Midnight Expression - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

hero27

Iowa

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber.
5.0% abv

Thrown is an extra by WasTrinkenSie, kick ass.

Looks like pure, opaque onyx sitting in the glass..with a modest head of tan froth neatly covering the brew.
Burnt malts, roasted peppercorns, subtle dark chocolate, and a touch of liquid smoke. A slight residual coffee flavor, but it's greatly shown-up by the big roasted malt aspect here. Very dry finish and a lingering grassy hop aftertaste. Quite tasty.
Light body & lively carbonation. An exponentially drinkable dark lager.

This would make a great marinade for a nice, juicy steak as well..
A very good Schwarz from Port Brewing Company, glad I had the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2008 02:39:32 | More by hero27

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thanks to tayner for this extra

Moonlit sessions is an extremely heavy schwarz. Pours a very deep black with some ruby brown highlights and a good fluffy tan head. Nose is mostly some roasted malts and good porter like burnt flavor. Taste follows. Huge roasted malts with lagery (thick lager) graininess. Gets a bit smoother as it warms. Carbonation is ample. a nice creaminess in there in the middle. Reaching towards a baltic porter type of robustness. Mouthfeel is nice, but is a bit heavy for the style. Drinkability is dampered by the thickness of this one. Overall very heavy and big for the style, but a very good brew. One I would surely return to if it were readily available. Big thanks to tayner for the chance to try this one and all the other fabulous beers she has sent me.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2008 00:33:31 | More by AKBelgianBeast

srandycarter

California

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Black pour, not much head, small ring left. Thin soapy lacing.

S - Unsweetened chocolate. Some sweet malt back, but mostly the chocolate. A hint of coffee too.

T - Silty bakers chocolate across the tongue. Pretty astringent. Some malt but not much. Very dry.

M - Medium body, great carb and balance.

D - VERY interesting beer and glad to try it. Would get tiring fast, though.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 05:05:19 | More by srandycarter

Crosling

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown, nearly black with ruby edges. Quickly diminishing foam. Smells like a Schwarzbier should with notes dried chocolate, cocoa and dried coffee grounds. Flavor is well balanced, with schwarzbier dryness and notes of dried chocolate and fruit. Let's not get carried away here. It's a well made beer. I think Kidd Lager is better.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2008 16:46:05 | More by Crosling

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle received from largadeer. Thanks! Poured into my RRBC pint glass

A: Pitch black with a mocha-colored head. Dark brown highlights. As the head slowly recedes, it leaves a gorgeous coating all around the glass

S: Simple yet complex with a ton of roasted malt, nuts, hints of cream and smoke and what almost smells like a hint of anise. Quite delicious

T: Burnt and roasted malts to start things off and this is followed by coffee and a hint chocolate. Bitter finish from the roasted malts

M: Medium-light body with a fantastic finish. Carbonation is present and goes well with the rest of the experience

D: Very very drinkable, one of the better schwarzbiers i've had and i'd gladly drink it again.

Notes: From what i heard, this was brewed from the second runnings of the Serpent Stout. It does show some stout characteristics but is recognizably a great schwarzbier.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2008 00:29:21 | More by DefenCorps

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Westboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a minimal uneven head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. What head there is slowly recedes to the sides of the surface, with average to good lacing. Aroma is dark malts, coffee, and an underlying fruitiness. Taste follows the nose, with slightly acrid coffee lingering after the swallow. Mouthfeel and drinkability both pretty good. Overall, not quite what I was expecting from Port, but not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2008 00:35:46 | More by ppoitras

prototypic

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It pours a very dark brown color, bordering on black. There's a little light through around the edges. The nicest part of the look is the mocha colored head that stands about two fingers tall. Very unexpected and enticing. It receded pretty quickly and left light lacing. But, damn it was nice.

Smell: The is dominated by mostly roasted malts. There's a bit of coffee and maybe even chocolate malt in there, but they're clearly secondary players compared to the roasted malts. It also features a nice smoked aroma that livens it up and adds some complexity. Ultimately, it's a little too light in this department to warrant a higher rating. But, it's a nice smelling beer nonetheless.

Taste: The flavor profile is very nice and straight forward. It's primarily roasted malts that feature a very good smoked flavor. There are some ancillary elements of coffee and chocolate malt that play their complementary roles nicely. But, at the end of the day, it's roasted malts and smoke. It actually sounds a little too simple, but this a nice tasting beer. Mild manner, easy drinking.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: It's light bodied and smooth. Carbonation is very well done and it goes down easy. I don't know what the abv is, but it's primed for consumption beyond a single bomber. Mine's disappearing quickly.

