Barrel Aged Smoke (Smoked Porter) - O'Fallon Brewery

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer review from BA Mag Aug 2007.

Here we have O'Fallon's famous Smoked Porter, brewed with over 60 percent smoked German malts, dropped into whiskey barrels and allowed to mature and worm its way through all that charred American oak. Oh, yeah.

Pitch-black, opaque and topped with a creamy coffee-colored head that drops to thin, large-bubbled ringed lace. Massive whiskey nose, a bit boozy; rich vanilla, some smoked meats, charred wood and ash. Round and smooth, a bit silky; lighter on the palate than anticipated. Sweet up front, with a touch of molasses, brown sugar, chocolate and coffee. Semi-sour, but not in a bad way; oaky flavor breaks through with a soft herbal hop note. Deep whiskey flavors throughout the beer, with vanilla and spicy alcohol. Smoky toward the finish, with more wood. Finishes surprisingly dry and clean, with some light whiskey residuals and a husky edge.

Though the smokiness has been dulled down a bit by aging the beer in wood, it's still very present and blends extremely well with the whiskey characteristics that it picked up, which are themselves not at all overpowering, but rather quite complementary. An incredibly complex and enjoyable brew--big thumbs-up to O'Fallon. Great on its own, as a digestif or paired with some chocolates.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 14:01:30 | More by BeerAdvocate

katan

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22oz into a pint

A - Pours dark brown to almost black, with just a few amber colors shining through the corners. Head formation is mocha colored. Very dirty.

S - Lightly smoky nose, very restrained overall. Perhaps a bit of oakiness, but I wouldn't say it is obvious.

T - Starts off lightly sweet, a few burnt flavors start to come in. Mid-stream a more smoky flavor comes through. Finishes with bourbon flavors finally making their appearance. A not very strong beer in any way - probably a good thing for a smoky beer.

M - Moderate body, moderate carbonation. Somewhat sticky in the finish, but balanced overall. No alcohol warmth.

O/D - A somewhat boring beer, probably because I let it age too long. Nothing strong about it. A bit filling, but thankfully not too palette wrecking. I guess I wouldnt buy it again, but glad I had it.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 21:02:07 | More by katan

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev 0%

04-28-2013 00:46:19 | More by GRG1313

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

01-13-2013 21:52:43 | More by spycow

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

12-03-2012 04:08:08 | More by t0rin0

bsuedekum

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

09-22-2012 23:40:38 | More by bsuedekum

ajs4bd

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -18.8%

08-20-2012 12:37:43 | More by ajs4bd

ms11781

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev 0%

07-13-2012 00:13:55 | More by ms11781

LJWalker

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

06-13-2012 13:53:38 | More by LJWalker

rdunigan

Ohio

3/5  rDev -25%

05-26-2012 00:06:11 | More by rdunigan

billab914

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 vintage poured into my Dogfish snifter. It poured dark brown in color with a thin tan head scattered across the top of the beer.

The aroma shows a good amount of smoke and roastedness to it. It blends in pretty well with a milk chocolaty, caramel sweetness of the base porter. I t has a bit of a milk stout like quality to it. The smoke is pretty nice though.

The taste shows some really nice smoke throughout as well. I get a little bit of a burnt, bitterness in the finish as well. The base beer again has a little of a sweet, milk stout like quality with some brown sugar, milk chocolate and caramel coming through.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style with carbonation being moderate. Overall it was a pretty good beer, but not an outstanding one. I'm a big smoked beer fan and this one did have some very nice smokiness to it that I really liked. The base beer however seemed a little thin and overly sweet though. It almost seemed like a smoked sweet/milk stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 00:26:26 | More by billab914

Beezee

Illinois

5/5  rDev +25%

02-18-2012 06:14:12 | More by Beezee

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a nonic pint glass.

Big thanks to Trxxpaxxs for this bottle!

Bottle #41/2398, dated 1/10/10. Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 6. It pours a murky black-brown topped by a finger or so of dusty tan foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, light campfire smoke (wood and all, kids), molasses, and a touch of graham crackers. The taste brings on more of the same, with the smoke lagging behind the general wood and a newfound sense of whiskey (not too strong, but definitely there). The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a somewhat thin feel. Overall, a nice barrel-aged brew, but unfortunately one that sacrifices a good deal of smoke to the barrel, which doesn't add enough to make up for the loss. Still enjoyable, though.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 23:39:39 | More by TMoney2591

Vdubb86

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

01-01-2012 16:29:26 | More by Vdubb86

jera1350

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle #576 of 2398 from 01-10-10. From a Chicago trip almost two years ago.

Solid black color with a fizzy tan head that shrinks down to a ring very quickly. A little lacing however.

The smell is basically two components and they are both awesome: smoke and whiskey. Almost like a straight up shot of whiskey with a piece of smoked wood dropped in.

Holy hell! Huge smokey bacon and campfire malt flavor with a very nice backing of whiskey. Not hot and boozy, just mellow smoke and whiskey. A nice smokey charred wood and bacon flavor all the way through and into the aftertaste. Just awesome. So much flavor for a seven percent brew.

About medium bodied and pretty smooth. Dry and smokey feeling.

