-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Bert Grant's Perfect Porter
Yakima Brewing Co. / Bert Grant's Ales
- From:
- Yakima Brewing Co. / Bert Grant's Ales
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- English Porter
- ABV:
- 4%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 11.31%
- Reviews:
- 110
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 21, 2021
- Added:
- Sep 06, 2001
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by trekbiker3000:
Reviewed by trekbiker3000 from Pennsylvania
2.88/5 rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.88/5 rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This beer poured out a nice brown color, but little to no head. Maybe it was the glass, or the pour.
The aroma reminded me of burnt toast, but it was not very intense so it was easy to overlook.
The very first impression upon tasting this dark brown ale was how light it was. Maybe a little watery with not a whole lot of roasted flavors. Some chocolate overtones, but again, not very overpowering. The carbonation helped bring out the flavors and add to the mouthfeel.
Overall, it is a drinkable porter. I may have expected a little more from a beer called perfect porter.
Jan 20, 2004The aroma reminded me of burnt toast, but it was not very intense so it was easy to overlook.
The very first impression upon tasting this dark brown ale was how light it was. Maybe a little watery with not a whole lot of roasted flavors. Some chocolate overtones, but again, not very overpowering. The carbonation helped bring out the flavors and add to the mouthfeel.
Overall, it is a drinkable porter. I may have expected a little more from a beer called perfect porter.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Jredner from Florida
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sept 23 2005 re-rate: Huge roasted coffee and chocoalate aroma. Dark brown to black. Thinish head. Perfect flavor. I, like many people, came to better beer via the Guinness route, but it wasnt until I had this that I truly became hooked and Id had every darker beer Sam Smith and Youngs had to offer me as well as having drank in Belgium and through Europe and brewpubs around the states...something is just infinitely right about the flavor here. It is the emodiment of porter to me and time has only strenghted my feelings about that....even after blasting my palate with so many huge beers this still tastes like heaven. Its still on the thin side...and I like my porters thinner than most, but otherwise it remains nearly perfect.
Perfect dark porter appearance with a thin creamy white head. Coffe ground aroma. EXCELLENT tatse. roasty coffee/mocha flavors with a great finish. If this were just every so slightly thicker it truly would be perfect.
Jan 20, 2006Perfect dark porter appearance with a thin creamy white head. Coffe ground aroma. EXCELLENT tatse. roasty coffee/mocha flavors with a great finish. If this were just every so slightly thicker it truly would be perfect.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.35/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A beautiful porter when enjoyed on tap. Ordinary when from the bottle. From the tap, it pours a creamy and robust brown color with a lightly tan head and modest carbonation. Aromas are of dark grain, toffee, coffee, and a touch of lactose sweetness. Flavors are more the same, but melded into a super easy drinking beer. Soft on the palate and silky smooth. Thins a bit in the finish, leaving a light chalk texture. Still, one of the best porters out there.
Jan 13, 2006Reviewed by rowew from Colorado
4.1/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: 12 oz twistoff short bottle. Description of the style, but no freshness info.
Appearance: Dark brown with a hint of red around the edges. Large brown head that fades pretty quick. Leaves a bit of lacing as it drains.
Smell: Aroma has lots of roasted smells - coffee and a hint of chocolate. Just a bit of smoke in there too.
Taste: Medium bodied. Taste is similar to aroma - lots of roasted. The chocolate comes through more here, with the coffee taking a background. Again there is a hint of smoke.
Overall impression: Very nice example of a porter - lots of roasted flavors make this one a pleasure to drink.
Dec 01, 2005Appearance: Dark brown with a hint of red around the edges. Large brown head that fades pretty quick. Leaves a bit of lacing as it drains.
Smell: Aroma has lots of roasted smells - coffee and a hint of chocolate. Just a bit of smoke in there too.
Taste: Medium bodied. Taste is similar to aroma - lots of roasted. The chocolate comes through more here, with the coffee taking a background. Again there is a hint of smoke.
Overall impression: Very nice example of a porter - lots of roasted flavors make this one a pleasure to drink.
Reviewed by beersarang from California
3.9/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.9/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice obsidian with a dark tan head.
Coffee and charcoal literally leap out of the glass, sweet charcoal aroma is nice overall.
Chocolate and coffee and caramel make up the malt profile but the star of the show is clearly charcoal. Not a bad thing at all really. Balanced out by unobtrusive hops that blend in well with the malts. Finishes just a dab sweet on the exhale, very low alcohol.
Lighter bodied, as a porter tends to be, with moderate carbonation.
A solid porter overall, I was pleased with it.
Nov 21, 2005Coffee and charcoal literally leap out of the glass, sweet charcoal aroma is nice overall.
