Drayman's Porter - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on drought from Parish Cafe. Served in a 20oz pint class.

A-Nice dark body with a pretty tan head on top. Great cascade effect

S-malty, toast scent, light grass

T-like warm ice cream in the front, light hop middle and non-assertive end.

M-exceptional mouthfeel. not at all filling, soooo creamy. I could eat the head of this beer for dessert every night.

D-Great beer. I would let someone try this to try to turn them onto dark beers.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-15-2009 22:48:17 | More by jneiswender

wil19b85

Vermont

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A - Had a solid light tan head that dissipated quickly leaving behind some of the larger bubbles. The color is a very dark amber. About as close to black as you can get without actually being black. No light coming through this one when held up to the light either.

S - Says it has a complex smell but I'm honestly hardly picking up much aroma. Definitely some roasty notes. Little bit of chocolate and coffee. Nothing extraordinary.

T - Hit right away with a nice coffee taste. Very mild hoppiness. There is a level of sweetness that cuts the bitterness. Makes for a great well rounded flavor. Pretty heavy with the coffee off the bat and finishes with a subtle dark chocolate flavor.

M - Definitely a "chewy" beer. Light carbonation which is nice because it doesn't mask any of the flavor.

Overall this is a nice porter. I could down this pretty easily with a nice big burger or a steak. Not sure if I'll be picking up another one anytime soon but it beats a lot of other porters that are available around here such as Otter Creek's Stovepipe Porter or anything Magic Hat has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 23:34:11 | More by wil19b85

Dools9

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a Guinness branded shaker pint. Best before 4/16/12 so its really fresh.

A: Dark brown in color, ruby red around the edges when held up to light. Awesome three, creamy finger, khaki head that retained very well and left awesome lacing. Lookin' good.

S: Mocha, cocoa like aroma, some roasty sweetness, vanilla sweetness, almost smells like a milk stout.

T: Roasted malt, lots of chocolate mixed with over sweetened coffee, getting a good dose of vanilla cream, and a slightly smoky finish.

M: Medium light, creamy feel to it, moderate carbonation. Actually has a refreshing quality to it for a porter and goes down very easily, really nice.

O: I liked this a lot, goes down so easy and has everything you want in a solid, well made porter. Will definitely get this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 04:21:36 | More by Dools9

tylerprince

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a fresh bomber into a pint glass.

A: Pours a clear black with ruby hues. A fair amount of light gets through when held to a lamp. One finger off white head with excellent retention leaves behind gobs of lacing here and there.

S: Coffee and vanilla up front with some hints of chocolate. Not overpowering, but strong"ish."

T: Starts coffee, giving way to mild hints of chocolate and mint. Finishes with a potent hoppy bite, leaving behind an earthy bittnerness on the tongue. I'm going to be generous here and say that, since I enjoyed this on tap a few nights ago (no notes taken; cellared version), that this beer mellows exceptionally well. Let's say 3.5 this sampling, 4.0 on tap, cellared.

M: Smooth as all hell. Low on the carbonation, but foams a little in the mouth before going down like a creamy, but slightly thinned stout.

O: This is a great porter greatly improved over time. I would strongly recommend cellaring it for 6 months to allow the hop character to meld with the rest of the beer. On another note, try it as a black and tan with BBC's raspberry ale - a phenomenal dessert combination.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 00:34:20 | More by tylerprince

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark, dark brown – garnet hued when held to light as it is clear despite the darkness. Large-sized & fairly big-bubbled, light tan head that settles quite quick, but keeps a ring and tries mightily to leave respectable lace.

S: Dark chocolate that is more sweet and bitter. Also a fairly strong malty sweetness of dark scorched toffee. Some nutty base malt pokes through. Ghost hint of darker roast. No hops. Soft hint of dark fruit. Quite sweet & reasonably richly malty. Not all that robust though in the umph department. Malty, nutty, bread crust malt notes do grow as it warms.

T: Quite a bit roastier than the nose, but in a narrow and steely way – dark roast malt without any real acrid bite (black patent?) & a ghostly hint of coffee. Still lots of the dark sweet / bitter-sweet chocolate. Nutty malt backbone is there too, but covered over a bit by roast – at least when chilled, as it warms the base malts grow with increasing notes of bread crust and really come on strong. Malt sweetness hints at both molasses and dark fruits. Noticeable balancing hop bitterness. Character is faint but it does have a faint citrus note. Roast is pleasant & long lasting in the finish.

