Kona Moon Porter - Six Rivers Brewery

gregb13

California

3.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours typical of the style; nice frothy mocha head and lacing. Smells very roasty with a nice sweet espresso character; also a slight lactic sweetness. Taste is dominated by roasted notes and bitter espresso. Mouthfeel is medium. Very easy drinking, minimal aftertaste.

If the taste followed the nose closer (more sweet espresso rathan than sharp espresso bitterness) than I would rate this one much higher. As it is, it's a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 06:41:21 | More by gregb13

ackeeper

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +0.9%

05-22-2013 02:50:22 | More by ackeeper

GRG1313

California

3/5  rDev -6.8%

01-29-2013 06:08:10 | More by GRG1313

Nage37

California

4/5  rDev +24.2%

07-24-2012 01:15:44 | More by Nage37

Offa

California

3.98/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black, med tan head steadily shrinks to foamy ring and wisps.

Aroma is coffee, roasted caramelized bread, hints of chocolate.

Taste is roasted coffee sweetness and bitterness, earthy woodiness, general roasty bread, nicely integrated balanced, and complementary elements.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 05:01:36 | More by Offa

AmberMan22

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I pour this out of my 22oz bomber, and realize that no head is developing. I pour aggressively, but a fizzy head disappears almost instantly. So, no head and therefore no lace. However, this is a firmly coffee-bean brown that doesn't let much light through. It certainly looks like a coffee porter.

It smells much of coffee than it does of porter, but I am fondly reminded of one of my favorite beers -- Moe's Bender (A limited Surly release). Bold and earthy coffee beans mix with hints of vanilla, and bitter dark chocolate. It's like a French Café just fused with a Belgian Chocolatier house.

This beer barely tastes more like a beer than it does a coffee drink. Carrying barely any carbonation, it feels like a coffee drink. Kona Moon Porter sure is a schizophrenic beer. The taste carries all of the notes of the smell: rich and dark coffee grounds, vanilla, and bitter chocolate. It's hard to determine whether hops lend a bit of bitterness, or if the bitter coffee is confusing me.
I'll say it has a bit of a hop bitterness to it, though the beer seems to have a strange lack of malt. Kona Moon is fairly thin, and I can't distinctly pick out a malty taste.

So -- is it delicious? Yes. Is it a good coffee porter? Jury is still out on that one. Certainly worth a try, but I'd appreciate a little more porter to serve as a base, and a little less java.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 02:02:58 | More by AmberMan22

Omer4176

California

3/5  rDev -6.8%

12-31-2011 23:50:24 | More by Omer4176

OleJohnnieAle

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A very dark brown color with minimal head and almost no lacing left behind.

S: Coffee... coffeee and ahhhh more coffee. Very strong roastted coffee aroma. Tried hard to pick others out of this and couldn't.

T: Unlike the smell, I get a lot more out of the taste. A decent toasted malt note up front and a nice sweet coffee note.

M: VERY Smooth and easy drinking. Looked like it may be heavier but wasn't. Wasn't watered down or anything.

O: A decent average porter. I would have this one again but wouldn't search it out. Good coffee porter worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 00:54:03 | More by OleJohnnieAle

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.58/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to jh1982 for the chance to try this one. Poured from a bomber into a tulip shaped pint glass. The brew appears dark brown in color with more than a finger of tan froth sitting atop. Around the edges, you can see lighter brown clarity. When held to the light, the main portion of the body is murky with some redness about it. As the cap slowly fades, it leaves some finger-like strings of lace sticking to the glass.

The smell of this brew has quite a bit of tangy elements. It somewhat suggests the awkward citrus that is evident in some forms of coffee but as it mixes with a mineral component it is well, interesting. A light swirl releases some sulfur notes as well as some roasty coffee.

The taste is as tangy as you might imagine based off the aroma. Musty grain mixes with stale coffee flavoring that gets a twist of citrus hops. Very minimal roast here but the bitterness towards the back is more of a roasty bitterness than hoppy bitterness. Mild chocolate grain and minerals are the last thought. The aftertaste has a light amount of earthy character mixed with some lactic character that is almost tart.

