One Eyed Jack (Black Jack Porter) - The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another great beer from the Brew Kettle, this one pours dark almost black with ruby/scarlet highlights when held toward the light. Thicket of tan head forms nicely with a scattered banded lacing pattern. Aroma has dark roasted malts and hints of coffee and dark chocolate with an air of underly fruit and herbal hops. Flavor has a nice big chocolate/nutty combonation going on. Also toffee and dark ripened fruit come about in the flavor with a bit of herbal hops. Complex porter nice girth being a robust porter, medium bodied moderate even carbonation levels going strong. I can't wait to try the rest of their beers, man I might have to visit the brewery again this summer.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 15:04:00 | More by WVbeergeek

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

At tap at the Brew Kettle.

Pours a dark brown color with a light tan head and a bit of lacing. The nose has a good roast character and a fairly-strong coffee presence. Really quite nice; a good in-between beer after going back and forth between all of their hoppy offerings. The taste has mostly coffee and roast as well, though the roast is quite a bit more prevalent and brings it a bit out of balance. The body is medium with a dry finish. Pretty solid and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2011 13:18:56 | More by Thorpe429

gford217

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Tifore for this bottle.

Pours deep chestnut brown, not quite black, with a small but thick tan head. Not much lacing.

Aroma is sweet with chocolate malts, roasted coffee and a bit of chalky bakers chocolate. Vanilla and dark fruits as well.

Taste is also sweet with lots of vanilla, caramel and chocolate malts. The toasted malts take a backseat to the sweetness.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated with a roasty finish.

This is a sweet porter with lots of chocolate and and a subtle roasty character. Really drinkable and, overall, a seriously tasty porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 03:15:53 | More by gford217

JamnesCameron

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Received this in the Black Booty BIF from drgonzo. Thanks Paul!

Poured into a Le Cheval Blanc pint glass.

Pours a deep ruby with a light tan head that drops after a few minutes to barely a wisp. Not much lacing.

Aromas of dusty roasted grain, coffee, and chalk. Some cocoa powder hints and anise.

Flavor of light anise, cocoa, mocha java, with a nice roasty bitter finish that is slow to fade. A little carbonic acid bite.

Mouthfeel is medium, with a prickle of carbonation. Roasted grainy dryness.

Overall drinkability is good. Makes for a decent sessionable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 00:27:25 | More by JamnesCameron

nrbw23

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- Pours a dark brown color with red highlights and a tan colored head. Head has ok retention and leaves some nice lacing.

S- Smell is pretty faint but still good. Roasted malts, coffee, darker fruits and chocolate.

T- Taste is really faint even weaker than the nose. Pretty disappointed how the label said robust and complex. The main flavour I'm picking up is stale coffee. A bit of sweetness but not a lot going on here.

M- Fairly light in body with a good amount of carbonation.

D- Not really impressed with this one. I'll be passing on this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 00:43:31 | More by nrbw23

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

"Black Jack Porter: A full bodied and complex cark ale with flavor notes of coffee and chocolate complementing its big malty character."

This is my first beer on this Super Bowl Sunday. I plan to imbibe in some Robust Porter homebrew after this. Pours from a 22oz bottle, reasonably priced at $5.99, into a Sam Adams imperial pint glass. Emerges a bit lighter than expected for a robust porter. Pours a dark maroon/purple color with bright ruby highlights and a smooth and creamy tan head. Bits of lacing are a nice touch. A beautiful looking beer indeed.

Aroma was a bit chalky with just a touch of coffee and no noticeable chocolate in the nose. The chalky aroma is kin to a dry stout aroma so maybe some cross-over is apparent.

Good flavors. I get much more of the coffee in the flavor and some generous notes of chocolate as well. The dark grains lend a bit of burnt toast. A good bit of dark fruits are present and make this one interesting.

