Porter - Port City Brewing

fountainofyouth

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured from a six-pack into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Two-finger khaki head. Basically black.

Smell: Malty, with some softer and darker elements -- coffee beans and cocoa. A little bit of hops. Normal intensity.

Taste: Nice and robust, with lots of roasty coffee. There's a unique yeasty taste as well, like eating a burnt dinner roll. I happen to like it. A hint of grassy hops on the finish, and the alcohol is hidden well despite the highish ABV.

Mouthfeel: Heavier than some stouts, a pretty thick feel. Dry on the finish, light and soft carbonation. Not bad.

Overall: I really like that it has a distinctive taste, which isn't always the case with American porters. Will probably turn some people off but do well for others. Try it once and see.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 01:07:24 | More by fountainofyouth

droomyster

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As one who lives just outside of Alexandria, it has taken me too long to finally taste this beer but the wait was worth it. This is high quality stuff.

Pours and impenetrable black with a rich and almost creamy tan head with excellent retention. Aromas are sweet and dark: an initial blast of India ink followed by chocolatey notes that range from ultra dark to milky sweet, with roasted coffee beans playing a fainter but noticeable roll. Taste is sweet and chocolatey from beginning to end, but sweeter up front before entering a roastier middle. The interplay of cocoa and coffee is intriguing and enjoyable down to the last sip. Body is full but smooth, without corners or snags requiring negotiation as it swishes around and goes down the hatch. The high abv and super rich, ink-like aromas make this a slow sipper. Extremely enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 05:36:10 | More by droomyster

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep dark brown where no light passes. Excellent beige head that leaves extensive spotty lace.

Sweet berry smell in he background of the milk chocolate

Relatively thin to this otherwise sweet porter with an alcohol kick. Again, lots of mIlk chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 17:50:28 | More by smcolw

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Thorpe429 for this one! 12oz brown glass pry-top bottle.

Pours a pretty viscous brown/black with thick creamy dark tan head that stands up stiffly. Nose smells like cocoa nibs and chocolate, a little earthiness too. Not really coffee though, more chocolate.

Palate is medium bodied and rich, but then that classic porter acidity note comes in to lighten things up. Chocolate continues on the palate with milk chocolate and hot cocoa powder, and maybe the suggestion of that gas-station coffee that's made from extract. Finish is long and lush.

A damn fine porter!

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 03:33:00 | More by SFLpunk

dhartogs

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at brewery, though I've had it elsewhere.

Really nice dark color, with creamy head that lingers for a little bit.

The chocolate and roasted malts really shine on the nose, I could sniff this all day.

Nice mouthfeel, not too heavy, not too light, makes this a highly drinkable porter.

Taste, wow, really nice taste the malts really come through but not overly powerful. I really like Porters and this was one of the best I've had. I was a little skepticle at first as it was a new brewery and local, but I an pleasantly surprised at how well each of their beers are made, all of them are good examples of the styles they are going for. Well done, I'll be back, many times.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2011 14:35:17 | More by dhartogs

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a black with brown edge. Nice coffee looking head.

The smell is sweet and fairly hoppy. There is a slight cheese eliminate to the smell that isn't bad just not what I was expecting in a Porter. I also picked up some cocoa ad it warmed up a bit.

The taste is fairly bitter. On the front you some hop bitterness, then all the roasty chocolate on the middle of the tongue, with some more bitterness but this time from the roasted malts on the back. No alcohol to be detected for over 7% ABV.

Not my favorite Porter by any means but I like the hoppy bite.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 00:02:08 | More by Eriktheipaman

GregSVT

Texas

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

12oz bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a dark brown with a nice light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves some lacing on the glass.

S: The nose has aromas of cocoa, vanilla, slight coffee, and chocolate malts. Kind of faint but what is there smells nice.

T: The taste is a bigger version of the nose. Nice flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and a slight coffee element.

M: The feel is medium bodied and creamy.

