Cole Porter - Magnolia Pub & Brewery

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.48/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Still brown pour from the cask. Smells of English yeast and not much else.

Taste is mildly sweet, old aged wood, mild chocolate malt, yeasty mustyness. Really comes across as an English porter far more than an American, but maybe having it on cask was what really is making me lean in this direction. Some definite smoky notes from it, not the smokiest beer, but about the smokiest non rauchbier or without the name "smoked" in the title of the beer.

There isn't much texture or viscosity to the beer, but that doesn't make it any quicker of a drink. Sometimes challenging in a good way, sometimes not, but it was an interesting pathway!

Serving type: cask

01-02-2012 03:43:52 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Northsider

Illinois

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

On tap at Magnolia.

Appearance was absolutely black with short tan head. Absolutely no light passed through this.

Smell and taste was strong of coffee. Some bitter chocolate in there as well.

Very smooth mouthfeel.

Overall, a very decent beer. While somewhat a typical porter, I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2011 04:06:04 | More by Northsider

womencantsail

California

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Magnolia

A: The pour is a very dark brown, almost black, with some reddish highlights and a khaki colored head.

S: Very roasty, especially for a porter, with perhaps a bit of burnt sugar. There are some nice coffee aromas and I would say some bitter dark chocolate is in there as well. Maybe even a hint of licorice.

T: Once again, an intense roasted malt character to the beer. There's a moderate bitterness associated with that and a muted chocolate flavor. A pretty decent amount of coffee, too. This beer seems fairly dry.

M: The body is medium and so is the carbonation. As I said, pretty dry on the back end.

D: I'd actually consider drinking this again. I like this beer quite a bit, probably one of the better Magnolia beers.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 08:51:48 | More by womencantsail

Duttonic

Texas

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

Served on tap 07/04/10.

A- Poured a rich, deep, dark brown with 1 1/2 fingers of eggshell colored head.

S- Roasted coffee, faint chocolate, malt.

T/M- Roasted coffee, rich, airy, creamy, like it had a little sprinkle of bittersweet chocolate. This paired really well with the whole wheat pancakes I had for brunch.

D- I could have had many more of these. It was great and I can't wait to go back when I get the chance.

Really superb, I wish that they had not been out of the casked cole porter. I really wanted to try that as well.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2010 02:36:28 | More by Duttonic

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Enjoyed on tap at Magnolia. Awesome porter, although served on the cold side. Black with some brown head and brown lace.Roast aromas rght there. Bold flavours, with great coffee yet I am not a coffee drinker. Mild 30 IBU. Creamy big mouthfeel, though offset by somewhat much carbonation. Good drinkability. Some expresso.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 04:42:15 | More by northyorksammy

ThreeWiseMen

California

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I (Wiseman Nick) split this with Wisewoman Liz yesterday afternoon. The following review was written using notes.

Served in a 20oz. nonic glass.

Appearance: Pitch black body with ashy-brown head on top. Though completely opaque, the body looked a little thin - similar to an Irish dry stout. The head was small and bubbly, but showed great retention and drug stingy lace.

Smell: Lots of roastiness here: roasted malt, black coffee, charred wood, etc. Bold, acidic, and harsh-natured; this one burned the nostrils a bit. Me likey.

Taste: The smell multiplied. Dark chocolate flakes join the party this time around. Burnt malts and black coffee abound. Finishes is like an iced French roast. Simple, yet totally delicious.

Mouthfeel: Kinda thin, very dry, and mellowly carbonated. Medium bodied, but robustly flavored. Cole Porter really gives the taste-buds a workout.

Drinkabilty: While I loved the taste of this beer, I don't know if I'd want a whole twenty ounces. The taste felt a little overpowering, and the feel bordered on harsh and acidic. I was very happy to split this, but I wouldn't order another.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2009 20:55:25 | More by ThreeWiseMen

Irie

California

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Incredibly dark and beautiful. A short browned head with low lacing. I love the fact that it was from the cask so the bartender basically pumped it out of the tap. Smooth pour too.

S - A nice smokey smell with hints of nuts and other things I can't name. Mostly just smokey and crisp.

T - Excellent. The cask temp was perfect for the porter. It was smooth and you could taste all of the flavor. It had a very nice smokiness that rolled into a bite as it went down. I don't know how to say it, but somehow it was very complex but simple at the same time. I think that would mean a great balance which it did have.

