Oyster Stout - The Porterhouse Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After removal of the cap by the exceptionally cool pull-ring... translucent reddish nut brown with a massive crown of caramel nougat colored foam. The head sticks around forever and does a pretty good job decorating the glass.

The nose is gently roasted and cocoa-like, with the 'discernable, yet unidentifiable notes' of oysters, as seen on the label. Couldn't have said it better myself. It's subtle, though, and won't turn off anyone who doesn't like the thought of bivalves in their beer.

Oyster Stout isn't explosive on the palate, it's just a well-rounded, well-balanced, tasty ale. Porterhouse calls themselves 'Ireland's Largest Genuine Irish Brewery'. While size doesn't imply quality (as we all know given what's most popular in this country), these guys pretty much nailed the Irish dry stout style with this one.

Specifics include bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee beans, an ale yeast fruitiness, and more hop flavor-bitterness than expected, courtesy of Galena, Nugget and East Kent Goldings. The oysters... still discernable, yet unidentifiable. This is delicious beer that is helped by being fresh; hardly a given since it's from across the pond.

The mouthfeel is just big enough for the ABV (4.8% on the website, 5.2% on the label). It manages to develop a hint of smooth creaminess as it warms, which is as much as can be expected.

Porterhouse Oyster Stout is wonderful beer that comes in an attractive package. It was probably too expensive for regular consumption, but this little 330 ml bottle is quite the treat. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 11:27:02 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

2.55/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: The pour is a very dark brown color with a decent sized tan head.

S: The nose is fairly roasty but not all that impressive. A bit of chlorine and salt, and perhaps a tad metallic.

T: More of the same in terms of the flavor. What flavors are there are watery and bland and not all that enjoyable. Slightly roasted, salty, and a bit of a mineral quality.

M: Fairly light in body with a a similarly light carbonation to it.

D: What is it with this brewery? I've had three beers from them, none of them resembling anything enjoyable. Oh well...

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 04:04:16 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to my father-in-law for bringing this bottle over. Poured into a goblet.

The color is dark brown with a half-finger head that recedes quickly and leaves just a touch of lace around the glass and a bit of white film on top of the brew. The aroma is interesting. I smell something a bit different, though I couldn't say it is oysters. (It probably doesn't help that I've never had oysters.) Very mild chocolate and a hint of roast.

The flavor exhibits some lightly-bitter chocolate characteristics as well as a light earthy note. Some slight roast is there as well. Something a bit off that I cant quite name. The body is a bit light with carbonaion toward the lower end of the spectrum. Finish is quite dry. Drinks fairly well. Definitely interestidry

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 23:48:24 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.73/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a humble-looking, black body with a foamy, sudsy head with a very, very light beige hue to it.

Smell: Not picking up any briny seaside notes, just fairly light notes of roasted malt, chocolate powder, and licorice. All light, mind you.

Taste: Faintly sweet very minimal chocolate character with a roasted grain flavor garnering a light flourish of acidic astringency. Hint of licorice. Modest bitterness. Powdery mineral taste like taking in a mouthful of chalk dust. Drying on the roasty finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium-light carbonation.

Drinkability: "Little oysters, little oysters?? But answer there came none." Lackluster flavor that leaves much to be desired with some nearing watery aspects to it make for a very hohum experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 22:33:33 | More by ChainGangGuy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A soothing and genuine Irish Stout that is the Stout version of down home cooking. Though the intrigue about the beer revolves about the 'oyster' namesake, this aspect of the beer has little impact on the beer, if any.

Dark, dark brown (might as well call it black) with a creamy/liquid lightly tanned head that forms on the beer with light retention and lacing. A good look but not outstanding.

The aromas lead with a good amoun to roast that rounds out the scent of coffee grounds, walnuts, and bitter cocoa nibs. Muted aromas of caramel, malted milk, and vanilla give a subtle and sweeter/creamier note but is complimentary and never shout for attention. No evidence of hops, oysters, or phenoics anywhere and only a mild fruity ester component deep in the aroma.

