Mill Street Portage Ale - Mill Street Brew Pub

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draft at the Mill Street Pub Ottawa

Appearance - Clear yellow colour with a small size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for only a minute or two.

Smell - Malts, breads/grains, hay/straw/herbal notes, corn

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste corn syrup mixed with light hops and herbal notes. There is also a some very faint fruit notes that seem to give it it's sweetness. It ends with a graint yet slightly sweet aftertaste.

Overall - While not spectacular, it's a step up from their stock ale etc. It's very drinkable and has just enough flavour to keep it interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2012 17:25:39 | More by spinrsx

rarbring

Sweden

3.08/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A clear straw colored brew, an off-white head leaving good lacing but small curtains.

Sweet pear aroma, some hay.

Sweet taste as well, white bread, pears and some lime juice and peel.

Medium carbonation, small bubbles, a light dry finish.

Frisrt impression was "this is too sweet", after a while it got more nuanced.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2012 16:31:06 | More by rarbring

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The flagship beer of the new Ottawa brewpub. Growler purchased from the retail store and opened on the same day. Served cold in an American pint glass.

Pours a slightly pale golden colour with a small white head that burns off quickly leaving a thread-like collar behind. There is almost no lacing, but there is a visible stream of carbonation.

Smells of sweet grains, wheat and yeast. There is a juice-like note that hovers between raspberry, cherry and grape, with just a hint of alcohol.

The taste is rather sweet as well, with grains making up the bulk of the body. There is a strong grassy tone, a certain grape or apple juice-like taste and very subtle milk chocolate and berry notes. The finish is very dry on the back of the tongue and throat.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a medium carbonation level. The ale is quite creamy on the tongue with a distinct yeast character. The yeast sticks around in the aftertaste, along with a raw grain taste.

This is a decent, if not slightly too sweet ale that is very food-friendly and sessionable. It won't turn any heads in the craft beer community, but it won't turn casual beer drinkers away either. It's a safe choice by a brewery that knows its clientèle.

UPDATE: Tried this in a 750 mL snap-top bottle and it was a lot better. The head left a lot of lace, was very frothy and had better retention and the beer simply tasted fresher and more defined. Definitely go for the bottle or have it on tap if you get the chance.

Serving type: growler

01-26-2012 21:22:26 | More by bryehn