Shallow Grave - Heretic Brewing Company

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at an odd SF Irish-curry house that I'm both surprised and grateful to have stopped at.. . a remarkable local imperial stout.

Pours a near-black with decent head & lacing, although thinner (less creamy) mouthfeel than I’d expected from the robust aroma and taste. Aroma of roasted chocolate malts with coffee and caramel tones. Remarkably well balanced taste hides the 7% ABV very (frighteningly) well. Roasted malt sweetness with a hop backbone that carries the dry finish nicely.

A well brewed beer that I would definitely seek out again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 06:30:32 | More by hopsolutely

JesseLara

California

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured solid black, loved the color as it filled the glass.

Damn tasty porter. A bit more burned taste than others, and me likey.

Expected sweeter, surprised it was slightly bitter instead. Interesting.

No head when poured from tap, somewhat disappointing.

Good lacing on the way down throughout the pint.

Smelled like someone was toasting some dark chocolate, mocha laced, coffee beans.

Could see having this again, and may do so right now.

I hit the Hofbräu tonight knowing Heretic brewing was on tap for pint night. I've had the Evil Twin before and enjoyed it so I was hoping I was in for more of the same, and I was not disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 02:29:48 | More by JesseLara

UCLABrewN84

California

3.6/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Golden State Cafe in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of roasted malt, cocoa, and slight coffee bean aromas. Taste is the same with a mild roasty bitterness with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it smells better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 05:07:50 | More by UCLABrewN84

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks nice. Tastes pretty darn good too. Smooth profile with nice thick malty tones and a smooth almost cookie dough kind of thing? (Almost, I say.) Just has a nice smooth character too it, and it's consistent. I like it. Way smooth, and extremely easy to drink. My first beer from Heretic, and I'm definitely impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 05:16:23 | More by RblWthACoz

shleepy

California

3.23/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had on tap at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City on 3/8/2012.

A: Dark brown. Small, off-white head.

S: Chocolate, faint toastiness.

T: Roasty chocolate milk. That about sums it up.

M: Medium to heavy body. Not as velvety smooth as some better porters/stouts (even something like Velvet Merlin).

O: OK for the style (I don't remember ever having an awful porter, though), but nothing too interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2012 22:25:33 | More by shleepy

Srsly

California

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Verdugo Bar

S - very roasty, lots of coffee notes along with dark chocolate and some sweeter malts underneath.

T - starts well, with coffee and chocolate in the primary positions, as in the nose. A nice example of the style until...

M - Wham! I got hit with a fatty bitter finish that totally caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting it and honestly it felt pretty harsh.

O - I liked the flavor profile and the smell, I would even say they were above average for the style. However, that bitter finish hurt my enjoyment of the beer. I'm even more surprised at how intensely bitter it tasted because I see on their website that it's only supposed to be 33 IBU. Interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2012 01:49:21 | More by Srsly

Merkur

Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the Stone Brewery Bistro as one of their guest taps.

Beer pours a nice rich, dark brown color. Beer laces the glass all the way down. Very nice.

The beer smells of nice, roasty dark chocolate.

The beer tastes the same as it smells. Very robust and flavorful with a great roasty flavor throughout.

The feel was fairly thick, but not too much so.

Overall, a very nice flavorful porter.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 16:01:09 | More by Merkur

Mark

California

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this very nice porter at EJ Phair ale house. They have Heretic brews fairly often on the guest taps. Beer was a dark brown leading in to stout black. My pint had about a finger of head and while lacing was moderate, the patterns were elaborate. Nice burnt toast aroma with some chocolate notes. Taste was very roasty with a long lingering hoppy finish. One of the better porters I have tried, very drinkable and enjoyable. Another winner from this up and coming brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2011 01:47:58 | More by Mark

PHBoiler

Illinois

4.36/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber poured into Sam Adams perfect pint

Deep dark brown with a perfect 1/2 inch chocolate brown head

Inviting to drink with the eyes, but the nose isn't strong. Difficult to pick up what is on the way.

Deep, rich chocolate flavors with a nice roast that stays roasty but doesn't convert to coffee. Dark chocolate richness with only mild bitterness that balances the flavor. Perfect mouthfeel that is rich and satisfying but not overly thick.

This beer stands up with Midwest heavyweights like Edmund Fitzgerald and Founders Porter.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:23:26 | More by PHBoiler

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

thanks to archenemybrew for this beer!

poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: black bodied beer with 3 fingers of tan head that results from a hard pour. Spotty lacing and good head retention.

Smell: Chocolate and mild roast malts! This is a great smelling porter!

Taste: Exactly like the nose. Nice chocolate note with a mellow roast malt flavor. As you keep drinking this beer, the roast starts to build a little bit. A hint of sassparilla and light smoke in the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Really nice and easy drinking porter. Mouthfeel is appropriate for the style with just a little bit of creaminess. Not a hint of 7% abv. A well made beer.