M: A frog’s hair over medium body with carbonation the barest bit under-matched. Smooth and almost soft initially with just a bit of chew and sticky sugars. Roast pushes it drying & gives the finish a touch of a bite. No real alcohol presences noted.

D: A nice straight ahead classic porter. Perhaps a slight American twist in the hopping. Very solid. If it is readily availably to you, then count yourself lucky. Nothing stands out as great, but it is superbly balanced with a really good mix of aromas & flavors, and a good feel.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 01:14:05 | More by SickGnar

maxk

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured in two pours from a lightly chilled bomber into a DuClaw pint glass.

Little light gets through this rich mahogany beer except at the edges where the red tinge is highlighted. There is good lacing and moderate head retention for the two finger, tan/red head.

The smell is mostly that of sweet malts and chocolate. There is a bit of milkiness to it.

First sip makes me think of somewhere between a porter and a milk stout. There is a good amount of coffee bitterness with smooth chocolate undertones. The sweet malt brings everything together very nicely. It has a very creamy mouthfeel, very good body to it and is well carbonated for the style.

A very good beer and a great price. Good example of an American porter, but it straddles the line of a stout too. Definitely will get a few more bottles of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 01:28:51 | More by maxk

albertjr21

New York

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Into a pint glass pours a deep dark brown (black) with a well preserved tan head. Aroma is of sweet roasted malt with outstanding notes of cocoa, coffee and nut. Carbonation keeps itself in check, supporting a rich, flavorful, and smooth roasted malt body. A generous amount of dark sweet chocolate and nut really come through in the taste here.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:58:27 | More by albertjr21

elNopalero

Texas

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

I drank this on a chilly New England November night out of a tall ceramic mug that could have passed for a stein. Seemed appropriate for the style and for the season.

This poured a ruddy dark brown with a lot of foam topping it. Some dark chocolate, some coffee and some toffee shined through on the aroma, with a full bodied roast flavor coming through as you tasted it. Sweetness up front, some hints of tartness around the edges, and a semi-dry finish that invited further sips. Really enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 22:31:03 | More by elNopalero

alee42

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to my bro for the beer suggestion.

Picked this up in a growler. Pours a very dark brown color. The head forms nicely at the top; a foamy mixture, smells of hazelnut coffee, roasted notes, and chocolate.

The taste is rather complex, and definitely had to let it sit in the mouth to pick up the subtleties and small nuances. It first delivers a smooth glaze of coffee flavor - the essence of chocolate and truffle are well disguised, and I could detect a nuttiness to the hops. The roasted notes finish it off, and resonate throughout the palate. A good balance between hops and malts, although the malt does take precedence at the finish, and I'm left with a slight blandness.

Carbonation is mellowed out, not too much bubbly sensation happening here - a good thing. Very smooth going down, and a very good transition from smell to taste; almost every element detected by the noise is present in the beer. Very enjoyable, drinkable beer, but could offer more robust flavors.

Serving type: growler

11-29-2011 04:06:50 | More by alee42

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours very dark. Almost stout-like. Tan head is smaller but leaves nice lacing and retains well.

S-Good Porter nose. Getting the typical chocolate and roasty coffee. A hint of fruit. A tad smoky. Light hops in the nose as well.

T-Chocolate/cocoa mixes well with the light cappuccino flavor. Hops trump in a bit on the back end. Overall, a very, very smooth flavor. Not intense but pretty tasty.

M-Medium feel with prickly carbonation. Smooth and creamy. Extremely mellow bitterness in the aftertaste.

O/D- A solid porter. I love the style, and this is a pretty easy drinker. Not unique or very intense, but polishing off a growler will not be a problem. Good feel; matches the flavors well.

