Midnight Expression - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: Dark heresy chocolate pour is dense black in the glass but offers little in the way of head and lace.

S: Earthy dark roasted malt, burnt wood, dark cocoa with a nice level of delivery.

T: Dark and bitter, earthy roasted woodiness and coffee with some burnt chocolate. Lingering coffee is roasty, fresh, and rich, yet smooth and silky. Finishes off with some roasted barley.

M: was quiet carbonation wise, oily roast feel.

O: Overall a black lager with a smooth easy yet respectable roastiness that is quite relaxing.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 23:20:36 | More by beerthulhu

ngeunit1

California

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

A - Pours a very dark black color with just a hint of brown and a finger of frothy and almost creamy chocolate colored head. The head fades down very slowly leaving behind some nice lace.

S - The aroma is a mix of roasted chocolate and a touch of coffee. There is a bit of sweetness with just a touch of smoke.

T - Starts off with a mix of roasted chocolate malts with a touch of smoke and some burnt flavor. There is just a bit of sweetness as well. Through the middle, some coffee flavor comes through alongside a bit more smoke. The finish is a mix of chocolate, bitter coffee, smoke, and a bit of cream sweetness.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a roasted and lightly smoky feeling.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balance of coffee and chocolate flavors with some complexity added with the smoke flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 03:13:38 | More by ngeunit1

mdfb79

New York

2.93/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From 02/20/12 notes. Picked this up the day before in Middletown, NJ for $7.99. 22 oz. bottle into a tulip. Bottled on 12/20/12, so 2 months prior.

a - Pours a dark brown, almost black color, with one inch of light tan head and light carbonation evident. Looks pretty good.

s - Smells of roasted malts, a bit smokey, chocolate, coffee, some nuts, and some light vanilla or cream. Pretty good, nothing dominates or is too strong here.

t - Tastes of roasted malts, light coffee, and light chocolate or cocoa. Taste isn't bad at all, but is very weak and very bland. A major step down from the nose.

m - Light body and low carbonation. Body is smooth and easy to drink, but a bit watery which brings it down a bit.

o - Overall an okay beer, but not Port's best offering. Bosy is a bit thin and the taste is a bit bland. Wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 16:49:04 | More by mdfb79

kojevergas

California

3.3/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into an EKU 28 snifter in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Paired with garlic bread. Expectations are above average given the brewery, though I don't particularly care for the style.

Acquired at Wades Wine in Westlake Village, California. Cost was $4.29 USD plus tax.

A: Pours a two finger head of fair cream, nice thickness, and good retention. Colour is a solid black. It's generally appealing.

Sm: Dry schwarzbier malts: nuts and maybe vague chocolate. Dark malts. Caramel. A mild strength aroma.

T: Dark malts, with notes of nuts and vague chocolate. The promise of the aroma is fulfilled, though it wasn't that grand to begin with. Some caramel. Enjoyable. Decently balanced. All around, the build isn't great but it's pretty good. No layering is present, nor is any discernable complexity. This is a simple black lager.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit creamy. Not too thick nor too thin. Suits the flavours generally.

Dr: Drinkable but largely unremarkable. I'd have it again on an 'every once 'n' then', but it's not great. Fans of the style will enjoy it, but it's far from unique or special. Don't go out of your way to track this one down, lads.

B-

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 07:56:08 | More by kojevergas

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep brown color with a fluffy coffee colored head. Cocoa and bitter coffee on the nose with some earthy hops. Pungent nose. Cocoa nibs and bitter black chocolate bitterness up front complimented by a layer of coffee flavor. Medium in body with thin carbonation. Deep roasted malt flavor comes through. A complex brew at 5% with quite a few layers of flavors and big flavor at that. Thins out slightly on the finish but otherwise good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 22:22:54 | More by jtierney89

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

WonderfuLly black body, with a red laser line at the bottom edge. Big fluffy dark tan head. Good lacing immediately evident.

Inviting aroma of coffee and chocolate, not overpowering, but enjoyable.

Taste is a nifty coffee and cocoa mix with a bright hop signature joining in quickly. Mocha mix lingers a long while.

Chewy medium mouthfeel is right for the style, substantive but not quite stoutish.

