Shade Grown Coffee Porter - Real Ale Brewing Company

Ungertaker

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Darkness snifter.

A- rich, deep mohogany with minimal light penetration. A khaki head forms, then quickly recedes to a ring around the glass with a slight lacing left in its path.

S- coffee, pecans, and dark chocolate

T- coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, and a nutty roasted malt in the background.

M- a fair amount of carbonation and a medium mouthfeel. The overall texture definitely feels lighter due to the carbonation.

O- not too heavy, delicious in flavor, and lower ABV make this an incredibly enjoyable brew! Thanks to Texasclimber for yet another awesome extra!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 05:31:56 | More by Ungertaker

ballmouse

New York

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted on Jan 18, 2012. Best by Feb 09, 2012.

A: Nice deep, dark brown color with a good head. The appearance actually gives quite a good indication of the taste.

S: Can't smell anything really. Very faint coffee smell. Could be due to the age (I'm tasting a product that is sold during the fall during mid-January).

T: Love it. Extremely faint coffee (due to the age I suppose), but the taste is quite balanced. Not too harsh, but not too sweet either. Taste a good mix of chocolate, roasted barley, and hops.

M: I enjoyed this as well. It was not too thick at all, which made it a good 6% beer that one could enjoy a couple bottles of. Carbonation was very good and ensured a smooth drink. Could perhaps have a little less carbonation though. After all, this isn't an IPA (and I don't want it feeling like one).

O: Enjoyed this beer. I'd love to find it fresher though. I'm sure the coffee is much more apparently, and I'd love to be able to experience that dimension of the beer. Nevertheless, it's a very drinkable porter with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 02:06:26 | More by ballmouse

CooperEllis

New York

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle in duck rabbit snifter from canadianghetto

another solid texas offering. This was from 2011 but I get the feel this is a) much better on draft and b) the coffee faded considerably in the bottle I had.

Perfect look - dark, deep coloring. Roasty, chocolate buttermilk head with billowy lacing.

Aroma had some of the coffee, but it was dominated by the roasted malts. The malt aroma itself was light, which made for a pleasant, but nearly unnoticed, aroma.

Good entry, rich malt taste but the body is a little bit light, which I've found in several of the TX porters that I've tried. Maybe its a regional thing but I like my porters to have a body that separates them from lighter fare.

The taste is lacking that coffee richness. Either a more bitter bite, or a gentle but full coffee presence. Neither is present in this bottle. The porter is good, it could be exceptional.

(156th)

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 01:32:25 | More by CooperEllis

BrewerB

California

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

miikezombie sent this to me in a recent trade. Originally I had this on tap at The Ginger Man in Austin and loved it. Have been craving bottles ever since.

Pouring into 3 floyds in glass. Deep mohagany-hued, good clarity. A thin light tan head formed on top but only retains partially. Lacing.

Prominent coffee beans in the aroma along with an almost equally intense semi-sweet chocolate. Slight earthiness.

More coffee in the flavor but this is more of a dark chocolate/espresso combination. Mocha-like but without overt sweetness. Bitterness is moderate and allows for a balanced flavor. Dry finish that leaves a dark toasted malt on the palette.

Medium in body with a moderate level of carbonation.

Truly enjoyable coffee-flavored porter. Reminiscent of a dark chocolate, minimally sweetened mocha.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:37:48 | More by BrewerB

frenchblood21

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance- A beautiful deep dark brown. Cream colored head that disappears quickly.

Smell- Coffee and chocolate in that order. Almost smells like root beer.

Taste- You can taste the coffee right up front. Maybe some dark bitter chocolate. Hints of roasted malt too. Alcohol sugar comes in on the back-end.

Mouthfeel- Really nice mouthfeel. Exactly how a porter should go down. Not as thin as an IPA, but not as thick as an Russian Imperial stout.

