Entire Butt English Porter - Salopian Brewing Company Ltd

palma

New York

4.58/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

What a great aroma. Sweet cream. Coffee. Chocolate. Caramel. Simply awesome.

Taste is just as good as the aroma. Dry upfront with a sweet malty middle. Mild smokiness and some significant roasted coffee flavor. Light grassy notes here and there. A slight bitterness lingers towards the end, yet the low alcohol content lends itself to a surprisingly clean finish. So complex yet so clean. amazing.
I could drink 10 of these. This is a true English session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 05:57:14 | More by palma

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Blue Nile for $8 a pint. Comes a pitch black with a short tan head, leaves impressive lacing.

This really does taste like a true English porter. The flavor starts with mellow dark chocolate and a slight sour tang. As the beer finishes it dives into dark malts with espresso and coffee notes and a spicy hops kiss. This is really a great beer and very true to style. I wouldn't mind having this more often. My only qualm is the $8 price tag. But then again, I'm a cheapskate.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 01:40:47 | More by tempest

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brewed 12 miles away in an old converted creamary (only been on one brewery trip though).

Brown 50cl bottle conditioned beer, best before 27th June 2009, drank on a cold and windy evening in November 2008 while sat eating strong English Cheddar, Branston Pickle and Spring Onions. The review was completed before I started the eating bit.

Poured into a handled pint glass.

Jet black with only a hint of a deep ruby red colouring when the actual light bulb was against the glass. The tan head swiftly fell away to a thin wispy covering, which was thicker around the collar.

The smell was of toasted malts, 14 different ones are used in the brew according to my bottle along with 3 hops. I couldn't detect any hop aroma, the malts seeing to that. The malts are listed on the label, so you can pretent to find each flavour if you wanted too.

The taste was rich and roasted malts, some burnt others others toasted like the smell. No way could I tell you which one stood out the most although dark chocolate does come into the aftertaste more than anything else. There is more than hint of coffee as well.

A very good English Porter and most likey the second best I've ever had. Bateman's Salem Porter is still my personal number one.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 18:52:12 | More by BlackHaddock

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Re-review, correcting my disappointing first bottle nearly 5 years ago. Now, I've got a freshly poured pint in front of me. Let's do it.

Dark brown body, with ruby highlights. Tan head, with greenish tints. Classic.

Aroma: cocoa and cream, with a hint of vanilla. Lush malt, excellent balance, not too green, not too sweet. Clean and mellow. Excellent.

Taste: Minor hop buzz up front, that stays in play, if on the sidelines, while malt moves in. That sour green apple flavor is there, the one that spoiled that bottle for me, but it's way down there, mixed with grassy notes, and then the cocoa, and then the coffee. A complex blend of malts, it's a cliche', but it's also true.
Great thirst-quencher, surprisingly refreshing. And, amazingly enough, unless I'm fooling myself, I can see where the parts come together. Mild ale, brown ale, and a soured old ale, minus the booze .

This would definitely be a great session ale, if not for the high cost. Guess I have to rely on more affordable porters for that, but I can really appreciate the effort they put into it. With each touch to the lips, delicious malt, sweet brown sugar, grassy hops, chocolate-y goodness, slipping down the throat.
Yum, and yum.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2008 07:33:15 | More by feloniousmonk

blakesell

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the 16oz bottle into a weizen style glass.

Appearance- Beer pours a very dark, near blood red with a huge head of over four fingers of foam across the top foam is a mocha color and gradually dies down to a fine frosh across the top leaving very ample lacing around the sides. For such a low gravity beer, this is a very impressive appearance.

Smell- Entire butt in olde timey English means "everything but the kitchen sink", and the smell indicates that as well. Ample roasted and chocolaty malts with a very hoppy backbone for an English beer. I'm getting a lot of dark fruits on this beer as well.. Star anise and raisin primarily. The nose on this beer is outstanding.

Taste- There is a very lactic, metallic twinge on this beer that also gives a perception of sourness, but behind it there is a very well crafted beer that I feel must have been past it's prime on the shelf as this one is pretty fresh from buying. It leaves a slight burn on the tongue from a battery acid taste, but there is still a solid grainy dark malted beer in there too. This is a mysterious beer that I wish I had a guaranteed fresh one to go with this one to confirm that there's something wrong with this one.

Mouthfeel- Acidic, metallic, tart, medium full bodied, and medium high in carbonation.

Drinkability- After repeated sips it almost tastes Belgian due to all the off flavors. I think this one was a bad bottle. Unfortunately, I'll have a hard time finding another any time soon.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2008 02:50:29 | More by blakesell

Offa

California

4.63/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a very tasty, complex, and highly drinkable porter.

Dark reddish brown, almost black, it has a medium tan head that shrinks slowly.