Serving type: growler

11-24-2011 03:44:01 | More by VelvetExtract

paxchristi

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into snifter and served at 50 degrees. Best by date says "use by 8/11/11." Thanks to Andrew61923 for this one.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown with about 1/2 finger of creamy khaki head that dissipates quickly but leaves a silky blanket at the top once it does. Hardly opaque but very dark. Looks stout-like somewhat. Clings to the glass tightly. At the curves, the brown is more obvious and is a bit lighter than the rest of the body. Pretty good looking porter.

Nose: Coffees, chocolates, dark roasted malts, and some hoppy notes as well. About par for a porter-- but pretty good.

Taste: Nose justifies the taste. I catch a hint of something subtly fruity and or "bubblegummy" in the distance-- which is weird for this style. The skill of balancing moderately bodied chocolates and coffees to produce a subtle and yet skillfully crafted porter is what I get out of it.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Creamy, well-balanced, smooth, and a delight in the mouth. Beautifully done. A person could drink this brew all evening. The drinkability is amazingly high for a porter.

Overall: Nothing particularly blows me away about this beer, but I'm very glad I got to try it. I must admit, however, that my biggest downfall as a critic is that I tend to be underwhelmed by certain styles-- especially porters. I'd drink this one again for sure, but its nothing I'd go out of my way for. My favorite thing about this brew is its classic porter taste with an obscure subtle note of bubblegum that actually works quite well. The craft on this brew is definitely skillful, but at the end of the day, I just don't think it will be all that memorable.

Thanks to Andrew61923 for including it as an extra! My first Connecticut beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 20:45:01 | More by paxchristi

skibumma70

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Aroma is of day old coffee and burnt chocolate, but a pretty good smell. Appearance is very dark brown with a finger laced tan head. Taste is chocolate and burnt malt flavor with a good balance. The carbonation is light, and is a smooth drink. Overall this is very good, and a tasty porter.

Serving type: growler

10-12-2011 19:03:03 | More by skibumma70

abgba121

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a dark amber brown color with about one inch of creamy tan head and leaves a weak lace down the glass.

S: smells of burnt roasted malts at first, followed by some subtle hoppy hints

T: the taste is much of the same with a little coffee flavor as well and a little lingering bitterness

M: medium body, slightly creamy, low carbonation

O: a good basic porter, hits all the marks

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 04:24:17 | More by abgba121

thespaceman

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a fresh growler (only 2 days old from the brewery) into a Berkshire pint glass:

Appearance: Pours a beautiful deep brown, almost opaque - lots of head retention here. This billowing tan head slowly escalates up the beer and leaves nice, thin wisps of lacing.

Smell: Lots of aroma notes hit home. I get some milk chocolate, some light coffee notes, and a nice smokey aroma from the malt. This is one of the more interesting porters as far as aromas are concerned, the slight smokey backdrop pairs well here with light roasted chocolate notes. Very pleasing!

Taste: Lots of coffee, espresso bean & milk chocolate notes here, they smack you in the face all at once! Malt sweetness is not to sweet, subtle yet very refined. I get a nice tinge of hops here towards the finish, it's light yet noticeable and really adds that extra element to this porter.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, this one rolls across the tongue and keeps it's full body while sitting in the mouth. A slight bitterness from the hops is just what the doctor ordered.

Drinkability: I had the pleasure of drinking this fresh from a growler that was delivered straight from the brewery only 2 days before I opened it, so this stuff was FRESH! A very sessionable porter to say the least, it's got alot of nice aromas going on and this beer really captures the essence of what a true porter should be. I enjoyed this beer with a porterhouse steak and it was the perfect compliment.

Serving type: growler

08-29-2011 23:01:38 | More by thespaceman

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked up on a recent trip to CT...

A - A slightly cascading pour yields two plus fingers worth of rich creamy tan colored head with a slightly rocky batter-like top... The color is a deep dark brown that allows a bit of light to leak in around the bottom of the glass... There is a faint red hue... Mostly still with just a few stray carbonation bubbles, many of which just cling to the sides of the glass...

S - Very nice aroma from the get go... Rich coffee... Notes of milk chocolate... Some roasted malts... Perhaps some caramel and toffee... A bit of cream... Not overly complex, but spot on for the style... Simple, straight-forward and quite effective...

T - Roasted malts... Chocolate... Caramel... Toffee... Very mild coffee... A touch of vanilla...