Overall- A great seasonal beer from a good brewery. Grab some if you still can, but drink them ASAP. These won't taste good for long.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 01:21:38 | More by frenchblood21

DavidST

Texas

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, best before 2.2.12. This pours a dark brown, almost black with a nice tan head with low retention. The smell is a little lighter than expected, some roasted malts and coffee. The feel is medium, taste is light also, some roasted malts and coffee, good but a little disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 03:56:23 | More by DavidST

coldriver

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into Sam Adams glass. Pours like cola with minimal head and lacing. Light coffee and toffee aromas. Taste some coffee and chocolate notes with sweet roasted malt. Finish is very dry but seems flat and thin. Would like to see more robust flavoring with this one - not bad but not great either.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 00:15:24 | More by coldriver

jkanavel

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark brown, clear, bubbly, reddish around the edges. Weak head, no retention whatsoever.

S: Pretty standard given the addition of coffee in the brew.

T: VERY dry, this is not a sweet porter. Smooth vanilla, bitter-sweet chocolate notes, definantly some nice coffee, but more like a french press coffee than an espresso. Not sure what degree of roasted the added coffee was.
Acid levels are WAY to high in this beer. After the first bottle I was done. No question about it. It left a sour gas station coffee flavor lingering on the back of my tongue.

M: Effervescent. Really highly carbonated. Thin, kind of water.

O: This beer tastes good on the front of the palate. Pretty good indeed, everything else about it falls flat imho. I try to drink local often, but this is just not what I want representing Texas's contribution to brewing. There's always Rahr and St. Arnolds...

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 07:05:40 | More by jkanavel

elNopalero

Texas

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

Pours a burnt brown-slash-ruddy amber color with thin lacing.
There’s a lot of light-yet-roasty notes in the aroma. Some coffee flavor but it’s not overpowering. The roasty notes hold up while sipping. A pleasing warming porter with coffee? Pour me another, por favor.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2011 22:13:14 | More by elNopalero

harrymel

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best by 01FEB12

A: pours brownish black with under a finger of off-white foam which falls quickly to a central cap and rim. Dark. No lace.
S: smells like coffee (not as strongly as I would have thought), and like a dry porter. Some toasted malts, some soil, a little nuttiness.
T: The coffee takes second seat on this beer. The porter is very nutty, almost a burnt cashew tone with some vegetal tones. the coffee comes back around, but in a sweet sense. Finish is a little gauzy. Has a nice creamy taste to it as well.
M: Medium bodied with lower carb. Gives it a full bodied feel without feeling heavy or burdensome. Semi dry finish.
O: Pretty good, as a coffee porter, I would suggest, but as a porter, I would offer as a decent example.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 11:56:36 | More by harrymel

eye2

Texas

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown with very dark amber hints when the light hits it. Looks a lot like cola. Zero head. Zero bubbles percolating up from the bottom

S: Smells like good roasted coffee.

T: Superb. Strong coffee taste and bitter sweet.

MF: Perfect carbonation (even though it appears not to have any). Warm from the alcohol.

Overall: Top-Notch. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 21:15:52 | More by eye2

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

2.78/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Tasted at large local beer tasting event... Poured into mini snifter

A- Dark brown color with tints of red throughout, no real head formed from the pour, just a small film. Fairly transparent for such a dark beer.

S- Not a big aroma here. Some sweet honey, toasty malt, not much coffee at all or anything else for that matter.

T/M- Coffee comes through more in taste, but it's still incredibly lacking. Light body, light roast, fruity esters, toasty melonoidens (sp?), light vanilla. Body has moderate carbonation, would like it to be thicker/fuller and a more substantial body.

O- Little amount of many things. Not bad, but nothing to go crazy about. The single most disappointing factor wass the coffee let down- its a coffee porter Real Ale... Can we have some coffee, please?!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 21:00:51 | More by TheGordianKnot

zdk9

Texas

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

A- Pours black with some black walnut highlights. About a finger of uniform cocoa head and lots of pocadot lacing.

S- Heavily roasted nuts- almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts; fresh coffee grounds;

T- Bits of dark sweetness poke around lots of roast and coffee. A hefty amount of coffee and a hefty amount of sweetness leading to a nice balanced and complex pas de deuz of a taste.

