Odell Cutthroat Porter - Odell Brewing Company

MCain04

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Brought back from Denver by a very good friend. Poured into a HF glass at about 40 degrees and let to warm throughout.

A: Dark brown, light tan head, 1 finger, some retention/lacing

S: Wow, quite aromatic coffee and dark chocolate with roasty malts. Very nice!

T: Coffee and chocolate with bitter malts are quite nice even when served cold. Even better when it warms.

M: Medium body, wet throughout the taste but a little dry on the finish, carbonation is medium and the beer on the whole is pretty smooth.

O: I'm a big fan of this porter. Reminds me a lot of Edmund Fitzgerald, might even be better. Doesn't try to do anything special, but really nails exactly what a porter should be. Love it!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 02:26:53 | More by MCain04

argock

Virginia

4.14/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into an oversized wineglass. Best by 051213 on label. Purchased as a single by my brother Greg for $1.99.

A: Black with 1-2 finger beige colored rocky head with good retention and plenty of lacing.

S: Big chocolate and roast aromas meet dark maltiness with a little stone fruit flavor along with raisin, caramel, and toffee. Hoppiness is low-medium for the style with some herbal hoppiness in there.

T: Great classic porter flavor that comes down slightly more on the sweet side with chocolate, black coffee, and roast meeting delicious light caramel and herbal hoppiness. Dark chocolate is the strongest flavor with dark maltiness and roast playing strong supporting roles.

M: Smooth and silky with excellent drinkability, medium body and low carbonation.

O: A superb AMerican porter which serves both your sweet tooth and appetite for roast. A great classic American porter.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 04:10:15 | More by argock

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This is not a bad tasting beer for some beers lovers but this is not not a porter with great qualities.

I poured this porter into a nice little chalice. This is not a black black porter. Cutthroat is dark but a little thin texture, which is expected in a porter, but also in color. Looking down I can see a lot of brown, darker brown. The head was a little soft even after a pretty hard pour.

The aromas were exceedingly average.

The taste is good. It's not that sweet and I personally like sweet so I compromise and gave it a 3 average. Cut Throat is heavy on coffee with a bakers chocolate. A little malty. A little sweet, but weighs more on the bitters. Could be a great taste for the dry side beer lovers. Just not me so I rate the taste as having good quality, but a 4 for me.

The texture is a little too fizzy my preference. I won't compromise. I find it it somewhat hard to swallow. LOW MARKS!

This porter is built for some wonderful Australian electronic music. I would prefer LAWRENCE ENGLISH "KIRI NO OTO"

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 18:36:41 | More by frankiepop

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This poured out as a nice deep brown color with a light tan head on top. The lacing is great just like many other Odell brews, there is also a solid retention as well. The smell of the beer has an earthy roasted aroma with some chocolate aroma and grass in there. The taste of the beer is chocolaty with a earthy bitterness and yeasty finish. The mouthfeel of the beer was medium bodied and smooth, nicely carbonated as well. Overall this beer is very nice, great sessionable porter, well worth looking into.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 02:49:33 | More by Knapp85

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.24/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Poured from 12 oz bottle that was bottled on 12/26/12 into pint glass. Extremely dark brown, near black. Looked like a cola almost. 2 finger tan head with fantastic lacing and retention. Perfect carbonation for a porter.

S- Tones of smoke, chocolate, bark, and even a soy aroma.

T- Flavor really follows nose perfectly. The chocolate and coffee really hit you and then a nice roasted malt finish. Very smooth. Good smoky flavor. Everything you want from a porter.

M- Medium bodied. A little on the thin side, but very drinkable.

O- Just an absolutely delicious porter. One of the best i have had. Seems to lose some of its intensity as i was finishing the glass, but still great. The body and roasted flavors are perfect for a cool evening. Top tier porter.

$9.99 for 6 pk

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 22:29:45 | More by Bosoxfan20

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a completely opaque midnight black. Maybe a fingers worth of big bubbly light tan foam. Leaves lots of spotty lacing against the glass.

S - The nose is full round and most of all roasty. Notes of oily espresso, coffee grinds, charcoal, and a whiff of smoke are quite potent. hints of chocolate shavings round out the aroma.