Overall: Great example of a porter. Great chocolate notes; thats definately my favorite part about this beer. Its a solid beer for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 01:29:44 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

AWolfAtTheDoor

California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Second beer of my NYE taste-a-thon. First beer from Jamil and Heretic.

Pours VERY dark into my pint glass, hints of ruby shine through at the right angle when held up to the light.

Delicious roasted goodness on the nose. Sweet chocolate notes as well.

Tastes more like an American Stout than an American Porter (is there such a nothing? Not according to the BJCP). Roasty and bitter. Hint of hop character. Bitterness is a touch strong for a Porter.

Mouthfeel is nice. Thickish and well carbonated. Spot on for the style.

Overall this is a good beer. It somewhat straddles the lines between American Stout and Robust Porter, but honestly should have been called a stout. Naming/marketing discrepancies aside, this is definitely a really nice beer. Highly recommend seeking it out if you're not afraid of stouts or robust porters.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 08:35:46 | More by AWolfAtTheDoor

bnes09

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown, near black color and mostly opaque. Finger and a half or cream color foam leaves behind sticky lace patches.

Roasted malt aroma with bourbon tones. Herbal hop character.

Solid biscuity malt backbone with roasted toffee and chocolate sweetness. Oakey. Cooked corn. Herbal, earthy hop character well balanced with the malt.

Medium bodied and well carbonated. Good texture.

Great porter. Complex and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 14:50:08 | More by bnes09

heygeebee

Australia

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled May 12, From Jims.

Pours a two finger tan head over black body. Head lasts a while but not over long.

Aromas on the money. Dark and rich, choc and coffee over a subtle smoke element. Little wood.

Taste is more sessionable and light than the ABV and smell would suggest. More smoke on palate and cigarbox than the smell would suggest, add in chocoalte notes. Roast malts are quite smooth.

Mouthfeel a little light.

Very well made beer, just not massive - as such may not suit diehards.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 10:21:38 | More by heygeebee

SHODriver

California

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: poured into a nonic pint to a deep black with ruby edges and a small tan head with decent retention
S: smells of coffee and chocolate with a bit of bitter hops and a touch of roasted barley
T: roasty and chocolatey with some coffee flavors a bit of caramel sweetness as well through the middle but the roast and chocolate battle it back. swallow is coffee and a bit of bittering hops with a touch of chocolate
M: smooth body and a medium amount of heft on the palate. it feels a little thick for a porter. good carb as well
O: pretty impressive. it's a well made beer and it tastes good. it's a little heavy but it makes up for it with flavor and the carbonation helps keep it from being too big. It's a solid beer and I look forward to trying some other stuff from Heretic Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 04:39:10 | More by SHODriver

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne.

Pours a dark, but relatively fluid black colour, with a fine ring of beige-foam around the edges. Spotty, patchy lace forms erratically. Body looks really quite light, and the carbonation, while fine, runs through it pretty quickly. Looks ok, if not spectacular.

Nose is pleasantly deep and dark, without being too sharp, smoky or ashy. Roasted notes, some chocolate, a bit of turned earth, tobacco and coconut. It's all pretty smooth, and while not aggressive, it's quite full-flavoured. Nice stuff.

The body is very light—it's the first thing I notice when I take a sip—meaning that although the flavours are pleasant, they feel a bit weak and thin. There's more of that nice chocolate and mildly roasted grain character, a hint of something vegetative and supple, and a slight coffee note on the finish. But for 7% ABV, I'm surprised at how dry and thin it feels. It really needs more.

It's a shame, more than anything, because in many ways this is a very nice beer. It has some pleasant, well-integrated flavours and subtle complexities, but it feels like it dropped the ball overall. It should be better.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 07:42:27 | More by lacqueredmouse

BryanCarey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

With aromas of coffee, roasted malt, and chocolate, this ale pours from the bottle with much promise. The body of the beer is dark brown/black and the tan head of foam maintains its presence for some time, leaving a good deal of lacing as you consume.

Heretic Shallow Grave Porter is a full bodied beer with a taste that combines coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt- exactly as expected based on the aroma. Digging deeper, there are some other flavors such as caramel, some milk, and some toasted notes. The beer finishes bitter, with the taste of bittersweet chocolate and hops.

This is a very tasty porter, but potential consumers must remember that the overall flavor profile leans toward the bitter side and this bitter finish could prove to be a turnoff for some- at least those who prefer their porter taste a little sweeter. I still find this a good porter overall, but even I admit this is not the type of beer I could consume on a regular basis. It is not a session beer by any stretch, but it is still flavorful and interesting enough to consider a drink or two when the urge for a bitter, robust porter strikes.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:58:00 | More by BryanCarey

stlunatic15

California

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Black & thick (that's what she said). Hardly any head or foam. Lacing falls along down the pint glass.

