Mesquite Smoked Porter - MSP - Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling

JMad

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a bomber of this at the local beer store.

Pours a very dark brown, almost black color with a gigantic, marshmallow looking light brown head. Smells like a bonfire, lots of woodsmoke with a hint of molasses in the background. It almost tastes like brisket in a way. The flavor is overwhelmed by smoke and wood and it has an earthy hop background. It's medium bodied with perfect carbonation and a nice dry, lingering finish.

This is an excellent beer and I'm glad I finally tried Ranger Creek, been keeping track of them for awhile but never got a chance to try their beer, I'm glad I did.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:32:59 | More by JMad

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Holy smoke! Literally.

This almost comes off as a rauchbier at first. All the smoke and stuff calm down off the initial hit, but it certainly sticks around. It's very distinct and unique, but kind of keeps the beer on a one-track theme. The thick malts on the backbone of things takes a backseat to the smoke. Also too, this thing seems almost out of control with carbonation. It went into a goblet and was still 3/4 foam. And the bubbles really hit the mouth too. It's a pretty good beer. Could definitely use some tweaking if one wanted to refine it. But as it sits now, it's a fairly decent production.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 04:27:11 | More by RblWthACoz

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.19/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Consumed 3/31/13

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this beer

Appearance: I am reluctant to call this black, since it's a porter, but it's definitely black - black, perhaps with some shades of brown - big, fluffy, light tan head that doesn't quit - chunks of lacing

Smell: Smoky, in a very nice, very woody way - more like smoked beef jerky than liquid smoke - decidedly BBQ - some burnt, roasted tones, and char - chocolate malts, with some sweet chocolate - some general sweetness in the background, including some black licorice

Taste: Remarkably balanced, especially considering the delicious smoke - smoky, burnt, char, with some charred, smoky wood - some really nice malt flavors to back this up - chocolate malts, dark chocolate, and some burnt sugar and toffee - at times this kind of tastes like someone put a cake on a charcoal grill - lightly sweet, and kind of savory

Mouthfeel: Medium body, crisp carbonation, smooth, pretty clean

Overall: Can I put a piece of bacon in my snifter?

This is quite tasty. It's smoky in a very flavorful way, without tasting like an ashtray. The malt profile is quite interesting on its own, and I would love to try some other variations of this.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 18:03:49 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.76/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Almost straight black with some dark brown at the edges. Pours with a good-size dark khaki head. Creamy with decent retention. Eventually drops to a small, tight bubbly, cap and collar.

Smell: Burnt and smoky. Lots of mesquite and smoked wood. Nice malt profile hits chocolate, cocoa, and some darker fruit. Smoky sweet. Some char. Old fire pit. Some clean yeasty undertones. Slightly grassy in the back. A nice thorough smoked profile. Some grainy coffee as well.

Taste: Liquid barbecue potato chips. Distinct spicy sweet mesquite smoke. Very smoky without being cloying. Some backing malt sweetness pushes some caramel sweetness. Hints of dark cherry. Woody with some grassy elements. Some char and burnt malts. Some baker's chocolate and super stale, old coffee. Grilled and charred. Warming smooths out some of the rougher smoked edges.

Mouthfeel: A bit on the thin side with an above average carbonation. Bubbly and mostly smooth. Clean smoky finish.

Overall: Silly Bobby Flay, you can't grill beer...oh wait, yes you can.

Smoky without being meaty or overbearing. A weird sensory experience as mesquite usually means barbecue chips, but the lack of syrupy sweetness helps keep that distinction. A bit thin for my taste, but delightfully unbalanced with a nice use of smoked malt.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 18:02:48 | More by Goblinmunkey7

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.91/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pretty darn nice looking. monster head that just wouldn't go away and stuck heavily to the glass topped an otherwise midnight black brew.

Aroma was heavy on the mesquite smoke and light on most other attributes, but there were some dark fruits and burnt/roasted malt notes.

Taste was a bit more balanced but was still heavy on the smoke, along with roasty/burnt malts, a touch of very dark fruits (figs, raisins, dates), and a tinge of coffee/chocolate.

Drinks more like a stout than a smoked porter, pretty full body with a lingering dark malt, smoky aftertaste.

