Smokehouse Porter - Northbound Brewpub

jera1350

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the Northbound website:

"As far as porters go, this one is heavier on the caramel malt and lighter on the roast malt. 5% of the base malt is smoke in-house for a smoky complexity. This beer will pair well with most of our menu items. And weighing in at 6.2% ABV it can also be your winter warmer."

As a fan of smoked beers, this beer was on my radar.

Served in a pint glass a solid black with just a thin layer of foam on top.

Smells of rich and sweet malts, maybe some chocolate. Just a hint of smoke deep down, but that's it.

This is a big flavored porter. Rich, sweet malts with some roasty notes. Great depth of flavor, but with only a small hint of smoked malt. The hell? I really dig the flavor of this beer, but if this was a blind tasting, I probably wouldn't know it was a smoked porter.

Very rich for the style, pretty thick and very slick feel to it.

I like this beer a lot overall, but it is not a very smoke forward smoked porter. That leaves me disappointed personally, but the masses will like this porter. The porter itself is wonderful, but it is missing that smoked component. I would have this again in the future regardless though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 02:59:52 | More by jera1350

gatornation

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2%

05-21-2013 21:25:06 | More by gatornation

morimech

Minnesota

3.84/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black brew that leaves a moderate amount of lacing down the glass. Smells on the sweeter side with notes of caramel, chocolate, and some smoke. Taste follows suit. Beer geeks would like more smoke but at the current level, more approachable for the neophytes. Definitely sweet caramel with notes of chocolate. No roast, and low bitterness. Has a healthy body and good carbonation out of the tap. Guess I am not surprised by the ABV level with the amount of body this beer flaunts. This is not a smoke porter or an old world porter, but along the lines of the standard American porter. Definitely not a destination brew but it does go well with their menu.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2013 20:30:45 | More by morimech

neat0007

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

03-29-2013 02:41:56 | More by neat0007

Greggy

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black body with tan head. Recedes to thin cap after a minute. Lacing is present although minimal.

Chocolate creamy roast on the nose with minimal smoke, if any. Regardless, a good porter nose.

Starts with nice bakers chocolate, cream and a clean Acidity on the finish.

Low carbonation and good body.

Overall a good porter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2013 22:56:17 | More by Greggy

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This beer arrives an opaque black color. The head is a quarter inch in height, and recedes quickly into minimal lacing. The arome is of roasted malt with hints of smoke and milk chocolate. The taste is of smoked roasted malt, chocolate, smores with a nice roasted malt bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with appropriately moderate carbonation, and s somewhat chewy texture. Overall, this is a reaaly good smoked porter. It's not as smokey as some, but it sure does pair perfectly with Northbound's food.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 17:07:41 | More by KarlHungus

sacrelicio

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

02-26-2013 07:30:42 | More by sacrelicio

eye_pea_eh

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

02-23-2013 01:57:15 | More by eye_pea_eh

Cooper

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

12-31-2012 21:51:26 | More by Cooper

herman77

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

12-30-2012 21:23:04 | More by herman77

fuzzcherry

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

11-17-2012 07:00:14 | More by fuzzcherry