M- Nothing too strong in terms of bitterness or sweetness, so it goes down nicely.

O- A very nice roasty porter with sweet and bitter notes throughout along with a coffee flavor that invites but doesn't overwhelm.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 01:43:58 | More by zdk9

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my trusty snifter. Stamped with a best by date of 1-25-12. Wish I had a bottled on date - I'll drink some and cellar some and tell YOU when it's "best by".

A: Pours a dark brown color with mahogany highlights. A half finger head dissipates to a thin rim of off white bubbles. Nice lacing.

S: Tons of coffee and smokiness. In the backdrop you get some roastiness, but not a lot.

T: Smoke, pork and coffee again. Except in the taste there's more roastiness. Very sweet, but not cloying. Some caramel, some brown sugar. A very floral hop presence as well. The coffee isn't necessarily a dark, bitter, espresso quality. More of a "standard" coffee taste. And the dominant flavor is that pork/smokiness.

M: This is medium bodied, but there's a pleasant creaminess in the texture that helps it to coat the mouth.

O: Not bad. The coffee isn't as prominant in the taste as I'd prefer from something labeled a coffee porter. I'd almost call this a smoked porter actually. The mouthfeel is something to build off of for sure. A solid effort and I like that the ABV is slightly higher than most porters tend to be.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 02:19:38 | More by kbuzz

kemoarps

Washington

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

Pours a deep dark cola colour, with a nice tan head that fades before long, but leaves nice lacing as I drink.

The smell isn't quite what I had first anticipated, it's a little sweeter on the nose than I had been expecting. You can smell the cocoa and coffee beans, but not overwhelmingly. There's a thing roastiness to it.

It's a tasty beer. Follows the themes of the nose with the roasty chocolate and coffee being predominant. A little burnt on the back end, and a hint of the hops that must be in there somewhere.

Not quite as full bodied as I had expected, but that's not to say that it's thin or watery, just not as round and chewy as I had (for some reason) imagined. Good carbonation, but ends up being a bit filling for what it is.

I enjoyed this beer. Sorry, this is Texas, so I enjoyed this 'ale.' Sadly it's not available in my area (I picked it up on a trip to Houston to bring back), so I probably won't be able to try it again anytime soon. If not for the restriction of availability I could see myself drinking it semi-regularly. Definitely my favourite from what I've had of Real's brews. Check it out if it's in your area.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 18:42:54 | More by kemoarps

gtermi

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer pours like your typical Porter. It is dark brown with a thin white head.

S: The first think I can think of when I smell this beer is chocolate covered coffee beans. It is one of the best smelling beers to me.

T: I get a decent amount of coffee and some roasted malt. It later has a slight dark chocolate as it lingers on the tongue.

M: The beer is pretty smooth, but has a decent amount of carbonation. If it had a little less carbonation, it would be better.

O: I feel this beer is one of the best from Real Ale. I always enjoy their beers and get excited every year when this comes out.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 06:40:47 | More by gtermi

doughanson78

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Thanks to bhollas for this one.

A: Black, but not super black. No light gets through. Half finger creamy tan head with alright retention and pretty good lacing.

S: Roasted malt is the dominate aroma, but its not huge. Nice milk chocolate behind the roastiness. Maybe a touch of of vanilla. Coffee is very light and almost non-existent.

T: Milk chocolate upfront. Roasted malts come through next, but sort of light. Again not much coffee at all.

M: Medium light body. A touch on the thin side for me. Light carbonation. Medium creaminess.

O: A decent porter. Doesn't hang with the big boys, but good for a small local brewery. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 20:43:35 | More by doughanson78

imasloth

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Couple of beers this afternoon and I was feeling sleepy ... so I cracked this one! :)

A- Dark brown with the slightest reddish color around the edges (not entirely opaque). Poured hard into a snifter and gave a finger's width head which is now a light dusting over the top of the beer. Carbonation appears low. Light lacing.