O: Tasty porter and about par for the style. The higher ABV is no where to be seen which is great.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 05:14:09 | More by GregSVT

jjboesen

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Porter being my favorite style, I was anticipating this one as it is brewed locally - and, of course, I am always seeking out new ones to try.

It pours out a quick head that dissipates into a translucent foam atop a foreboding body of molasses colored goodness. From the bottle, which this reveiw is based - though I did enjoy one on tap soon thereafter, there emanates sweet notes of brown sugar and (obviously) molasses. Nice, but not the strong point, here. The taste, therein lies the rub; it consists of a yummy blast of cocoa, dark chocolate and chewy malt, all of which soaks into the tongue. There is a beautiful coda of balanced chewiness with a subtle bittersweet fade. If you see it, get it. If you love porters, thank me. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 02:22:20 | More by jjboesen

Hojaminbag

Colorado

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

Port City Porter looks pretty good. The body is black and completely opaque. The head is brown and fairly thick looking, with pretty good lacing.

Lots of roast in the aroma, with bittersweet chocolate and some sweetness.

Leads off with a good bit of sweetness in the form of toffee and dark bread. Bittersweet chocolate comes next, followed by a good dose of hops. A little bit of grapefruit, resiny pine and a lot of bitterness. Roasted malt is not as prominent as in the aroma, but it is certainly noticeable. There is just a hint of sourness in the background. The finish mixes roasted malt and lots of hop bitterness.

Smooth, full body with above average carbonation.

Port City Porter is a pretty good porter, that has a pretty good balance between malt and hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 22:23:32 | More by Hojaminbag

Spider889

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another nice extra from bobertkuekn.

Pretty plain looking label, no freshness date. Poured into a snifter.

Black with decent clarity visible off the pour. A short hot cocoa colored head rises slowly but fades fast.

Smells excellent. Coffee rises up swiftly, from afar. Upon closer inspection fudge and sweet peanut hull aromas really make this beer smell delicious.

The flavor is spot on for a porter. Nothing out of the ballpark, but very satisfying, with absolutely nothing to complain about. Mild bitterness, light char with a robust dark maltiness.

Smooth, creamy, with low carbonation. The only issue is the 7.5% abv. It seems a tad higher than is necessary.

Overall I wasn't expecting much, and instead have found a very solid porter. This is always a nice revelation, because every brewery makes a porter, but few come close to the flavor and complexity of Port City's porter.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 07:51:37 | More by Spider889

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a very attractive deep brown, almost black color and produced an awesome brown creamy head about two fingers high. It dissipated relatively fast and left little lacing.
Very attractive!
The smell tells of roasted malts , caramel and honey.
Tasting the beer, the roasted malt and dark chocolate flavors meet you up front. In the middle this will be sweetened up by caramel, milk chocolate and some honey. At the end I detect even a little hop, which adds greatly to the balance of this masterfully crafted brew. Congratulations to a great porter! I certainly this beer as a must try!

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 03:12:03 | More by Hopfenpeter

Rhettroactive

Virginia

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

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 8/16/11
*From notes

A: Great presentation. Rich chocolatey blackish-brown. A 1.25 finger head on a good pour fades quickly, and leaves minimal lacing.

S: Grainy grass. Touch of sweet malt is present, as is a pretty heavy dose of earth.

T: Not too charry here, it's actually somewhat smoky yet quite quaffable. I don't detect any of the 7.5% ABV, as it finishes dry and toasty.

M: Could be a bit thicker, yet it remains easy to put back. This beer is better on tap, though the bottled version is certainly no slouch.

O: Port City's Porter represents what Bill and his team are trying to accomplish: high quality ingredients = high quality drinking. I'll be the first to say there's nothing extreme about it, yet it's just a damn nice porter. Well done, guys. I'll continue to proudly ship this around the country as an extra with my trades.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 22:41:10 | More by Rhettroactive

Pencible

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a black mahogany with moderate tan head.
S: It smelled like dry dark chocolate and roasted coffee, with a little citrus hops and molasses.
T: It tasted like dry dark chocolate and roasted coffee with cream, and a bit of molasses. It had a mellow bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was watery with a little carbonation. Light body.
D: This was a very nice porter. The smell and body were only good, but the taste was great. The alcohol was well hidden too, so it was easy to drink. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 01:16:34 | More by Pencible

billab914

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into my Otter Creek pint glass. Dark brown in color with a thick and frothy tan head to it. Decent head retention and a little lacing.

