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1859 Porter
Columbus Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Columbus Brewing Company
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
- ABV:
- Not listed
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.92 | pDev: 10.2%
- Reviews:
- 25
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 13, 2013
- Added:
- Jun 23, 2002
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina
3.97/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
brown, almost black. Very large tan head graced the top, eventually faded down to just a slight ring around the outside of the glass. No glass lace and little carbonation,.Smell very sweet, lots of caramel and roasted coffee, a touch of chocolate perhaps. Very nice light feel. Good carbonation kept it feeling alive and allowed the flavors to really pop. Nice burnt caramel sugar and a touch of chocolate.
Sep 25, 2011Reviewed by clickpush from Pennsylvania
4.46/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tap to elongated glass at Columbus airport pub. Comes with 1.5 finger tan head over very dark body. Touches of brown and ruby around edges. Lace lasts through whole beer with sticky webbing around glass. Nice roasty aroma. Slightly cold still for an overwhelming smell but can pick out some chocolate and burnt toast. Flavor is very dry and roasty. Enjoyable smooth mouthfeel and lingering bitter, roast flavors. Light, flavorful, and easy drinking.
Jan 13, 2011Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this on tap at Surly Girl, definitely had a nice look to it deep charcoal hue with ruby higlights nice big mocha tan head. Aroma had earthy light herbal hop notes with dark chocolate and a touch of coffee, but nothing explosive in the nose. Flavor was well rounded drier than most porters dark roasted malt gave dark chocolate and darker roasted coffee tones with a creamy pleasant tone throughout the experience. Mild underlying fruitiness with a finishing kiss of balancing herbal hops. Again quality well made beer from Columbus Brewing. Mouthfeel was smooth carbonation even and easy going. Drinkability was very nice an approachable portr with a wealth of flavor, a another solid example of good beer from Columbus Brewing.
Jul 18, 2010Reviewed by Ryan011235 from Ohio
3.55/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap in a pint glass at the brewpub on 3/10/10
Dark brown hue; looks near-black. Cola-brown highlights. ¼ inch of dark tan head dissipates very quickly leaving a thin skim & a few stray bubbles. Negligible retention. Sporadic but decent strands of lace.
Smells like a porter but is somewhat restrained. Most notable is dry, roasted malt - namely coffee with some dark sugars. Hints of bittersweet chocolate. Earthy hop notes waft about. Not bad, just not attention-grabbing.
Earthy hop bitterness hits upfront leading into a malt profile that is rather dry & bitter. Roasted coffee accounts for most of this. Chocolate notes seem downplayed; maybe just a little baker chocolate or cocoa. A hint of molasses rounds it out. At times it exhibits notions of burnt malts. The hops hang tight until the end - a saving grace for this beer. It's pretty average.
Moderately full-bodied. Carbonation offer prickly vigorousness upfront, but a more even-keeled smoothness toward the middle & end. A few hop notes linger on the finish but it's mostly residual hints of roasted coffee.
1859 Porter is generally solid, though it falls far short of being exceptional. Honestly, I'd prefer either some malty sweetness by way of toffee & caramel or a more ramped-up hop profile. It's something to drink in the event the brewpub is out of both IPA & seasonal.
Mar 24, 2010Dark brown hue; looks near-black. Cola-brown highlights. ¼ inch of dark tan head dissipates very quickly leaving a thin skim & a few stray bubbles. Negligible retention. Sporadic but decent strands of lace.
Smells like a porter but is somewhat restrained. Most notable is dry, roasted malt - namely coffee with some dark sugars. Hints of bittersweet chocolate. Earthy hop notes waft about. Not bad, just not attention-grabbing.
Earthy hop bitterness hits upfront leading into a malt profile that is rather dry & bitter. Roasted coffee accounts for most of this. Chocolate notes seem downplayed; maybe just a little baker chocolate or cocoa. A hint of molasses rounds it out. At times it exhibits notions of burnt malts. The hops hang tight until the end - a saving grace for this beer. It's pretty average.
Moderately full-bodied. Carbonation offer prickly vigorousness upfront, but a more even-keeled smoothness toward the middle & end. A few hop notes linger on the finish but it's mostly residual hints of roasted coffee.
1859 Porter is generally solid, though it falls far short of being exceptional. Honestly, I'd prefer either some malty sweetness by way of toffee & caramel or a more ramped-up hop profile. It's something to drink in the event the brewpub is out of both IPA & seasonal.
Reviewed by projectflam86 from Ohio
3.65/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A- Pours a brown color with a thin off-white head that leaves some scattered lacing.
S- Light roasted dark malt and caramel with a bit of smoke.
T- Easy roasted malt flavor with a faint coffee finish. Surprisingly, this one is a touch hoppy with a fair amount of bitterness. Mostly sweet dark malt in the finish.