Port did a really nice job with this one. I'm really impressed. I was expecting a good beer, but this is actually quite a bit better than I was expecting. I'm really not sure how the flavor could be improved. Perhaps it could be a little more complex, but that could potentially weaken what's a pretty good damn beer as it is. Check it out for yourself. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2008 02:51:18 | More by prototypic

aerozeppl

New York

4.2/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Thanks to bwyker and kendo for the bottles.

A: Mostly black with brown around the edge. Minimal white head with some spotty lacing.

S: Hints of coffee and roast.

T: Sweet up front with some chocolate hidden in there. Good taste.

M: Super dry/ med body with good carbonation.

D: Tons of flavor for a low abv beer. Excellent session beer/

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2008 14:04:30 | More by aerozeppl

Kendo

New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: From a bomber. Body is black at first blush, but when held to the light is dark brown with crimson around the edges. Small tan head over top, but no lacing.

S: Smoky peat and roasted malt, with a hint of coffee.

T: Smoked malt and peat come to mind. Also roasted malt and roasted coffee beans, with a hint of chocolate as it warms. Finishes with a dry, earthy finish that lingers on the palate as a dry sort of bitterness.

M: Light in heft, nicely carbonated.

D: Very good.

Notes: A nice shift from the usual hoppy beers I regularly consume. My first Port Brewing beer, but hopefully not my last. Definitely a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2008 14:16:35 | More by Kendo

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a black, opaque body capped by a frothy, bubbly, khaki-colored head.

Smell: Aroma of dark malts, roasted licorice root, dark caramel, and fruit. Waft of pipe smoke, too!

Taste: Dark, roasty maltiness with a very restrained sweetness. Tastes of licorice and caramel. Splash of mineral water. Roasty bitterness. Slight tart fruitiness underneath all the heavily burnt malts. Smooth, smokey finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carboantion.

Drinkability: Geez Louise, this thing's more roasty than some stouts, yet it still retains a pleasingly crisp body. Good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2008 23:15:42 | More by ChainGangGuy

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mikesgroove for this one.

A - Black with ruby highlights and a thin tan head.

S - Strong roasted malt with a lingering bitterness and a touch of coffee and chocolate.

T - Big roasted malt with maybe just a touch of espresso followed by a touch of chocolate and a dry, grassy hop bitterness that lingers.

M - Light but not watery with a nice dry finish.

D - A tasty sessionable schwarzbier. I wish more breweries would make this style.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2008 00:44:25 | More by brewcrew76

Lupe

New York

4.53/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours very dark, almost black, with a smallish tan head that has decent retention and leaves some lacing.

Mellow roasted aroma with chocolate, light smoke, and burnt popcorn. Clean and intoxicating - I love this aroma.

Wonderfully soft malt flavors. Roasted character that is mellow and not sweet with a hint of smoke. Some bittersweet chocolate, cocoa powder, and light roast coffee. Some toasted grain and the perfect amount of sweetness. Similar to a porter, but clean with no fruitness. Finishes dry with a light lingering roastiness. Paired well with a burger straight from the grill.

Medium in body, smooth, crisp, and refreshing. Maybe has just a touch too much carbonation. This is like my perfect session beer - roasty, clean, and not heavy. I could drink this 24/7.

Big thanks to Himerman for hooking me up with this tasty treat as part of the BIF Race '08.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 16:09:28 | More by Lupe

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Very dark and opaque in color. Some decent head going on. Mellow aroma-some roasted and chocolate highlights. Soft malty flavor. Just great chocolate tinge to it. Mellow roasted flavors. Nice graininess. Very full and malty body. A great, great beer at 5%, so the label states. The whole package makes for a great schwarzbier. The great flavors and full body almost make me think of it as a porter. Would do this again and again and again.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2008 22:06:35 | More by lackenhauser

largadeer

California

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Opaque black with a tan-colored head.

Smell: Smoke and chocolate primarily with an odd undertone of semi-burnt popcorn, and I don't mean that in a negative way.

Taste: Light-bodied and clean. Malty but not especially sweet; flavors of bittersweet chocolate and dark roasted coffee are at the forefront. The finish is roasty and bitter but cleans up nicely without much fuss. Unsurprisingly this tastes a lot like Serpent's Stout, just a whole lot lighter (it's just as delicious though).

