Shade Grown Coffee Porter - Real Ale Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed this one for the after dinner drink as the kids opened theirr presents. Served chilled and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 12/24/2009.

The pour was nice, dark brown, nearly black in color with a nice little puff on tan colored head on top. Nice lacing as it drops down the sides leaving a broken crown along the top. Aroma is solid coffee, with light notes of lactose and touches of something sweet balancing in there as well. Rich coffee notes with light touches of sugar are the way to go here. Smooth, easy sipper as each taste seems to bring more of the coffee flavor up to the forefront. Lighter feel then I would have expected but with the more the adequete carbonation it really seems to work here. Easily drinkable as this one went down without a fight and forced me to move on to something else.

Again not the best coffee porter I have had, but I liked it. It worked as it was lighter then I was expecting but it was well put together and some good depth could be found.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 19:06:54 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a dark coffee brown color with ruby highlights and a foamy beige head that holds well and leaves sheets of lace down the glass

Smell: Roasted malt with plenty of black coffee aromatics

Taste: Roasted malt and dark bread up front with coffee flavor joining, mid-palate; after the swallow, the coffee tones persist although there is an odd mouth-puckering acidity to the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A nice porter with good coffee elements but I wasn't as crazy about it as some other reviewers

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2007 04:38:03 | More by brentk56

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.03/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

There's no indication on the bottle lable that notes the "Shade Grown" title but it's the same beer in the end.

This Coffee Porter is a middle-of-the-road base of chocolate, pale, and a bit of roasted malts. Roast is intensified by the coffee additions which pick up a 'columbian coffee' nuttiness. Though the coffee is present, I have had regular Porters with as much coffee flavor and boldness. Bitterness is a good blend of hops and coffee resins with a bit of grassiness comming into the flavor hop flavor mix.

The beer is a dark brown color with some opaquness particularly around the edges. A loosely knit head falls apart under the coffee influence (a lot of coffee beers do this). Some lacing and foam holds onto the edges before completely disipating after a few minutes.

A grainy, tart-sour thing happens as the beer warms and carbonation subsides. I'm not sure if this is part of the beers character or if it is becaue I am drinking toward the tail end of the 'Best By' date.

The body is pretty light and could use a fuller, maltier, breadier mouthfeel. Without it, the beer seems thin as the carbonation is fleeting.

Thanks Exiled.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 20:09:05 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Thanks to JJFoodie for this bottle!

Does the shade really matter? Regardless, this guy pours a slightly translucent dark brown with ruby highlights and a quickly-fading head of ecru foam. The nose comprises coffee, molasses, roasted malts, and a hint of leather. The taste echoes the smell, though the coffee and leather bleed into each other, diluting one another a little bit. They do come back in the aftertaste, though. The body is a straight medium, with a light carbonation, smooth feel, and fairly dry finish. Overall, not a bad coffee porter, but something's lacking in the flavor department. I can't quite pin down what exactly, but something... Still worth a shot, though.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2010 09:28:47 | More by TMoney2591

Mora2000

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with some slight brown highlights around the edges when held up to the glass. When you smell the beer, you wonder if you are smelling beer or strong coffee. I can also smell some malt in the aroma, but it is well hidden behind the strong coffee smell. The taste is what you would expect from a beer that smells just like coffee, with lots of coffee flavor and some roasted malt. I expected this beer to be thicker, but it is a relatively thin beer in the mouthfeel department, but that is not a bad thing. When it gets cold outside, I could drink lots of these beers while sitting by a fire.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 04:52:14 | More by Mora2000

jwc215

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mora2000!

Best by 03.08.10:

Pours very dark brown to black with a thin, small-bubbled head. Some lacing sticks.

The smell is of roasted coffee with a chocolatey backing.

The taste is of roasted coffee beans, iced coffee with a chocolatey, earthy backing. Finishes with a roasty dryness.

It has a robust medium body. A bit spritzy.

A porter with a strong roast coffee character - A fine replacement for your morning coffee!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 17:03:01 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a bottle at Jo's Coffee in Austin. While I liked the balance of coffee and roasted malts, this drank more like a brown porter. There's a mild, but not too bitter coffee flavor. It tasted like a very light roast and was quite drinkable, but you'd expect a richer beer for a coffee porter. Give it a try, it's certainly a new take on the sub-style.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 04:50:08 | More by tempest

Wasatch

Utah

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to JJFoodie for this one.

Best By: 01/21/10

Pours a dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy/foamy light tan head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some coffee notes, slight toffee as well. The taste is malty, slightly sweet, nice little coffee/toffee note. Medium body. Drinkable, a tasty brew, glad to have had a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2010 21:56:04 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

THis interesting looking coffee porter thanks to TexasStout. My first Real Ale beer.