Chocolate and coffee and caramel make up the malt profile but the star of the show is clearly charcoal. Not a bad thing at all really. Balanced out by unobtrusive hops that blend in well with the malts. Finishes just a dab sweet on the exhale, very low alcohol.
Lighter bodied, as a porter tends to be, with moderate carbonation.
A solid porter overall, I was pleased with it.
Reviewed by walleye from Michigan
4.03/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
from the bottle. poured brown with a nice sized tan head that left some nice lacing. aroma brown sugar, bittersweet chocolate, roasted malts, caramel. flavor chocolate covered cherries, malt, sugar honey. enjoyed this beer nice and smooth with a nice mouthfeel too it.
Oct 29, 2005Reviewed by Zorro from California
2.33/5 rDev -41.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.33/5 rDev -41.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pours a clear deep brown beer with a good light brown head.
Smell is very strong coffee and smoke with fainter chocolate scents. Faint sweet and acid scents and a vague fruity trace complete the scent.
Taste is under powered and light in the beginning. After a bit a chocolate flavor shows up with a little smoke in the aftertaste. Unfortunately that is about it for the flavor, a disappointment. Weak chocolate flavored soda.
Mouthfeel is watery.
Drinkable as in a glass of weak soda. This doesn't taste bad, in fact it barely has a taste at all. AVOID!
Oct 05, 2005Smell is very strong coffee and smoke with fainter chocolate scents. Faint sweet and acid scents and a vague fruity trace complete the scent.
Taste is under powered and light in the beginning. After a bit a chocolate flavor shows up with a little smoke in the aftertaste. Unfortunately that is about it for the flavor, a disappointment. Weak chocolate flavored soda.
Mouthfeel is watery.
Drinkable as in a glass of weak soda. This doesn't taste bad, in fact it barely has a taste at all. AVOID!
Reviewed by LucaBrasi from New York
3.22/5 rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.22/5 rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appears black with a tiny head that disappears rather quickly.
Smell is strong. Smells like a mix between coffee and chocolate.
The taste is of coffee, almost like mocha coffee with a slight bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is slick; this porter is on the watery side with a slight carbonation.
Drinkablility is good, its an easy drinking beer not to shocking to the sense or mouth.
But nothing to go out of your way for either.
Sep 24, 2005Smell is strong. Smells like a mix between coffee and chocolate.
The taste is of coffee, almost like mocha coffee with a slight bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is slick; this porter is on the watery side with a slight carbonation.
Drinkablility is good, its an easy drinking beer not to shocking to the sense or mouth.
But nothing to go out of your way for either.
Reviewed by fretlessman71 from Colorado
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
Pertinent Preliminary Comments: Heard great things from this brewery, as well as the legend of Bert Grant and all that he did for American craft beer. Have a hard time with the word perfect, but well see; it is, after all, created by Bert himself.
APPEARANCE: Deepest darkest opaque brown that is only a hairs breadth from being black. Tan craggy head that settles to a very thin cap. Decent lacing.
AROMA: Peated chocolated malt comes through more than anything right off the bat.
FLAVOR: Peated chocolated malt comes through more than anything right off the bat. (Oh wait did I just say that?) Well, its true this is a peated malt lovers dream right here. Certainly the focus of this beer. Subtle hop flavors; nothing to write home about. The tiniest bit of caramel begins to creep in as the beer warms. Sourness from the smoky, peat-y malt is nice, but leans toward being a little much.
MOUTHFEEL: Light weight; medium-high carbonation.
DRINKABILITY: At 4% ABV, this could be the perfect session ale on a hot day that peat flavor is very quenching.
OVERALL COMMENTS: Since peat isnt one of my favorite flavors, this wont be a regular on my beer shopping list, but if offered one Id accept. Certainly unique among porters that are readily available.
Sep 01, 2005APPEARANCE: Deepest darkest opaque brown that is only a hairs breadth from being black. Tan craggy head that settles to a very thin cap. Decent lacing.
AROMA: Peated chocolated malt comes through more than anything right off the bat.
FLAVOR: Peated chocolated malt comes through more than anything right off the bat. (Oh wait did I just say that?) Well, its true this is a peated malt lovers dream right here. Certainly the focus of this beer. Subtle hop flavors; nothing to write home about. The tiniest bit of caramel begins to creep in as the beer warms. Sourness from the smoky, peat-y malt is nice, but leans toward being a little much.
MOUTHFEEL: Light weight; medium-high carbonation.
DRINKABILITY: At 4% ABV, this could be the perfect session ale on a hot day that peat flavor is very quenching.
