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

BikingDutchman

Iowa

3.6/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Very dark brown beer that is nearly black with a one finger light tan head. Retention is okay.

S - Chocolate smell with some coffee roastiness. A small amount of earthy hop smell.

T - Roasted flavor is the most apparent. There are also some nice sweet chocolate and caramel flavors that follow the roastiness. A faint hop flavor that tries to balance only shows up for a second until the roasted flavors linger on.

M - Medium bodied but not heavy. It feels almost creamy at times.

O - The sweet chocolate flavors make this easy to drink, but I wish that the hops were a little more present.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 04:25:06 | More by BikingDutchman

clemtiger8202

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A sudsy, thick head with good lacing and stuck around the glass for the entire drink. Beer is a dark, deep brown. Aroma is definitely coffee notes and malty/toasty. Taste is sweet, coffee, and maybe a hint of dark chocolate. A bitterness sets in, much like espresso, on the finish. As the beer warmed, it seemed like there was a hint of some dark fruit present. A good porter that evolved throughout the drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 02:38:13 | More by clemtiger8202

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

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

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass. Sort of a cola brown color in the pour, decent looking. There are lighter brown and close to red highlights when you hold it up to the light. There's a tan head that comes up pretty big tan colored head. Unfortunately it goes away pretty quickly, I'd say better than average lacing.

The label of the beer shows a picture of a guy holding some malted barley and hops. Based on the nose it seems there should be some coffee beans in there somewhere too. It's not obnoxious, but I'd say it's probably the most prominent feature of all the aromas. Plenty of caramel and roasted grains/malts along with a slight pinch of the nose from the hops.

Taste is on par with the smell. Plenty of roasted grains. Caramel, some slight coffee but not as much as the smell. The hops are a little more detectable than the smell, it's nice and well balanced.

I find that Porter mouthfeels really vary, but this is good. Lighter than probably your run of the mill craft porter. Carbonation level is good. Well balanced the whole way through. Not the best but certainly not the worst, solid.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 01:34:35 | More by AndyAvalanche

srv33

Michigan

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

Finally got around to giving this brew a proper review. Pours a very dark brown, with a light brown head and alright lacing. Scent of caramel, roasted malt, and milk chocolate. Taste follows the nose very well - with additional notes of a lighter coffee and a hint of what seems like chicory. Really a fantastically balanced porter, and while there is nothing standout spectacular about this brew - in my opinion it is *the* baseline for what a porter should taste like, and that is definitely a remarkable accomplishment.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 02:51:25 | More by srv33

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle thanks to axeman9182. Poured into my CCB snifter. Bottled 5/3/12

A- Pours an opaque dark brownish black that's slightly translucent reddish brownish around the edges. A very thin layer of slightly brownish off-white head forms that quickly dissipates. Decent carbonation.

S- A nice roasty light chocolate smell, a little bit of espresso, slightly above average aroma strength.

T- Lightly bitter and sweet dark chocolate balanced with some roasted malts and some light espresso. Finishes lightly with sweet and a tiny bit bitter dark chocolate.

M- Fairly light for a porter, a little bit too thin and watery in my opinion, average to slightly above average carbonation for a porter, goes down easily.

O- This was a decent porter and another nice offering from Bell's. I liked the aroma however I felt like there could have been a little bit more flavor and definitely a little bit more full bodied- felt kind of watered down for a porter. Other then that it was an enjoyable porter that was easy to drink. I'd recommend trying it out.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 00:40:22 | More by jaasen64

312HopBomb

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown with a smallish head and not much lacing.

Smells like roast coffee and malt mingled with some earthy hops.

The taste is like a darker brown ale that is balanced with no particular flavor dominating the palate. The malts are not bitter and there is not much sweetness unlike the O'so Night Train porter that I just rated which leaned more to the sweet espresso stout side of things. This is more true to style but not spectacular. Some dry cocoa powder as well.

The mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is light.

Overall it is a decent porter which is one of my favorite styles. A good dark beer for summer sipping.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:40:56 | More by 312HopBomb

ngeunit1

California

4.23/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark brown-black color with a frothy half-finger of tannish head. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind some lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of lightly roasted milk chocolate with some caramel, coffee, and dark fruit and just a hint of smoke.

T - Starts off with a mix of roasted dark malts with some milk chocolate, dark fruits, and a bit of smoke. Through the middle, some more lactose sweetness and some more smoke with a touch of coffee. The finish was a mix of roasted milk chocolate, dark fruit, and smoke.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and roasted finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice american porter with good malt profile and body. Nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 03:55:21 | More by ngeunit1

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle from Siciliano's in Grand Rapids. 12oz into a tulip. Batch 11039, packaged March 30, 2012.