M - The natural carbonation from the cask was perfect. Just the right tingle without interrupting any flavor. The porter still seemed lite and easy thanks to the warmer temp so everything balanced out nice.

D - I could drink it all night. As lite as the beer tasted it still sat heavily and warmly in my stomach which I liked. The balance of the nuts and hops and everything else was so nice I could drink this with no remorse.

I loved this beer. Got it at the Magnolia pub here in San Francisco. Straight out of the cask and into my glass. This was one of the most balanced porters I've ever had.
Will drink again, without a doubt.

Serving type: cask

11-27-2008 19:40:36 | More by Irie

Hollenbeck2

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

excellent porter to me, I am not usually a porter guy but this one was smoky and the color was pitch black.

Had this on tap at the brewery in san fran, and I enjoyed this beer thouroughly, I highly suggest the flight at this spot on haight in SF.

served in a taster glass, which by the way at magnolia the taster glasses are huge and you get 6 for 8 bucks.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2008 04:11:59 | More by Hollenbeck2

deBeers

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this about a week ago and it was delectable. Poured a yummy black color with a nice, albeit thin, head with minimal lacing.

This cask-conditioned porter was amazing and tasted better than its brother on tap. Notes of cocoa and other things I can't remember because I didn't take notes. Also a bit of roasted malts on the back end of this tasty beverage. It paired amazing with my portabella burger and I highly recommend checking it out.

Cheers~

Serving type: cask

10-23-2007 18:25:18 | More by deBeers

bboven

Texas

2.8/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A little dark in appearance for the style. There are hints of deep brown at the edges, but it's mostly black. It's got a thick, very dark brown had that looks pretty though.

Lots of roast in the nose; Smells like day-old coffee. A little too much smoke, though; it's slightly over-powering. There are faint chocolate and raisin flavors that would be richer if not for the smokiness.

Very heavy on the smoky taste; like a half porter/half rauchbier.

It's a little over-carbonated for the style.

I'd buy it for something different every once in a while, but it's not really what I look for in a porter.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2007 19:26:12 | More by bboven

MaltyGoodness

Pennsylvania

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

Reviewed from notes taken @ the brewpub on 3/3/06. Listed as 4.5% ABV.

Pours a very dark (almost black) brown with some ruby highlights. Has a thin tan head and mild lacing on the glass.

Aroma is dark and roasted, with an almost burnt smell. Mild cocoa hints as well.

Rich roasted and slightly burnt taste upfront. A mild cocoa taste follows as it finishes very clean.

Good carbonation and body for a low ABV brew.

Quite drinkable, a solid porter. This must have been a better batch than some of the previous reviewers had sampled.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2006 21:18:02 | More by MaltyGoodness

brentk56

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Nice black body with no head or lacing

Smell: A little bit of chocolate on the nose but otherwise subdued

Taste: Roasted chocolate/chicory malt flavors with a bitter hoppy finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a nice cask feel

Drinkability: A pleasant sipper but a little underwhelming

Serving type: cask

03-25-2005 15:07:34 | More by brentk56

watermelonman

California

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This arrived very dark, with little head to speak of. The lacing was minimal as well.

The smell was subdued and almost plain, but the taste was anything but that. It really sticks amongst other porters that I've had recently, mostly because of an almost candy-like property. Roasted properties are in there too, but take a back seat.

The mouthfeel is lighter than expected but remains pleasing. Drinkability follows along similar lines.

Serving type: cask

10-08-2004 07:13:23 | More by watermelonman

chugamugofsud

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This beer was served from cask at the brewery. There was little/no head on the porter, which saddened me and the color was really that of a deep english stout. The smell didn't give away much about the porter other than to give hints of that deep coffee taste that is now famous in West Coast porters. This beer shows itself to you upon tasting it; however. It tastes absolutely amazing and seems to have seasons in your mouth turning from coffee to chocolate to deep porter yeast. I firmly recommend trynig this, one of Magnolia's three or four best beers.

Serving type: cask

05-11-2004 17:22:22 | More by chugamugofsud

Mark

California

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Nice deep black color with a tan head that lasted. As seems typical with this brew pubs beers, lacing is sparse. Subtle roasted aroma is inviting. Ditto on the taste profile. Roasted flavor is understated, good solid malty backbone with a touch of hops. This is a porter to enjoy, a great quaffer, and cask to boot. Has a decidedly English feel to it. Nice.

Serving type: cask

01-25-2004 00:27:24 | More by Mark