For smoked beer lovers, definitely try this one. As a porter it's a bit stout-like but there's enough overlap where many beer drinkers could enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:20:08 | More by AlCaponeJunior

vickersspitfire

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Freed the beer from its bottle and got a thick tan head made out of a mixture of micro bubbles and larger atomic bubbles all forming a nice creamy head surrounded by a thin lacing. The body itself is dark, even when held up to the light, no other colors come through. The aroma is light, but mild chocolate and figs smells come through. Raisins and banana bread are also present. The smokiness does present itself throughout but it’s not overwhelming Chocolate and roasted malts are well represented here, apple, figs, pears and grapes also pop up here and there. I have to admit that this one was a little more bitter than I expected at first, but the bitterness does calm down as it warms up. The smoked mesquite stays with you even after you swallow.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 17:16:27 | More by vickersspitfire

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into pint glass; batch 10, bottled 9/19/2012. Pours fairly clear almost pitch black color with a nice 2 finger dense and fluffy tan head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a lot of streaming carbonation. Aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malt, smoke, coffee, apple, pear, wood, smoked meat, light floral, and light roasted earthiness. Pretty nice aromas with good balance and complexity of roasted notes; but it is definitely infected, but it is not that terribly offensive in the aromas as it warms up. Taste of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, smoke, wood, smoked meat, light char, floral, light pepper, and roasted earthiness. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, smoke, coffee, smoked meat, light char, wood, floral, light pepper, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted notes and smokey flavor; with a great balance of malt/smoke; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and lightly crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice smoked porter. Luckily the infection seemed to only be noticed in the aromas. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted malt and smokey flavors; and very smooth to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:55:35 | More by superspak

Ranz

Texas

3.66/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Wow--I tipped my Duvel tulip rather steeply and poured slowly, and this thing still created a massive head. Frankly, it's pretty ridiculous, but I found it endearing. The lacing is thick; it clumped on the glass, and a circular mound on top maintains composure despite everything happening around it. Color is pitch-black, thick with viscosity.

S: Hints of cayenne pepper, malt, and obvious mesquite-smoked wood abound. There's not a whole lot of subtlety here, but it knows what it is. It leaves a really lovely aftertaste.

T: Vanilla, chocolate, and smokey barbecue are the plate du jour. I could definitely see this paired with a robust red meat cut and some hearty mashed potatoes. Using this for a marinade could probably do some wonders, too.

M: A nice, milky quality gives this some smooth character. It's a great sipping beer. With some warming, it really opens up nicely.

O: Not bad at all. While I wouldn't go out of my way to have it again for drinking, this would provide an incredible nuance to marinated meat destined for the grill. I'll pick it up again for that reason.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:21:01 | More by Ranz

HardTarget

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark brown glass shows some light through the edges giving a soft glow. Holds a tan head of tight head that gives some lacing.

Smell: Smoke comes through in the nose without a problem, smells a little BBQ, but that just may be my association with mesquite. Some sweet malt and slightly barrel sour gives some complexity and depth.

Taste: Goes a little lighter in flavor than I expected, more toward a Black lager than a Porter. Again, the woody smoke comes through at a nice level, firmly there without overwhelming everything else. Balance between the roasted malty sweetness and smoke doesn't let any hop flavor through.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a low carbonation level. Slick and dry at the same time, a nice trick.

Overall: A milder package than I expected, but what's here is good! Smoke level is very nice, this is a complex sessionable beer that hides any trace of flaw or alcohol. I'm impressed, hope to see more Ranger Creek about!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 00:21:24 | More by HardTarget

TexIndy

Texas

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a pint glass. Bottled date of 5/31/12 and Batch 9 clearly marked on front label (love that!). It was a dark brown, almost black, with deep mahogany edges. It had a good sized tan head that slowly settled into a good collar and covering foam. Good, quick sliding lace with a little sticking.

The aroma was cured meat, mesquite, dark roasted malt and a bit of coffee. Very good aroma and similar to a rauchbier. The taste follows the aroma with the smoke giving a great taste without being overpowering. Good sweet and bitter offsets from the chocolate and coffee flavors. There was a metallic taste that did distract a bit though. Mouthfeel was medium with good carbonation and a nice aftertaste.