T - the flavor follows the nose. notes of dark bread with a hint of sweetness up front. The roast is prominent but more char and hints of coffee. There is a touch of chocolate as well. Very roasty on the the finish but it is rather quick.

M - well rounded medium bodied. medium carbonation with a big bubbly presance.

O - a really nice dark ale. Yet another reason odell is just a top notch brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 06:56:39 | More by Teleweizen2

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It poured a finger and half of tan head on a dark brown body.
The aroma is roasted malt, chocolate and nuts.
A roasted malt flavor to start, mild bitter in the middle, a short finish though.
It has a fizzy texture with moderate carbonation and medium body.
This beer looked great and smelled nice but the taste was pretty average. Easy to drink though.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 16:29:29 | More by Fatehunter

JohnnyJam

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle with the date easy to read on the label. I got a 1 1/2 finger head that dissipates quickly.

A: Pours black and opaque. The head dissipates quickly. There is plenty of nice lacing that really sticks.

S: I smeel roasted coffee and roasted malts.

T: Taste follows smell: big coffee taste...sweet coffee.

M: This beer goes down smooth. Medium to thick-bodied.

O: I like this beer. However, the first sips are by far the best. It seems to me that it loses character toward the middle and into the finish. It is a good beer, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 00:04:40 | More by JohnnyJam

cosmicevan

New York

3.73/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

thank you kindly to pokesbeerdude for sending this generous extra my way! enjoyed from my hill farmstead tulipy wine glass.

a - brew poured a pewter black with almost 3 fingers of foamy mocha cream colored head. as the head dissipated there was big chunks of lacing on the glass.

s - really nice blend of powdered chocolate and char that gives the beer a vanilla vibe too. robust roastiness too.

t - wow, that's huge...and robust. black malts. powder chocolate. char. roast. a bit intense.

m - char. burntness. fairly full bodied for a porter, but overall light to medium bodied. tingles in my mouth. fairly aggressive.

o - overall this is a big porter. extremely full robust flavor profile. i like my porters to be a bit more subdued.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 01:11:28 | More by cosmicevan

uhcougar

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a nice dark color with a nice thick creamy head.

Date on the bottle was July so little past prime but I wasn't disappointed. Not much on the nose, but the taste was classic -chocolate roasty. They hit the taste of what I think a porter should be like 100%. Great lacing and great head retention.

Mouth feel is okay.

If I could get this more often I would buy it all the time, but sadly Odell is not in Texas yet. Hopefully that will change.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 20:57:59 | More by uhcougar

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.48/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dang this is a stereotypical very good porter that was a hair's breadth from being great. Served a little cold with a smallish tan head that slowly settled and lots of lace. Color is a very hazy dark garnet brown. Aroma is classic cocoa, malt, roast, coffee. Flavor is likewise standard high end porter, like nose, hint sweet, good carbonic tang, some astringency and spot on bitter. Body is almost faultless - there's a suggestion of bandaid that just barely throws it off kilter. Carbonation is perfect. Finish is like flavor, of average length, and super drinkable. Wish we could get it in Wisconie.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 00:49:40 | More by drpimento

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours a very dark blackish brown with a little bit of reddish/orange color at the bottom of the glass. Lots of bubbles and a huge five finger beige head with good retention. Lots of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A pretty big roasty aroma. Dark roasted malts with good hints of chocolate, coffee, burnt caramel, toffee, and some nuts. A little brown sugar, milk, and some light dried dark fruit. Very roasty aroma overall with a little bit of smoke. pretty solid.

Taste: Roasty and dark like the smell indicates. Dark roasted malts with notes of chocolate, coffee beans, nuts, milk, smoke, and burnt caramel and toffee. A little brown sugar and molasses. Very subtle hint of dark fruit. Some earthy hops provide some balancing bitterness in the back end. Very good taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very creamy. Slick and very smooth.

Overall: A very good take on the American style Porter. Nicely roasty and robust while still going down pretty smooth and easy.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 05:51:05 | More by MattyG85

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured aggressively into a tumbler glass. A two finger head quickly halved in size but is sticking around.