Dark brown, almost black. Tan head, good retention and lace. Cocoa and coffee roast in the nose, chocolate as well. A bit sweet, some brown sugar. Everything in nice proportion. More roast, dark malt, chocolate and a bit of tartness in the finish. Mouthfeel is lighter medium, perhaps a little moreso than I dig. Still creamy though. A really nice porter, something to be had many times over.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 03:37:18 | More by liamt07

MadScientist

New York

4.3/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The pour an deep copper almost brown with garnet highlights. An agressive pour produces two fingers of a tan bubbles with good retention.

The aroma is mostly of roasted malt with light black malt and a low carmel note in the background. There is a faint fruitness and very little hops aroma.

The first flavor is a strong malt flavor with a light burnt note that progresses to a roasty medium-dry finish. There is a light malt sweetness with a carmel note balanced by a slightly stronger hops bitterness.

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation with a slight astringency from roasted grains giving a little dry sensation in the finish.

This is a lively beer dominated by roasted malts with some dark malts as well.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 01:59:48 | More by MadScientist

Danny1217

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark reddish brown color with a small tan head.
Smells of roasted malt and caramel. Tastes of coffee, caramel, roasted malt and dark fruit. Kind of a mild taste. Body is medium with medium carbonation.

A very simple porter. Nothing too unique about it. I'd drink it when I'm in the mood for a milder dark beer or for pairing with a hearty meal.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 04:51:11 | More by Danny1217

mltobin

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle picked up at Hawthorne`s, poured into tulip.

Appearance is dark brown, a nice off-white head. Its` nose contains wood, cocoa and a smoky quality. Taking a sip of this long overdue beer to try and I taste raisins, dark chocolate, cherry and roasted malts. Mouthfeel is medium, a dry finish. A nice porter, worth trying if you have not already done so.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 13:19:43 | More by mltobin

augustgarage

California

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 2/6/2012 - poured from a 12oz bottle into a Central Waters shaker pint.

Nearly opaque yet clear seal brown liquid with a tan cap which recedes slowly to a lasting collar and surface slick. Pasty lacing, average retention.

Gentle roast malt notes in the nose.

Roasted, toasted, and smoked elements in the flavor profile - malty and dark without being astringent or acrid. Mild bitterness for balance; earth and pepper emerge in the medium-dry finish.

Medium-light bodied, rich and creamy with good carbonation.

Well crafted straight-forward enjoyable session-able American porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 06:13:39 | More by augustgarage

charlzm

California

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Consumed April 25th, 2012.

Beer is a clear, very deep brown. Slightly lighter brown highlights with a very modest head: a thin skin of tan foam.

Aroma is more complex than expected: smoky, nutty and a little chocolaty.

Flavor has a slight red grape character and a touch of vanilla, otherwise following nose. Some modest bitterness on finish wraps things up nicely.

Carbonation is low. Mouthfeel is slightly smooth and slightly thick. Very small amount of prickliness on tongue.

While the beer is not awe-inspiring, the quiet competence of this porter won me over. Nothing is out of place and the flavor and aroma are more complex and accurately delivered than one might expect. Well above average.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 23:24:47 | More by charlzm

blackcompg

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Poures a finger of lite mocha head, appearance in the glass is a deep murky opaque sepia brown, nearly black. When held to the light it just barely passes through, looking a deep hazy amber brown.

Smell - Roasted malts, pumpernickel bread, touches of molasses and soy sauce.

Taste - Fresh pumpernickel bread, robust roasted malts lending a slight sweetness, a touch of rich french roast coffee grounds, finishes with dried pumpernickel crust, minerals and some bitter char.

Mouthfeel - Almost medium as the flavors are quite full and robust. Very smooth and somewhat silky, but not creamy or mouthcoating. Carb is a bit on the lower side, and creates a smooth foaming feel in the mouth, which makes for a very gentle and seemless transition to the more bitter and dry finish, very nice.

Overall - This is a very robust and flavorful porter, not sweet at all, nice complexity, great finish and fantastic mouthfeel for the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 03:18:28 | More by blackcompg

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

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

NBS!

Pretty damn good looking porter. Absolutely pitch black body. No brown hues, or mahogany splashes, just pitch black (I held about 2 inches from the light, and then it had slight blood red splotches). Thin eggshell white head of small bubbles.

Smell is thick and roasty. I get the nice roasted malts, but theres something different going on. Kind of makes me think vanilla and caramel. Smells thick.

Now the taste is interesting. nutty and woody. Dry grains, and notes of a barrel. Odd I know, considering this isnt BA. Theres a light body, but it feels thick. I just get all dry grains and woody barrel. Finishes clean with chewy malt.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 17:25:42 | More by VncentLIFE

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle dated 3/23/12 so decently fresh. Dark black, brown head. Smells like grainy malts, eh, boring. Taste is slightly malty but I really thought this was a letdown. It was not a bad beer it was just sort of boring and I love porters. I would probably give this one more shot because I know Bells makes great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 18:04:41 | More by ArrogantB

happy4hoppybeer

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Very dark brown, almost pitch black, with some light shining through. Creamy and bubbly tan head, about half a finger thick. Moderate lacing and retention.