Not equal to my favorite schwartz, Black Bavarian, but tasty and a surprise in the IPA and Imperial Stout dominated Port line-up.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 05:56:44 | More by RonfromJersey

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

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

Poured from a 22oz btl into my duvel tulip

A- black with a 3 finger creamy looking milk chocolate head, heads recedes slowly to a film that stays throughout the beer, nice lacing, a good looking brew

S- chocolate, roasted malts, hint of coffee, light citrus hops soon further inspection, all along with a bit of smoke.

T- coffee, hints of chocolate, light smoke, nice roasty character, very flavorful and well balanced. Can't seem to taste the light hop aroma, perhaps slightly on the end, very nice.

M- light/medium body with a good amount of carbonation, you can hear all the tight little carbonation bubbles going crazy if you agitate the beer and then listen, creamy with a dry finish,
Excellent mouth feel. Although I think it could improve slightly if there was just a tad less carbonation.

O- for a beer weighing in at 5 % alcohol, this brew has a very nice body and is packed with flavor, one I look forward to drinking every year, mighty delicious. A great session beer!!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 04:29:42 | More by PeterIngemi

CBlack85

South Carolina

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

Thanks to Xcalibur077 for this one

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a balloon glass.

The beer pours black with few ruby and brown highlights when held up to the light. An aggressive pour yields two to three fingers worth of dark tan head that slowly recedes into a thin cap, leaving behind a fair amount of lacing.

The nose is comprised mainly of cocoa, coffee, roasted malts, and a mild smokiness. There is also an earthy quality. There is also a mild hoppy aroma that is not initially noticable, but starts to come through if you are looking for it.

The flavor leans more toward the roasted grains and coffee, and to a lesser degree a bittersweet chocolate. There is not much going on in terms of sweetness. The hop presence is light and barely noticable. Medium bodied and moderately carbonated, the beer finishes fairly dry. Very easy to drink.

Overall, this is a very nice beer. Not the most traditional example of the style, but quite enjoyable none the less.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 14:19:22 | More by CBlack85

keanex

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Samuel Smith's English pint glass from a 22 ounce bottle bottled on 12-20-2011.

A: Deep, almost opaque, garnet with light only visible through the edges. There's a dense 1.5 finger tan rocky head.

S: Very simple with a great roasty smell to it. Very simple, but great smelling.

T: Like the smell this is very one dimensional with the roasted malts coming through strong. It's a bit watery up front, but the roasty body comes in quick and stays to the finish.

M: Medium to full bodied with light carbonation.

O: I really enjoy this beer, it's simple and very easy to drink. I'm glad Port Brewing finally came to New Jersey so I can enjoy brews like this.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 03:42:23 | More by keanex

UCLABrewN84

California

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

Bottled 12/20/11.

Pours an opaque black with a 2 inch foamy dark khaki head that settles to a small cap. A latticework of lace forms on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt and roasty coffee and cocoa bean aromas. Taste is of dark roasted malt, roasted coffee beans, and some cocoa powder. A nice roasty bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a higher level of carbonation with a very crisp and bubbly mouthfeel. Slightly too much carbonation in my opinion. Overall, this is a great schwarzbier and quite a surprise really. I wasn't expecting this beer to be so good. Very tasty and very drinkable and it only packs a 5% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 07:48:04 | More by UCLABrewN84

metter98

New York

3.63/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very dark amber (near jet black) in color and poured with a two finger high tan head that quickly died down but never completely faded away.
S: There are light aromas of dark malts in the nose; the smell becomes warmer as the beer warms up.
T: Similar to the smell, flavors of dark malts are present in the taste along with notes of roasted malts and hints of chocolate in the finish. No bitterness is detectable.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and is also quite sessionable. It is a good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 04:22:19 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This beer is very dark amber, almost black in color and pours with a two finger tan head with large bubbles in it. The head dissipates rather quickly leaving little retention but does exhibit some lacing on the glass.

S: Very little smell to this beer at all but what I could detect was a slight aroma of dark malts, the smell intensifies slightly as the beer warms but I find it lacking.

T: Dark roasty malts are the highlight in the taste but not a strong/intense flavor. Very little bitterness in this beer.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Not a great example of the style and nothing special about this beer in particular though it is quite sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 22:56:35 | More by dbrauneis

diablo14

Australia

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

Like most of the Aussies who have tried this beer, it was obtained through Beermasons. And while I just cancelled by membership with them because I wasn't overly impressed with the majority of beers they have sent me, this wasn't one of them.