M- Medium bodied with low carbonation. A tad thin for the style.
D- A decent porter that didn't really Wow me. Next time I will just go for CBC's IPA.
Oct 07, 2009S- Light roasted dark malt and caramel with a bit of smoke.
T- Easy roasted malt flavor with a faint coffee finish. Surprisingly, this one is a touch hoppy with a fair amount of bitterness. Mostly sweet dark malt in the finish.
M- Medium bodied with low carbonation. A tad thin for the style.
D- A decent porter that didn't really Wow me. Next time I will just go for CBC's IPA.
Reviewed by nrbw23 from Ohio
3.68/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.68/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this one on cask at the Pub at Polaris.
A- Pours a black color with a tan head. Head has average lacing and leaves some nice lacing for about half the glass.
S- Burnt malts, coffee and chocolate. Not nearly as strong as other porters.
T- Again, it tasted fairly weak, but nothing terrible by any means. Starts out fairly sweet from a chocolate taste, then roasty flavors kick in, pretty well balanced here.
M- Medium in body and low carbonation.
D- Easy to drink and worth a try for sure. I just feel that there are much better ones out there.
Apr 06, 2009A- Pours a black color with a tan head. Head has average lacing and leaves some nice lacing for about half the glass.
S- Burnt malts, coffee and chocolate. Not nearly as strong as other porters.
T- Again, it tasted fairly weak, but nothing terrible by any means. Starts out fairly sweet from a chocolate taste, then roasty flavors kick in, pretty well balanced here.
M- Medium in body and low carbonation.
D- Easy to drink and worth a try for sure. I just feel that there are much better ones out there.
Reviewed by Bockrules from New Mexico
3.53/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served on tap at the Columbus airport
A - Very dark brown with a nice light brown head. Decent head retention, with a head that manages to stay intact all the way down the glass. Leaves behind decent lacing.
S - Moderate smell of toasted malts and a hint of chocolate. Not a whole lot of smell here
T - A bit of alcohol and toasted malt upfront followed by a very malty body with a touch of chocolate. A little bit of bitterness on the finnish.
M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. This beer would benefit from a thicker, creamier body.
D - All and all a simple and average porter. Nothing to really make me want to come back to (especially for nearly $8.00 for 22 oz) and there are much better porters (even in Ohio) to be had.
Jan 12, 2009A - Very dark brown with a nice light brown head. Decent head retention, with a head that manages to stay intact all the way down the glass. Leaves behind decent lacing.
S - Moderate smell of toasted malts and a hint of chocolate. Not a whole lot of smell here
T - A bit of alcohol and toasted malt upfront followed by a very malty body with a touch of chocolate. A little bit of bitterness on the finnish.
M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. This beer would benefit from a thicker, creamier body.
D - All and all a simple and average porter. Nothing to really make me want to come back to (especially for nearly $8.00 for 22 oz) and there are much better porters (even in Ohio) to be had.
Reviewed by jackorain from Pennsylvania
3.43/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.43/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
So I pulled out my old notebook and found a few reviews I never entered. This is one of 'em. On-tap at the Columbus airport CBC Pub outlet. Consummed on 1-16-08.
The beer was presneted to me in a 23 ounce weizen glass. The liquid was very dark brown, not quite black. When I held it up to the light, mahogany edges were revealed. The medium tan head was a 1/2 inch tall crown of thick foam. The retention was very good, staying around for quite a some time while I took the notes. As it did fall, it left a decent looking weblike lace.
The aroma is of charcoal and roasted barley. There is a hint of cocoa powder as well. Coffee comes in the finish.
The flavor of this beer is very, very roasty. the charcoal is there in spades as well. At times almost seems a little burnt. The roasted grain come through. Coffee and unsweetended choclate are found in the finish.
The body is medium to full and the carbonation is even and moderate.
Drinkability on this one suffers for me with the excessive roastiness. I had one and then had to move on to something else. I would have it again if I encounter it but I am sure that would be only one again.
Thanks For Reading
Dec 28, 2008The beer was presneted to me in a 23 ounce weizen glass. The liquid was very dark brown, not quite black. When I held it up to the light, mahogany edges were revealed. The medium tan head was a 1/2 inch tall crown of thick foam. The retention was very good, staying around for quite a some time while I took the notes. As it did fall, it left a decent looking weblike lace.
The aroma is of charcoal and roasted barley. There is a hint of cocoa powder as well. Coffee comes in the finish.
The flavor of this beer is very, very roasty. the charcoal is there in spades as well. At times almost seems a little burnt. The roasted grain come through. Coffee and unsweetended choclate are found in the finish.
The body is medium to full and the carbonation is even and moderate.
Drinkability on this one suffers for me with the excessive roastiness. I had one and then had to move on to something else. I would have it again if I encounter it but I am sure that would be only one again.
