Portsmouth Kate The Great - Portsmouth Brewery

fdrich29

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The joys of being a father know no bounds...

So at the tail end of my three month vacation I took to be a stay at home dad with my daughter I received a call from rocketfrog asking me if I wanted to go to Kate the Great Day at Portsmouth Brewing. "Why the hell not?" I say and a few days later with my daughter in tow we're heading up to New Hampshire.

We arrive around 1:30 or so and are among the last people to get a calendar page (November 7 & 8 I believe). The beer was released at 2:27pm. We wait and chat with the other people in line. Many familiar BA faces, some of which had just volunteered at the ACBF in Boston. I was offered a taste of Kate while we were waiting outside.

Love at first sip.

When the calendar dwindled down to the early Fall and we did the math, we realized we most likely weren't going home with Kate. October was called one day at a time, instead of the entire month. All of October received their beer, but that would be the end of Kate for the day. We were told to come back on rain check day with our calendar pages and we could buy the beer when they bottled more.

We had talked with Blackkristos for much of the wait and as he was leaving with his four bottles of Kate handed me one bottle as a gift for having waited for so long with my daughter. Tremendous beer karma goes out to him.

Rocketfrog and I had a glass at the bar before heading back home, and I had two glasses on that Friday with joepais when I went back up to collect my bottles on rain check day.

As for my review of Kate the Great....Totally, 100% worth the hype.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2008 22:36:10 | More by fdrich29

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

05-20-2013 12:19:31 | More by InspectorBob

tourdot

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

05-12-2013 06:40:54 | More by tourdot

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -12.1%

05-05-2013 22:11:27 | More by ejimhof

xxcarpxx

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

05-04-2013 19:48:23 | More by xxcarpxx

davey101

Connecticut

4.59/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Quick notes. 2011 vintage, 22 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Huge thanks to Doug for sharing a pour with me! A really big want of mine which I've heard far too many grumblings of it being "overrated".

Pours a dark black body with a quickly fading mocha head. The aroma and taste on this beer is really unique as the port does leave quite an impression. Lots of chocolate, roasted malt, molasses and an almost dark fruit/black grape acridity. Rich and creamy mouth feel. Its rich and decadent and the dark fruit element that the port brings to the table really works. This exceeds all hype for me as I found it to be one of the best non barrel aged stouts I have had. I really hope this recipe carries on with Mott's new brewery as I would love to try it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 20:04:56 | More by davey101

MattKane

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

04-29-2013 05:08:50 | More by MattKane

Noyt

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

04-27-2013 22:53:49 | More by Noyt

Davihaw

Illinois

5/5  rDev +9.9%

04-26-2013 18:27:39 | More by Davihaw

Davelucas88

Delaware

5/5  rDev +9.9%

04-25-2013 04:40:09 | More by Davelucas88

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.98/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This 2011 vintage was generously shared by Rutager.

A: Black liquid with 1/2" light brown head.

S: Chocolate, salt, caramel and grass.

T: Cherries, figs, raisins, pears, roasted barley, chocolate and caramel.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium to low level of carbonation.

O: This stout is pretty much perfect. The Belgian yeast strain and special B malt are an amazing addition to the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 01:27:58 | More by DaftCaskBC

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2011 bottle thanks to Yeahnatenelson. Served at cellar temperature.

Appearance. Pours black with 1/2 a finger of khaki head.

Smell. Prunes, raisins, chocolate, rum, cherries and caramel. Despite that description it's very unique smelling and keeps me coming back for more.

Taste. Tobacco, prunes, raisins, chocolate, plums and molasses.

Mouthfeel. On the lower side of full body with medium-low soft and smooth carbonation, unbelievably smooth.

Overall. Smooth and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 18:46:43 | More by Rutager

TallSaint

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

04-06-2013 17:19:18 | More by TallSaint

MarvinSnyder

West Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

03-31-2013 19:41:49 | More by MarvinSnyder

danoeltico

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +9.9%

03-25-2013 18:46:34 | More by danoeltico

Sparky44

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

03-24-2013 01:45:02 | More by Sparky44

jderosia603

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

03-24-2013 00:43:01 | More by jderosia603

brydeen

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +9.9%

03-23-2013 05:31:15 | More by brydeen

rtaps

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

03-22-2013 02:15:56 | More by rtaps

Brewnami

Texas

4.99/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

If you want to know what the mouthfeel is like, or what color this beer is, take a peek at the other 700 reviews. I am writing here today to boldly state that this might be the best beer I've ever had. I luckily was able to get my hands on two bottles of this recently from the last batch made at Portsmouth Brewery in 2012. Because I am a nice guy and sharing is caring, I poured the little bottle into 5 glasses so that 4 other people could induldge in a beer in which, unless you work there, you need to win a lottery just to be able to purchase. This is as smooth as a nitro stout, perfectly balanced with chocolate notes and bitterness, smells delectable, and hides the 12% ABV very nicely. If anyone who has not tried this beer, enjoys Russian Imperial Stouts, and has the opportunity to trade for a bottle or purchase one from someone, I highly recommend doing so. I have one more bottle and I don't know when I will open it as I don't want it to go away. Hopefully the brewer will make this again one day!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 18:43:56 | More by Brewnami

homebrew311

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

2012 vintage reviewed from notes. Pours like a typical RIS, thick black and opaque with little to no head. The owe starts with deep roasts malts followed by a touch of oak, a bit of smoke and char, heavy waves of dark fruit and molasses, and some ashy notes. The taste is smooth and well rounded with chocolate and molasses coming through the strongest. The body is heavy and the carbonation is mild which makes for a smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this brew is very tasty and well executed. I don't really get much port character in this, and perhaps I was expecting liquid gold with all the hype surrounding this... I didn't get that, but it is still a damn good beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 06:12:55 | More by homebrew311

Greenplastic615

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

03-10-2013 20:17:49 | More by Greenplastic615

TheBronze

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

03-10-2013 07:21:34 | More by TheBronze

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

03-10-2013 04:47:56 | More by stereosforgeeks

duff247

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

02-25-2013 00:41:12 | More by duff247