The aroma is a little on the light side in body for a porter but is interesting, very enjoyable, and has nice subtle complexity, including general roasted malt character, chocolate, dark toast, hints of fruit, especially prunes, hints of caramel and coffee, and a stronger mocha aroma when warmer.

The taste is very enjoyable, on the light side for a porter, but interesting and engaging. porter taste. It's smooth, fruity and toasty with light chocolate, light bitterness, hints of wine, and a pepper in the finish. There is a barely perceptible coffee element in the taste, unlike the aroma. It's also highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2008 23:32:21 | More by Offa

mcsquint

Missouri

4.72/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 50cl bottle purchased at Gomer's in Lee's Summit into large dimpled mug.
A - Black in color with red when held up to light. 2 finger tan head.
S - Malt with chocolate
T - Very complex flavor from all the different malts used. Predominant flavor being chocolate. Very well balanced.
M - Full mouthfeel, perfectly carbonated.
D - At @ $5.00 for a bottle, this would be an expensive drinking session.However,this is an excellent example of the style. This would be a great introduction for anyone wanting to try a porter for the first time.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2008 23:01:56 | More by mcsquint

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black body with a brown tinge on the edges when held to the light. Poured a three finger bubbly light tan head that dissipated (not too fast) to a generous film. Lacing was thin and broken. No visible carbonation.

S: Dark malt and earthy aromas. Just a hint of caramel and raisins follows.

T: Dark roasted malt a light hop bitterness in the finish. Chocolate malt and a toasted malt underneath.

M: Medium body, but thick and creamy. Very light alcohol develops as it warms (I think I started too cold).

D: Big malt flavor and a nice balance with bitterness. A bit disappointed with feel; I wonder what it would be like from the butt (cask). Not too filling to enjoy a gulp or a sip.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2008 00:33:45 | More by Haybeerman

DoubleJ

California

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I have a 500 ml bottle which I'm waiting to pop as I warm it up from the fridge....enough of that, I think we're ready to go. On to the beer:

This porter is opaque with shimmering reddish hues at the bottom of my pint glass. Good head and solid retention. Big butterscoth scent races to the nose. It's toffeeish too. It has a very sweet taste to it with the similar toffee/butterscotch flavors. Chunks of french vanilla coffee make their enterence onto stage. I know the yeast is at hard at work, but I can't determine which flavors it is providing. Very very mellow overall...I think I'll have another.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2008 03:55:03 | More by DoubleJ

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

What an ass! Pours a somewhat clear black color with some brown hues around the edge of the glass. A light brown head with limited retention and lacing.

The nose is soft but with a underling malt characteristic. Really subtle, almost blended in a way. Some English malt notes with some minor caramel and some hints latte notes, coffee, milk etc. One plus is that I pick out black marker notes in English Porters, & I don't get any here.

The taste also has a soft, blended flavor that is similar to the nose. The malt profile is more pronounced with more caramel and velvet textures that are similar to nitro beers. A hint of roast and coffee but very light for style. Some lactic that enhances the mouthfeel. Some feint earthy hop notes, but really have to look for it.

The body is light, understandable, but does fall with a watery, wispy texture. But the smoothness is right on for a typical English beer. Would have loved to see more astringency but for a session beer, its ok.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2008 22:07:38 | More by Oxymoron

ClashmoreMike

District of Columbia

2.63/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Had this on tap at Rustico (Alexandria, VA).

A = Dark brown, almost black. A bit of red in the edges. Light brown head starts at about 1/4 inch and then goes down to beer algae. Very little lacing.

S = No strong scents. Malty. A bit of dark chocolate in there. Also a hint of something like vanilla.

T = The overarching theme here is: watery. You can taste sweet malts and some chocolate. There are hops in there to add some bitterness. But the flavors are strangely watered down. There's also a little sourness in there that I didn't expect (and just didn't like at all in a porter).

M = The tastes are watered down, and the mouthfeel follows suit. The mouthfeel is very light. Medium to low carbonation.

D = It's too bad. I like porters and was really hoping to like this one too. However, it is too watery and too light for my taste. The slight sourness in the taste didn't help either.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2008 02:04:06 | More by ClashmoreMike

cracgor

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown to black with a thin more english style head that's a light brown. Smells like darkly burnt coffee with a sweet raspberry like aroma at its base. This beer has an amazing taste. One of the better porters I've had with a coffee like flavor and enough sweet flavor to undercut it. Kind of thick, but definitely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2008 01:10:16 | More by cracgor

swizzlenuts

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: Black, appears to be carbonated, and has a decent sized head, but leaves rather quickly.

S: Has a fruity malty smell with a hint of a roasty smell.

T: It has a bit of a bite from the carbonation. The first thing that comes out is the roasted barley taste. I can't taste any hops in the beer either. There is a sweet creamy chocolate flavour that comes after you at the end.

