Bell's Porter - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

chinchill

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Very dark brown and nearly opaque in my snifter despite being clear. The sudsy tan head is mildly disappointing at first, but largely redeems itself with some retention and lacing.
The aroma is very promising, with a bit of caramel sweetness, and more subtle notes of roasted malt, chocolate and coffee. The roasted malt comes to the fore in tasting, especially mid-taste onwards. Some dark chocolate, sweet caramel and a bit of a spicy hop flavor too.

M: Medium body; very smooth; would be creamy were it not for the lively, moderate carbonation.

O: Not exotic or extreme (and it shouldn't be) but a quite good porter in all aspects.

{12 oz bottle produced essentially the same impression and ratings - March 2013}

Serving type: growler

11-29-2012 23:21:13 | More by chinchill

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - A slight cascading pour... Two plus fingers worth of slightly whipped dull medium brown colored head with a rocky batter-like top... Pretty excellent retention... A flat black color... Still with no noticeable carbonation... A very refined nice looking American Porter...

S - Fairly subdued... Mars milk chocolate... Some lightly roasted malts... Faint caramel notes... Simple, straight-forward and rather effective...

T - Roasted malts dominate... Hints of coffee... Hints of chocolate... Some caramel and toffee... Perhaps just the faintest of hop bites on the finish...

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied... Sleek... Slightly creamy... Very light carbonation... A tad on the thin side... A slightly chalky finish...

D - A slightly above average American Porter... I trust Bells to turn out solid enjoyable style interruptions and this is no exception... Pretty good, but not special... I would drink again, but not something I would highly recommend either... "Decent" describes this one quite nicely...

Serving type: growler

08-20-2011 01:33:12 | More by philbe311

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a very dark brown, almost black in color, with a nice finger of tan head at the top that goes away pretty quickly, a slight bit of lacing around the glass.

S: Slight hints of chocolate and coffee up front, with a hint of brown sugar as well, the malts are present.

T: Up front is a hint of espresso beans with a little bit of dark chocolate, some nice roasted malts throughout.

M: Medium bodied, a good amount of carbonation, a little sticky on the tail end.

O: I feel that this was a good porter, being from my favorite brewery Bell's I was expecting a lot more, but this wasnt bad at all. Bought this in a variety case from shangys in PA.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 18:23:50 | More by thedoubler55

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with tall, short-lived, beige, creamy head. Aroma is of dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, toasted, nutty malt, bread crust, cacao. Body is full and smooth. Taste is herbal hops, roasted malt, coffee and cream, dark fruit and brown sugar. Finish is long and earthy. Wonderful Porter.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:40:41 | More by mikeg67

wac9

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

well i like this beer pours great in glass , a little swett tasting but the way it rolls around in your mouth is very pleasent so enjoy great color great taste doesnt blow you away but there a taste in there that make you come back for more enloy this beer the one guy compares this beer to the heavy hitter of edmund and and founder this is not them but a very enjoy triple a beerdrink and enjoy

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:42:12 | More by wac9

Roman5150

Michigan

3.23/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

bottle into tulip

appearance: dark black, not pitch black though, not much head retention

smell: subtle coffee, biscuity bready malt, not too much aroma

taste: follows the nose, not a whole lot of flavor. slight coffee and roasted malt flavors, very minor dark chocolate but not really a whole lot going on here, pretty watery for a porter.

mouthfeel: decent amount of carbonation, very thin feel

overall: did a blind test with Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald and Founders Porter, this was my least favorite and the lightest of the bunch. A decent porter, but just lacking the flavor and chocolately kick I expect from a porter. One of my least favorite beers from Bells.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 02:56:17 | More by Roman5150

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours out very dark brown with a half-inch tan cap. Lacing is weak. Looks like a porter.

Malty roast and grain with an obviously nutty coffee aroma. Hints of earthiness aided by light hopping.

Great porter flavor. Coffee, dustiness, wet earth, dark roast, pumpernickel, and some dried berry fruitiness. Has some char, has some malt sugar, has some bitterness. Low on hop flavor. Quiet alcohol. Sessionably greeting. A little singe from the carbonation perks up the feel. Good stuff.

Great tasting porter from a prestigious Michigan brewing company. Why have I never had this before?

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 13:32:57 | More by thecheapies

TheSixthRing

California

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on date of 01/04/13

Appearance - Pours a dark cola brown with a light tan finger width head. Good retention, leaving a nice of bubbles to coat the surface. Strong lacing around with glass with good stick.

Smell - Lots of cocoa and milk chocolate character. Faint roastiness.

Taste - Milk chocolate upfront. Touches on butter toffee. Faint roast on the finish.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body with low to moderate carbonation. A little thin for the style. Goes down easy.

Overall - A decent porter. Nothing that would make me seek it out again, especially given the difficulties at a lack of California distribution.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 04:56:08 | More by TheSixthRing

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.84/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Deep dark rubiness tends to a black appearance there was a thin wispy head with little retention.