The aroma has a milk chocolaty character to it mixing with a little roasty, bitter flavor. Just a hint of a tart fruit presence to it. Pretty nice aroma for the style.

The taste has a bitter-sweet chocolate flavor to it throughout it. I get a little more of a sweetness up front while a bitter, rpasty flavor comes out in the finish. It finishes on the dry side with a little bit of a roasty, coffee like flavor coming through as well.

The mouthfeel is about average for the style and carbonation is moderate. Overall it's a solid version of the style and probably my favorite from Port City so far. It has a nice range of chocolaty and roasty flavors to it and is pretty drinkable overall. It rivals Williamsburg's Washington Porter as my favorite local porter, but may not surpass it.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 23:22:26 | More by billab914

Godot

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I just realized that I live within a mile of this brewery (I'm new to the area) and figured I would give it a try. Picked up a six pack of the porter at Rick's. Pours an opaque black with a thick brown head that slowwwwly drops and leaves plenty of lacing. The smell is roasted coffee and graham cracker with a little bit of vanilla. Definitely has me excited for my first sip. The taste is everything I want out of a porter. Its complex but balanced with a toasted darkness that is warm and welcoming. Finishes slightly bitter. Alcohol is mostly masked except for a little hint at the end that seems to say "aren't I sly." I could easily drink a six pack of this on a cool fall night and promptly fall asleep in my chair. That being said it is currently 99 degrees outside and I am still enjoying this beer. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 23:27:11 | More by Godot

BennyL1

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Thorpe429 for the bottle. Into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

This brew pours a very dark brown, almost black color with a slim tan head. Not a whole lot of lacing but it is there.

Aroma has a very nice roast aspect to it. Hints of chocolate and some espresso in there too. The wonderful roastiness of this beer really hits you after the first taste. That is followed up with some coffee and chocolate to finish it off.

Mouthfeel is nice and smooth with a medium body. Nice carbonation in there as well.

Overall a very solid and robust porter and a very nice take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 04:15:29 | More by BennyL1

engagechad

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased as a single from Wine and Beer Westpark in Glen Allen, VA - poured into dfh snifter

This beer is damn near perfect. Pours a deep dark brown with minimal light edges, dense head with perfect lacing. Smells of brown sugar and molasses with toasty chocolate. Tastes beautifully bitter for an am porter with a dry finish.

This is a beer that you should trade for if you can't get it wherever you are.. I intend on visiting this brewery.. soon!

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 01:03:43 | More by engagechad

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

very deep dark brown, small tan colored head, not a lot of lace, pretty clear

SCaramel and chocolate predomintaly, with a touch of roasted coffe and an ever so slight hoppy back. Very nice, lots of caramel and roasted malts, with a nice hoppy back. Dry finish. Lots of sugar, very good. Uber smooth, a very good feeling porter. Not too thick, just about right to be totally sessionable. I thought the decent carbonation played a good roll here

Great, a very sessionable porter. Not heavy enough to distract you or bog you down, I could put down six of these with some ease.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 21:26:24 | More by mikesgroove

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Growler from Whole Foods in Charlottesville.

Pours with a finger of tan head on an opaque brown body. Solid lacing.

Roasty, slightly meaty nose with some nutty coffee.

Taste is oddly tart, there's citrus in here somehow, but a lot of dark, roasty malt as well. The citrus is really curious, but not objectionable. Not sure what to make of this, but it's a solid porter.

Mouthfeel is a bit foamy, but pretty standard.

It's a decent porter with some unexpected citrus. Not much more to say!

Serving type: growler

07-03-2011 03:18:15 | More by zaphodchak

argock

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. No freshness date. Single purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $1.80.