Flavors of roasted coffee beans, cocoa, burnt walnuts, caramelized apple, and chocolate malt (think Whoppers candies) make a nice and blended/complex taste to start. After the initial flavors subside, the minerally/salty/briney taste comes into play but in a subsidary role and never in a primary role. Outside of any conotation of any oyster addition, I would have simply attributed any difference to mineral additions if anything.

The mouthfeel is silky, simple, and velvety until the mid portion of the texture where the mineral feel makes the beer acidic, scrubed, or raw while leads to a rougher finish to the beer than I would have liked.

Generally a good flavored Irish Stout but without the smooth creamy texture and taste that is expected for most Irish Stouts. This one adds that minerally/briney taste that is as interesting and alluring as it is distracting.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 03:39:59 | More by BEERchitect

metter98

New York

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is essentially jet black in color. It poured with a two finger high creamy light beige head that has excellent retention properties, consistently leaving a head covering the surface and lots of rings of bubbles down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of roasted malts in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of roasted malts but also has some hints of briny oysters.
M: It feels light-bodied, smooth and very creamy on the palate with some dryness in the finish.
O: The addition of oysters makes this beer unique and having it on nitro tap definitely improves the appearance and drinkability.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-15-2011 03:22:38 | More by metter98

WesWes

New York

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark brown/black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a dry roasted malt scent along with a bit of caramel malt sweetness and a yeasty zing. The taste is decent. It has a bone dry roasted malt flavor along with a black malt bitterness and a hint of caramel malt sweetness. It goes down easy with a weird tang that I can't pinpoint. Oysters/Yeast esters? The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a solid dry stout. I'm not sure what character if any the oysters contribute, but this is a tasty beer regardless.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 23:08:30 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark brown-orange color with a large tan head. The aroma is roasted malt and some briney saltiness. The flavor is roasted malt with some hop bitterness. I also get some chocolate and some salt. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 02:39:31 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet black color with a one-finger, cream-colored head. The head lingered for a while and receded with minimal lacing.

S - Very roasty aroma. Mild chocolate notes and yes a slight aroma that I assume is the oysters. Almost smelled like some delicious scallops from Sycamore.

T - Again, strong roastiness with chocolate and that oyster flavor. Oyster flavor has some smokiness, too.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

D - This was interesting. Like a smoked Irish Dry Stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 00:51:48 | More by zeff80

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a really nice deep black color with a nice thick tan head on top. The smell of the beer is a little on the light side, smell something like a Guinness with the roasted malts and such. The taste of the beer had a nice sting to it, not sure how else to explain it. It's roasted and has this strange bite to it. The mouthfeel is kind of oily but not heavy. Overall it's a pretty interesting stout and would totally drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 23:25:06 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft at Fountainhead, from nitro-tap.
"Not suitable for vegetarians"

Served in a large snifter, this stout appeared to be almost all foam at first, until a closer inspection revealed a slow-motion reverse cascade effect. It was really something to behold. The nitro gave the foam that impossibly creamy texture, cappucino foam over the black coffee colored body.

Aroma was clean, mainly roasted barley, with some sweet tobacco in there that surfaced in the taste also.

Deeply bitter & roasty flavors, nice mix of mild hop character (Galena, Nugget, East Kent Goldings) and bitter bakers chocolate, with that tobacco note in the back also. Smooth, creamy, and very drinkable.

About the taste of actual oysters ... there's nothing briny, salty, savory in there at all. Even if they do throw a handful in the barrel, it seems that it's just for show. That ultra-smoothness is a result of nitrogen...

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-18-2010 14:26:55 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.65/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap pint at Beachwood BBQ, my first true Oyster stout, this is definitely not Kosher,

A: Pours a dark mahogany with a fizzy off-white head, fair retention, muddled look. Not the best looking stout in the world, but I don't care with how good it tastes.

S: Dark roasted malt, hint of fruit/cherries.

T: The dark malt is great here, but the oysters are adding another dimension. There's a hard to define fruity character with a bit of saltiness. Great bittersweet ~ 60% cacao chocolate. Incredibly tasty and not heavy at all.

M: Smooth, medium-bodied, very easy drinking.