M - Medium bodied... Slightly creamy... Ultra smooth... Very light carbonation... A bit juicy throughout... A slight bitterness lingers on the finish...

D - An near perfect interpretation of the style... Super quaffable... Lots of good things going on here in every facets... There's nothing show stopping about it, but I could enjoy several of these on any given night anytime of year... A very nice introduction to Berkshire...

Serving type: growler

08-05-2011 21:07:24 | More by philbe311

Krakistophales

Connecticut

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

A: Pours black with a tan head that creates some interesting bubblework as it recedes

S: Hints of dark chocolate, coffee, slight roast, woody smokiness, and earthy hops

T: At first, a mild mixture of dark fruit, which quickly finishes with a coffee and hops bitterness and a slight wood dryness. Rather tasty.

O: This is a pretty good porter. I'm new to the style, but they seem to just be mild stouts, which in itself can't be a bad thing. I've had better, but this is still quite tasty. This might just be the one that opens me up to berkshire brewing, which I've seen plenty of times at the store and always passed up.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 00:20:49 | More by Krakistophales

EgadBananas

Louisiana

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

Thanks to cbeer88 for the tasty local!

Pours a black color, dark brown around some lighter edges. Tan head, nice lace. Pleasant aroma's of chocolate, roasted malts, light coffee. More chocolate and bittersweet coffee in the taste, nice roasted malt characters. Feels creamy, medium-full bodied, with moderate carbonation and a clean finish.

Overall, a very nice porter. I have to assume this is the base for the Coffeehouse Porter because it is reminiscent of it in a milder form.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 18:14:30 | More by EgadBananas

jeffthecheff

Connecticut

2.63/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark brown color with a light tan head. Aroma has some faint roasty/coffee notes, but has a significant yeast character. It's a little much for this beer, with some noticeable diacetyl.

Flavor is a touch cleaner, with some fruity notes matching well with a gentle chocolate note. It could still use some cleaner yeast notes and a stronger malt base, though. The mouthfeel is dry, with a low level of carbonation fits a porter well. Overall, a forgettable, slightly off tasting brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 05:22:43 | More by jeffthecheff

Duhast500

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a pint glass.

The color is a dark down to black with some maroon highlights and a finger or brownish head and some nice thick lacing.

The smell is a little roasty with some slight coffee bean aroma and some slight cocoa aroma as well.

The taste is a bit sweet with some nice bitterness keeping things balanced. Caramel and some slight toffee mixed with a roasty flavor rounds things out as a slight creamy flavor hides in the bitterness toward the end.

The feel of this beer is medium bodied and has a nice complex flavor and smooth feel that is easy going down and pleasant to drink

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 00:41:31 | More by Duhast500

Chico1985

Massachusetts

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

Great local porter, growlers are $8 or less, good to grab from time to time.

Pours dark brown, a bit translucent. Beige pillow of head retains easily at a half finger or so leaving some nice lacing.

Definite cocoa powder in the nose, light coffee and hops.

Taste is mocha goodness, nice smooth cocoa with light coffee, caramel and roast. Some dark fruit and lighter hop notes of grass and maybe citrus. Light but smooth mouthfeel, a pretty easy drinking porter. Has a nice coffee with cream taste that lingers in the finish.

I prefer the Coffeehouse Porter to this, but as a standalone porter this is great too.

Serving type: growler

05-31-2011 17:55:36 | More by Chico1985

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

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

On tap - 16oz pour into a pub-style pint glass

A: Black/dark brown, light around the edges, just over an inch of light brown head that dissipates somewhat quickly. Leave just a little lacing.

S: Medium roast earthy coffee, milk chocolate, fairly robust roasted malts, slight floral hops.

T: Just like the nose, this is dominated by coffee and chocolate. Medium roasted coffee with earthy tones complements milk chocolate and roasted malt perfectly. Hints of tobacco and smoke arise from the coffee, a good bit of sweetness lend milk chocolate/caramel middle. Good heavy base of roasted malts that are robust, but not to the point of char. Earthy and slightly floral hops are at just the perfect ratio to add a compliment of flavor without bitterness or taking away from the malts. There is a touch of bitterness in the finish, but it's definitely from the roasted malts. Finishes fairly dry with just a touch of sweetness following through.