The scent was dry cracker malty with touches of sweet chocolate and coffee. Very weak, the scent is nice but thin.

This porter does excel in taste with dry chocolate malt and roasted malt or toasted bread/cracker. Hints toward a red ale the dry chocolate lends back to a stout which makes this porter slightly schizophrenic. The feel is easy but substantial and holds this beer together.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:31:57 | More by KYGunner

mecummins

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- poured a dark solid brown color. No hint if any other shades even when held to a light. 2 & 1/2 finger head with good retention and nice lacing

S- dark chocolate, coffee and some roasted grains. Maybe a hint of dark fruit there

T- tastes very much like it smells. Bitter dark chocolate, moderate coffee flavor and some slight toasty grains.

M- mouthfeel was medium. Finish was medium with good carbonation to give it done crispness

A soild porter from Bells. Not exciting but still rather nice

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 21:25:54 | More by mecummins

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.76/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

a nice brown almost black pour with 2 fingers of tan head, great retention and nice amount of lacing left behind. smells of chocolate, grapes, and toasted grains. a light refreshing chocolate and dark roasted grain flavor. not much there, but the toasted grains make their presence known, as does the sweet chocolateyness. medium body with high carbonation. crisp and refreshing for a porter, sweet yet still has the roasty bitterness. overall, a great porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 07:24:24 | More by facundoCNB

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Pitch black body, very thin layer of tan bubbles that leave good lacing.

S- Lots of roasted malts, bitter coffee, bitter dark chocolate, smells great.

T- Really similar to the aroma. Lots of roasted malts with a hint of smoke. Coffee and chocolate come through a lot in the middle and towards the end.

M- Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Slight carbonation tingle towards the end, but overall pretty smooth.

O- Another strong offering from Bell's. Great aromas, great flavors, excellent porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:00:02 | More by stephenjmoore

AmitC

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bell's porter bottle dated 1/4/2013. 12oz.

Poured into snifter. A brown colored medium thin pour. Black color inside the glass. Solid one finger thick tan colored head that stays well. Excellent lacing on the sides. Opaque.

Typical porter like roasted malts. More roasted than burnt up. Strength is moderate yet persistent. Very one dimensional.

Taste is very similar to the nose. A good amount of roasted malts with slight amount of charred or burnt up flavor. Some hops may be but only lightly. Finish is dry and slightly full of burnt up taste.

Mouth feel is medium bodied. Low to moderate carbonation. No astringency. No booze throughout. A light easy drinking sessionable porter.

Style Rate: 4
Personal Rate: 3.75

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 15:53:20 | More by AmitC

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I think this Porter violates the Porter rule, and that is a Porter comes with more smoothness and sweetness to the taste. This damn thing ends with some hoppy bitterness type flavor that just fails for me. Maybe its a coffee or hops to balance the products, but once again the Bell's company just doesn't meet my taste expectations. Thumbs down.

Would pair well with music from Earth Wind and Fire.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 15:31:42 | More by frankiepop

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Nearly black, tan head has good retention and lace.

S/T - Smooth coffee roast, touch of chocolate sweetness, then finishes with just a level of pine hops that makes it half bitter, half sweet. Not really smooth in the finish, a little messy.

M - Medium body, medium carb, smooth across the palate, but finishes a little messy with pine hop bitterness battling the coffee roast.

O - Good until the finish. Not sure if it wants to be hoppy or smooth roast.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 14:31:57 | More by garuda

tdm168

North Carolina

4.01/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - black with a large, dense, brown head that has good retention

S - roasted malts, some coffee, some chocolate

T - roasted malts, faint coffee, faint chocolate, mildly bitter finish

M - medium bodied, a bit crisp but well carbonated

This is a nice, easy-to-drink porter. The flavor isn't over the top or too boldly forward, but it is a solid flavor profile. This one is enjoyable and worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 02:44:04 | More by tdm168

Jacurdy60

Alabama

3.61/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A-Pitch black color similar to a stout with flashes of a deep ruby red on the edges. Brownish-red head that dissipates quickly. Minimal lacing the falls down the glass quickly

S-strong roasted malt smell, along with dark chocolate and coffee

T-Coffee and roasted oats with a strong malty aftertaste

MF-A little dry, but very satisfying. Goes down very smooth

O-A decent brew, the smells are the best part but they do no show up too strong in the taste. I'd buy it again, it is above average

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 03:27:56 | More by Jacurdy60

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.7/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served on firkin in a pint glass

Appearance – Served a deep brown colored brew with a tiny tan colored head. The head fades very fast to leave a moderate level of lacing on the glass.

Smell – The aroma was heaviest of a blend of roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate. Mixed with these darker aromas is a light sweetness of caramel.