Coffee in the finish, dry, rather light bodied. Too light bodied for my tastes. Good flavors here, but a little fruity for a robust porter, although the coffee in the finish is nice. Robust porter and stout always skirt some sort of imaginary line between each other and this one goes both ways at times. Solid enough for a second go-round.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 22:01:28 | More by SaCkErZ9

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 01/02/11 notes. Shared this one at a local DC tasting. Received as part of the Secret Santa BIF thanks to pwoods.

a - Pours a black color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of chocolate, vanilla, roasted malts, and light dark fruit.

t - Tastes a bit watered down, and of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and roasted malts. Not bad, just watered down.

m - Light body and low carbonation.

d - A nice porter, just a little thin and watered down in the taste. Would give another shot though.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 02:07:00 | More by mdfb79

Brenden

Ohio

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew is a dark brown with some clarity coming through at the edges and some lighter brown highlights. A tight head forms with good retention and lacing.
The aroma is roasted malts with perhaps a mix of some other malts and just a touch of hops. Light smoky, shocolate and coffee notes all come through with a touch of wood.
Mostly roasted malts in the flavor as well, with the same coffee, chocolate and smoky notes coming through with light touches of hops and wood. While this isn't a massive, in-your-face superbeast, there's no astringency that comes through here or the charred woods, making this a solid all-around beer.
The mouthfeel is nicely creamy, a good smoothness coming through to fill the mouth. While it's no monstrous stout, the body is pretty full and there's enough malty robustness to please.
This is a very good porter and well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 21:30:58 | More by Brenden

beerman207

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First let me say that I'm a fan of the Brew Kettle. I've had several offerings from them and I'm always impressed with the quality considering the low price. Great combination!

A: Pours a deep brown almost black with a nice tan head that doesn't stick around long

S: Nose is chocolate, malt, coffee, a bit of smoke, nice

T: Taste is like drinking a whopper - delicious - malty, chocolate, sweet mollases

M: Mild carbonation - could be a little thicker but then again it's a porter

D: Glad I have a bomber here on Xmas eve. I'm playing santa in a few hours so hopefully I don't drop any toys after finishing this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 02:23:22 | More by beerman207

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark brown with deep reddish notes. A decent amount of light shines through. The light brown head is decently sized, with a foamy and frothy texture. Retention is solid, and some respectable lacing sticks to the glass.

S: Firm notes of dark malt in the nose. Dark chocolate aromas are plentiful, with lesser roasted coffee presence also available. A mild underlying sweetness adds some depth with a light vanilla character. A light leafy hop note.

T: Moderately robust dark/roasted malt flavor up front. I get much more cocoa/dark chocolate flavor than coffee, although both are present. Some mild sweetness pops up mid-sip. I do still get a light lactic creaminess/vanilla flavor into the finish. A mild hop bite is nothing out of the ordinary.

M: Full-bodied. Smooth and creamy, with light carbonation. Light dryness in the finish.

D: A quality porter from the Brew Kettle. I'm digging the chocolaty flavor with a light coffee-and-cream vibe. Drinkability is good but never outstanding. Not enthralling, but well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 01:15:45 | More by Clydesdale

Beejay

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Dark brown with ruby hues as it is held to the light. a lovely soft tan head nestled on top. Plenty of carbonation crawled it's way up the side when I poured.

S: Syrupy with hints of roasted malt and molasses. Very nice.

T: Malty and roasty. There is a bit of a sweetness to this that works alongside a bit of a sour note. Something I am not particularly found of in porters. Though still good overall.

M: Fairly thin body, with quite high carbonation.

D: Good overall, but not something I would buy a lot of.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 01:15:44 | More by Beejay

steve8robin

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this in a BIF. 22oz bottle...

A: Super deep dark black with subtle ruby red highlights around the edges. A small 1 inch mocha colored head that fades at a decent pace. Good.

S: I get a nice roasty vanilla and hints of coffee upfront. Some roasty caramel in the middle with some faint black licorice on the backend. Good.

T: A nice roasty coffee upfront with some faint chocolate, vanilla, and cocao on the backend. Not much else here. Good.

