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

nrbw23

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a black color when held to the light not too much passes through expect on the edges. A nice foam like cream colored head that leaves pretty much no lacing.

S- Smells are a tiny bit weak compared to other porters but still not terrible by any means. Roasted malts, coffee and some chocolate.

T- As expected, roasted and chocolately along with a nice sweetness. Pretty much just as I'd expected.

M- This has to be just about perfect here.

D- A very solid brew and even more special on cask.

Serving type: cask

02-17-2009 09:34:49 | More by nrbw23

CHSLBrew

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served in a pint glass.

A-Minimal head with no lacing. Black color. It seems like this beer wanted to be clear, because it showed some slight deep red hues on the edges when I held it to the light.

S-Minimal aromas. Some slight roasted coffee and toasted malt aroma.

T-Roasty, toasty malt with subtle coffee, also a slightly astringent bite. Agressively bitter with no hop aroma/flavor. Finishes moderate/very dry.

M-Low carbonation and a too thin mouthfeel for this style. I think this style is not the best when served on cask.

D-Very easy to drink, lending to the thin body. However, did not leave me wanting another.

Serving type: cask

11-02-2008 18:34:33 | More by CHSLBrew

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The first cask I've ever seen at Bocktown for Firkin night featuring Bell's porter. The brewer from Bell's was also present and it was cool to meet him.

This was a nice porter with the typical appearance but the head fades quickly...especially for a cask beer. This is a nice drinkable porter that's smell and flavors lean on the coffee side. Not very much roasted bitterness but just enough to give you that authentic feel. A nice light drinkable porter body. A really good representation of the typical porter without any crazy deviance from the style. I liked this one but I know that it wouldn't be as good in a bottle.

Serving type: cask

09-11-2008 01:24:52 | More by PittBeerGirl

simplexiton

Maryland

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

As indicated I had this beer on cask at Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown, D.C.

Glass - straight walled pint glass

Appearance: Black, ruby highlights when held to light

Smell: Whoa roasty and chocolate really hits the nose in the best way. Restrained hops barely noticeable. The roastiness is really center stage here

Taste: As expected, roasted and chocolately upfront accompanied by a dark sweetness (almost prunes, but more molasses like) and hints of wood (not sure which kind) from the cask. Slight alcohol warming.

Mouthfeel: just about perfect. the carbonation was light, just enough to accent the malt heavy backbone. Slightly viscous but not syrupy at all. The temperature and carbonation amount really allowed each sip to coat the interior of my mouth.

Drinkability: The carbonation seemed to slip away as I finished the brew but I could definitely drink this as a session, especially on cask.

Having this beer in bottles was great but it was really special on cask, if you ever have a chance to get this on cask definitely do it.

Serving type: cask

08-15-2008 03:06:42 | More by simplexiton

pwoods

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

20oz. imperial pint, pulled at the Dilly Deli. Review from notes.

A: Dark brown, opaque. Big frothy head, great retention and decent lacing.

S: Big roasty and milky notes. Some chocolate and a hint of sweet cola.

T/M: More from the nose with a nice, drying feel. Still milky with plenty of soft roast. Body is about medium with subtle carbonation.

D: Tasty on cask and easily sessionable.

Serving type: cask

08-13-2008 02:36:07 | More by pwoods

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When it arrived in a pint glass, there was not much head left to it, maybe 1 finger. This was due to the server having to go else where (not the bar, where I was sitting) to draw it, but what remained of the head, was creamy, in texture and appearance. The beer had a very nice deep dark brown color to it.

I expected the taste to be a bit stronger than it actually was based upon the smell. I also expected it to be a bit thinker (appeared a bit watery), given it was cask strength, but it was very smooth and easy to drink with a good flavor to it.

Overall, this would be a beer that I order/purchase again.

Serving type: cask

04-09-2008 19:23:08 | More by PhillyStyle

lightindarkness

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a firkin at Hot Shotz. Poured a deep dark mahogany brown with some light seeping through. A short head sinks to a ring around the glass leaving some decent lace. Nose is smoky, with burnt wood and some dark fruits. Hidden scent of sweeter caramel. Taste is nice, with smooth malt and a slightly crisp back end. Flavors of smoke, wood, and deep toasted malt. It sweetens a some in the middle then breaks up to a clean finish. Feel is smooth with a lighter medium body. Leaves a little oily feeling, but has a very clean finish. Lighter and slightly watery on cask. Very pleasant overall. It doesn't pack the body I usually enjoy in this style. Consumes very easily.

Serving type: cask

04-01-2008 06:26:18 | More by lightindarkness

Shovelbum

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this off the hand-pull tap at Ashley’s in Ann Arbor, MI.

Robust, creamy, deep-tan head. The body was a black with ruby edges. Nice bands of stratigraphic lace. Light hop aroma, but overall very clean in the nose. Creamy, velvety smooth body with mild hop bitterness and notes of roasted coffee. Slightly sweet, but not overwhelming. Not syrupy, but definitely a medium to full body. Low carbonation of the hand-pull, accentuating the velvet mouthfeel.

The cask-conditioning and hand-pull may have had something to do with it, but this was an excellent porter. Smooth mouthfeel, great balance between the hops and roasted malts and tame sweetness, combine to make this one of the most ideal session porters that have passed my lips.

Serving type: cask

10-20-2005 20:52:14 | More by Shovelbum

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

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