Appearance: Dark brown, almost black. Little bit of a maroon hue when held up to the light but otherwise opaque.

Aroma: Very rich roasted malt. A little dark chocolate and coffee.

Taste: Well-rounded. The roasted malt comes through beautifully and lingers just the right amount of time. An aftertaste of dry dark chocolate. The hops are present and help bitter the palate at first but quickly fade, which is just fine because it lets the malt shine.

Mouthfeel: This porter has definite drinkability. Though it dries out your mouth a bit after every sip, it isn't very noticeable.

Final Thoughts: The Odell Brewing line-up of offerings are always on my shopping list. This is my first time trying their Cutthroat Porter and I will definitely be going for it again in the future. A very well-rounded beer and great example of the style. There is so much flavor packed into this brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 23:34:11 | More by JamesMN

beagle75

Iowa

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a nonic glass.

A: Opaque dark brown showing scant light transmission around the edges with over one finger of light beige foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Roast is fairly intense, with chocolate, charcoal, lesser dark fruit, and a slightly scorched edge.

T: Begins almost dry, with dark chocolate and refined roasted grain. A thread of dried fruit also emerges before the moderately acidic transition into the middle. Sulfur is a bit too strong here, suggesting some out of place dimethyl sulfide, but not really detracting. More chocolate is present in the finish, alongside aromatic green hops that only yield mild bitterness.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, creamy but slightly astringent on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: Surprisingly flavorful for a 5% abv porter, this dark contribution from Odell is mostly masterful. As good as the flavor is, it takes a few unexpected turns with detectable acidity and possible off-qualities of fermentation. Not a perfect example of the style, but there are some serious flashes of brilliance demonstrated here.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 20:27:47 | More by beagle75

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark brown-black with a thin finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted coffee and chocolate malts with some milk sweetness and a bit of smoke.

T - Starts off with a mix of roasted chocolate and other dark malts with some vanilla and a touch of smoke. Through the middle, some roasted slightly bitter coffee comes through with some more lactose flavor. The finish is a mix of roasted coffee and chocolate with some smoke and vanilla flavors.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry, roasted, and sweet finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balanced american porter. Good mix of flavors and just the right amount of body.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 05:45:53 | More by ngeunit1

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a Nonic Pint.

A- Pours a very dark brown, looking almost black in the glass, with 3 fingers of frothy and foamy mocha colored head that is slowly forming bubbles and popping away.

S- Strong dark roasted malts, dark chocolate, and light roasted coffee on the nose.

T- Robust flavor of roasty, smokey, dark chocolate. Follows nose well. Very minor hop flavor present in the back.

M- A bit watery for me. Wish is was a tad thicker. It is sort of creamy, a little more thickness would make it more rich. Not overly carbonated.

O- A nice, easy to get, example of a porter. Somebody said something about a Cutthroat / Black Butte tasting in one sitting. Personally I like the Black Butte a tad better, but this is a VERY CLOSE second.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 23:24:38 | More by rfbenavi80

intensify

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First of all, I picked up this beer as just a "eh ill give this a try". Popped the top off and poured into a snifter. Smells delicous to say the least. Dark chocolate and coffee aromas filled the rim of my glass. Rich, smokey and nutty. The appearance is dark with a caramel colored head that did not pour more then a half finger head. As for the taste.... awesome. Rich dark chocolates with a hint of coffee. Roasted malts followed by a nuttyness which blends it together well.
Overall, this is definately one of my new favorite porters. it is well balanced and the folks at O'Dell's did an excellent job brewing this masterpiece.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 05:32:20 | More by intensify

angelmonster

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a big 3 finger beige head, body is black with a dark brown hue at the bottom. Head retention and lacing are good.

First smell is of sweet toffee, roasted coffee and caramel malts. Oak and a smokiness are also there, along with faint chocolate brownies. Hops and alcohol arent detected at all.

Taste is of chalky burnt malts, mixed with roasted acidic coffee and a smoky, peaty finish. Would have guessed that this was a smoked porter if I didnt know it wasnt. Hops have a slight bitter finish but are buried by sweet malts and smoke. Alcohol is non existent.

Mouthfeel is kinda light but typical for a porter. Beer is well carbonated, head died prematurely.