It pours a lighter 1/2 finger head that is bubbly but fades slowly over an essentially pitch black beer, with very slight hints of light sneaking through.

The nose has plenty of dark malts, some crystal, a little chocolate, hint of roast, some sweetness, and a hint of a boozy aroma (a little much for 6%). I get some very light earthy hops as well. There is a bit of a coffee aroma, some fresh roasted coffee too which is nice, but I think much of the coffee has been lost while it sat in my fridge. I'll have to get it fresh and try it again.

The taste is similar, but coffee actually comes out into the foreground a lot more here. It reminds me a lot of my coffee nut brown homebrew. A nice coffee taste, light acidity and fresh roast, a light kahlua like coffee flavor too. Some dark malts, but they take a back seat to the coffee. Some crystal malts, a light chocolate and roast. There is some bitterness, not a lot, brought a bit by the coffee and roasted malts, but also a hint of an earthy hop. It finishes with more bitterness which comes out more on the finish, with a little more creamy kahlua and coffee flavors. It's not a dark roasted coffee, more like a lighter to medium roast, so it doesn't destroy the rest of the beer. It plays very well.

The mouth is a medium body with decent carbonation.

IT has a medium drinkability, with a bit of the syrupy sticky feel on the mouth lingering, and the bitter roasty flavor comes out more late on the finish. The nose brought out a little more alcohol aroma than I expected, but it was not there in the taste at least. I wouldn't call it sessionable, but it drinks well.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 14:56:09 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle obtained via Local BIF from kiltedtxn. Thanks for the opportunity. <Jeremy2002 = bad trader>

Poured into an imperial pint, formed a 1/4" tan head above the clear reddish brown brew. Head fades gradually, with average lacing. Aroma is sweet coffee. Taste starts sweet, then goes ever sweeter like a milk stout, coffee comes on at the end. Mouthfeel is creamy smooth, and drinkability is alright. Not all I was hoping for, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 01:52:21 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz hand bottled bomber. Thanks to Deuane for splitting this. I believe he received this in a recent BIF. Poured into a snifter.

Pours black with a thin head of mocha colored foam. Great looking flareup leaves some nice patchy lace back. It takes some aggressive swirling at first but I finally get a nice enough release of roasty coffee character. It's not overly burnt or acrid smelling, with the overall bouquet coming off as more sweet in the nature, thanks to some backing notes of caramel and chocolate.

The taste gives it up much easier, with a largely toasty feel, courtesy of coffee and roasted malts. The coffee character seems to have a pleasant fresh aspect to it, with more mellow notes of chocolate and toffee sweetness balancing out some of the bitterness and light astringency in the back. The mouthfeel is lighter medium feeling with a softer carbonation that gives the flavors an easy flowing feel.

Not much to complain about here. This was a solidly done Coffee Porter, with some nice roasty accents and balancing sweetness. An easygoing body helped this one go down well. I've been wanting to try this one for a while and for the most part, it didn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2009 16:43:59 | More by Kegatron

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, dark mahogany/chestnut brown color that's completely opaque with golden ruby/mahogany edges when held to a light source and a two finger frothy dark beige head that slowly fades into a thin lasting cap and ring. Sporadic spots of lacing.

Deep roasted coffee bean aroma with lots of dark toasted malt. There's a lot of bittersweet dark chocolate in the aroma along with subtle lactic creaminess, roasted nut and subtle hops.

Slightly chewy medium body that is very well balanced and not as roasty as I expected/feared it was going to be. Although the roasted coffee bean presence is most prominent, this beer is very well balanced by a sweet dark chocolate malt character and a nice lactic creaminess. There's also nice roasted nuttiness along with hints of toffee and licorice adding to the complexity. It's a nice change of pace to drink a coffee beer that isn't just charred coffee bean flavor dominating and overpowering all other elements. This beers balance and complexity make it extremely quaffable. Very good!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 01:24:55 | More by corby112

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.58/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Cheers very much to my bro Aaron for bringing this back from a recent trip to Texas. It seems Texan beers are rare in the parts of the US I ever get to visit.

Pours a disappointingly light looking brown colour, with oily hints at the corners. Head forms as a passive slick of film across the top of the glass. Body is also thin and light, but with a pleasing fine bead of carbonation. It's ok, but the negatives draw down the positives leaving it looking pretty average.

Nose is mild with filtered coffee aromas, and a touch of husky malt giving a twinge of grainy sweetness. Other sweet confectionery hints give notes of marshmallows and powdered sugar. It's not very full, and the coffee flavour seems lackadaisically layered on top of a relatively substandard beer otherwise.