Drinkability: Highly quaffable stuff!

Notes: Great stuff, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2008 23:44:56 | More by largadeer

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought this bottle from South Bay Drugs & Liquor. Thanks Joey!

Ahh, a Schwarzbier..I haven't too many of them...

It pours a very dark brown, almost black, actually. A nice 1 finger head of tannish foam and some nice lacing. Nice looking brew. The foam shrinks to just a ring around the glass a few minutes into the session.

Taking a few whiffs, I get a very bitter chocolate smell matched by a very roasted malt nose, and it's nice.

The taste..well...it's damn tasty! A lot of roasted malt and chocolate up front and then some coffee notes sneak in and in the background, I taste just a touch of citrus. Yummy. Now I'm getting some smokiness that I didn't expect. Dang. 5%abv, eh? Plenty of flavour here. ;^)

It has a light body , which I expected, the carbonation is fairly brisk, also expected, and it finishes with a bitter bite from the roasted and dark chocolate malt. A very nice and quite bitter brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2008 22:44:20 | More by Bitterbill

mcallister

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Opened this lager up without reading about it prior. Wasn't expecting a black lager. But I'm glad it is!! Looks great nearly black in color with red surroundings and a small mocha head that leaves foamy moppy lace.

Full of coffee and dark chocolate aromas with bready earthy malts. A zip of lager yeast freshens the ole factor. Mollasses and caramel as well. Very nice.

Man this a big beer for 5% alcochol. Just loads of coffee grinds and dark bitter chocolate flavors. A hint of caramel, comes through with a bit of a piney hop on the finish. Bready in the middle with a mollasses touch. Very dry and creamy in the mouth. A good beer but not neccesarily one I would session. Very complex Schwarzbier.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2008 21:10:11 | More by mcallister

bosco7

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Deep dark black with tan creamy head.

Roasted aromas dominate the nose. Bread pudding, chocolate, and some vanilla as well.

Starts almost as dry as it finishes. Roasty coffee and chocolate flavors upfront. Maybe some smoke in there too. Some really mild cherry in the middle.

Very nice mouthfeel rich yet highly attenuated and dry. This is probably my favorite aspect of the beer.

Overall an interesting beer that is extremely sessionable (though the sticker price here in PA might be a bit much for most to have a true session with). Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2008 02:35:00 | More by bosco7

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a style that I don't get to visit often, so It was nice to see a brewery like Port brewing one. Pours a cool black color, with very minimal heading, mostly just a small white lacing around the rim of the glass. Aroma has a very big presence of cola, smoke, and roast. Taste is roasted, with bits of mocha and chocolate coming through here and there. Body is medium, with some very nice carbonation in there to keep the feel lively. At first, the drinking of this beer seemed like a bit of a chore, but after one glass, I kept going back for more. by the time I was done with the bomber, I was craving more. This is an extremely drinkable dark beer. I knew Port wouldn't let me down with this one. Grab one or two if ya see it around. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2008 00:07:58 | More by jamie2dope

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From bomber to Cab glass...

Pours like Italian roast coffee - deep, dark brown color with hint of licorice. 1 1/2-finger, rye bread-colored head dissipates steadily, leaving good Florentine cookie lacing and typical espresso foam.

Deep-roasted malt character blends with chicory-like grassy hops, a roasted peanut tone and perhaps some pecans...maybe cornbread (?)...Very nice aroma; some grill smoke emerges with warmth.

There's a great deal of roasted malt in the aroma that translates to a very strong charcoal taste sensation. The profile of this as a lager doesn't necessarily support the heavy char up front to achieve proper balance all the way through to the finish. Back of palate finds a little metallic aftertaste, somewhat typcial for a lager, but mostly a fair amount of slate and a slight, austere alcohol burn. With further warmth, balance emerges to display the quality expected of an exceptional example of this style.

Mouthfeel has warm comfort in front but a moderately bitter German tinge in finish typical for lager. Warmth provides more depth in feel than previously experienced earlier in sampling.