Overall, a really good smoked porter that I recommend. My first Ranger Creek - looking forward to trying more from them. Available here in TX obviously. Rotation - would love to try on-tap. For bottle, I can see getting it every so often when the smoked mood hits [SF]

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 13:04:17 | More by TexIndy

mdfb79

New York

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I popped the bottle and went into the living room for a minute, and when I came back a few oz's had slowly gushed out of the bottle, so be careful. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into my Cigar City tulip.

a - Pours a very dark brown, almost black color, with one inch of dark tan head and moderate to high carbonation evident.

s - Smells of smoke, sweet dark fruits, roasted malts, some chocolate, and leather. Very smokey, and the sweetness is a bit odd.

t - Tastes of smoked malts, bacon, roasted malts, cream, bitter chocolate, coffee, toasted malts, light fruits. Not as sweet as the nose, much better in my opinion.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and creamy; pretty nice body.

o - Overall a pretty average smoked porter. I wasn't a big fan of the nose as it seemed a bit odd and sweet, but the taste was better. Wouldn't seek it out again but worth trying if you love smoked beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 23:20:41 | More by mdfb79

ChadQuest

Illinois

2.3/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Batch 5. Bottled 6-1-11

I start to crack the cap and this thing sprays everywhere, a ton of psi in the bottle. I set it in the sink and come back a few moments later.
In the glass this looks dark brown, opaque and hazy, really murky.
The aroma is smokey, barbeque mesquite, smoked wood, wet ashy wood.
Flavors are not overpowering as i thought, the smokey flavors are decent, this is really woody though throughout the whole beer, everything is inoculated with damp saturated wood. keeps reminding me of burning houses i've been in.
Not any carbination left, the gushing took it all out. Mouthfeel is thin. Dont know if the psuedo-infection did this or not, i'd assume so.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 01:00:07 | More by ChadQuest

elNopalero

Texas

5/5  rDev +32.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I think I might prefer this one more from bottle than the tap. Something about the bottle conditioning that just took my enjoyment of it to a whole ‘nother level.

This poured a solid jet black with a tightly compacted, thin layer of foam.

I get a roast aroma with some smoke. Flavor is big and smoky, but never one-note as there’s a roast complement to it that rounds it out. For such a smoky brew this is surprisingly smooth and mellow. I like my smoked ales like I like my Scotches—I enjoy ‘em all. Tho if I had to I might be plagiarizing from their advertising description here but I think velvety is an apt description for the mouthfeel. It’s that smooth. Absolutely fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 22:41:19 | More by elNopalero

fatmcb1

Texas

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 007 Bottled 11/10/11

Pours a dark brown, almost black color. A massive, 4 finger foamy tan mess takes over the snifter after a modest pour. Very little sediment.

Smell is very smokey with an underlying chocolate and roasted malt aroma.

Taste is even more smokey, reminiscent of barbecue. The porter characteristics struggle to come out from the overwhelming smoke flavor. There is chocolate, and also some semi-sweet bitterness towards the end.

Beer remains well carbonated with a solid creaminess and a lighter body.

In reading reviews, there seems to be a major inconsistency from batch to batch. The beer I had was highly carbonated with a foamy head that took forever to go away. Other have reported flatness and tons of sediment. The inconsistency is a shame considering the solid smell and taste of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 02:40:59 | More by fatmcb1

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 08/25/11, batch 006

Appearance:
Very dark brown to black with a thin, tan blanketing. The head is thick and fluffy right after pouring, thick enough to provide some generous lacing, but eventually falls flat.
The body appears cloudy in the light, but it's hard to determine if there is sediment.

Smell:
A light rauch smokiness with a touch of roastiness as well. I can't tell right off the bat that this beer is "mesquite smoked," but it's definitely smokey and a little leathery. This is definitely a beer best served slightly warmer than their recommended 45 degrees.

Taste:
A tad sweet and chocolatey, smooth with a very distinct smokiness that I've never experienced before. I really like the combination of flavors and after a few sips, everything blends quite nicely. There really isn't too much spiciness, but there is a little bit that helps balance out the rich, velvety smokiness.

Mouthfeel:
Very smooth and drinkable beer with a solidly medium body and interesting contrast from the modest alcohol, potent woodiness, and complimentary spiciness. The aftertaste is quite an intense woodiness, which makes this beer distinct and interesting.