D: My favourite of the day at Beachwood. This is delicious complex stout. Very tasty, this place is a must visit if I'm ever in Dublintown. Get a pint and go back to the 1800s with this beer. Probably as close as you can get to a stout from Joyce's day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2010 22:46:01 | More by Halcyondays

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

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had a bottle with my dessert panino at Tria. With the extra strength and body (compared to other Irish stouts), this beer came off a bit more like an English stout. I suppose that body could be from the oysters. Anyways, the stout had a lot more earthy and herbal taste than most, but it was still capped off by black roasted grains. Overall, this beer was interesting, delicious, and a great way to cap off a meal.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 02:50:29 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Similar color and alcohol level to their Plain Porter, this is a deep ruby color almost black color with a light tan head forming thick and leaving behind dwindled/scattered lacing. Aroma has a salty brine to the herbal mint dark chocolate notes between the dark roasts and various hop varieties. Flavor is muted with dark bitter chocolate notes and a sea salt finish that actually works with a soft calcium ion infused water source. The only beer that's good for your bones, any oyster stout. The most well blended version of any of their beers I've had I'm really interested why this drinks so well this will kill an Irishmen especially at proper temp and serving technique, of course that would be cask. Fine drinking beer fine easy to gulp texture with ample flavor abound finishes lightly dry but not bittering hop pellet dry. Cohesive flavors and excellent beverage marry in my glass I'm ready for a whole four pack how expensive were these freakin' beers?

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 22:43:17 | More by WVbeergeek

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

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

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This looks really interesting, direct from Ireland, thanks a ton Optimator13 for something I've def never had before.

A really interesting ring to pop open the top, which pops with a decent "fwop". It pours a light fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades slowly despite the small stature, with a slight bit of lacing, it just proves its not always the size, but how you use it. The beer itself is very dark molasses brown that makes light tough to sneak through.

Nose is lighter, a bit of dark malts, slight chocolate, hint of dark crystal, bit of roast and very slight briny like aroma.

Taste starts fairly dry, a nice dry Irish stout for sure, light roast and bit of chocolate, roasty with hints of coffee, fairly bitter though, a bitterness combined from the roasted malts and hints of a light grassy and just a touch of earthy hop addition. A very slight gritty feel and touch of minerality lead to that slight briny taste, bringing that oyster thought into play. Finish continues it's dry spell, but doesn't destroy the palate, just cleans it; some light lingering earthy and burnt malt bitterness, and slight gritty feel still.

Mouth is medium to a slight bit heavier bodied, a bit gritty but dry, and decent carbonation.

Drink is decent, fairly sessionable, no booze, a bit earthier and more bitter than I expected but not bad, and that strange gritty and light briny taste that flashes oysters in the mind. An interesting beer to sample.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 02:45:51 | More by jlindros

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a one finger off-white head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Black color, no highlights. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Very faint oyster nose. Flavor is mostly burnt chocolate, hints of oyster. $3.99 for a 330ml bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 22:06:17 | More by jdhilt

mdfb79

New York

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap tonight at Rustico in Ballston, VA.

a - Pours a black color with one finger if creamy off white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of roasted malts, toasted malts, chocolate, and light coffee. Not really getting any oysters in the smell.

t - Tastes of roasted malts, oysters, chocolate, toasted malts, and smokey malts.

m - Light to medium body and low carbonation, smooth and creamy body.

d - A decent oyster stout. Not my favorite, but worth checking out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 03:41:49 | More by mdfb79

Zorro

California

2.9/5  rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Curious pull-tab cap on bottle, it gives the curious sensation of launching a grenade in your kitchen.

Brown colored beer with a small off-white colored head. Very light for the style.

Smells dry and full of patent malt. There is a curious perfume smell here; best guess that is the oyster. Faint soapy scent.

Starts out dry and full of patent malt. Light and highly carbonated I can’t say I can taste the oyster. Just taste patent malt no sea or oyster.

Mouthfeel is light.