Really, really enjoying this. I think the close to two years of age has a lot to do with the flavors just marrying and bringing the flavor profile together. It's nice too, that it's only seven percent. Most beers with this flavor are around the double digit mark. Hopefully I come across this beer again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 03:41:24 | More by jera1350

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%

12-01-2011 19:58:21 | More by imperialking

nmann08

Maryland

5/5  rDev +25%

11-28-2011 23:01:36 | More by nmann08

brandoman63

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

11-28-2011 20:20:03 | More by brandoman63

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev 0%

11-25-2011 22:57:07 | More by JAHMUR

thebouch01

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev 0%

11-15-2011 00:59:59 | More by thebouch01

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks James. Pours black with a pretty thin head. Nose is ash, lightly meaty, with a pretty weak malt profile. Super carbonated in the mouth. Flavor is fairly restrained and focuses on a light smoke, ash, a touch of smoked bacon. Finish is nothingness. This doesn't really have any off flavors, but there's just not much going on. Washed out, thin, and over carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 00:46:42 | More by JAXSON

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to ClockworkOrange for sharing this with CaltinRedbeard and I. Bomber with no date or bottle numbering. Dipped in red wax just enough to barely cover the cap. Poured into a couple of snifters, this brew appears dark brown with some reddish coloration and clarity through the body when held to the light. A tan to light brownish head forms across the top and leaves spotty lace on the glass as it quickly recedes.

The smell is woodsy with a touch of smoke that leads into a smell of burning incense. It is sweet and spicy smelling with a touch of oak. Some tangy alcohol spices are evident through the back as it warms. I can't get over how much this brew smells like incense though, crazy different but good.

The taste is tangy with some spirit infused kick and some spices. A mild barrel ages character of vanilla is evident with some spices like the previously mentioned reminiscent character of burning incense and maybe cedar instead of oak? There is a tangy aspect that creeps in with a wild touch but it isn't out of control. It keeps the brew interesting and lively. The aftertaste is a light afterthought of smoke, incense and wild, tangy alcohol.

This is a medium bodied brew that sits light in the mouth with a modest level of carbonation. A little watery at times but easy drinking for 7%. Seemingly no alcohol inclusion except for the extra spirit kick that is present at times. This was an interesting experience. I really dug the way it smelled but I would not have known this was a "smoked beer" without being told. Thanks again Jason for the chance to try this.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 13:56:26 | More by stakem

birchstick

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle 1671 of 2398; bottled 01-10-10

A - pours black with a pure white head that has pretty solid retention

S - I got sweet vanilla and quite a bit of spicy bourbon, which dominated the nose. Based on what I have heard about this beer, I was expecting much fainter bourbon tones on the nose.

T - starts off with a bit of sweet chocolate malts that fade to a bourbony vanilla. The bourbon has a nice spiciness to it. Lots of smoked malts / ashy smoke appear on the backend of it. The smoked section of this beer is just about perfect for me as it isn't huge or distracting but rather complements everything else going on around it.

M - Good mouthfeel...went down full and smooth

D - This was a good barrel aged beer. I feel like it didn't hold my attention as well as others in this style I have had do, but it was still pretty solid. Very solid effort on O'Fallon's part. Hopefully once they get up and running they'll bottle this one again!

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 04:02:18 | More by birchstick

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 22oz brown pop top, waxed, hand numbered and dated...this one's just over a year old

Appearance: Black beer w/brown hints around the edges...light tan head sinks to a thick film and ring w/pretty good retention

Smell: More subdued smoke than I was expecting out of this, though it's been awhile since I've had the regular version. Getting some mild smoke here, although not much in the way of whiskey. Almost getting some red winey notes, oak and earthy dark fruit. Maybe getting a hint of chocolate as well, but very mild.

Taste: I finally cracked this because I'd read some people's reviews that said this was really going downhill. I don't know what this was like originally, but it's pretty tasty still. Very mild notes of whiskey barrel, charred oak and light notes of sweet caramel/vanilla boozy notes. A decent amount of dry roast here, almost like a dry stout, but with a decent kick of dark fruit as well. The smoke comes through much stronger in the flavor than it does in the aroma. It's got a fairly strong charred character to it, without any of the bacony, smoked-meat flavors characteristic of rauch-malt or the briny, herbal notes of peated malt. There's a touch of something in here that reminds me of a vinous, dark, smoky Left Bank Red Bordeaux.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium-bodied

Overall: I'm not exactly sure what people meant about this beer, suggesting that it had gone downhill. The flavors aren't exactly vibrant or over-the-top, but they're not muted either. For me, it actually comes together pretty well. The one downside to this beer, in my opinion, is that it was $10.00. I've been hearing some very disturbing rumors about O'Fallon being in trouble...some of their beers are definitely hit or miss, but the regular Smoked Porter and the 5 Day IPA are pretty tasty, and this beer is certainly no exception. For the price, I certainly wouldn't buy it often, but this was really a pretty nice surprise, even after a year in the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 03:09:05 | More by BedetheVenerable

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

Acquired from abrand so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 22oz bottle #2020 of 2398 into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains smoky roasted malts, dark fruit, coffee, whiskey and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a hearty roasted malt character that is quickly followed by a strong but not over-powering smokiness. There are flavors of coffee, dark fruit and chocolate in the background. The hops presence is mild but where it should be for this type of beer and brings a good balance. The flavors of smoke and whiskey barrel-aging seem to complement each other well. The after-taste is slightly smoky and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is very good beer with a lot of flavor and substance that make it worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 05:50:51 | More by TheManiacalOne