Taste – The taste begins with roasted malt and chocolate flavors. The chocolate is of a more milk chocolate like flavor in the beginning as there is some sweetness of caramel and vanilla upfront mixed. These sweeter flavors dry a bit as some coffee comes to the tongue to create a more dark chocolate flavor on the tongue. In the end some light earthy hop flavors come to the tongue and with the coffee flavors bitter the taste. In the end a dry and light bittered taste for a porter is left to linger on the tongue

Mouthfeel – Being a firkin pour the carbonation was rather light. The body of the beer was on the average to maybe slightly above average side in terms of its creaminess. The slightly thicker body and lower carbonation were quite nice for the roasted and sweeter flavors of the brew making for a rather nice drinking porter.

Overall - A good easy drinking brew.

Serving type: cask

01-31-2013 01:14:55 | More by Darkmagus82

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12oz Bottle from Total WIne Tampa FL for 2$

Appearance - Dark brown colour with an average size fizzy beige head. I can't make out the amount of carbonation showing and there is some fairly great lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, chocolate, grains

Taste & Mouth - There is an above amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, chocolate, and some light roasted/toasted/smokey notes. There is also a bit of a coffee bitterness and a graininess. It ends with a malty/chocolatey slightly bitter aftertaste.

Overall - An above average beer that while very drinkable is not terribly exciting. It seems a touch watery/thin but still has enough flavour to keep it interesting.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:31:19 | More by spinrsx

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep brown with about 2 fingers of tan head that slowly die. Burnt Coffee grounds, roasted malts, touch of asphalt and chocolate.

Flavor is nice and rounded, challenging the tongue while making it feel comfortable. Rich roastiness up front followed by chocolate and coffee and finishes with a nice bitterness that linger slightly along with some sweeter malt flavors. Tingles the gums. Medium bodied with big carbonation. Good flavor and drinkabililty. Not too complex but deep enough, i like it.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:18:45 | More by jtierney89

feelin_iffy

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured this bottle of Bells Porter into a pint glass, it produced a very dark body and a pleasant one finger khaki head that dissipated quickly to a nice lacing.

The smell was of light cocoa and light coffee, very average.

Very nice balanced taste that reminds me of slight dark chocolate, white raisin, and a escaping coffee.

Great mouthfeel, nice carbonation

Overall a very solid porter, a recommended drink for fans of the style

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 19:13:16 | More by feelin_iffy

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque very dark brown (almost black) in color with some very dark amber and garnet red highlights as well as light to moderate amounts of carbonation at the surface. The beer has a two finger tall creamy tan head that slowly reduces to a large thick patch, a thin film covering the rest of the surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aromas of roasted malts with some very light hints of coffee and dark chocolate.

T: Similar to the smell, this beer has a light flavor of roasted malts upfront with some notes of coffee and dark bittersweet chocolate that become more apparent as the beer warms up. Very light notes of bitterness that fades but not too quickly.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly creamy and smooth.

O: With the lighter body/mouthfeel, this is a very easy to drink beer and would be a nice late fall/early winter session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 22:04:18 | More by dbrauneis

SColl

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Date Nov. 29, 2012
Type/ Style Porter
Package 12 oz Bottle
Location Home
ABV 6.5%

Aroma: Sugar, Caramel

Appearance: Dark Black, Ruby-Brown Edges

Body/Texture: Smooth, Silky, Thin

Aftertaste: Chocolate, Coffee, Leather, Dry, Sweetness

Overall: 3.5/5 Solid Porter, I love most of the offerings from Bell's and they never disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 17:03:56 | More by SColl

jucifer1818

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Very very dark brown
Its lovely
4/5

Smell: not much smell at all....sadly. I expected more out of this beer
2/5

Taste: light caramel, light roasted barley, and just a little bi of coffee malt, with heavier hoppyness to roasty malts.

not too bad, but its not to my liking
I give this one a 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: way too watery for a porter. I give this one a 2.5/5

overall: idk, I didn't like this one much at all.
2.5/5

I expected a lot more from this brewery :(

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 03:18:29 | More by jucifer1818

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Deep rich brown with some dark reds at the edges. Nice and clear. Minimal, off-white head drops to a super thin collar in short order. Minimal lacing.

Smell: Chocolatey. Malts, roasted edges, milk chocolate sweetness. Loaded with chocolate. Some slightly acrid, almost smoked edges. Grassy and slightly floral with some old coffee rounding out the back. Some caramel malt sweetness with a touch of biscuit thrown in for good measure. Some toasted notes as well.

Taste: Mildly sweet coupled with a solid, but not aggressive, roasted malt profile. Some caramel sweetness. Old coffee and some mixed in grass and herbal/floral elements. A touch earthy with some nice toasted elements. Slight bitterness and baker's chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation on a medium body. Slightly dry on the back. Clean overall.

Overall: Drinkable, but not necessarily delightful.

A good porter. All the right flavors, but it doesn't go anywhere. Some nice complexity, but not enough to really keep it going through the whole bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 20:06:46 | More by Goblinmunkey7