Overall:
This was a pretty tasty beer! I would have liked to try it paired with some bbq, but it was good with some 5-year gouda. I would probably not drink this beer in a bar...it's really meant for pairing with food in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 00:11:06 | More by ThePorterSorter

Beertracker

Oklahoma

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Ranger Creek's Mesquite Smoked Porter is currently "hand" bottled which probably accounts for all of the trub (sediment) at the bottom of the bottle, but it makes the package very unappealing nontheless! MSP takes the patience of Job to pour & pours up with an overabundance of yeast & hard sediment with a low carbonation that creates a smallish khaki-brown head that barely manages to sustain itself over the brackish jet black body. The smoky aroma is unmistakably mesquite with its hearty, pungeant Texas BBQ character that carries along with a heavy roasted maltiness that comes across as slightly acrid/burnt. Unfortunately, some of the milky yeastiness comes through with an acidic, breadiness that spoils the peppery finish. The flavor starts of with some initial sweetness from the caramel malt then carries into a charred roastiness from the chocolate & black malts with hints of burnt ends/brisket, cayenne pepper, cocoa powder, leather & tobacco that carries into the slightly acrid, bitter finish. This medium-full bodied smoked porter is wonderfully smoky, but overly astringent (chewy) and bready from being bottled with so much yeast & sediment. I think this one is probably much better on draught, so I'll definitely be seaking it out on my next trip to Texas Hill Country. Afterall, everything's bigger in Texas... keep up the good work Ranger Creek!

CHEERS! Beertracker

*Trader's note: Many thanks to wolffman17 for the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 19:58:37 | More by Beertracker

CooperEllis

New York

2.98/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz into 8oz tasting glasses, split 2 ways, twice. Batch 005, bottled June 1, 2001.

Very cloudy pour, hazy, muddy, thin bubbled. Not very bright, not particularly appetizing.

Aroma: Rich malt, layered mesquite smoked characteristics.

Flat taste. A touch watery. The first sip is all smoke and by the time this is coating your mouth the underlying porter simply doesn't stand up. I don't know if I would drink the porter alone, thus the sub 3 rating. This would likely be excellent pair with something, a complementary flavor. However, as a standalone sipper, this isn't up to snuff.

It's a bit watery, which may be a blessing. If it where more full bodied I believe the smoke would be the only flavor. Some carb issues as well, this bottle gushed over even after an 8oz pour was taken.

The first in my Texas box that I haven't enjoyed. While I'm reviewing it here first, I need to type my reviews to two other Texas beers that were solid.

(154th)

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 15:54:40 | More by CooperEllis

eclipse54

Idaho

2.42/5  rDev -36%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A 22 ounce bottle from turfy that I received for winning his "Taste of Texas LIF" a while back. Bottled on 06/01/2011, batch 005, and reviewed from notes taken 09/30/2011.

Gushed a considerable amount upon opening, and what was collected had a Crayola crayon brown color with a chocolate milk sheen to it. About an inch of foamy, khaki head develops. Aroma is of chipotle, charred wood, meat, campfire smoke, anaheim peppers, chile, and faint cocoa. Lots of smoke and spice. It tastes of chipotle, smoke, pork, a strange beef sausage, cocoa, dirt, and chile. A significant amount of wood as well, giving it the flavor of wood fired meat. Mouthfeel is sticky, dry on the finish, has ample carbonation, but lingers for a considerable amount of time with a potent aftertaste. Overall, this wasn’t my favorite beer and isn’t one I plan on revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 20:10:49 | More by eclipse54

suspect

New York

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Batch 007, bottled 11/09/11. Thanks to miikezombie for the secret santa hookup! Poured into my fancy new Jester King stemmed glass.

A: Pours deep dark brown with some light escaping around the very edges of the glass. Averagely aggressive pour leads to a huge 2.5 finger light tan fizzy head that took minutes to finally fade leaving sticky slug-trails all down the sides.

S: Was expecting a lot of smoke in this one from the name but it wasn't there really at all. Picked up a lot of toasted chocolate malts and some slight hoppy notes as well as some plum and fig notes to sweeten it. It has a very nice, steady smell that invites for a nice big swig.

T: Not a lot going on here. Toasted malts, nice smoke flavor, especially at the end of the swig. Nice flavor.

M: Lots of carbonation going on. Over-carbonated. Creamy coating leaves a lingering aftertaste but not anything that makes me want to grab for more immediately.

O: A pretty average porter. Not terrible, not great. Could have definitely used more of the smoke in order to live up to the name. I was glad to have tried it but will not be clamoring to get this one again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 04:37:46 | More by suspect

Phelps

Arizona

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by ottovon, this is batch 001, bottled 8-25-11. Poured into Russian River stemware.

Burnt mahogany, amber at the edges. The liquid’s thin as cola, with a head that continues in kind. Big and quickly fizzy, fading from its brown sugar color to a thin layer of light tan.

Oh yeah. Perfectly smoky aroma — you can really get the mesquite. It makes me crave Texas barbecue. Beneath the smoky top layer I get oats, bitter chocolate crumbles and an impressive amount of dark fruits — maybe raisins and prunes.

