Dark Star Porter - Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Almost opaque, ruby-accented mahogany. Light is just visible all the way through the glass when it's held up to the bright afternoon sun. The head is dark tan edging into light brown and is on the large side. It persists nicely, never falling lower than a half-finger, and deposits an average amount of lace in the process.

The nose is enjoyable; mostly 'coffee with cream' along with a good deal of roasted malt. Accent aromas include chocolate and the barest whiff of hops. This is a very good porter. Oddly enough, chocolate is more bold on the palate and actually overpowers coffee. That's a good thing. Generally speaking, I prefer chocolate-dominant porters and stouts to coffee-dominant ones. The level of roastiness is just about perfect for the style.

Those sneaky hops are still there, providing a counterpoint to the roasted malt and lightly sweetened chocolate. The mouthfeel manages to be smooth and somewhat rich, stopping short of actual creaminess, and the carbonation is spot-on. The bubbles are barely noticeable, just how I like 'em. Drinkability is very good; the bottle was gone in no time.

Dark Star is a wonderful porter from the Bluegrass state and those of you who have ready access should be grateful. As I am grateful to SheepNutz for giving me the opportunity to sample this delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2004 23:15:28 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dark brown with a creamy tan head. Nice lacing on top as well. Slow settle revealed some nice side glass lacing and a small pillow of tan on top.

The aroma was steep with roasted malts. Rich notes of caramel and molasses. Light grain touches and a bit of a herbal note persisted. Nice robust flavor, rich and sweet with a dry finish. Lots of roasted malts and a classic coffee and chocolate profile. Smooth, mellow and quite nice actually with an easy sessionability I was most impressed with.

Overall a really nice little porter I was very happy with

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 17:04:10 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark brown but somewhat opaque coloring with a lot of ruby highlights; the tan head retains nicely and splashes plenty of lace around the sides of the pint glass

Smell: Mocha aroma which leans toward the coffee and a hint of fruity hops

Taste: Lots of dark bread and chocolate up front, with a hint of citrus appearing by mid-palate; after the swallow, some roasty bitterness appears that leaves a charcoal flavor in the aftertaste; not much coffee in the flavor profile despite the aroma

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: While there is nothing remarkable here, it is just a nice, straightforward porter that is easy to drink; touches a number of elements that make it interesting enough to come back to, if I have the chance

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2008 17:21:36 | More by brentk56

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear dark brown with slight hints of garnet around the edges. Solid head, tan in color, with scattered, spotty lacing which soon dwindled away to a thin ring of bubbles around the glass.

Smell: Delicate aroma of dark chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts.

Taste: Light flavors of cocoa powder, sweet dark malts, coffee, and a few smokey notes, and coupled with a light hop and grain bitterness. Other than that, this beer finishes dry and with a decidedly metallic finish. Unfortunately, this porter is a bit watery; the flavors seem muted. I even left the beer sitting in my mouth for a few minutes, waiting for flavors to magically emerge. Regrettably, this doesn't work.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin and fairly carbonated.

Drinkability: A nice, simple, eminently tolerable porter. What more could you ask for?

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2006 07:24:44 | More by ChainGangGuy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Being from the distribution area, this is a beer that I have enjoyed ofter, buy only lately found new appreciation. It's big on the roasted barley, chocolates, and coffee flavors. More subtle in the nutty, barley, and toffee flavors. The BBC 'Americanized' this style by loading it with hops--so much that the tan head shows a slightly greenish tint. It's aromas are what you'd expect from a very hoppy porter with slight acidity and bittering from grain or husks. It's moderately thick and creamy. Finishes quite dry, despite the big sugars. Has a slight metalic flavor and shows some roughness in the swallow.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2005 12:55:27 | More by BEERchitect

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is near black in color and poured with a finger high beige head.
S: There are faint aromas of roasted malts in the nose along with hints of citrus hops.
T: The taste is similar to the smell with some hints of chocolate and seems rather acidic for a porter. There is a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is drinkable but nothing really stands out in the taste as being very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 18:25:02 | More by metter98

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Surprised I was, but very happy to know that some excellent beer is coming out of the Bluegrass State!
Appearance: tawny brown color, with a large, puffy, cocoa-colored head that softly, beautifully crumbles down.
Aroma: a perfect, subtle blend of chocolate, coffee, cream, with a hint of nuts on the side, and a fair whiff of bitterness.
Taste: mouth-filling on first sip and swallow, engulfs the realm of senses, full-bodied, dark, delicious. Excellent texture, big, and giving, while taking, a perfect pull and play on the mouth and tongue.
Rolls around inside, bounces and bumps, takes it's sweet time, and absolutely satisfactory.
Eternal, lush, rewarding chocolatey finish, with some fruity notes jutting in at the end.
One entirely excellent porter, not too bitter, and not too sweet. Goes down good as gravy. I would have this often, if I could.
Much thanks to Marc77!