Thanks For Reading
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio
3.6/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.6/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This is a pretty good porter, but straight-forward (it's what you'd expect a porter to be). Color is a black body that looks distinctly red as the light shines through it. Aroma is mostly dry roasty with some very limited chocolate notes. Flavor is roasty ("burned pizza crust") with some chocolate notes and a noticeable amount of hops (or is it just the power of suggestion from the beers description?). The roastiness imparts a quite dry mouthfeel which leaves a sticky chocolatey film in the mouth...mmmm.
I would recommend this beer. I had it on-tap at the Columbus airport.
Sep 17, 2008I would recommend this beer. I had it on-tap at the Columbus airport.
Reviewed by Zorro from California
4.08/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
4.08/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampled at the Columbus Brewing bar at the Columbus Ohio airport.
Impressive good looks, quite dark brown colored beer with a one-inch lighter brown colored head.
Smell is sweet with a strong chocolate and charred malt scent. Little bit of carrot scent, pretty common in the higher hopped porters and stouts.
Taste starts out neutral too mildly sweet with a really smooth chocolate and coffee flavor. A little bit of smoke from time to time but mostly this is smooth as silk in the mouth. What this lacks in complexity it makes up for in pure drinkability.
Little thick but this isn't a milkshake thick beer.
Remember what I said about drinkability? This is one seriously smooth and user-friendly beer, and I say this after sampling quite a few beers on this trip to Ohio, smoothest beer I had on this trip. Columbus Brewing is sort of the Rodney Dangerfield of Midwest beer; nothing at all wrong with it except it is predictable as a rule. This is the one beer that this brewery makes that IS in fact Exceptional and notable.
May 21, 2008Impressive good looks, quite dark brown colored beer with a one-inch lighter brown colored head.
Smell is sweet with a strong chocolate and charred malt scent. Little bit of carrot scent, pretty common in the higher hopped porters and stouts.
Taste starts out neutral too mildly sweet with a really smooth chocolate and coffee flavor. A little bit of smoke from time to time but mostly this is smooth as silk in the mouth. What this lacks in complexity it makes up for in pure drinkability.
Little thick but this isn't a milkshake thick beer.
Remember what I said about drinkability? This is one seriously smooth and user-friendly beer, and I say this after sampling quite a few beers on this trip to Ohio, smoothest beer I had on this trip. Columbus Brewing is sort of the Rodney Dangerfield of Midwest beer; nothing at all wrong with it except it is predictable as a rule. This is the one beer that this brewery makes that IS in fact Exceptional and notable.
Reviewed by blakesell from Ohio
4.45/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.45/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Poured from the tap into a tasting glass
Appearance- Beer pours a near black brown with a fingernail thin head that swiftly dies to a light ring around the rims of the glass. Lacing clings to the sides of the glass for the duration.
Smell- Dark and malty with just a hint of hops. I may catch some smoke or possibly it's all in my head. Hops come through more as the beer warms.
Taste- That smoke was not all in my head. Smoke malt is heavy in the flavour. I would even go so far as to say that it's a smoked porter. Hops bring themselves to light at just the right time. I'm amazed by the balance on these beers.
Mouthfeel- Creamy, smokey, smooth, roasty, full bodied and evenly carbonated.
Drinkability- This and Alaskan are tow of the best smoked porters I've ever had. Great job, Eric.
May 06, 2008Appearance- Beer pours a near black brown with a fingernail thin head that swiftly dies to a light ring around the rims of the glass. Lacing clings to the sides of the glass for the duration.
Smell- Dark and malty with just a hint of hops. I may catch some smoke or possibly it's all in my head. Hops come through more as the beer warms.
Taste- That smoke was not all in my head. Smoke malt is heavy in the flavour. I would even go so far as to say that it's a smoked porter. Hops bring themselves to light at just the right time. I'm amazed by the balance on these beers.
Mouthfeel- Creamy, smokey, smooth, roasty, full bodied and evenly carbonated.
Drinkability- This and Alaskan are tow of the best smoked porters I've ever had. Great job, Eric.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.3/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer hits the mark on all characteristics that you'd want in a good 'ole American Porter. Reminds me of a really rich Brown Ale, but with an added nutty, coffee aroma and flavor. The beer showcases the chocolate notes with hints of Milk Stouts, particularly in the texture. Moderate hops neither dominate, nor retreat. Higher carbonation makes the beer lighter than a Flag Porter and brings out the hop aromas a bit. Solid brew-- can't wait to have another.
Apr 21, 2008Reviewed by letsgopens from Pennsylvania
4.32/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.32/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
An impressive looking porter. It pours an opaque black from the growler and displays a tall, creamy, mocha colored head. The foam holds fairly well and leaves some decent, uniform lace. Very appetizing appearance.