M: The beer is a bit watery at first, but it's creaminess kind of stick around in your mouth until you swallow.

D: A quite strong/different flavour so not too drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2008 22:17:35 | More by swizzlenuts

DogFood11

California

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I'm impressed with the appearance. Dark brown body with a firm tan head. Plenty of lace left behind. Looks chewey.

Smell is fairly mellow and doesn't reveal the goodness to come. Complex malt brew that runs the entire spectrum. Dark chocolate with the dry side of bakers chocolate. De-caff with whole milk make up the body but it shoots off in all directions including some fur tree smoke. Black licorice shows up late in the game as it warms up.

Notes: One of the better low abv beers I've had in recent memory. Lively and plenty of depth. I could picture having this with shellfish and creamy pasta like alfredo or the like. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2008 21:47:37 | More by DogFood11

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I picked this up at Well's in Baltimore. Glad to have the chance to review this many years after first trying it. Poured cool into my La Fin Du Monde tulip from a 50cl brown bottle w/ best before date printed on label.

A - A finely beaded tan head caps the deep brown liquid that has ruby colored highlights. The head is rocky and leaves a thin rim of lace.

S - A wealth of fruit and herbal notes which are vinous w/ subtle cream and roasted malt notes appear in the aroma w/ a hint of toffee.

M - Subtle dry malt w/ a moderate spice and bitterness w/ a moderate accent of carbonation. Subtle sweetness fades into the clean finish.

T - A very rich taste of roasted notes w/ gentle mineral notes combine w/ a gentle woody flavor and flavors that are toasty and caramel influenced. The malt flavors are very smooth w/ oat silkiness and crisp w/ British malt character. Cocoa-like chocolate malt notes are dominant w/ a mild sweet berry flavor. The subtle smooth vanilla notes complement the roastiness well and allow the cocoa creaminess to become magnified. A lasting depth of flavor keeps the taste buds happy!

D - So drinkable as only I remember this ale being years ago. I found this to be a masterfully malty ale w/ balance and the kind of nuances you don't find that often. A fermented beauty for the mouth to absord this is not one to miss.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 18:45:27 | More by Slatetank

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So I guess you could say this is not a...half-assed beer?

After a night of various beer sampling, I like to try and end on a high note if possible. Tonight's attempt will be done with this one.

Pours one step below pitch black. Tan head. Nose is malty and also a real distinct edge of a roasted sugar that has sat in the pan 10 seconds too long and is far beyond rescuing. Coffee tones there when you really linger for something more. Flavor is nice and robust. Roasted attributes that don't hijack the experience. Feel has a good level of carbonation and a decent liquid body. I feel like it is a bit thin, but overall it is good. The verdict is that this is a fairly nice English Porter. One to definitely sip and ponder due to it's fairly full body. I liked it.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 02:09:36 | More by RblWthACoz

Erdinger2003

Iowa

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Best before F06 103
Bottle Conditioned
Pours a nice light tan colored head that has a great lacing. The head falls thin, but doesn't leave. Color is dark with some purple protrudes when held up to the light. Smell is bready and roasted malts sweet and a little sour at the same time. A very nice light roasty flavor compliments the bready malts that fill you up and make the mouthfeel creamy-like. Minimal off-flavors. Overall this is a good english porter, I am glad to have this locally.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 03:29:41 | More by Erdinger2003

JustinOSU99

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: Very dark brown and tasty looking. A small white head emerges as you pour from the bottle but quickly dies down.
S: Lots of complex smells. Oil, coffee, semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa, raisins, caramel, pine. Yummy.
T: Very different. Smoke dominates the immediate taste and gives way to a very semi-sweet chocolate finish. There is a sour taste to this beer that doesn't do it for me.
M: The mouthfeel is smooth and lightly carbonated.
D: Definitely too strange of a flavor for me. A one time only beer for this guy.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2007 02:14:33 | More by JustinOSU99

albern

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What a pleasant surprise. The only weak point of this beer is the head, which pretty much never materialized and then completely disappeared whatever there was of it. The smell is chocolate, coffee, tobacco, molasses, some berries, and a touch of hop, but not much. The smell does not do the beer justice and is quite subdued. This beer is all about the malty taste. This is a light to medium bodied beer with a very distinctive chocolate, malty, caramel, sweet taste that derives from the dozen or so different malts used to brew this beer. You will get some hints of berry, and toffee as well. The mouthfeel is largely watery with a slight oily feel. The aftertaste is surprisingly light. This is a thoroughly enjoyable porter well worth seeking out. L'Chaim.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2007 20:28:17 | More by albern

BuckSpin

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 500ml bottle (best by of F9 171???) in a Shaker pint

Poured with some surge, gurgling, a little thick. Whoa...deep nose, like a cool, damp evening. You could fall into this aroma. The deepest, darkest, silkiest, high end, all cocoa butter chocolate & caramel nose I've ever encountered...its amazing. Traces of old coffee, rotting wood, roasted nuts, even some over ripe fruit, just lush....a wonderfully deep aroma.