Light aromas of roasted malt, some alcohol and faint coffee-like scents. All very light, noticeable by sniffing very attentively. Not bad.

Nice mouth full of chewy roasted malt and other dark flavors, very light as the style usually dictates. Light body with lots of carbonation.

Solid porter, nothing wowing, but porters are not supposed to be. Light but tasty, very satisfying and flavorful without being too light.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 23:48:06 | More by happy4hoppybeer

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is dark brown to almost black with a tan head. Head retention is average, with lacing slightly above average. A nice combination of cocoa, coffee, and dark fruit scents make for a very enjoyable smell. The taste is flavorful - very well balanced with nice complexity. A panorama of flavors including dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, and bitter citrus cross the palate in approximately that order. Mouthfeel is good but not outstanding for the style. I'd put this among the best porters that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 21:28:20 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

rlee1390

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Black in the glass with a one finger almost tan head, around the edges more of a dark brown/ruby color

S-Roasted, almost burnt malts, good deal of coffee as well

T-Like the nose mainly roasted malt, coffee is in there but not as much compared to the nose. Licorice flavors as well. And caramel... As it warms coffee comes out a lot more.

M-Medium bodied, smooth, but slightly thin and watery.

O-More roasty/burnt than most porters however the thin/watery mouthfeel is a let down.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 03:28:02 | More by rlee1390

jsisko01

Michigan

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

There's a high possibility that this beer is outdated.. because of where I bought it from. The date code on the back just says 9645, which I'm not familiar with.

Appearance - Pours a VERY dark brown, basically black color. Has almost no head, brown foam that dissipates instantly, and lacing is kind of thin.

Smell - Dark and roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, and caramel/toffee.

Taste - The taste is identical to the smell..

Mouthfeel - Thick, creamy body with mild carbonation.

Overall - I know that this beer is a good flavor for what it's intended to be.. but I just hate anything coffee-like. But I will not mark this down because of that.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 03:06:22 | More by jsisko01

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bells porter on tap at the brewery.

A- Dark brown/black pour with a thin tan head and excellent lacing.

S- Nice toasted malt, good char, chocolate, coffee and brown sugar.

T- Coffee, bakers chocolate, toast and vanilla.

M- Medium bodied, lively carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 02:09:58 | More by korguy123

brewskifan55

Mississippi

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

Thanks, cvm4 for this terrific trade! Poured into a snifter

A: Black with a brown underbite. Not much head. Leaves behind some big bubbles and a tan ring around the glass. Significant lacing

S: Nice and malty. Sweet, woody, clean.

T: Smoky, malty with hints of caramel. Sweet, robust. A tad of chocolate in the mix. Full bodied. A smooth finish. What a great malt ride.

M: Medium with frothy carbonation.

O: One of the smoothest porters I've tried. Would drink again. Great with steak.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 14:38:12 | More by brewskifan55

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We don't get Bell's in New Jersey, and that makes me a sad panda. I wish that they would deign us worthy of their distribution, but I understand that this market is pretty saturated already.

Their Porter was very dark, almost black. I only got minimal foam, which was close to white. The foam, scum held on nicely to create decent lacing on the glass.

Off the top I got minimal smell. There clean coffee notes and not much else. The flavor brought in a ton of roast and some decent malt forward presence. It wasn't too bad. I would say that Bell's Porter was very drinkable. This beer makes for a good option as a lighter porder.

I prefer many other Bell's brews to this one, but they did a pretty good job.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 21:51:57 | More by ummswimmin

cvm4

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a very dark brown. Nice tan 2 finger head. Great lacing as it's drank down.

S - The roasted malt and coffee are there along with a faint smell of dark chocolate.

T - Sweet and malty with some dark cocoa on the finish.

M - On the light side of medium in carbonation.

O - A solid porter that won't blow you away but is there for you when you're not looking to concentrate on a beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 23:51:16 | More by cvm4

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a darker mahogany/brown with nice puffy, tan head head. Goes slowly down the glass and leaves a good amount of lacing along the sides.

S - Notes of roasted malt, coffee, and some bittersweet chocolate. A bit of toffee and caramel present as well.

T - A quick hit of bitter coffee before fading into some sweeter notes of chocolate and even just a hint of dark fruit. Finishes ever so bitter.

M - It's a little on the thinner side, but very smooth.

Overall - A decent porter. I felt it a little lacking on lasting flavor, but what was present was good. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 00:14:14 | More by BeerBuckeye