Now that's what a porter should smell like! Robust and earthy with some smoke, dark bitter chocolate, and baking cocoa. Black coffee arises in the middle along with a toasted nut character and burnt raisin. Deep caramelization and very roasty throughout with hints of blackstrap molasses and a moderate char. Big, bold and very roasty.
Again robust and smoky with lots of char and heavily roasted, chocolate malts. Some dark fruit, burnt raisin and more molasses. A bit creamier and sweeter than the nose implies. Raw cream and semisweet chocolate are present. Black coffee and some mild leafy hops. Not as boisterous as the nose lead me to believe it may be but also more balanced than expected.
Very creamy and full. Lower carbonation but a very finer bubble structure makes for a slightly crisp brew. Otherwise thick and viscous. The finish is smooth, slick, and creamy with a slide acidic twang as well. An excellent Porter to be sure. Formidable and satisfying.
Feb 15, 2008Now that's what a porter should smell like! Robust and earthy with some smoke, dark bitter chocolate, and baking cocoa. Black coffee arises in the middle along with a toasted nut character and burnt raisin. Deep caramelization and very roasty throughout with hints of blackstrap molasses and a moderate char. Big, bold and very roasty.
Again robust and smoky with lots of char and heavily roasted, chocolate malts. Some dark fruit, burnt raisin and more molasses. A bit creamier and sweeter than the nose implies. Raw cream and semisweet chocolate are present. Black coffee and some mild leafy hops. Not as boisterous as the nose lead me to believe it may be but also more balanced than expected.
Very creamy and full. Lower carbonation but a very finer bubble structure makes for a slightly crisp brew. Otherwise thick and viscous. The finish is smooth, slick, and creamy with a slide acidic twang as well. An excellent Porter to be sure. Formidable and satisfying.
Reviewed by BigBry from Canada (AB)
3.9/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Served in a 16 oz. pint glass at O'Shaughnessy's Public House in Columbus. Apparently this is the house brand, also known as O'Shaughnessy's Dam Good Porter.
Dark brown in color with a tan brown head. Good head retention and nice lacing throughout.
Some coffee and chocolate aromas. Those same smelss are in the flavor, along with the roasted malts. Lots of flavor, but a thinner than expected body and mouthfeel. Clean finish, very drinkable. Thanks for buying this round Harry!
Jan 20, 2008Dark brown in color with a tan brown head. Good head retention and nice lacing throughout.
Some coffee and chocolate aromas. Those same smelss are in the flavor, along with the roasted malts. Lots of flavor, but a thinner than expected body and mouthfeel. Clean finish, very drinkable. Thanks for buying this round Harry!
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
3.82/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.82/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a dark coffee color and a modest head that laces initially but does not retain particularly well
Smell: Roasty aromas with plenty of dark chocolate
Taste: Starts out with a roasty flavor with dark chocolate elements that build, mid-palate; after the swallow, their is a slight increase in the roasty bitterness but a sweetness also makes an appearance to balance out the bitter elements
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Drinkability: Certainly a drinkable beer (this one consumed at the Columbus airport) but nowhere near as good as the porter I had the previous night at Barley's downtown
Sep 13, 2007Smell: Roasty aromas with plenty of dark chocolate
Taste: Starts out with a roasty flavor with dark chocolate elements that build, mid-palate; after the swallow, their is a slight increase in the roasty bitterness but a sweetness also makes an appearance to balance out the bitter elements
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Drinkability: Certainly a drinkable beer (this one consumed at the Columbus airport) but nowhere near as good as the porter I had the previous night at Barley's downtown
Reviewed by Risser09 from Pennsylvania
2.43/5 rDev -38%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
2.43/5 rDev -38%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
A: Deep, dark black opaque beer. Tan head leaves ample lacing for the glass. Very little light escapes the glass.
Smell: Burnt malt and some coffee. The aromas arent that strong. Some sweetness.
Taste: Thud. Not much going on here at all. The beer has a bit of sweetness but hits the floor with a thud with the watery, stale coffee flavor. This beer is seriously lacking in this department. I wish the Scottish ale I had would have the smokiness that this does.
Mouthfeel: Watery and not complex. Smoky in a weird way. Drying in the finish.
Drinkability: Dont bother with this one. Not a very good beer. This could have been old or just unrefined. Needs work
Sep 03, 2007Smell: Burnt malt and some coffee. The aromas arent that strong. Some sweetness.
Taste: Thud. Not much going on here at all. The beer has a bit of sweetness but hits the floor with a thud with the watery, stale coffee flavor. This beer is seriously lacking in this department. I wish the Scottish ale I had would have the smokiness that this does.
Mouthfeel: Watery and not complex. Smoky in a weird way. Drying in the finish.
Drinkability: Dont bother with this one. Not a very good beer. This could have been old or just unrefined. Needs work
1859 Porter from Columbus Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
29 ratings
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