Mesquite Smoked Porter - MSP - Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling

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

zillo043068

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-19-2013 23:54:29 | More by zillo043068

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

jl28r1

Texas

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-10-2013 00:49:10 | More by jl28r1

rph97

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +19%

05-09-2013 22:29:37 | More by rph97

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

Meleah

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -14%

04-28-2013 21:16:17 | More by Meleah

strib

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

04-28-2013 21:09:42 | More by strib

JohnBender

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-24-2013 00:19:21 | More by JohnBender

vcoggins

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-04-2013 01:31:45 | More by vcoggins

stampfler07

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-02-2013 01:43:26 | More by stampfler07

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

Ford

Texas

3/5  rDev -20.6%

03-26-2013 22:01:20 | More by Ford

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

Ted

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

03-12-2013 23:47:52 | More by Ted

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

tswater

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-18-2013 02:08:19 | More by tswater

Azzy

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-07-2013 06:20:34 | More by Azzy

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

Dogzbone

New York

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-01-2013 17:49:40 | More by Dogzbone

phishbone23

New York

5/5  rDev +32.3%

01-25-2013 13:54:07 | More by phishbone23

Jspriest

Maryland

4/5  rDev +5.8%

01-22-2013 01:12:20 | More by Jspriest

weonfire

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -20.6%

01-19-2013 23:23:54 | More by weonfire