A: Black with the lightest amount of ruby-brown at the edges with a 1-finger beige head with average retention and pretty spotty lacing.

S: The aroma is not quite as substantial as it needs to be but does exhibit dark chocolate/cocoa, roasted grains, light caramel. and earthy tobacco hoppiness.

T: The flavor, on the other hand, delivers a punch and then some. The dark maltiness provides a lot of raisiny, fig flavors which falls away to cocoa, espresso, and some hazelnut. The roast character is subtle and not at all acrid, and the hoppiness settles in at the finish with a tobacco earthiness without being ashy. There is a hint of fusel alcohol as you work your way through the portion.

M: A rounded, medium-full body with light carbonation lends a smooth overall quality to this brew. There is a light chalkiness in the finish that is a bit due to the rough edge of alcohol.

O: A really nice porter from Port City. I have only tried two of their brews, and they were pretty far off the mark with their IPA, but this porter is really a nice beer. I think they could idle back on the ABV and dark maltiness to a 6.7% type of beer and not lose anything except this light booze nature to this brew. I liked this beer quite a bit and will be looking to it when I want a robust porter with a more tobacco, nutty edge to it.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 03:05:51 | More by argock

localone703

Virginia

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

This is a fantastic robust porter - it drinks a bit like an imperial stout without being as rich or strong, but being rather close to that.

I like the seamless chocolate/coffee aromas and flavors - great to braise beef in, pour in a pot of chili, sip with a sweater and book by a winter fire, or have with a grilled hamburger.

It's amazing they could get this so right and yet get the IPA and Pale Ale so wrong. Let's hope the wit beer keeps their books balanced because I don't see the other three doing it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 05:51:37 | More by localone703

womencantsail

California

3.48/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Think it was Andrew that sent this to me. Thanks.

A: The pour is almost black with a couple fingers of off-white/khaki head.

S: There is a surprising amount of smoke and wood aroma to this beer. Quite a bit of ash to it with a little bit of chocolate and plenty of roasted malts.

T: Dark chocolate and nut shells open up the flavor on this beer. Plenty of roasted malts with a light ash and a substantial oak flavor. A bit of a sawdust sort of flavor to it.

M: Medium in body and carbonation.

O: Really a weird flavor. If you like the smokier and heavily roasted beers, than perhaps you would enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 07:22:45 | More by womencantsail

MasterSki

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of the ever-generous Michael Thorpe. Served in a Jester King snifter.

A - Thin tan foam that settles to a thin ring, leaving a few spots of lace. Dark brown/near-black solid body that doesn't get any lighter at the fringes.

S - Roasty, milk chocolate, some sugar and buttery notes, as well as some dark fruits. Quite sweet and fairly English in character.

T - Taste is also heavy on milk chocolate, nuts, dark fruits, and light coffee bitterness in the finish.

M - Zesty moderate carbonation, medium body, and somewhat dry finish. Alcohol isn't apparent at all.

D - A very enjoyable porter that is more English than American thanks to the fruity yeast. It was easy to put down my 4oz and I'd gladly take a six-pack of this for an after-dinner beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 16:29:55 | More by MasterSki

AgentZero

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Black beer with a small hrad that fades to a tight ring.

S - Dark fruit and roasted notes.

T - This one has some nice roasted notes and a bit of sweet dark fruit. It's a pretty full beer for the ABV on this. Lots of malt and chocolate.

M - Decently full bodied with moderate carbonation.

O - Actually a pretty good beer that I enjoyed a lot.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 00:31:38 | More by AgentZero

SummitVA

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Opaque black pour with moderate carbonation.

S - Chocolate, maple syrup, stone fruit, faint alcohol heat.

T - Huge chocolate, brown sugar, sweet malt, stone fruits, roast, and a bit of coffee. Rougher graininess. More bitter than I was expecting; this lingers in the aftertaste, along with the syrupy sweetness.

M - Medium bodied.

O - Very nice surprise from Port City. Solid Porter that I will seek out around town. Cheers,

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 02:10:41 | More by SummitVA