Barrel Aged Smoked Porter (20%) - Pipeworks Brewing Company

KDawg

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass. Pours a dark black color with a small head.

The smoke is certainly there, but it's not overpowering. The smoke is backed up by aromas of malts, chocolate, toffee and a touch of whiskey.

Medium bodied with a solid feel. It's lacking a bit on the mid with notes of chocolate, smoke, and toffee.

I enjoyed this. I've yet to have the normal smoked porter, but this was pretty good. Shows the smoke and wood influences without being overbearing.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 19:41:54 | More by KDawg

mjohnson17

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.7%

05-11-2013 14:56:11 | More by mjohnson17

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

04-12-2013 04:05:18 | More by cadaugherty

JohnnyChicago

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.7%

04-11-2013 13:44:40 | More by JohnnyChicago

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-23-2013 19:06:11 | More by Sparky44

vande

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

03-22-2013 23:52:52 | More by vande

injuredreserve

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-18-2013 03:48:28 | More by injuredreserve

Bierguy5

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-10-2013 02:09:31 | More by Bierguy5

1up

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

03-06-2013 20:50:52 | More by 1up

mcc1654

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-01-2013 19:32:14 | More by mcc1654

markmcconv

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

02-13-2013 18:48:59 | More by markmcconv

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.84/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a dark black color ale with a medium size foamy head with light retention and some light lacing. Aroma of smoky malt with light rye notes and some warming alcohol is quite nice. Taste is a great mix between some smoked malt with dry rye whisky notes which kind of help ‘’rounding the corners’’ of this beer with light roasted malt notes also perceptible. Body is about average with good carbonation and light warming alcohol notes. Quite a lot of complexity in this one with some nice balance between the barrel-aging and the smoked malt notes.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 20:25:12 | More by Phyl21ca

Devi0us

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

01-12-2013 13:45:15 | More by Devi0us

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

01-12-2013 01:56:51 | More by spycow

thewimperoo

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

01-09-2013 04:33:53 | More by thewimperoo

GregSVT

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz waxed bomber into a tulip - Batch #5

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

S: The nose is almost one dimensional with a good amount of smoke and bbq but there are some chocolate malt and vanilla aromas in the background.

T: The taste is pretty smoke forward as well but I can also pick up flavors of vanilla, chocolate, and a touch of molasses on the finish. The smoke isn't so overpowering and neither are the barrel flavors. They work pretty well together but I'd like to see a bit more barrel here.

M: The feel is creamy and medium bodied.

O: While I enjoy Smoking Wood a bit more due to the better barrel presence this is a decent attempt at the style. I might order this at my local bar if it was available from time to time but I'd not seek this out beyond that. Decent beer but nothing mind blowing.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 07:17:13 | More by GregSVT

spark3148857

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a really dark brown, verging on black. Very slighty ruby edges. I can't really get much out of the aroma besides the barrel characteristics, which are quite prevalent. The whiskey barrel and smoked malt really play well off of each other, however there isn't a lot of typical porter flavors to back it up and add complexity. The flavors are blended well so that neither overpowers the palate. Mouthfeel is as expected for a porter. Enjoyable and worth a try if you can still find Pipeworks batch 1...

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:23:28 | More by spark3148857

monitorpop

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

11-03-2012 23:01:50 | More by monitorpop

BuffaloBill12

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.7%

10-28-2012 00:53:42 | More by BuffaloBill12

Arbitrator

California

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Chilled bottle into a glass, courtesy of lurchingbeast. Thanks, Frank! From notes.

A: Pours an opaque (in the center) ruby-brown body that reveals translucence around the edges. Short-lived beige/tan head falls into thin collar.

S: Smoke, chocolate, lemon zest (reminds me heavily of Sprite). I was thrown for a loop by that one. Whiskey is noticeable, but restrained; this isn't the barrel-forward beast I thought it would be. Kind of a nice change.

T: This is a balanced take on the barrel-aged style; whiskey is noticeable but not overpowering, and smoke is accentuating without dominating the other characteristics of the beer. It's not hammy / bacony / salty. It has a modest chocolate sweetness and an aftertaste that, again, reminds me of lemon zest; I couldn't figure that out. It's not BAD, it's just different.

M: Medium-bodied, with good carbonation.

O: This is very drinkable and really solid. I don't think it'll make waves, as it's not over-the-top, but it's worth sampling a bottle over an hour or so and appreciating its nuances.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 18:15:47 | More by Arbitrator

pschul4

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a nice brown with a tan head that leaves decent lacing. Nothing exciting but not flat either

A- Super smokey. Hint of bourbon and chocolate malts but the smoked malts take complete control

T- Again super smokey. Same as the smell just a touch of bourbon and a little bit of chocolate/coffee malts but the smoke is all you know. Being a fan of smoked beer, me gusta

M- Couple be a little smoother but the carbonation doesnt do it a disservice

O- If you like smoked beers this is a MUST

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 02:41:20 | More by pschul4

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to paulstoneanchor for bringing this gem to our camping trip the night before the FW Invitational. Mild head on a dark brown liquid, pretty thin, I would have estimated less than .3", the head was lighter brown. Good complex aroma, whiskey, wood, the right amount of smoke, neither to large or not enough, just fine, chocolate malt, roasted 2 row.

Taste was really easy drinking. Boy a smoked beer next to a campfire is the way to go, and maybe why it didn't taste overpowering, like a lot of smoked beers tend to do to my taste buds (it's like we're not even taste buds, we're like taste bros!). There isn't a single thing about this beer that is over the top, I like it, balanced, barrel presence at 7% alcohol, kick ass. Mild sweetness, mild smoke, mild chocolate, mild barrel = a damn good and enjoyable beer. Wouldn't hesitate recommending to others to pull the trigger on this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 20:50:43 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Dat

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

10-01-2012 23:46:32 | More by Dat

jaminjohnson

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

09-30-2012 21:11:05 | More by jaminjohnson

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.48/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz, Batch #5
Tired Hands chalice

A: Pours a really dark brown color. Not completely black, but there really isn't that much light getting through. About a quarter finger of light light tan head. There is some lacing left on the glass after swirl.

S: Getting that charred malt. That roast. Getting a touch of vanilla. Some chocolate. Maybe some medicinal notes behind it all? Not a lot of barrel.

T: Don't know what to say here. First off, it's extremely thin. I was expecting more full bodied. I don't get much at the front of the tongue. In the middle, I get some of that artificial smoke flavor. Some charred wood and campfire like notes. Maybe a little dark cocoa too. I really don't get the barrel characters I'd expect. No oak or vanilla. Maybe the smoked malt takes away from that. Positive: booze is hidden. Easy drinking. Close is somewhat dry. Lots of liquid smoke and tobacco on the tail end.

M: Medium body here. Need a little more. Watery.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 18:04:49 | More by inlimbo77