Not sure this beer is a schwarzbier in the true sense, it's a little too dark and impenetrable in color and a little too rich in flavor for the style. To me it came off more like a porter or a light stout. That's not to say I didn't like this brew, I did and very much so. I'm just a bit on the pedantic side when it comes to classification of style by a brewery.

This beer has a very nice smell and flavor - chocolate, coffee, hints of almond and caramel. Deliciously smooth to drink, it leans towards being full bodied without being oily or viscous - very silky. Again though, perhaps too silky to be a schwarzbier. I also found the hops just a tad on the subdued side at the end, where I would have liked the bitterness to linger a little longer than it did.

Overall though, a very pleasant and enjoyable beer, one I would most certainly drink again without prompting.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 20:50:06 | More by diablo14

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

2.88/5  rDev -26%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to John for picking this one up for me! Poured into NB globe...

A- Dark brown, fairly clear. Caramel colored head, creamy, dense for the style.

S- Roasty and sulfury. Almost a slight lactic nose. Maybe a hint of floral hops, but overall the aroma stays light in the nose.

T/M- Nice 20ish IBU level of bitterness. A little fruity on the middle of the palate. Finishes chalky with a touch of roast; not as clean as I prefer. Feel is a bit watery, with prickly carbonation on the tongue.

O- For the style this is just ok. One of my favorite styles, but I didn't find a wow factor, or a flavor that really pops in this one. Would drink again, but not go out of my way to get...

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 19:52:17 | More by TheGordianKnot

spicelab

Australia

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

Bomber thanks to Beermasons.

Chocolate brown on the pour, near black in the glass. Very sizable tan head falls gradually leaving the odd fleck of lace, and a healthy final film. Good lacing upon swirling.

Nicely refined pungent and creamy roast character. Espresso, cola, chocolate fudge, nutmeg, marzipan and some buttery hints. Pretty amazing.

Taste lacks the punch and depth of the nose unfortunately. Lots of bittersweet dark chocolate and black coffee, but don't quite get the richness and complexity from the nose

Creamy but light mouthfeel, with late bitterness that lingers nicely.

Super drinkable and approachable Schwarzbier that would definitely be a go-to if I didn't live 12,000 kms away.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 03:54:33 | More by spicelab

MrKennedy

Australia

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

Bomber from Beermasons and poured into a 7oz glass.

Not quite jet black appearance, but plenty dark. Just a hint of ruby when examined against the light. Pours with a two finger head of mocha-tan foam that takes a while to settle as film.

Fantastic! Starts off with coffee and a bit of smoke and then plenty of dark chocolate emerges and is joined by more milk chocolate later on. The smell doesn't die with the foam and is very enticing!

First flavour is milk chocolate at the front and then some coffee and dark chocolate follow. Beautiful mix of all three flavours.

Maybe a touch overcarbonated, it is a little prickly early and then smooths right out. Nice coating of the mouth and a wholesome feel at the back end. Very smooth finish.

Very impressed by this, cannot think of a better dark lager that i've come across. Easy to drink, complex, full of flavour and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 05:26:47 | More by MrKennedy

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The Port Brewing Black Lager that I picked up is called Midnight Sessions....name must have changed over time. The appeance is great dark....opaque...nice tan head which seems to be lacing. The smell include roast with hint of espresso and hops. The taste is common of most black lagers, light/medium body, with good roasty tones with touchs of coffee, caramel, and hops that help to clean the pallet. The Mouthfeel is very good as well very easy to drink with not overbearing ABV. I am guessing they changed the name because it is a great sesson lager. Overall a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 01:54:12 | More by WoodBrew

heygeebee

Australia

3.55/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black body, one finger head, that dies quickly. Little lacing.

Aromas of roasts and caramel.

Taste is WOW! I know this style should feature roast malts but I think someone left them in the oven all night. Burnt flavours are left, with some coffee hints. Intensely bitter flavours more in line with a Big Stout.

All in all a 'surprise'. Not a session beer, even at 5%

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 08:54:12 | More by heygeebee

ADZA

Australia

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark as night kola hue which leaves a two finger bubble laden khaki laced head and sporadic clingy lacing,the smell is dark roasted malts,dark cocoa,roasted expresso and black forest cake,the mouthfeel is nice,light and very sessionable with tastes of dark belgian chocolate,black forest cake,burnt toast,molasses,a touch of dark fruit and finished like a nice black roasty expresso and overall i definately would this again and another great lager from this great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 04:54:10 | More by ADZA

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Midnight Expressions is a great name for a beer this dark and shadowy. Indeed, the beer has the black, lightless complexion of a winter's night sky and an inundating head awash against the glass like high tides during a full moon. While it doesn't cover the entire the surface, the colour of that foam is distinctly earthy, like dirt-covered mushrooms.