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2003 11:47:22 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a deep dark black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice, earthy black malt scent that is roasted and dry. There is also some hop aroma as well. The taste is good. It has a smooth and rich patent and roasted malt flavor that goes down with ease and finishes dry and earthy. It has a slightly bitter aftertaste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate/good carbonation. This is a fine American porter. It has good aroma and taste; an excellent sessions ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2005 00:30:14 | More by WesWes

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a dark reddish brown color with a thin but dense off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is sweet and malty with dark fruits and coffee with a little chocolate. There’s a touch of hops in the background, but not very much.

T: The taste is very smoky and malty with a lot of dark fruit flavors (raisins, dates & berries). There’s a little bit of coffee & chocolate that some in after the initial burst of fruit. The hops presence is very mild. The after-taste is bitter-sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, slightly sticky finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easy, not too filling, good kick & good representation of style (even though I think this one might shade more toward the Baltic style). I could drink a few of these and it’s a good beer, but it wouldn’t be the first porter that I would choose.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2007 04:08:09 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer was given to me by a friend who wanted to know if I had ever had it before. I hadn't so I gave it a try. Dark Star poured out like any porter should. It had a nice dark body with a tan colored head on it. Even with the darkness the beer was almost see through, it could have been a little darker I think. The smell was nicely roasted and had just a touch of hops coming through. The Mouthfeel was just a bit too light for a porter I think. This beer isn't terrible, but better choices are out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 01:35:10 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this at the airport in Cincinati

Pours mahogany with a 1" off white head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Slight fruittyness & some roasted grains

T: Fruitty up front then roasted malt & grainyness, with some hop bite. Finishes fruitty with a slight choclate flavor

MF: Light to medium bodied with good carbonation

Drinks okay, just an okay porter

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2006 04:05:52 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: black in color with a 2" creamy head. Some mild lacing develops during the session.

Smell: roasted malts are soft and barely detectable.

Taste: mild level of roasted malts, raisins, hints of dry bitter chocolate and graininess are balanced with a mild bitterness. Overall this was a bit too thin and weak in flavor compared to other porters.

Mouthfeel: lighter side of a medium bodied beer. Very brief aftertaste as the roasted malt tones linger softly on the tongue. Lightly crisp at the start, smoother and a touch dry at the finish.

Drinkability: so-so at best. This just didn't hit the spot for me personally since I felt this was a bit thin.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2007 00:21:17 | More by Gavage

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a dark ruby brown with a tan head that dwindles pretty quick, but it dows leave some nice tightly packed fine lacing all around my chalice. Aroma: Not getting too much strong tones but there is a nice mellow mixture of milk chocolate and very mild coffee roasts. Taste: Has a peculiar chalkiness in the finish but before that it starts as a relatively sweeter porter with the dry finishing notes of the deep roasted malts mild coffee tone to it with the creamy chocolate flavor. Mouthfeel: Lighter bodied porter not bad a bit overcarbonation, not overly impressed. Drinkability: A decent session porter I wouldn't shy away from this one next time I see it but there are many better offerings out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2004 21:16:29 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a pretty smooth and nice drinking porter. I feel like it's definitely better as it's warmed up. The one thing I dislike about a lot of the porters that I try is that the flavor profile drops off so fast. This is not like that at all. Super smooth and great character. Even has a little vanilla in there it seems. A great drinker. Could easily go for several of these in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 01:14:12 | More by RblWthACoz

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours with a good head that leaves a little lace and some stays to the end. A very dark, almost black, ruby color. Nose is sweet nutty. Starts as a mix of hops and malts and ends with a hoppy finish. Reasonably smooth, a good porter, medium body - definitely not chewy.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2003 16:30:55 | More by jdhilt

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with kmpitz2. Thanks for the opportunity... Best before May, what I assume is 05, since 02/03/04 weren't marked, and there isn't a spot for 05.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a little 1/4" of tan head over the clear mahogany brew. Head, although diminutative, seems to stay constant, with average lacing for the style. Aroma is dark, roasty grains. Taste is dark malts, with a citrus note in the middle, then fades back to the slight coffee bitterness and chocolate sweetness battling it out. Mouthfeel is excellent, extra smooth, and the drinkability is great as well. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2005 00:00:04 | More by ppoitras

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted at the Barrelhouse Brewing Company Microbrew Fest on November 9. Dark mahogany color with a thin milk chocolate colored head. Aroma was of faint chocolate. Very good roasted coffee bean flavor that was somewhat sharp. I do think it needs to be tweaked a little for a more rounded flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2002 07:54:22 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Color is a burnt burgandy black toned liquid with slivers of deep ruby red sparkling inside. Soft and puffy tannish head that sits thick for a brief stint, fades to a loose collar and thin broken haze on top, lace in sparatic strings and globby spots. Smell is slightly burnt roasted malt with touches of cocoa, some light dark caramel and coffee beans with some light spiced nuttyness. Taste has a nice overall tight and lasting little roastyness, slighty burnt, slightly dark roast coffee note. Light hop bitterness builds within the roasted malt base and adds a bit of sharpness, but keeps a spicy herbed surface that is benefiting the dry flavor profile and helps to purge the palate. Finishes very nice with milk chocolate coming in with a cocoa powder-like feel and texture in the drying aspects which also has some coffeeness and nutty drying mixing in there which dissipates nicely off the palate. Feel is medium bodied, clean, dry, roasty, and altogether smooth. Goes down with amazing ease and has a relaxing bite and complexing subtleness in its drying. A very nice porter! Thanks Brent!!