S- Mostly malt with a light coffee in the background. (I'm from Austin but have never had Katz' coffee and can't speak to its quality. I go Third Coast.)

T- Great bitterness, with the chocolatey malt to follow. The coffee is rather subdued, but noticeable and delightful. Slightest hop bitterness.

M- Good rich body, with a nice bitterness and the secondary feel of alcohol.

O- I think the total is greater than the sum of its part (and I privilege taste over all else). This beer tastes great and I'd pick up a sixer if in the mood for a dark beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 22:39:35 | More by imasloth

bayougutter

Louisiana

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle to a snifter and it produced a one inch off white head with little lacing. Dark brown in color with a little red coming thru with the aid of light. Head didn't stay around long.

Smell is sweet malts, chocolate, cocoa, prunes, and a hint of coffee. While the aroma is inviting it's a little muted.

The taste is just about what the aroma suggests only a little bolder with a little more of the coffee on the finish. Malt profile comes thru as well as the chocolate/cocoa. Nice balanced taste.

Mouthfeel is full and a little on the creamy side for a porter but lacked carbination at the end of the drink.

Overall I enjoyed this one and would say it is worthy of a try if you get a chance.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 21:54:34 | More by bayougutter

Viciousknishs

Virginia

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

A- pours dark brown with a light tan head.

S- aromas of hershy chocolate with a hint of coffee bean.

T- flavor follows the nose with milk chocolate and a touch of coffee bean on the finish.

MF- smooth creamy mouthfeel with a medium body and average carbonation.

D- very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 03:06:48 | More by Viciousknishs

HosP

Indiana

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

Wife opened this up and let me have a bit of it. Poured 12 oz into Tremens snifter.

A- Pours dark brown, almost black other than the light coming through around the edges. Very thin light brown head. Very quick retention to it.

S- Gives off a chocolate aroma at first, subtle coffee notes follow. Not much else from the nose really. Maybe some roasted notes at the end.

T- Upfront there is a sweet vanilla, chocolate flavor. Quickly moves to a thin coffee flavor. Get some of the roasted coffee, malt flavors at the end the round out the beer nice.

M- Medium body with good carbonation. Thin in the mouth.

O- Nice coffee flavors that leave you knowing it was coffee. A little on the thin side like a porter would be. Still a nice coffee porter for sure. Wife loved it, so that is all that matters.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 03:07:19 | More by HosP

LiquidBread219

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours black with some light coming through around the edges and bottom of the glass.

S - Biscuity malts with some coffee and a touch of prune and cocoa.

T - Sweet malt, coffee and cocoa apparent, this surely has some chocolate malt in it right? The coffee flavor isn't as overpowering as many other brews, it's well balanced by the malt and a light bitterness from both the coffee and hops.

M - Medium in body and fairly heavily carbonated. Fairly dry as well.

D - Pretty tasty, glad I had a chance to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 18:26:24 | More by LiquidBread219

ne0m00re

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Live review of a 12 oz bottle, best by 01/26/11.
A: Dark brown with a dark tan collar/film/lacing.
S: Dark caramel and almonds, latte, bananas, milk chocolate, green hops in the finish.
T: Metallic green lingering finish, toffee and caramel mix with a mildly roasted coffee, and almond.
M: Lighter with a decent froth, it feels a little thin.
O: Decent. I might order it on tap occasionally if it was available here.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 23:00:11 | More by ne0m00re

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

StoneBrewFanatic

Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark brown with some amber color when light is coming through the glass. Two fingers of tan head with minimal retention and lacing.

S - Sweet roasted malts, dry cocoa, coffee, vanilla, caramel, and a touch of alcohol.

T - Roasted malts and coffee first, a dry cocoa is present from start to finish, caramel and vanilla notes with a slight bitterness to the finish.

M - Smooth and creamy.

D - Very Drinkable and enjoyable, one of my new favorite porters.

Serving type: cask

04-04-2011 21:35:34 | More by StoneBrewFanatic