Overall this beer is delicious. Extremely sessionable especially for its style. This beer is always a solid standby, especially the nitro draft version.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 03:44:18 | More by angelmonster

kylehay2004

Florida

4.48/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown body with little light getting through with aa single finger tan head. Aroma. Flavor is excellent and may be the best porter I have had and includes roasted malts, smokey notes, burnt toast with a smooth chocolate malt flavor. Light to moderate carbonation and on the heavier side of medium body. Odell is becoming my favorite brewery. So many of their beers are top of the line and full flavored.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 23:34:19 | More by kylehay2004

bambam2517

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance and Pour - Love the nose on this one, dark and inviting. Hints of coffee and chocolate, folded into the roasted smell of malts. Pours into an English pint glass with a finger of lacluster foam, which dissipates to a spotty layer and doesnt linger down the glass. Burgundy-brown and clear body.

Taste- Lives up to the pour, tasting strong coffee and chocolate maybe even some berry tones. The malt is lost though, and the flavors quickly fade. A bit watery even...

Mouthfeel - Lackluster. Its wet, but after the flavors are gone there is no warming sensation, no dry or bitterness. Nothing remarkable at all really.

Overall - A decent try, but there are others in the style that pack the same flavor profile and have a way of making it linger. Value-wise, at the 9.99/6pk here in AZ I'll be moving on from this one...

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 08:12:37 | More by bambam2517

gavindailey1983

Idaho

4.85/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Having this and Deschutes Black Butte back to back and I have to say although its close the O'dell is my favorite. Smoother finish but more bitter than Deschutes. I wonder if anyone else is comparing these two the same way. Take the Cutthroat, Black Butte challenge!?!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 04:31:04 | More by gavindailey1983

rodkin

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown, almost black. Nice 1/4" head, reduces to a very thin lacing. It's a nice looking beer.

Smells great. Most obvious smells are coffee and chocolate. It's sweet, with a little bit of graininess.

Taste is similar to the smell, with some hop bitterness. Maybe a hint of citrus. Not too strong, but with a pleasant, very slightly bitter aftertaste.

Nice carbonation, very smooth and creamy, though maybe a bit thinner than I'd like.

Overall a very nice porter, and well worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 23:35:59 | More by rodkin

mdaschaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to angelmonster for this one!

A: Pours a dark brown with a small tan colored head on top. Not much retention, but thin lacing forms on most of the glass.

S: A nice combination of chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt. Slight sweetness.

T: A good bit of slightly bitter chocolate mixed with roasted malt. There is a slight citrus/hop flavor mixed in.

M: Medium bodied, with moderate carbonation. Smooth and on the creamier side.

O: Solid porter. Not overly complex, but well done and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 01:04:25 | More by mdaschaf

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12oz bottle with a date of October 2011 - I assume this is the BB date, so it's a bit old. Oh well. Picked up from my local beer specialist. I love the artwork on the label.

Poured into a Delirium chalice. An exceptionally dark brown hue that looks black as night. Produces an impressive head of creamy light brown foam with great retention; this slowly reduces to a surface layer. Leaves behind evidence of bottle conditioning. Aroma of rich roasted malt with a spicy quality. Hints of burnt grain, coffee, cocoa, brown sugar, aromatic hops and yeast.

Tastes of roasted malt with with a dry, malty bitterness. Notes of burnt grain, dark malt, coffee, dry yeast and subtle stewed hops. A lingering bitter finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with fantastic body. Pretty astringent. Aftertaste of bitter roasted malt.

Excellent - a superb porter. The balance and body are fantastic; the roasted malt flavour and bitterness seem perfectly tuned. Lovely beer - grab one if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 02:30:14 | More by jazzyjeff13

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best before June 5, 2012

A: nice head that fades pretty quickly and doesn't leave much lacing.

S: Sweet, milk chocolatey roasted malt.

T: Same chocolate as the nose, but a tiny touch of char and some faint earthy hops on the finish.

M: Medium to full, but a bit fizzy.

O: A solid, somewhat non-robust porter that is remarkably drinkable. The reasonable abv helps.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 03:06:14 | More by greybeardloon