The flavor takes the acrid, smoky char a tiny step too far. Dark chocolate and a bit of fruity tang and to the bitterness, but it corrects a second after the finish, when oats round it out. Nice smooth blend, all in balance.

Fairly fizzy and a touch over medium-light in body. The overactive bubbles pack the mouth with air as the beer moves. Light, prodding carbonation, with nary a hint of alcohol.

This smoked porter’s a smooth, tasty blend of smoky flavors. Not too ashy, nicely chocolatey and fruity. Would be great with a steak.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 22:53:43 | More by Phelps

bmwats

Louisiana

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured from 650 ml bottle into a tasting snifter

a: dark brown or black. pours about a 1 finger, foamy, brown white head. settles fairly slowly leaving a persistent beer ring and a thin layer of foam. persistent lacing.

s: mesquite smokiness is extremely prominent. a little cocoa in there, too.

t: peat, black licorice, and oak.

m: robust body, smoke permeates the entire palette.

d: great sipping brew, but smooth and laid back.

great atmosphere. dark with a nice head, and persistent lacing. nose is pungent and smoky. combination of bitter and pungent components. very woody and smoky. overall, this is a really good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 22:00:19 | More by bmwats

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to duff247. 22oz bottle poured into an imperial pint glass.

Pours a deep brown color, almost black. Looks to have a bit of a body to it as it comes out of the bottle. A massive light brown head develops before settling in as a creamy looking tan foam cap. Not much lacing as the foam slips back down the glass to meet the head, but the retention is exceptional. Really nice looking beer.

The nose is extremely smoky and is detectable before the beer is even poured from the bottle. Really heavy char and some woody aromas are here as well. It really is all about the smokiness though.

The taste follows along with the nose. Hugely smoky flavors, some light wood and really strong, slightly bitter char. It's pleasant at first but sort of runs its course after a glass.

The mouthfeel is a bit thin, which is surprising considering how the beer looked going into the glass. The carbonation is lively, which is also surprising, but probably contributes to the thinner mouthfeel.

This was an interesting and unique beer. More smoke than porter. The aromas and flavors aren't unpleasant but they do wear on the palate after a bit. If the smoke could be dialed back a bit to let the porter characteristics come through more this beer could be great.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 02:49:37 | More by ms11781

omnigrits

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap in a straight pint glass.

A. Seriously dark with no light coming through, even around the edges. Very good pale tan head.

S. The smoke comes in straight away, and it's that unmistakeable mesquite smoke aroma. Hints of bacon too. This isn't breakfast though, and the beer character is asserting itself with some very porter-y chocolate smells.

T. Much less smoke in the taste but it's still there. The beer comes through more here. Definitely not a sweet porter - there's a pleasant bitterness in the finish that I think comes more from the roasted malts than from hops.

M. Medium bodied, very light carbonation. Pretty smooth all round.

O. A really nice porter which, I can see, might not be for everyone. I've had other similar porters which barely pay lip service to the smoked part of the beer. This one brings it front and centre, especially when fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2011 02:36:06 | More by omnigrits

lackenhauser

Maryland

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Nice black color. Quite foamy and fluffy head on top. Metallic and almost blood like aroma. Faint smoke coming thru. Strong roasted flavor with a somewhat espresso like tinge to it. Enough smoke to be noticed but comes across somewhat astringent and sharp. More of an off flavor then smoke to me. Body is fairly thin and really lacks any kind of "umph". Overall somewhat "bleh" for me. I can't even give it decent marks for being a porter. Have had their IPA and double IPA which were great-will not be deterred by this experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 00:41:40 | More by lackenhauser

ehammond1

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle

Thanks for sharing, DarthKostrizer!

Dark brown and nearly black with a thick, persistent brown head and leaves splotches and lines of lacing down the glass. Gorgeous!

Insanely smoky aroma: this is like walking in to the pit at your favorite barbeque joint. This smells of smoke, and delicious, charred, fatty meat.

Boldly smoky flavor, though interestingly so. This tastes like a combination of campfire and smoked, fatty pork skin--quite incredible for a beer, though it ends up seeming relatively simple after multiple passes. There's also a bit of sweetness lingering at the end.

Medium to thick mouthfeel with just a bit too much carbonation per the style.

An interesting, tasty, and boldly smoky porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 22:00:15 | More by ehammond1