This is a medium to light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It has a very watery feel about it that makes me think that this brew was blended with brewed coffee and not aged over the beans or cold steeped. I am usually a big fan of coffee porters and stouts, this was just missed for me. Perhaps this one is just over the hill, this is at least the 3rd different coffee brew I have had that was tangy and stale tasting instead of fresh and roasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 23:29:12 | More by stakem

tbeq00

California

4/5  rDev +24.2%

12-10-2011 03:43:39 | More by tbeq00

drop6301

Oregon

3/5  rDev -6.8%

11-26-2011 03:16:29 | More by drop6301

johnhenryconway

3/5  rDev -6.8%

11-19-2011 05:44:12 | More by johnhenryconway

Booman

California

3/5  rDev -6.8%

11-15-2011 10:03:53 | More by Booman

Pellinore1

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to sdhomebrewer for sending this one.

Pours deep brown, nearly black into a pint glass. A finger of light tan head leaves a tiny bit of lacing down the glass.

I smell nice roasty malt with a hint of coffee, as well as a slight sourness that seems out of place.

The coffee is a more evident in the flavor, but it isn't backed up by enough rich malt to balance it out.

Medium to full-bodied, with light carbonation, the mouthfeel is unremarkable.

A decent beer, but the flavor and aroma just don't come together that well.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 03:02:56 | More by Pellinore1

DarthKostrizer

California

2.95/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Look: Black and totally opaque with 1/4 inch head and ok retention

Smell: Very subtle notes of coffee and very sweet chocolate

Taste: This beer taste like cold stale coffee

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low carbonation

Overall: Why did I waste my money

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 03:52:51 | More by DarthKostrizer

MrVonzipper

California

2.4/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Thanks DarthKostrizer for ending our bottleshare on a bad note with this drainpour.

Black with mahogany edges and a tan bubbly head decent retention. Mild lacing if any.

Nose is muted Bitter chocolate and bitter, stale coffee. 

Flavor is the same as nose except, unfortunately it's in your mouth. Bitter and kinda flat flavor. Stale coffee.

Very high spritzy carbonation. Bad for style. 

Overall an all around bad beer. This needs Alot of work.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 18:52:36 | More by MrVonzipper

ehammond1

California

2.65/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle

Thanks for sharing, DarthKostrizer!

Dark brown with auburn edges and a thin, light brown head. Spots of lacing down the glass, though the beer looks a bit thin per the style.

Roasted malts and burnt/stale coffee combine for a relatively simple aroma.

The flavor is dominated by coffee, though not of the rich, decadent, or roasted (or fresh) variety--this is more of a bad diner's offering of the stuff. There's a mild roast character and a low bitterness, but this one isn't particularly tasty or drinkable.

Thin to medium bodied, though perhaps a touch metallic.

While I'm glad to have had the opportunity to try this, I'm happy to say I won't be seeking this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 03:24:40 | More by ehammond1

Philousa

California

3.35/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Black with very little tan head. Aroma starts with caramel, a bit tart, with bitter malt reminiscent of coffee. Thick burnt malt on the tongue, bitter roasted coffee aftertaste lingers for a good while. Mouthfeel is good considering the amount of malt they packed in here. A little thick, but it adds to the character of the beer.

I'm not the biggest fan of this beer, but at least they aren't making something that everyone else is making. It's a little too thick, but the coffee bitterness lingers and reminds you of a coffeshop, in a good way. They took a risk and didn't screw it up, so I have to reward that. Isn't that what craft beer is all about? Besides sales, that is.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 04:23:49 | More by Philousa

Zorro

California

3.6/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown colored beer with a lighter brown colored head.

Smell is all coffee. Sweet with an over powering coffee aroma with a slight sour scent to it. Slight amount of sour scent. Still only so many ways to say it smells like coffee.

Starts out mildly sweet with a strong coffee flavor. Slightly bitter with some chocolate taste to it. Still not real subtle or complex, this tastes like an iced coffee.

Mouthfeel is good.

