Viven Smoked Porter - Brouwerij Van Viven

BDIMike

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a jet black color even when held to the light. There is very little carbonation, but a big thick dark tan head puffs up at the pour on sits on top of the beer throughout.
Smell is of good chocolate malts smells. I normally dislike smoky beers, but this already smells better than most I have had. A very nice smoke smell that does not overpower the other smells.
Taste is great. The smoke taste is a great undertone to the beer. The beer is dominated by strong chocolate malts and dark fruit tastes, too. The smoke enhances the beer as opposed to overpowering it.
Mouthfeel is very nice. A smooth, silky feel. A medium thickness.
Drinkability is the best I have ever had in a smoke beer of any kind. I am not a smoker and don’t get into many foods or drinks that are smoked. I really enjoyed this beer and because of the undertones of smoke, I could really drink a lot more of this beer than any other smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 20:23:15 | More by BDIMike

GRG1313

California

4.25/5  rDev +6%

03-06-2013 06:04:38 | More by GRG1313

AngusOg

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

03-04-2013 18:32:42 | More by AngusOg

oberon

North Carolina

4.19/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours nearly black except for some dark brown through out the glass when held to the light,a great looking thick beige head atop that left multiple rings of broken lace as it settled into a frothy mass.Smoke and a tinge of iron starts out the nose, a light molasses element as well to give it a little sweetness, but it's still quite dry.The smoke is on the lighter side flavor wise with some unsweetened chocolate and brown sugar flavors coming into play.As the beer warms the sweetness is magnified and it gets a little sticky but the sweetness is never to big.A really nice smoked porter,all the flavors come together really well.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 23:02:19 | More by oberon

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-20-2013 16:43:39 | More by JohnK17

mendvicdog

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-16-2013 03:35:15 | More by mendvicdog

ctwinne

3/5  rDev -25.2%

02-01-2013 23:29:54 | More by ctwinne

Resuin

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

01-25-2013 06:23:08 | More by Resuin

beerhorn12

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +6%

01-09-2013 02:20:57 | More by beerhorn12

Bung

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz. quite a dark pour, a thin layer, pretty much just a ring of very light tan.

Aroma, dry cocoa and roast malt. Some charry smokey notes/

Taste, a faint tart plum up front, quickly goes to dark chocolate and roast malt. Some coffee and big cocoa finish. A little earthy anise. Smoked malt, if there is any, is very mild.

A little lighter in body and a slightly above average carbonation make this seem a little thin, but it coats ok. Drinks very easy as well. Alcohol is quite hidden.

Advertised as a smoke beer by the label, but really just a nice porter. Would get again.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 01:23:31 | More by Bung

beergoot

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Black bodied; very thick, creamy light tan head. Nice balance of smoked malt with other malt grains; gentle. Seems nearly light in body; smooth yet sublimely rich; clean. Dark, roasted taste with complimentary beechwood smokiness; nice bitterness. Hints of chocolate and dark roasted malts.

My initial taste was pretty outstanding, yet subsequent mouthfuls paled in comparison. Still, a pretty darn good beer for overall. Nice balance, fair complexity in the flavors. A good find...

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 23:55:49 | More by beergoot

womencantsail

California

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood Brewing

Dark brown color with an off-white head. Moderate smokiness on the nose with roasted malt, a touch of toasted nuts, and some coffee. Maybe a hint of chocolate on the nose. The flavor is sort of watery. A touch salty and nutty along with the smoke. Mild meatiness. A little bit of bread flavor, too. Not really very impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 20:00:12 | More by womencantsail

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, dark, near black with creamy cap of khaki froth. Leads with moderate notes of smoke before roasted malts, chocolate and light fruityness present themselves. Smoke note muted in taste, solid malt profile with heavy roasty, avoiding char, nice fruityness blends with chocolate and coffee notes, earthy. Medum bodied, smooth with a touch of grainyness. Solid smoked porter which could use a touch more of the smoke.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 14:13:43 | More by rfgetz

javahead71

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -0.2%

07-28-2012 23:34:36 | More by javahead71

Supergenious

Michigan

4/5  rDev -0.2%

07-25-2012 02:33:09 | More by Supergenious

ste5venla

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

07-12-2012 19:35:41 | More by ste5venla

ncvbc

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-24-2012 03:05:03 | More by ncvbc