S - Difficult to tell since I have a stuffy nose at the moment, but I can contract some mocha (which I fucking love).

T - Spicy! Little kick of heat in the end there. Still maintains its standard Porter profile of coffee/chocolate/spice. However, it really tastes like a Chipotle porter. Reminds me of Mikkeller's, but not as smokey.

M - A bit different from the typical porters. A slight burn sensation occurs in the back of the throat as you're swallowing (not a negative aspect, though). I also noticed that it's not as thick or viscous as other porters. I'm actually diggin' the mouthfeel on this one - it's interesting.

O - Not as chocolate/coffee forward compared to most porters, but this is still a damn good one.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 07:45:00 | More by stlunatic15

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle from Beer Deluxe.

A - Poured black with slight red edges. A bit of carbonation coming up the sides. Three finger brown, creamy head. A few spatterings of lace and a half finger of retention.

S - Chocolate and roast.

T - More of the same with a bit of coffee roast.

M - Mild carbonation, medium to full body and a sweet then dry finish.

O/D - Well within the style guidelines, just not really pushing the boundaries. Everything is done well and it's enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 02:42:35 | More by tbeckett

JustinQ

California

4.23/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type: 22 oz bottle Poured into Imperial Pint.

Appearence: Opaque, No red hue even in the right light, though it may be my lighting. Tan, maybe even brown colored head.

Smell: Chocolate, Roast, sweetness, almost like hot cocoa aroma. No hops no Diacetyl.

Taste: Chocolatey Roast flavor, Classic Porter beer with a fruity sort of twist to it. In my opinion the fruitinss comes from a yeast character.

Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy then dry in the end. Perfect for a late night relaxing.

Overall: Great beer. I am amazed. This is really a great beer. Good job to Jamil and all the folks at Heretic

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 04:35:43 | More by JustinQ

dgilks

Australia

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Opaque dark brown colour with no head. The head is a disappointment but the rest is good.

Roasty and clean with a clear coffee and roast malt note. Some earthiness. A classically English robust porter.

Roasty, earthy and dry with some maltiness on the palate and a nice chocolate undertone. Hints of fruit. Very good.

A medium body works well with moderate carbonation. A truly good beer without being exciting.

A nice enough porter. While I expected more from Jamil it is good and would hit a lot of the requirements to be called 'to style'.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 10:10:05 | More by dgilks

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – A super dark brown beer, with a good tan head and nice lacing.

Smell – The smell wasn’t very strong; roasted malt and a little chocolate.

Taste – A very classic porter. Roasted malts with a little extra sweetness that makes it above average.

Mouthfeel – Medium body, lightly creamy, good carbonation for the style.

Drinkability – This is an easy drinking porter. It’s above average, but I didn’t find anything exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 20:26:41 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

ADZA

Australia

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours the darkest kola hue which leaves a mocha laced two finger head and nice lacing here and there,the smell is roasted dark malts,chocolate fudge,herbal earthy hops and milky coffee,the mouthfeel is medium bodied and velvety smooth with tastes of dark belgian chocolate,roasty dark malts,caramel fudge,earthy herbal hops and finished just like a nice bittersweet milky coffee and overall its a nice porter with a beautiful creamy feel and definately one of the better porters that ive tasted lately and would buy again cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 11:40:07 | More by ADZA

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bomber into a 25cl Duvel tulip. Thanks, Matt, for sharing!

A: Black body, clear persimmon highlights. One finger of fine tan head. Mediocre retention, plenty of lace. Nice.

S: Vanilla, rotten fruit (in an OK way, I swear), chocolate, and light smoke. Interesting, and enjoyable.

T: Coffee, chocolate, char, and fruit. Dry, roasty finish. Still a little overripe tasting with the fruit, but pretty good.

M: Fairly light body, creamy carbonation. Nice.

O: While the fruitiness was a little off-putting, it also set this one apart from your normal Porter. Enjoyable beer, and well worth a try.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 19:11:20 | More by woosterbill

srandycarter

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Almost black, brown. Tan head, fast to ring. Lots of cling.

S - Cocoa, choc chip cookies, very pleasant.

T - Not so nice. Astringent, harsh, no sweetness. Dry as all get out.

M - Good carb, medium body, balance is hard when it's so one sided.

D - Liked it up to smell!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 04:46:22 | More by srandycarter

mactrail

California

3.65/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thoroughly black in the tall glass with a nice beige head rising high. Not too much aroma, just a note of dark malt. Pleasant mouthful of suds. Strikes the balance between sweet and dry. Fairly malty with more of a medium body. So dark, but the charred flavor seems to have been kept at a minimum. Just a hint of burnt raisin toast. A little bit woody, a touch of nut shells. Modest hops with a slight bitter aftertaste.

Nothing really stands out with this, but it's a very drinkable and pleasant Porter. 22 oz bottle from Olive Tree Market in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 05:52:10 | More by mactrail