Taste is also thin, with weak filtered coffee flavours riding along for the ride, awash a faint watery palate of nothingness. Slight raw beany character towards the back, and a slightly gritty finish like coarse dirt. Eh. Feel is particularly empty, letting even the purported marshmallow sweetness drop away to nothing.

A pretty disappointing brew, all up, and a sad initiation to Texan craft beer as far as I'm concerned. There are two more to come from Aaron's haul, so hopefully there's some redemption there.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 07:27:05 | More by lacqueredmouse

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

As with some others, this came to me in a trade. Actually, it was an extra in a trade, which always seems to make me feel extra-guilty for not reviewing such beers on a timely basis.

Right off the bat, I got a beautiful finger of deep-tan head that both hung around and released a fragrant nose of coffee in doing so. Color was a deep, dark cola-brown with little light penetration and deep brown at the edges. Nose was ... wait, let me turn off the coffee pot before it burns. Hold it, the coffee pot was not on!?! The beer was that redolent with coffee. Now what - in lieu of coffee; blend with fresh coffee; pour out and have some coffee? Ha! to that last musing. Full speed ahead! Mouthfeel was medium-to-full and although the coffee and its attendant bitterness were there, I also got spearmint and chocolate on the tongue. I kid you not on the mintiness. The finish made me think that I had just brushed my teeth with coffee toothpaste. Zounds! OMFG, do NOT have this around me on a school day! I'd have this with my oatmeal or grits and head in, only to have real coffee upon arrival. This is liquid danger, Will Robinson. Katz Coffee, eh? I may have to look into this. Slurp.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 09:19:34 | More by woodychandler

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Flying Saucer

Pours ½ finger of khaki head. Color is a caramel copper dark brown.

Aroma: Very roasted. Not a lot of coffee here. Chocolate, vanilla, and caramel.

Taste: Vanilla, caramel, roasted malts, nuts, and chocolate. The coffee shows more here.

Mouthfeel: Dry, roasted, and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends bitter, roasted, and clean.

Overall, a decent coffee porter, but I didn't like the coffee that was used very much. Still, it had a decent drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 16:25:44 | More by mothman

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to optimator13 for sending me this one during The Small Aquatic Mammal BIF '11! Best before date 02.09.11. Sereved from bottle into a Warsteiner mug. Poured a deep reddish brown with a two finger khaki colored head that subsided to half a finger slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, coffee, and chocolate. The flavor was of sweet malt, milk chocolate, subtle roasted malt, and slight coffee. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. The flavor on this one was pretty nice, but could have been a little more intense. The aroma was good too, but as with the flavor could have been more robust. Really glad I got the chance to try this one. Definitely suggest you do the same.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 14:01:04 | More by thagr81us

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks so much to captinredbeard for this unsolicited beer - cheers Corey! Poured chilled from the 12oz into a willybecker.

A lovely cola colored porter w/ translucent clarity and garnet hued as the base w/ a frothed milkshake head of 2 fingers w/ a miniscule bead. The lace sticks well and retention is excellent - a beer that appears like you could sink your teeth into it! A smell of caramel covered in cocoa and mild milk ball w/ light roasted aroma and gentle toasted elements w/ a slight dark cocoa bitter scent. The feel is rich and malt drenched with nutty and semi sweet texures. The carbonation is medium w/ a subtle bitterness and toasted effect w/ slightly dry and clean feel overall.

The flavor has lots of smooth roasted and bean flavors w/ a cocoa and nutty coffee cohesion. The flavor is creamy with a mild vanilla and sweet caramel malt tast in the middle. The mild brown sugar tip is toffee tinged w/ a nuttiness and almost dessert-like malt ball flavor. I really enjoyed the porter I could probably handle a few at a time without hesitation. The balance and smoothness gives a very drinkable and seemless quality. I appreciate the fact they didn't just dump a bunch of coffee for intensity's sake. The porter base is respected in this.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 18:01:21 | More by Slatetank

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with a best by date of 12.29.09. Pours a damn near black color with just a bit of brown showing around the edges. Fluffy brown head displays average retention and lacing.

Nose is well balanced with roasty coffee, semi-sweet chocolate and mildly burnt toast. I cant really find any hops in here, nor any yeasty esters...a very clean smelling porter.

