Smoked Porter (20%) - Pipeworks Brewing Company

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.26/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Red wax bottle courtesy of raveskdr. Thanks, Chris! Served in a tulip. Pours nearly black. Decent tan head and a bit of lacing. Nose has a bit of smoke. Light roast. Dry. Smoke. Medium body. Somewhat non descript. Nothing particularly wrong with it; just not my style.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 12:32:53 | More by Thorpe429

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle sent over the pond by claaark13. I'd never heard of these guys, but I'm always up for checking out something new. Cheers man!

From a bomber into a snifter

APPEARANCE: A brown pour yields a two finger, medium looking, light mocha colored head with very good retention. Head slowly fades to a good full cap but doesn't coat the glass. Dark brown, almost black, transparent body with slightly higher levels of carbonation evident. A light wisp remains until the end but leaves no lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Pretty bid nose of smoked malts, roasted and chocolate malts, as well as some nice vanilla cream aromas. Pretty nice and bold enough to be noticed.

TASTE: Smoked malts and roasted flavor up front, then more smoky chocolate, light vanilla and caramel sweetness in the finish. A bolder aftertaste with more smoky, vanilla and caramel flavors lingers nicely on the palate. Pretty flavorful and enjoyable, though not all that complex really.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Quite creamy on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes a touch sticky. Good, solid, creamy feel on this one.

OVERALL: This was a solid beer. Flavorful and enjoyable, though a touch more complexity would bring this one over the hump. Still, I was very glad to try this one and would be interested in trying more from this brewery if the chance presented itself. Give this one a go if you enjoy the style. Thanks again claaark. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 13:22:49 | More by Jeffo

dpodratsky3

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber poured into snifter

A: The deepest brown you can possibly detect, no light gets through, but it manages to have that hint of color, tan, creamy, tight bubbled head, almost looks like a nitrogen pour

S: Definitely smoke in the aroma, but it doesn't hit you overly pungently, has a roasted edge and creaminess you would expect from a dark rich porter, but it also has a noticeable smoke aroma, I'm not a smoke expert so I can't identify the exact smell, but it is a very sharp smoke aroma, the smoke only benefits the aroma a little, but I'm not super crazy about it

T: The taste follows the same characteristics as the aroma, for the most part it tastes like a very straight forward porter, the smoke really doesn't make its appearance until the finish, the clean hop flavor combines with the roasted and smoked malt, it leaves a pleasantly bitter, slightly tingling flavor on your palate that works quite well, the flavor comes through as a campfire taste, like you cooked a hamburger directly over an open flame and very distinctly so

M: Not amazing, the astringency from the roast and smoke combine with the mildlly assertive carbonation to give it a strange effect, it's probably better than thick and syrupy but it's not the best

O: An interesting beer, but one that I'm fine trying just this once

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 01:39:30 | More by dpodratsky3

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Robbiemoy13 for this bottle. Poured in to Bruery tulip.

A - Dark brown. One finger of light brown head.

S - Big smoke aroma up front. Some roast is also evident but the smoke dominates.

T - A huge smoke flavour up front that overwhelms the palate. Some roasted malts and lighter chocolate notes are also present.

M - Medium body. Creamy. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 02:00:31 | More by TheSevenDuffs

Florida9

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: dark dark brown with a slight translucency. Forms a small light tan colored head. No lacing.

S: Rather woodsy with notes of smoke, raisin, molasses, and just a hint of vanilla.

T: light roasted malt sweetness. Wood, coffee, roasted malts. Very light notes of smoke. Quick finish.

M: medium bodied, mild bitterness, lowoer carbonation.

O: an overall decent beer, drinkable with a very tame amount of smoke.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 21:04:41 | More by Florida9

homebrew311

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured Into tulip glass. Shows up brown with reddish highlights, thin layer of head with spotty lacing . Nose features some deep smoked Malta along with chocolate and hickory. Taste isn't quite as smokey as the nose lets on. Somewhat sweet with decent balance. Smoke comes through at the finish. Mouthfeel is light with medium carbonation. Overall, nice drinkable smoked porter, would have liked more smoke.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 21:02:06 | More by homebrew311

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Weyerbacher pint.

A- pours black with a 2 finger beige head. Sporting and blotches of lacing remain on the glass.

S- chocolate, roasts amd smoke.

T- roasted malts and some coffee, along with smoke and bitter dark chocolate.

M- medium body and carbonation. Creamy and somewhat thicker mouthfeel.