M: Medium body with a great carbonation. Good.

D: Goes down very easy. Very good.

All in all, this is a good brew. Not great, but good to try if you have access. Don't bother hunting.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 03:45:25 | More by steve8robin

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Closer to burnt umber than jack-of-clubs black. In fact, the beer isn't opaque even with minimal backlighting. A semi-creamy crown of peanut shell colored foam does a pretty good job plugging the opening of the pint glass. Lace is respectable.

The nose delivers the usual dark chocolate and black coffee aromas of the style. Despite 30 IBUs, it doesn't smell like there are many hops in the house... which is fine. This has a chance to be solid beer.

Black Jack Porter is a pretty straightforward version of the style. That doesn't mean that it's bad beer, just that it isn't 'robust', 'full-bodied' or 'complex', as seen on the label. Then again, name more than a handful of 6.5% American porters that are any of those.

Specifics include charred cacao nibs, dark caramel, black coffee, and hints of citrus zest. Good sweet-bitter balance, slightly favoring the latter, especially on the back end. A light tanginess adds yet another interesting facet. This really is well-rounded, enjoyable ale of the roasted malty sort.

The mouthfeel is beginning to fill out a tad with warming. It's at least medium for the style and the bubbles help more than hinder. Don't drink BJP too cold or you won't experience it at its best.

The Brew Kettle does a very nice job with hoppy beer like Red Eye PA and Old 21 Imperial IPA. Black Jack Porter is just as good (even though it would be trounced by Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald) and is a worthwhile pick-up if you like well-crafted American porters. Especially at only $3.99 per bomber.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 12:24:54 | More by BuckeyeNation

JayQue

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good one! pours a dense brown color with no light coming through. Medium tan head. Average retention. Some spotty lacing. Enjoyed this one with mild cheese and crackers.

Smell is fairly mild. Mostly semi-sweet chocolate and malt. Tastes is good! Malty and semi sweet chocolate up front, more of a coffee taste after the beer warms up. Hops are not apparent but since the beer is not too sweet, I guess there is some balance here too.

first taste (a little cold) was a bit thin in the mouthfeel department. As it warms, it seems richer...in any case it is deceptively smooth for 6.5%

Drinkability is good. You could do several pints of this and enjoy them before you realized the strength!! Nice porter

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 20:50:15 | More by JayQue

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle, 6.5% ABV. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown with about a half inch light tan head. Head retention is good, but not much lacing left on the glass. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. Taste is pretty much just like the aroma, with the bitter coffee flavor being somewhat stronger compared to the others. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it does seem a bit light for the style. Decent carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's smooth and goes down easy enough. I think this is a pretty decent brew overall, not a bad choice for $3.99 a bomber. I'd buy this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 20:59:11 | More by bluejacket74

MrDanno96

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep brown color with chestnut hews and a thin off-white head. Some sparse lacing slides down the sides of the glass.

S: The typical coffee and dark chocolate aromas waft up from the glass.

T: Notes of coffee and a good amount of chocolate. The finish is slightly bitter with hints of burnt coffee.

M: Medium bodied with subtle carbonation. The body feels just a little too light as the beer warms.

D: Overall, a solid porter and at $3.99/bomber you can't really go wrong!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 02:57:19 | More by MrDanno96

LiquidCucumber

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark brown, nearly black. Has a small but creamy tan head that looks pretty good.

S - Surprisingly chocolately malts followed by roasty coffee. A touch of dark fruit.

T - A slightly chalky flavor that is beat to the background by the richness of the chocolately malts. A plethora of flavors exists here; raisins, coffee, earth, plums, soy, dates, and even a little cola. This is rounded out by a small hit of bitter spiciness from the hops.

M - Too light and carbonated to be a stout, but makes a mighty fine porter. Still creamy and sticks all over the mouth.

D - No need to share the bomber with a friend, it's easy to take on the Black Jack and come out a winner. Another hit for TBK!