M: Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Right on point with the style, no more carbonation or body than what I would expect. Fairly smooth and creamy, pleasant finish. A notch above average for sure, but not quite a stand out.

O: A good and noteworthy porter with lots of coffee flavor, though not quite stand-out good. While I generally prefer extreme "dark" beers, this is one of the better "sessionable" porters/stouts I've had. Pretty big, smooth, and balanced flavor with a nice body and moderate ABV. If I'm ever looking for a good dark brew at a place without much craft, this would be a great option if available.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 04:45:45 | More by Satchboogie

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a mug

Pours a dark chestnut brown, near black body with a tan head that rose three fingers and receded slowly. Moderate lacing strewn on the inside of the glass while the head settles to form a thin coat.

Very good nose. Deep roast, semi-sweet chocolate, molasses, dark cherries and a touch of brown sugar. The nose is deep and inviting, however not robust to the point where it whacks your olfactory’s back (in a good way.)

The taste is similar to the nose. A large dose of roast, where a bit of a charred quality dominates after a while. Semi-sweet bakers chocolate and dark cherries mix with brown sugar and molasses to try and break through and sweeten this guy up. A nice little battle going on where roasty bitterness wins in the end.

Medium body with a good level of carbonation. Smooth, but not overly creamy or lush. Drinkable and enjoyable for sure.

Overall, I found this to be an instant favorite. This is a new go to porter for me when I come across it. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t in the company of some of the elite of the style, but this does everything pretty darn well.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 21:23:45 | More by ColForbinBC

DirtybeerguyRI

Rhode Island

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

APPEARANCE: Thick, off-white head that stacks up about a finger deep and dissipates slowly. There's a nice, thin lacing. The beer itself is very dark, but not black. If you look close, it's got an almost ruby hue.

SMELL: Hearty burnt malts and a bit of coffee, perhaps. It's a very warm, earthy-smelling beer. Not a complex aroma, but very nice.

MOUTHFEEL: Crisp but viscous. Ultimately, this is a very smooth, medium-bodied porter that goes down easily. What more could you ask of any beer? The light carbonation feels good on the tongue.

TASTE: You'll get hint of burnt malts chased by a mellow sweetness that keeps the bitterness at bay. Ultimately, a very nicely balanced beer with a lot of warm coffee and caramel tones. The finish is tight and a little bitter.

DRINKABILITY: This is a nice, warm porter with a great taste that does not overwhelm. At 6.2% ABV, the alcohol content doesn't hit very hard. I could drink several of these as a session beer.

VERDICT: Another great beer from Berkshire Brewing Company! I didn't find this to be an incredibly complex beer, which is perhaps why I liked it so much. It's an earthy, warm porter that's got a fair amount of burnt hops, coffee, and caramel flavors all blended together without a great deal of bitterness. This beer goes down very smoothly.

Cheers,
John Harvey
Dirtybeerguy.com

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 00:14:34 | More by DirtybeerguyRI

womencantsail

California

2.63/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to Mike for sending me a bottle of this.

A: The pour is dark brown in color with a bit of a red hue to it and an off-white head.

S: There is a bit of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, and some mild roasted malt aroma. Unfortunately, I also get a very stale aroma, particularly the cardboard sort of staleness.

T: A weird sugary, candy-like character that is sort of reminiscent of Jolly Ranchers. A moderate level of roasted malt and some bitter dark chocolate. A bit of the same cardboard and staleness on the palate as well.

M: Medium in body with a low to medium carbonation.

O: This was unfortunately quite bad. Usually the Berkshire beers I've had are pretty decent, but this was not.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 19:20:23 | More by womencantsail

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.4/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased at McKinnon's in Salem, split with BA CheckMate. Pours a nearly opaque black body with slight dark copper brown highlights. Toast and dark chocolate comprise the aroma. Dark chocolate, toast, with a good fruity note - raisins, pear, and banana. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Fairly drinkable. Overall, I'm not blown away by this beer. There's too many things going on but not harmoniously. Could afford to be cleaned up a bit - more robust roasty and toasty flavor would be great. Still not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 23:55:22 | More by MrHurmateeowish