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2003 03:24:57 | More by tavernjef

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Decanted cool into my Dogfish head shaped pint glass.
A - Deep brown, like unadulterated coffee w/ a creamy, pie crust shade for a head. The foam becomes lace quickly and relinquishes a thin film and 1/4 of the original inch of head.

M - A very roasted, yet almost chalky dry feel at first followed by sweet and slightly bitter textures.

S - Like a crushed chocolate covered coffee bean: very roasty, yet sweet w/ hints of vanilla and breadiness in the aroma.

T - This porter tastes sufficiently roasty w/ a caramel flavor bordering on toffee. There are notes of mocha too, but the charred malt tastes almost powdery and the yeast is there after about half-way through. The element that makes this porter better than most is the hops - they seem to surface w/ piney flavor to counter the sweet crystal malt w/ honey like potency and balances the malt very wel.

D - I am a fan of well made porters and this one while not very well blended, has excellent malt and is very nicely balanced and yet not shy on the hops either. This has very dark charred malt too which reminds me of barbecue which isn't for everyone, but in the small amount here is tasty like the slightly burned crust of homemade cookies.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2008 20:29:08 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz single, hauled by kmpitz2

is this one named for the dead song or is that strictly a coincidence? either way...

appearance: dark, almost pitch black, maybe a ruby tint, just maybe...very light brown head and creamy lacing

smell: cocoa powder, roasted malts, some coffee bean, a dark fruitiness going on in the background, earthy

taste: burnt coffee, cocoa powder, dark roast, dark fruit, some mild hoppiness, toasted malts...somthing missing here i think

mouthfeel: not as creamy as i'd like

drinkability: pretty drinkable

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2005 23:53:40 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

3.8/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown color with a lighter brown along the bottom of the glass. 2 inch head of a pale tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of yeast, sweet malt, slight alcohol, toffee, and a hint of hops. Fits the style of an American Porter. Mouth feel is smooth and sharp with a high carbonation level. Tastes of coffee up front, roasted malt, slight sweet malt, hint of smoke, and a slight hop finish. Overall, a heavily carbonated porter, but still has a good body and blend.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2009 02:44:42 | More by Tone

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle split and poured into a Duvel tulip. Best before August '10 notched on the label.

Thanks to Wisconsinality for sharing some Kentucky beers with me!

A - Dark chocolate brown and clear with almost no head. A tiny level of off-white head forms but doesn't last at all.

S - Robust roasted malts have a strong bittersweet chocolate aroma that has a lot of dusty cocoa. Very dry aroma with no hops present.

T - Very dry and roasted chocolate malts impart a dusty cocoa and bittersweet chocolate flavor. Almost no hops present in flavor but they balance it well as it has no sweetness.

M - Light-medium-bodied and crisp with a very dry finish. A little bit harsh for dryness though.

D - Fairly drinkable for a porter but it's rather plain. Chocolate and cocoa are pretty thin through the whole flavor and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2010 12:36:34 | More by BeerFMAndy

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass from the bottle the BBC Dark Star Porter pours a very dark brown, with not much of a head at all. What little head there was disappeared very quickly. It smells very nice, like coffee, chocolate, caramel, and roasted malt. The taste is mainly chocolate malt, with some roasted coffee flavor too. There's a bitter aftertaste that stays around a while after drinking the beer. The mouthfeel is pretty thin, but this is a very drinkable beer. I'd recommend this to anyone to drink, it's a good selection from BBC. I remember having it on tap a few years ago at the BBC brewpub, so I think I'll have to make another trip to Louisville and try it on tap again.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2006 23:54:01 | More by bluejacket74

Brent

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Named after the 1953 Kentucky Derby Winner (the brewery is located in Louisville, Ky., home of the Derby). Nice roasted caramel aroma. Distinct coffee notes, with spicy hops and a hint of chocolate in the finish. A little on the mild side for a robust porter, but on the plus side it pairs well with food.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2001 15:34:55 | More by Brent

alexgash

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark chocolate brown body with maroon edges and a thick, creamy, tan head. Good lacing.
The nose is made up of near-curdled chocolate milk, light tin, and minor roasted barley notes. Reminds me of a toned-down Viking Whole Stein with that sour tang.
Soft, sweetish milk flavors up front. Notes of chocolate come through mid-palate. Lightly bitter and roasty into the finish. Has an overall metallic echo to it. Finish is a tad bitter with lingering roasted sweetness. Not that impressive, but decent enough. Medium-bodied with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Thanks to kmpitz2 for this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2004 04:25:24 | More by alexgash