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2010 05:24:20 | More by LiquidCucumber

jampics2

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into a snifter.

Looks great in the glass. Dark black with some caramel and red touches. White head lingers and leaves some nice lace.

Smell is outstanding. Roasted malt is the rule of the day. Chocolate and coffee, a touch of smoke, nuttiness, and some sweetness. It's almost like the mixture of the roast and caramel sweetness has made some sort of breakfast smell. Coffee, cream, bacon, and maybe even maple syrup. Amazing.

Taste is also great. Coffee and chocolate from the roast. Caramel malt as well. Sweet sugar and cream with the coffee. Some hops and lingering bitterness. Roast overwhelms a touch, otherwise, this would be among the best in the genre.

Mouthfeel is nice for a porter but lacks just a touch of finesse. A touch watery. I love the finish of Founders Porter and Great Lakes Ed Fitz, they have just a touch more substantial viscosity. Finish has lingering bitterness from the roast and hops. This is outstanding, well worth the $3.99 cost. Fans of coffee, porters, and stouts will love this. Another knockout from the Brew Kettle.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2010 19:03:25 | More by jampics2

palmdalethriller

California

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A good example of the style, but not outstanding. Roasted barley and chocolate fill the nose and the tongue. The taste is sweeter than I expected, with little noticeable hop presence except in the aftertaste. This fits with the style of course, but a little more bitterness to balance the beer could have been an improvement.

The body could have been beefed up a bit for a creamier mouthfeel, but the lightness did make it incredibly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2010 15:49:27 | More by palmdalethriller

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another reasonably priced bomber bottle from the Brew Kettle. Poured into my nonic glass. The porter appears a somewhat clear dark brown color with about an inch of fluffy ecru foam. Notes of mild coffee, medium roasted bready grains, milk and bittersweet chocolate, and caramel make up the majority of the nose and taste. A tad better than medium bodied with ample carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2009 04:24:12 | More by ClockworkOrange

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Deep, dark brown with a thin light brown head. Head reduced to a thin ring and left spotty lace.

S-Dark roasted malt, and a light dose of chocolate malt. A bit of black coffee bitterness in the background.

T-Dark roasted and chocolate malt perform an impressive duet. A nice dose of espresso bitterness in the finish.

M-Medium-full, rich and roasty with nice lingering flavours.

D-A nice full flavoured porter that has all of the taste attributes that I like. Well done and at only 6% ABV this is an easy beer to enjoy multiples of.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2009 01:12:21 | More by Deuane

adamette

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

RN Black Jack Porter Poured from tap into a clean, clear glass at The Brew Kettle earlier tonight.

A Black, no light gets through. Thin light brown head. A good look and appropriate to the style.

S Dark malt, some chocolate. Later, after the pint sat for a few minutes, the sweet chocolate smell became a bit more prominent. That was nice.

T More dark malt than chocolate but a very nice tasting porter. I think that it is true to style in that it remains thin like a porter and does not become a stout.

M Full for sure. Big tastes, 6.0 ABV make this a big beer.

D Fair to good. This is a big beer but it maintains my interest enough to make it more drinkable than it might otherwise for being so big.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2009 01:51:50 | More by adamette

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sample at the brewpub. This beer pours black with dark brown around the edges. Medium thin beige head that has good retention. Thin sheet of lacing on the glass. Roasty aroma of malt and coffee. Medium-bodied with a rich coffee character, with sweet malt and mild hops flavors supporting it. The finish is equal parts hoppy and malty with a lingering espresso aftertaste. Pretty good all around.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2008 16:14:00 | More by Dogbrick

JDV

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle received in trade from Crizay. Thanks Chris!
Pours black with slight ruby edges and a lasting tan head. Smell is roasty with some coffee hints. Pretty nice nose overall. Taste is of medium richness of roasty bittersweetness. Balanced with a hint of alcohol and a lingering dark roasted flavor and somewhat of an odd bitterness at the end for me. Decent porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2008 21:15:40 | More by JDV