Okocim Porter - Browar Okocim S.A. (Carlsberg)

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:

A few shades away from black, with deep ruby highlights. Towering, light brown head, the large amount of sticky lacing shows how great the retention really is. Thick aromas of brown sugar, rum-soaked raisins and brown bread. Creamy and slick on the palate with a full body. Light on the carbonation. Quick sting of alcohol with a breath of a solvent-like character. Creamy sweetness from the malt of dark bread and a hint of chocolate. Then the maltiness gets a little complex with carob powder, toasted bread and brown sugar. Modest hopping here with a bitterness that doesn't even rise above the malt. Alcohol is slightly warming with a dried plum fruitiness that feigns a sweeter finish, which actually turns semi-dry.

While this might be a cult classic from Europe, the bar has been raised by American craft brewers, so what was awesome years ago is just plain good today. A sipping Porter, better to pair with than drink on its own.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 20:55:02 | More by BeerAdvocate

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-20-2013 23:12:26 | More by Slatetank

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-08-2013 01:59:41 | More by cadaugherty

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

03-25-2013 00:01:16 | More by Sparky44

weerezboy

Washington

4/5  rDev -3.6%

03-14-2013 02:50:03 | More by weerezboy

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%

03-10-2013 23:47:14 | More by spycow

Danny1217

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.6%

02-16-2013 18:42:06 | More by Danny1217

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev -3.6%

02-05-2013 18:52:34 | More by DmanGTR

matjack85

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%

01-28-2013 08:11:32 | More by matjack85

kurgan3

Poland

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

01-25-2013 18:06:41 | More by kurgan3

jak

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

01-04-2013 02:26:03 | More by jak

TerryB

Indiana

5/5  rDev +20.5%

11-17-2012 16:49:18 | More by TerryB

metalblack

3/5  rDev -27.7%

11-10-2012 23:27:16 | More by metalblack

Lukas

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

11-03-2012 02:19:04 | More by Lukas

mixed_master7

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

10-18-2012 07:09:27 | More by mixed_master7

Trent

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

10-06-2012 00:56:54 | More by Trent

beerpadawan

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

08-27-2012 05:57:47 | More by beerpadawan

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from Marina Market in WA
No bottled on date
Poured into a tulip glass

Okocim's porter is one that I had been searching for, for some time. Finally located a bottle of it, and its taste did not disappoint. The aroma, however, was fairly weak based upon my expectations. The recipe was clearly fairly good if you are interested in roasted and chocolate flavors in a porter-like beer. Would I get it again? Yes. This may be one of the best dollar values for a beer I know of.

Pours a tall, moderately dark tan head of medium and large-sized bubbles that has modest retention. Gradually sinking, the head leaves some lacing along the sides of the glass, eventually settling to a thick ring around the perimeter and a few foam islands coating the top of the body. Body is dark brown to black with highlights of amber when held to light. Opaque and without visible carbonation.

Aroma is disappointingly weak, featuring very timid roasted malt, vanilla, and chocolate with a bit of generic graininess.

Taste opens with dark malt sweetness tempered by roasted malt bitterness, then becoming dominated by successive layers of milk chocolate, bitter chocolate, and semi-sweet, dark bread. Quick flash of ethanol at the end, then fades out into oblivion with lingering roasted malt, chocolate, and acridity for flavors. This is notably different from the Ølfabrikken Porter I had a few weeks ago, but just as delicious.

Beer is medium bodied, surprisingly, with moderate carbonation to propel this along the palate quite nicely. While the body feels a bit thin, it's still quite drinkable. Finishes dryly, with a small bit of residual stickiness on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 04:34:24 | More by falloutsnow

Eddiewaxman

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-04-2012 01:23:50 | More by Eddiewaxman

Romulux

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

05-20-2012 20:38:48 | More by Romulux

Scout11

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

05-01-2012 02:03:08 | More by Scout11

martino_cappachino

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a pint bottle into an actual okocim mug!

Surprising not much head.. a few toasted tiny marshmellow sized bubbles gathered around the edges was all. If you swirled it though, you would get a very thin fine layer of present carbonation.

The aromas definitely hit though.. honey, toffee and notes of licorice, spiced rum and chicory. Color was almost a midnight blue molasses.

Taste was of thick malt at first, dark chocolate, a little above 70% cacao I'd say, with hints of roasted coffee, and maybe a little currant or cassis flavoring? Alcohol was present as is mostly the case with 8.5% beers, but didn't mind it. And carbonation was great - I almost thought it cut into the flavors too much at times. The malt flavor almost subdued as the brew warmed and gave way to more currant / berry tones

This was my first experience diving into a European porter or stout, and it was everything I could've hoped for, and more.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 06:49:10 | More by martino_cappachino

Star80

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Wow my local Citgo gas station just started carrying these?! And they weren't in the computer yet so I got a deal. Anyway, pours an almost pitch black color with a tan head. Light lacing.

S: Smell is slightly sweet with some roasty malts in the nose.

T: Taste is dark bittersweet chocolate, some liqourish, some smoke, and there is definitely a slight alcohol aftertaste and warming which is not unusual for a eastern european porter.

M: Mouthfeel is fine, no complaints.

O: Overall a tasty EuroPorter but not one I would pick over a fresh US version of the style. Too much alcohol and not quite enough hops, or even malt to balance it IMO. But I think that is just the style. Funny I am realizing it isn't easy to balance ABV with flavor. But this beer or two would go really well on a lazy Saturday afternoon BBQ when you have nowhere to go or no work the next day!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 20:51:01 | More by Star80

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

02-20-2012 16:48:12 | More by beerhunter13

Tyrawlings

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.6%

02-16-2012 19:36:37 | More by Tyrawlings