For a porter the head was disappointing. At the best a pencil's worth of mixed coffee ice cream colored foam faded rather quickly to a thin floater of a sheen with some larger edge ring lacing. A repour does elicit a finger's worth of foam (much better) but it still fades rather quickly but does at least laces in thin tree ring bands.

I find myself just taking in that bouquet again & again...lovely. A turtle!! That's it!! Those candies of chocolate, caramel & nuts. Imagine the best ingredients and that is close.

Practically opaque, its a classic "black in a good mood" burnt umber in hue, with the glass edges revealing a black blood red/burgandy hue with a little light.

Lighter than I expected, a little thick & oily, that deep, silky dark chocolate from the aroma is there. It favors the sweet end of the bittersweet spectrum but is not sugary at all. A pleasing, subtle bitterness, echoes of baking chocolate as well as black coffee & burnt nuts, add a nice counterweight and overall balance to it. The mouthfeel is generally light for the style and semi-dry. Not as crisp as a Baltic Porter, but for as thick (and generally silky) as it feels it has a levity to it that reminds me of Baltic examples.

It grows increasingly (but not overwhelmingly) bitter on the palate, the chocolate losing its lush quality and growing more like baker's chocolate, more angular/sharper, but also less dry...odd. It finishes a little syrupy, nicely bitter, a little silty even, and surprisingly clean & light.

This was good. The nose was amazing, the taste nice. I'm partial to the stronger, more robust American interpretations of the genre, but this was one of the tastier English examples I've tried. It was very easy to drink, and I could see this working nicely with some cheddar anything (cheeseburger?) as well as battered/fried fish n' chips, or as a great dessert beer with a unsweetened, flourless chocolate molten cake, etc. I'd definitely drink it again. Heck, I'd open another just to smell it!! If you get a chance, give this Entire Butt a spank!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2007 00:22:45 | More by BuckSpin

botham

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pint bottle poured into an imperial nonic pint glass. pours just like a porter should: a semi-transparent black, with garnet highlights and a sizable light tan colored head that slowly dissipates into moderate lacings on the glass.

smells very malty, with a light roasted and caramel character. a bit of yeasty aroma is mixed in as well, alongside a flutter of a vinous feel. all in all, a pleasant mix.

taste is restrained at first, leading into a somewhat strong vinous and acidic flavor that overpowers the other flavors present in the smell. a dissapointing taste after a pleasant smelling brew. this could be a bad bottle, because the character of this brew is more along the lines of a flander's red, not a porter.

aftertaste is dry, and still with the vinous and sour character. like i just drank wine, which was made from pre-mature grapes.

mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, with a very smooth and creamy texture. this one has some weight behind it, but the smoothness is cancelled by the vinegar-like character.

drinkability is not very good. there is a bite from the sour vinous character, and the brew is somewhat heavy for the flavors you get out of it. not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2007 02:50:12 | More by botham

DUNDERBAK

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Every porters dream, with 14 malts and 3 hops this is what a porter should be! A little more complex than say flag Porter, It is worth many sips, just serve it a little warmer in order to appreciate the complexity.
Dark, ruby appearance, slight head and short lived for a bottle conditioned beer. Black patent , chocolate, coffee and toasty malts characterize a very English Beer. This yeast, unlike American ale yeast offers a unique spicy addition, not to mention those all so English hops.
The malt wins the contest, as it should be! Try it!

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2007 02:20:15 | More by DUNDERBAK

Fugazme

Nebraska

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice, dark dark dark brown with a wonderful 1/4", thick head that is a good tan color... excellent cap after head dissipates with a creamy lace.

Decent roasted malt character on the nose... some hints of chocolate, but mostly caramel and roastiness. Not a huge aroma.

Good mouthfeel... definite smooth and a tad silky. Nice.

A good sweet middle and a bitter finish on the swallow. Some great roasted flavor. Acidic coffee and a bit of cola.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2007 21:31:43 | More by Fugazme

cjgator3

Florida

2.6/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark black color with a light tan head. The aroma is surprisingly faint with just a touch of dark roasted malts, chocolate and a touch of licorice. The taste is dark and roasty with some odd indescribable off-flavors in there as well. Overall, I am not a huge fan of this brew at all.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2007 18:23:15 | More by cjgator3

Murchmac

California

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful brown with a two finger head. Smells chocolate malty with a balanced and reserved English taste. Nice mouthfeel with a lingering aftertaste that hits every part of your mouth. Chocolate, malty, hoppy, good butt porter. Can drink on a cold night or warm afternoon, enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2007 01:31:18 | More by Murchmac