It is tasty and tastes like coffee, that is about all there is to say about this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 00:43:37 | More by Zorro

magictacosinus

California

3.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked this one up in Arcata, CA. Poured into a pint glass out of a bomber.

Appearance: Pours a dark, blackish look with a nicely maintaining head, for the most part. I do enjoy my coffee black, which makes this an ideal look for a highly infused coffee brew.

Smell: Smokey, with very strong notes of coffee bean notes - not much else, though. There's a bready, sour that is quite overpowering but slightly off putting considering that this is a beer. There are some malty hints, but not much else. I personally enjoy coffee scents, but this does lose points in not holding too much complexity.

Taste: The coffee taste is nice and strong, but it is infused to the point where it overpowers the taste of alcohol and malts. It does surprisingly retain a decent hoppy end, as well as sweetness that is balanced. It does taste more like coffee than a beer, but still makes it an interesting brew to taste.

Mouthfeel: Well balanced and flavorful but there's an undeniable conflict of sweetness and bitterness here. It's more malty than watery, in my perspective, and that makes it a wholly comfortable beer to drink. I just wish that its feel were more balanced - the overwhelming amount of coffee affects the quality of the feel.

Overall: I happen to like coffee aromas, and this does succeed at being an interesting malt-based coffee drink. Is it a beer? Sure, but I would never consider that way - I could even have this one for breakfast. There are definitely better beers of this type out there, but this isn't horrible by any means - only unbalanced flavor-wise.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 06:30:44 | More by magictacosinus

avaldivia

California

2.38/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the Coddingtown Whole Foods Tap Room in Santa Rosa.

A: Black. Very dark with little head that left a bit of lacing.

S: Coffee is front and center. Very strong. I actually can't really smell anything other than that roasted dark coffee smell.

T: Not good. I like coffee stouts and porters, but this is not for me. There is no balance, I only taste the burnt coffee flavor. I was hoping for a dark malty caramel backbone or something, but nothing.

M: Thin for a porter. Almost watery. Good carbonation.

O: This was my first time trying a beer from this brewery and I was unimpressed. I would be willing to give them another opportunity but not this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2011 18:25:23 | More by avaldivia

bradleyp

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Market of Choice for stocking this beer.

A: A very dark brown color with a nice batch of lacing around the entire glass.

S: Coffee is very pungent in the aroma. Almost like coffee with cream type smell.

T: A nice malt flavor, can't really sense the type of hops used, but coffee is the main flavor that I sense.

M: Smooth, easy drinking, not too heavy, but not watery like some other Porters I've had recently.

O: A very enjoyable beer that I wouldn't mind having again. I really enjoy coffee flavored beers, especially Coffee Porters. I would recommend this beer to coffee lovers, as well as beer lovers.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 05:48:12 | More by bradleyp

MikeSr619

California

4.47/5  rDev +38.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It came across by the pour as just another coffee porter but the instant it hit my glass I was punched in the snot locker by its coffee aroma. Every taste was even better than the first. If you are in to coffee porters you will LOVE this one. Trust me, Im a professional.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 23:46:22 | More by MikeSr619

stoutfiend27

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bomber in a surprise box from my good buddy james...man did this really make my week after a long and tough 7 days....into a tulip

a-deep mahogany almost black..excellent ruby hightlights up against the light....nice frothy off white cap

s-roasty and acidic coffee up front...some sweet malt in the middle...no hop bitterness in the nose

t-much like the smell starts off roasty then some acidic coffee rushes in....the hops are there to off put the acidity and sweetness....finishes bitter from the coffee i imaigine..

m-a tad thin but acceptable for the style...the coffee makes it dry...the carbonation is spot on...alive and prickly

o-an excellent coffee porter which i would not mind having more of....this came as a surprise along with the other bottles...huge thanks goes out to james for this wonderful surprise of beers

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 22:19:46 | More by stoutfiend27

Snow81

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark brown body

Head: Big light brown head

Smell: Black coffee bean

Taste: Coffee right up front with a dark maltyness and a little bitter hop in the back

Weight: Light body with a low to medium carbonation

Finish: Burnt roosted malts with coffee

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 15:11:29 | More by Snow81