Habanero Porter
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Chile Beer
ABV:
5%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 5.9%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
5
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 22, 2011
Added:
May 06, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Photo of ffejherb
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On cask at Iron Hill Lancaster on 2/20/11.

A - Deep reddish brown liquid with dark amber tones and a finger's worth of bubbly mocha-colored foam that retained well, giving the appearance of a cup of cappuccino. Streaks and spots of lace decorated the glass.

S - The habanero isn't very prominent in the nose. Instead, I am greeted by hints of coffee and cocoa, as well as a faint earthy, herbal hop character. After a few whiffs, the spiciness of the peppers began to emerge, although it remained quite tame throughout.

T - Like the aroma, the coffee and cocoa attributes are (seemingly) given top billing, while the earthy, herbal hops provide a fairly sharp bite. However, the habanero presence really comes to the forefront in the backend to deliver a wash of oily, peppery spiciness across the palate. While I found the spiciness to be fairly intense, Brewslut didn't think it was spicy at all.

M - Medium bodied with a soft, somewhat oily mouthfeel due to the cask conditioning as well as the addition of the peppers. With each passing sip, this one got more spicy. However, the sweetness and hop bitterness quelled it to a degree.

D - Overall, I think the Pig Iron Porter was a nice canvas for this beer, as the spicy characteristics of the habanero worked well with the coffee and chocolate attributes of the porter. While I don't think I could rock a mug of this, this was enjoyable just for its full flavor.
Feb 22, 2011
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Photo of JAXSON
Reviewed by JAXSON from Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nice roasty chocolate aroma, faint coffee and spices. Really linear, crisp, guiness-like look. Creamy and kind of bland at first, then turns into a nice roasted malt, bitter chocolate, and finally kind of intense heat deep in the throat. Almost felt like a food after a few sips, like I would take a sip of it, then quench my thirst with a drink of some other beer. Pretty good and really interesting. Makes me want to try the Ring of Fire thing.
Feb 22, 2011
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Transcribed from notes taken 05 Mai 2010.

Pig Iron Porter infused with Habenero extract!

This arrived with just a smattering of light-brown foam that quickly dissipated into wisps. Color was a deep, dark brown that allowed light penetration only at the edges. Nosed had a great chocolate scent underlain with pepper. I was reminded of Mexican hot chocolate, which consists of thick cacao brewed with peppers. Mouthfeel was velvety smooth, very chocolaty on the tongue. It was on the finish that the heat really kicked in. Initially, I was left (literally) breathless, bringing sweat to my brow and solar panel (bald spot), but subsequently, the endorphins kicked in and it became much more drinkable. Good, but watch for that first swallow - it's a doozy!
Nov 27, 2010
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served on cask, via hand pump @ Iron Hill (Lancaster, PA) on 5/5/10 during their Mug Club Cinco De Mayo party. This is their house Pig Iron Porter that has been infused with habanero extract.

Pours a fairly clear deep amber color, with a smooth and creamy head of rich mocha froth. This retains with a thick and foamy look, which leaves some equal looking lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma starts out with a smooth smelling base of cocoa, caramel, roast, and coffee, which is wrapped up in some floral hop character. The warm and spicy textures of the habanero comes out in the back of the nose, but the cask conditioning seems to mellow some of the sharp edges off it, so it just stays flavorful and not too hot.

The taste is very similar, with equal parts sweetness and roast as the chocolate and coffee flavors bounce off each other. Hops provide some herbal bitterness and green citric notes to the profile. The habanero character pulls out from the other flavors with a flush across the back of the profile, giving off a moderately zippy kick that lovingly lingers after each sip with a warm spiciness that tingles the lips and tougue. This isn't overdone at all. Well done. The mouthfeel is medium bodied overall but feels much lighter thanks to the silky and easygoing nature of the cask conditioning. Even with the spice, this just drank effortlessly.

I've got to say that this turned out really nice. The habanero extract definitely brought some heat and flavor to the table but it never got out of hand and added just the right amount of warmth and spiciness to perfectly compliment our meal. The cask was just the icing on the cake, mellowing the flavor and body into a really solidly drinkable package. I'd love to see this one return sooner than the next May 5th.
May 06, 2010
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From notes dating 2/08. Thanks to egajdzis for sharing this growler...
Appears a hazy, semi-dark brown with a red hue, and a small off-white head that slowly fades out.
Smell is of nuts, caramel, cocoa powder, light cream, and obvious hot pepper spicing.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a spicy, peppery finish that seems to balance out the sweetness of the malts.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with brown sugar, and spices on the back of the throat, and even into the back of the sinuses. Very interesting and unique.
May 06, 2008
Habanero Porter from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 3.9 out of 5 with 5 ratings