GrindFatherBob

New York

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-22-2012 12:41:29 | More by GrindFatherBob

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml, Rare Beer Club selections May '12
DFH Signature Glass (split between two people)

A: Pours a deep black color from the initial appearance. But then you see some reddish hues around the edges as it thins. Two full fingers of tight bubbled frothy head. Not a ton of alcohol feet as its lower ABV. There are some lacing bits.

S: Really mild smoke note. Nothing to agressive. Some chocolate hints. Maybe some char, roasted notes. Espresso. Maybe some plum.

T: Dark chocolate bitterness on the tip of the tongue. Then you get some nice roasted smoke character. Mild, nothing artificial. You get lot of dark chocolate. It's very smooth for a smoked beer.

M: Medium bodied. Not quite full. Very carbonated, helps make it more drinkable

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 15:06:06 | More by inlimbo77

tripledbrew

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-17-2012 16:19:43 | More by tripledbrew

tdm168

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to jtd1969 for sharing this one.

A - dark brown with a thin brown head that has little retention

S - roasted malts, hickory smoke

T - roasty, woody, smoky, faint chocolate

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a pretty decent beer. It has an intense smokey aroma and flavor but it also has a solid malt character that matches nicely. It's easily drinkable and there's little palate fatigue. I'll definitely try to have this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 02:17:34 | More by tdm168

kmo1030

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours an attrsctive dark brown with a moderately sized creamy khaki head.
the aroma is of smokey cocoa powder with dark roasted malt, also some dark plumminess and black cherry.
the smoke is integrated very well, it blends with the pervasive chocolate and slight fruit acidity. finishes dry with moderate bitterness
the mouthfeel is very soft and smooth with finely textured carbonation.
overall, way above average porter that really nails the nails it's smoke dimension.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 01:28:14 | More by kmo1030

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 ounce bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch frothy tan head that stays around a while. There's a good amount of lacing, too. The aroma is very nice, it smells like smoked meats/malt, chocolate, and some burnt/charred malt. Taste is similar to the aroma, but it's not quite as smoky. It tastes like smoked malts/meat, bittersweet and milk chocolate, burnt/charred malt, and some coffee. There's also a smoky and burnt/ashy bitter finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth and slick with a good amount of carbonation. I think it's a good brew, I'll have to try some of the other Viven brews now! $3.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 22:51:42 | More by bluejacket74

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-06-2012 23:56:48 | More by djrn2

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A new smoked version of their porter... Poured from 750 mL bottle into shaker pint glass.
A: Pours an extremely dark roasted brown--to the point of no light coming through with backlighting--with 1 inch dark tan head. Fair retention with good and lasting lacing.
S: Wonderful and strong Rauchbier aroma. Wood smoke predominates with secondary notes of dark roast coffee and dark chocolate. Hints of belgian yeast and citrus emerge from the background. An intoxicating smell.
T: Surprisingly, and actually pleasantly, subdued compared to the aroma. To drink something as strong as the aroma would be a task. Nice balance of wood smoke, dark roasted malt (nearly charred), grains, mildly sweet malt, espresso, dark chocolate, and a note of chalky minerals. Long, lingering, and maturing flavor profile. Good complexity.
M: Initially smooth and slightly sweet, quickly transitioning toward dry and mildly bitter (think how your mouth feels after sitting around a campfire for a couple hours), and finishing with an alternatingly chalky and creamy feel. Medium body, but the alcohol is well hidden.
D: I love how the olfactory experience is different, but complements the gustatory experience (I enjoy a good strong wood smoke aroma, but drinking that is a different matter entirely). A tremendous and special brew...although I come to expect this from anything touched by De Proef. Love the Flemish take on a smoked porter. Seek it out if you can!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 05:18:21 | More by mwilbur