, chalky, light bitter black patent malt finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and a bit watery.

Overall, an OK stout - sweet and dry.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 02:57:08 | More by Beaver13

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours an extremely dark brown bordering on black in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation near the surface. The beer has a finger tall light beige head that reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aromas of roasted malts with just the lightest hint of ocean/brine.

T: Light to moderate flavors of roasted malts with a light amount of brininess from the oysters.

M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth with light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: This beer is very enjoyable and really easy to drink - I have had this beer numerous times, though this is my first time reviewing it, and will continue to get this beer again. The flavor the oysters add is quite interesting. I love the very interesting opening cap - kind of a nifty.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 17:21:36 | More by dbrauneis

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Review from 5/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark brown opaque color with a thin light tan head and light lacing. Aroma of light toasted and caramel malt, dark fruit; earthy. Nice toasty malt with odd, but interesting mineral start. Malt middle and dry finish. Somewhat thin bodied. Interesting and different. Worth a revisit. I worry about the first guy who thought it was a good idea to put oysters in a beer. Guess it worked out though.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 21:01:40 | More by LiquidAmber

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

330ml bottle poured into a pint glass.

Towering two-inch head solidifies and laces in the glass. Very dark red-black body with a look of thinness.

Roasty, tangy, and plummy sweet in the nose. A little salty with some floral hops peeking out.

Strange overall flavor... sweet, malty, with a dash of floral hops. Not as fruity as in the nose, more of a powdered sugar feel to the sweetness. Maybe a touch of the briny. I must add, it's a little too sweet. And the roastiness is more subdued than would be expected in an English stout. Would work a lot better as a drier Dry Stout. I'd hardly assume the oysters in the brew kettle produced this much sweetness.

The feel is very smooth. Delicate with mild effervescence.

I'm sorry, but it's not much of an Irish Dry Stout. Not dry, at all. The oysters give it some flair, but it's mostly just indescribable flavors, as the label would suggest.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 03:49:39 | More by thecheapies

PorterLambic

Florida

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

Pours a dark, mahogany brown with very little light penetrating and none getting through. Big head of tan from the pour drops to a solid 1/2" with really good retention. Nice lacing, too.
Smell is toasted malt and wet cardboard with very light notes of hops, vanilla and perhaps pepper.
Taste is burnt toast, malt, whiskey, vanilla, perhaps some evergreen note?. Well balanced and decently complex.
Sadly, the weak area is the body. Somewhat less than medium, watery almost, though pretty smooth. Effervescence is on the light side but appropriate for the style.Drying. Aftertaste is an unusual mix of toast and whiskey with a hint of cherry and juniper. I like it. If the body were fuller I would rate it 4's across the board.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 19:10:42 | More by PorterLambic