A well-made effort of an entirely underrated style shows considerably more complexity than a traditionally light-bodied lager. Its smoky nature lends itself to savoring only 1 or 2, but an enjoyable 1 or 2.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2008 11:08:13 | More by IBUnit63

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in my Oberon weizen glass. Poured an opaque black with ruby red highlights around the edges. One inch tan colored head eventually settled into a thin consistent skim of foam. Scents of chocolate and roasted malt. Some thin lacing with decent consistency present during the session. Nose consistent with flavors, as well as the presence of coffee and some lingering hops bitterness at the finish. Not quite medium-bodied, with a lively mouthfeel and a mild carbonation burn. Consistency is somewhat similar to a stout, but light enough to be sessionable. I've been drinking quite a few schwarzbiers lately, and this one is quite good; however, not the best I've had. A little to much lingering bitterness makes this less of a go to for me relative to the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 22:18:16 | More by Jwale73

paulthebeerguru

Florida

4.68/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Port Brewing Moonlit Sessions Lager
22oz. brown bomber

First of all, by the name and style of lager, I originally thought it would be like Full Sail Session...when I poured into my snifter and saw a dark brew, I was delighted.

A: poured into a snifter. the beer pours an impenetrable black/dark mahogany. No head at all on top, besides a haze of tan swirls. Lack of a head is the reason for the low score.

S: almost smells like a stout. Rich roasted dark malts are the lead, which I pulled coffee, toffee, some figs and raisins as well. A mild hint of chocolate, but very faint.

T: Wow...I now have a total understanding as to why Tomme is the fucking man. This is by far the most amazing schwarzbier I have ever tasted, and probably ever will. Deep and intense roasted dark malts, almost make this taste like a stout or a porter. Chocolate and coffee tones are the major flavors. This is a very sweet/malty version of this style. Some light hints of dark fruits like fig and cherry.

M: carbonation was a little light, but it enhanced the malts in my opinion. The most full bodied schwarzbier ever!

D: at 5% and the amazing flavor, this beer is a great "session" brew. extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2008 04:46:07 | More by paulthebeerguru

bennetj17

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice black color with a thin tan head. The carbonation doesn't appear too active. Roasty, mostly unsweetened nose of coffee malt and ash.

Full roasted malt flavor, with alot of sharp bitterness that lingers well. Again here it is not sweet with maybe just a hint of chocolate in the background. It seems to be more intensely toasty/bitter than other Schwarzbiers I've tried. Clean, but lots of flavor for 5% ABV.

Mouthfeel is light to medium, with moderate carbonation. It's not heavy so it goes down pretty well.

I like this beer, and while I could drink several pints in a sitting, it might be wise to change it up as the flavor gets a bit one dimensional after while. Overall: Recommended...

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 06:24:15 | More by bennetj17

Patrick

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A dark as hell brown color with a brown head. A little bit of lacing.

S: Lots of dark chocolate but mostly coffee, lots and lots of coffee. This beer smells amazing.

T: Very roasty, lots of coffee, lots of chocolate, some sweetness in the background.

M: Nice and thin, well carbonated.

D: Wow, this is one bitchin lager!

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2008 22:39:44 | More by Patrick

rxdrewthejew

California

3.73/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picket this one up at Beverage Warehouse...the last bottle in the store. Good timing I guess.

A: Really dark, looks almost like a porter. Not much head but pitch black.

S: Fresh crips lager malt scent, but quite a bit of toastiness to the scent as well. Bit of coffee, again, smells like a basic porter.

T: Rich roasted malt and coffee, with just a touch of hops give this a light but well rounded flavor. The finish is quite toasty.

MF: Much lighter than it looks, borders on watery but don't think I would go that far.

D: Pretty good, light alcohol and light feel make this sessionable, for sure. Flavor is pretty basic but solid. Don't have anything to compare this to, the closest I can get is a basic porter, and this is probably as good as any of those I've had. Doubt I would rush out to get this again (not that I'd be able to find it anyway), but a decent brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2008 01:43:58 | More by rxdrewthejew

Boilermaker88

California

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased this 22oz bomber at the Glendora BevMo for $3.50 and poured it into an imperial pint glass.
Has a inky black color befitting the style and a modest 3/4in tan head that quickly settled down to a thin skim and left no lace.
Nose was somewhat subdued with aromas of roasted grains, coffee and hints of dark fruit.
Taste was sweet; the initial flavor was that of dates or prunes quickly followed up by the edgier bite of espresso and burnt grains. Finished nicely with a smoooth hops bite on the back of the tongue.
Feel started off medium-bodied and a bit chewy but ended a tad thin.
Overall, a nice take on the style. At 5.0%ABV, it's definitely got the makings of a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2008 15:17:20 | More by Boilermaker88