O- very good porter. Nice smoke and flavors with very good mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 02:18:17 | More by kawilliams81

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a nonic pint glass.

Cruisin' into another Pipeworks brew, excited to see their take on some smoky goodness. It pours a decidedly dark burnt sienna topped by a small finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises hickory smoke, roasted malts, rich maple syrup, and a bit of charcoal. The taste brings in more of the same, with the smoke coming in strong, yet still being balanced by the nice, deep roast and maple notes. The body is a stolid medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda dry finish. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable smoked porter. Good times. 'Nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 03:50:29 | More by TMoney2591

emerge077

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark brown fading into black in the glass, with mahogany edges. Sturdy meringue foam, a fingers width, leaving behind arcs of lace in the glass. Long lasting head, it never fades. Yay, head.

Smooth and creamy feel, pleasant wood smoke in the aroma, slightly sweet and fragrant. Not quite approaching campfire, but a piece of burnt wood definitely.

Flavors are nice, mainly light wood smoke, dry bakers chocolate, very light malt sweetness, with a lingering dry smoky finish. In the middle there's a pleasant sweetness that segues quickly into the dry aftertaste. Woodiness is dry and not too overt, everything seems pretty well melded here. At first there was some mild astringency, but it seems to have tapered off quickly. I like this alot better than Stone's smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:41:28 | More by emerge077

MasterSki

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from Binny's. Served in Alchemist pint glass.

A - Two-plus fingers of creamy light mocha foam settles to a solid cap and fingers of splotchy lace. Dark brown body that's a tad lighter at the edges.

S - Smoke and caramel, some hickory and meaty flavors, touch of chocolate. No obvious alcohol, and nicely balanced.

T - Taste is a bit more on the smokey and charry side, but with some nice caramel and milk chocolate late on the palate. Ends with a bit of roasty bitterness. It's similar to the barrel-aged version, but I'm more forgiving here as I was expecting less depth.

M - Mildly gritty medium body, with active carbonation and a dry finish. There's a bit of that tooth-coating residual smokiness as well. Could stand to be a tad creamier - I prefer the barrel-aged version in this regard.

D - Really easy drinking beer, with nice balance and well-hidden alcohol. This style has really grown on me the last few years, and this is a nicely crafted example. Had no problems polishing off a bomber on my own.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 03:43:39 | More by MasterSki

Agold

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Drinking this beer side by side with the -bal aged version. It has a very nice two finger head which has some good longevity and leaves a bit of spotty lacing on the glass. Aroma is not quite as smokey as I would have expected, but there is definitely some campfire, and nice roasty notes, but there is also a bit of fruitiness that clashes a bit with the smoke. Taste is more smokey than the nose. I also get a bit of cocoa and again a bit of the fruit, but this time it blends much better with the roast and smoke. The smoke, however is a tad astringent. Mouthfeel is really nice. Great body with an appropriate carbonation level. Really a well made smoke beer. Though the smoke is very present, it is not overwhelming or overbearing.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 02:54:21 | More by Agold

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber, batch 11, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours an opaque brown color with mahogany edges, topped with two fingers of tan head, good retention, leaves some spotty lacing.

S- Has a really great smokey campfire aroma, hints of smoked meats and bacon, has a bit of chocolate.

T- Follows the nose with big smokey flavors, hints of charred wood and smoked meat, hints of roasted grain and dark chocolate, but the smoke is the star here.

M- Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth creamy feel.

O- A really nice beer, it might be able to stand a bit more chocolate, but uses the smoked malt really well, I probably preferred this to the BA smoked porter. Another really tasty, drinkable brew from Pipeworks.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 05:50:29 | More by WillCarrera

Treebs

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle served in a FFF teku glass. Batch 11.

A: Pours a dark black with dark brown edges. A thick, one finger tan head forms on the pour and recedes to a thick collar. It leaves some soapy lace down the glass.

S: Some smoldering embers, light campfire. Cherry wood from the smoker. Spicy meat with some toasted malts and a very minimal chocolate on the backend.

T: The smoke is a little less pronounced up front. Toasted oats and some mild ember flavors come out. The campfire and smoked cherry wood come in afterward with a touch of meat casing flavor. The finish is chocolaty, roasty and mildly smokey.

M: Medium bodied with a prickly, medium to high carbonation. My only knock is that the finish thins out and doesn't really last a long time on the time.

O: I really enjoyed this beer. I'm not the biggest fan of smoked beers and this was really nice. Needs a bit more body as something that flavorful needs to last a little while longer and be more coating of the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 00:30:27 | More by Treebs