Overall this was a hell of a disappointment! Paid $20 for a four pack but this beer isn't worth $4 for the four pack. Avoid this turkey!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 23:18:07 | More by Zorro

DoubleJ

California

4.58/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a 330 ml bottle. This is the first time I've seen this in Orange County. On to the beer:

Into my Guinness pint glass, the beer is dark ruby brown in color with ruby red hues. The light density of the head means more of it, and lots of lacing, along with its head being long lasting. There's unsweetened chcolate in the nose with a very light roast to it. There's somehting else, oysters? It smells more like mint to me.

The flavor isn't complex, but the quality of it is. It tastes like a semi-sweet chocolate mint drink. Again, why am I tasting mint? I must be mistaken it for something else. Overall very appealing to say the least, and not burnt like other dry stouts. The beer is light bodied, and the carbonation doesn't get it the way.

Much different from any Irish stout I've tasted. It may also be the best I've tasted out of Ireland. Outstanding!

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 03:24:24 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta.

Pours a dark brown color with ruby highlights and two fingers of off-white foam. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of slightly roasted malts with a good amount of mineral aroma that I've learned to identify with oyster stouts. The "oyster" part of this beer isn't over the top and actually plays nicely with the mild roasted malt aromas.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Smooth yet muted roasted malt flavors kick things off with a hint of darker black malt underlying everything. Shortly thereafter solid amounts of mineral flavor enter into things along with very small amounts of unsweetened chocolate. All of these flavors carry through to a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I don't have a whole lot of experience in the style but this is one of the smoother ones I remember having. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 01:02:49 | More by glid02

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted this beer by half-pint recently at the Covent Garden branch of Porterhouse pub.
A: the appearance is just like their XXXX Stout, almost black though slightly lighter in the silhouette when seen against light. The creamy and frothy head leaves very very fine sheets of brownish lace around the side of the glass. Flawless--for a nitro-tap poured beer.
S: lightly herbal flavour of hops and roasted dark malts on the nose with lots of similar elements of XXXX Stout, but it smells much lighter.
T&M: a hint of sea-water kind of slightly salty flavour comes through with a creamy texture of roasted malts--slightly smoked but also refreshing along with "floating" hoppy presence on the palate. Lightly savoury-sweet finish on top of residual, low-level bitterness of dark malts. Overall it's medium-bodied and medium-flavoured, while its creamy smooth texture is not compromised by oysters but apparently thinner than XXXX Stout. It could be more dark malty and roasted bitter to be really flavoursome, but I can imagine that it pairs well with fresh oysters all the same!

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-30-2005 17:11:11 | More by wl0307

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

- Once again love the ring pull cap and the shiny reflective labels.

A: Black in the glass with a creamy soft moocha colored head of 1 finger statue that reminded me a lot of their wrasslers porter which I had the previous night. A very similar experience except the lacing stuck a bit better this time around with a near full spongey band.

S: Soft fresh rostiness, with a soft scent of onion grass. The nose is a bit softer this time around but exhibits much the same character with some juicy black fruit and a golden spiciness. I was expecting however something a bit more saltier and roastier and perhaps some mention of oysters would have been nice.

T: A bit thin substance wise, weak store bought coffee with a Schwarz like feel and roastiness, falls a bit short character wise per style. The bitterness is strange, the spicy nugget and east kent hops try to come out but is mooted and covered up by the roast and is muddled.Earthy roast bitterness is only dominantly on the finish. Lacks the salty and oyster character I was hoping for, really tame with an overall decent flavor , but lacked the character and nature per style and a safe play.

M: Again nothing spectacular, softy rosty character with tiny effervesce bubbles and a milky feel and consistency.

D: As far as oyster stouts go this was disappointing, hardly worth a repeat or recommendation. Slightly dry, but not as bold in flavor as its label. Will get a few hits from the curious, but hardcore oyster stout drinkers should pass this by as a beer with training wheels.

End beer musing: im pretty sure this and the wrassler is the same beer recipe with the exception of the addition of the oysters and a slight tweak of hops. though this comes off a bit muddled flavor wise. my average expectations derive from the lack of oyster content which i was looking forward to.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 21:09:47 | More by beerthulhu