The roasty coffee flavor is easily the most dominant flavor in the beer. Not much sweetness and there really is not an abundance of hop bitterness, but that seems to be ok as the coffee seems to lend plenty of it. It's a very smooth tasting beer, low carbonation helps the beer go down all too easily. A bit of mild fruitiness shows up as the beer warms to give it a much needed boost in complexity. This is a nice beer and one of the better Real Ale offerings. Fairly simple, but the smoothness of the beer and fresh, good coffee flavors make this a worthwhile and enjoyable drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2009 19:59:38 | More by twiggamortis420

FosterJM

California

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

205th review on BA
bottle to mug

Best by 2/18/11

App- A nice dark brown with a pencil thin head. Not much retention either.

Smell- Coffee, cream and malts.

Taste- This gave me more of a coffee profile than a beer flavor. Has a nice malt backbone as it warms as well.

Mouth- A bit thin to me. Not like a usual porter that leaves a pretty good full feel.

Drink- Not too shabby, was a bit thin. Little watery but probably due to the closeness of the freshness date.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 18:43:43 | More by FosterJM

AgentZero

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - A dark brown beer with a khaki head that didn't really leave anything on the sides.

S - A lot of roast, coffee is actually kind of lighter smelling for something that has the word coffee in the name.

T - Caramel and toffee, some faded coffee, little bit of nutiness to this.

M - Creamy, medium carbonation, medium bodied.

D - Not bad, nothing I'd make an effort to obtain, but it's a decent enough beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 23:47:39 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On Cask at the Gingerman in Houston.

A: Pours a dark brown color. A two finger tan head forms a sticks throughout. Sticky lace is left down the side of the glass.
S: Sweet and toasty malt up front. Chocolate and vanilla. Coffee is present, and never fades to the background. Though it is never up front and center. A soft, but excellent aroma.
T: Toasted malt, chocolate, and vanilla. A huge smooth chocolate flavor with just enough coffee that always in the background. The coffee is never acrid or sharp. Subtle and excellent again.
M/D: A medium body with low carbonation. This is supper smooth and creamy. Exceptional to drink. I quaffed several of these with ease.

This is just an excellent porter all around. Even more so on cask than on tap or in bottles. I love how the coffee is definitely there, but it never takes over. With so many coffee beers it is just acrid and astringent. This is incredibly smooth and subtle. One of my favorites, and highly recommended.

Serving type: cask

03-08-2010 16:24:33 | More by champ103

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this brew from whoneeds8 for winning SNF Squares Week 13, Thanks Maston!

12oz bottle served in a glass beer mug.

Very dark brown color with a small beige head that left a few spots of lacing.
Smells like fresh roasted coffee beans, very good.
Taste is all coffee upfront with some chocolate malt notes further down the line finishing sweet.
Medium bodied with a smooth, easy drinking feel.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2009 00:43:22 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Deep copper kissed brown with a medium light tan head that reduced to a thin cap and left spotty lace.

S-Subtle dark roasted coffee aroma with a backing of roasted malt and a touch of caramel sweetness.

T-Quality deep, dark roasted coffee flavour up front with a solid malt backing. Gets better and better with warming becoming more coffee forward as it does so.

M-Medium bodied somewhat acrid with nice lingering flavour.

D-Nice stuff. Nothing over the top here but a solidly done brew that is subtle yet flavourful that is easy to drink plenty of. comes across in the end like a robust brown ale more than a true porter IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 20:14:35 | More by Deuane

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer arrived on the table black with a translucent quality and a white frothy head which rose tall and fell slowly to coat the glass.

The aroma was strong chocolate and coffee with expresso, caramel and dark fruit aromas thrown in for good measure and added complexity.

The flavor was chocolate and coffee and some roasty expresso flavors. Also present was a light caramel maltiness, but the beer was never sweet.

The finish was dry with lasting chocolate and expresso into the aftertaste and beyond. The body was medium and just almost a bit on the thin side. This was a darn nice porter, someone let me know when the throw this in a bottle.

Draft at Flying Saucer in San Antonio.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2005 16:47:58 | More by GCBrewingCo

billab914

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Portsmouth snifter. Poured a dark brown color with a thin tan head covering the top of the beer.

The aroma has more of a roasted grains and chocolate flavor coming through then the coffee. The coffee is there but I was surprised it wasn't more evident then it was. Still a pretty nice porter aroma though.

The taste has roasted grains, coffee and some bitter dark chocolate. The coffee is there but isn't as strong as a lot of coffee flavored beers. It finishes with more of the chocolate flavor then anything else. The coffee actually blends into the roasted and chocolate flavor nicely.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's a nice flavored and easy to drink porter. I liked the way the coffee added some good flavors but didn't overpower the beer which allowed for some of the other nice flavors to show through.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 00:37:45 | More by billab914