OVERALL COMMENTS: Since peat isnt one of my favorite flavors, this wont be a regular on my beer shopping list, but if offered one Id accept. Certainly unique among porters that are readily available.
Reviewed by PorterLambic from Florida
3.79/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.79/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours just pitch black. Small head drops to film with little lace.
Smell is rich with toffee, coffee, caramel, molasses and dark chocolate.
Taste is exactly the same as the smell. Wonderfully balanced with great complexity.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied with light carbonation. Ffairly smooth with a nice mellow aftertaste. Yummy.
Drinkability is quite high, the coffee is a little overdone for me (I don't like coffee) but a fine porter indeed.
Jul 24, 2005Smell is rich with toffee, coffee, caramel, molasses and dark chocolate.
Taste is exactly the same as the smell. Wonderfully balanced with great complexity.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied with light carbonation. Ffairly smooth with a nice mellow aftertaste. Yummy.
Drinkability is quite high, the coffee is a little overdone for me (I don't like coffee) but a fine porter indeed.
Reviewed by beerceller99 from Louisiana
3.77/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.77/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Perfect porter pours black with a reddish hue. A thin, wispy tan colored head has it as well as roasted nut and chocolate malt aromas. Light bodied and softly carbonated with a watery texture.
A rich taste of chocolate and blackened malts . No hop flavors to be found here. A pretty nice dark ale.
Jul 14, 2005A rich taste of chocolate and blackened malts . No hop flavors to be found here. A pretty nice dark ale.
Reviewed by Naes from New York
3.97/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one pours almost black with brownish red hues around the outside of the glass. The head is small, but semi sticky and laces decently.
This porter smells like a crossbreed between a sweetened mocha, chocolate and caramel.
Although the aroma is stronger than the flavor, the taste is mild and sweet. It starts off chocolaty and ends kind of burnt like, with hints of coffee.
Mouth feel is creamy yet smooth with a great balance of carbonation.
This one is a highly drinkable porter. Although it is a tad light for my style, it is great for what it is (a lighter porter).
Overall, its a good beer. Not anything out of this world good, but nothing to snicker at either. Definitely worth a try.
Jun 21, 2005This porter smells like a crossbreed between a sweetened mocha, chocolate and caramel.
Although the aroma is stronger than the flavor, the taste is mild and sweet. It starts off chocolaty and ends kind of burnt like, with hints of coffee.
Mouth feel is creamy yet smooth with a great balance of carbonation.
This one is a highly drinkable porter. Although it is a tad light for my style, it is great for what it is (a lighter porter).
Overall, its a good beer. Not anything out of this world good, but nothing to snicker at either. Definitely worth a try.
Reviewed by maybrick from Pennsylvania
4.15/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.15/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I didn't detect how good this was going to be by its nose. But wow, how much chocolate malt can one put into a beer? This is by far the best Porter I've had to date! As another reviewer put it "my immediate impression was porter with Hershey's syrup stirred in..." I agree.
What else is very interesting is the balance between the punch of the malt and the hop on the back end. Very crisp dry finish. Perhaps they're correct with respect to the name, Perfect Porter.
Jun 15, 2005What else is very interesting is the balance between the punch of the malt and the hop on the back end. Very crisp dry finish. Perhaps they're correct with respect to the name, Perfect Porter.
Reviewed by beveragecaptain from New Jersey
4.27/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.27/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours out very dark brown, nearly black. Not much head, but what's there fades quickly. The nose is dominated by chocolate. It's like smelling chocolate milk. Some roastiness in the aroma too. This beer tastes more like chocolate than probably and beer I've ever had. I would be very suprised to learn this is not made with real chocolate. Roasted malt flavors. Not really any hop flavor or bitterness. Becomes smokey as it warms. Moutfeel is a bit thin. High carbonation. Good drinkability. This is a tasty porter.
Jun 07, 2005Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia
4.92/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.92/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Tasted on 5/12/05 at Bricks (Beer Bar) in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Black with a light brown head and nice lace. Chocolate dominates all around with roasty coffee/espresso aromas and flavors. Nice robust flavors with decent body considering hte low alcohol content. Kinda reminds me of a Starbucks Mocha ... delicious !
Blows most true "English Porter" imports away !
Bottled: 11/22/04
May 31, 2005Black with a light brown head and nice lace. Chocolate dominates all around with roasty coffee/espresso aromas and flavors. Nice robust flavors with decent body considering hte low alcohol content. Kinda reminds me of a Starbucks Mocha ... delicious !
Blows most true "English Porter" imports away !
Bottled: 11/22/04
Bert Grant's Perfect Porter from Yakima Brewing Co. / Bert Grant's Ales
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
115 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!