This may be intended as a schwarzbier, but it smells more bold and full-flavoured than any German lager I know (with respects to this style, that is). The closest thing to 'German' this comes is black forest cake; there's enough chocolate fudge, cold coffee and yet more bittersweet chocolate shavings to easily entertain notions of porter or stout.

But the taste, alas, is indeed much lighter. Any impressions of rich coffee and dark chocolate turn out to be premature as this flavour is anything but decadent. Rather it glides across the palate without much impact, too perceptible to call 'watery' but without any harsh roasted notes or lingering bitterness, certainly of that easy caliber drinkability. I'm impressed that Port could restrain sure urges to indulge the profile with bigger, more prolific flavours.

Just as Harry and the Hendersons taught us not to fear Bigfoot, so too this lager should teach the average drinker not to fear dark beer. While it has a little cocoa-y bitterness and some roasted maltiness, it is quite mild and offers the same light, clean quaffability as any golden lager its strength (albeit with a little bit of toffee and sooty, chocolaty aftertaste).

I see why the beer was originally called Moonlit Sessions - it's the kind of thing you could stay up drinking until way past your bed time. This may arguably be the most agreeable, widely approachable offering this side of the colour spectrum - that's what you get combining a German brewer's engineering with the ingenuity and skills of a true American artisan.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 04:05:37 | More by biegaman

ocelot2500

Arizona

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

Pours a black with a tight, pillowy tan head that leaves chunks of lacing.

Smells of dry roasted notes.

Tastes of the roasted notes. Starts off with some coffee and finished with a molasses and bread character. Slightly sweet, but finishes dry. Has a bit of a sourness to it that I find pleasant.

Mouthfeel is medium-light with a slightly crisp amount of carbonation.

Overall, I find it to be quite good and is another great addition to the Port lineup.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 23:38:54 | More by ocelot2500

ehammond1

California

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle (2011)

Lost Abbey
San Marcos, CA

Dark black, nearly midnight, pour with a big, stiff brown head. Lots of lacing down the glass. Looks like a thick, creamy stout. Quite impressive!

Dark and roasted malt character in the nose with a touch of coffee and chocolate. If I didn't know better, I'd swear this was an American stout, and certainly not a lager. A lot of complexity and a welcoming, roasty, chocolatey nose for sure.

A delicious, varied, and interesting flavor: this tastes like a great stout. Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, no alcohol presence--terrific!

Medium bodied, easy to drink. A ton of flavor for a 5% ABV beer!

A world of flavor in such a low ABV package. Really an incredible treat. A delicious black lager.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 03:18:15 | More by ehammond1

MrVonzipper

California

3.48/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pitch black in the glass with light showing a little brown at the bottom of the glass. Pour carefully, big head. Dense, foamy tan head with good retention and decent lacing.

Very simple nose. Not alot going on. Dark malt and a little smoke.

Flavor is pretty much the same. No depth. Bitter malt, cacao and smoke on the back end.

Medium bodied and high carbonation.

Overall it's a good beer but I was a little disappointed. I just had higher hopes. Was looking for more depth in flavor and there was virtually none. Its seems like a homebrewers first attempt at the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 05:27:20 | More by MrVonzipper

jsanford

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a Tumbler. Bottled 12/17/10.

A - Pours a dark black with slight brown highlights and a creamy, 1-inch head of mocha-colored foam that settles to a thick cap. Very Stout-like.
S - Dark roasted flavors of malt, coffee, and chocolate with a touch of cream and sugar.
T - Very similar to the nose, lots of dark malt, chocolate, and coffee. Flavors linger for some time on the palate, especially the bitter hops.
M - Slightly watery, with a medium-thin body and fairly sharp carbonation.
O - Moderately drinkable, but not something I'd go out of my way for again.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 23:44:30 | More by jsanford

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours deep amber to black in color with a tan head. In the aroma, malty and hints of caramel. In the taste, caramel, chocolate notes, and a hint of coffee, quite porter like. A small bite and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry coffee and chocolate aftertaste. More of a porter than lager and/ or schwartzbier with the big coffee/ chocolate roast, but nice nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 19:00:57 | More by OWSLEY069