Geary's London Porter - D.L. Geary Brewing Company

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer was black like a porter should be. The beer had a little bit of a saltiness to it. Not really sure if this beer was supposed to be smoked or not. I'm getting the idea that they tried smoking the malts or something here. It's a drinkable brew, but it's not as good as I was hoping for. I should revisit this sometime.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 02:23:06 | More by Knapp85

Duhast500

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a dimpled mug.

The color is a complete black with some slight maroon highlights and a finger of brownish head. No lacing.

The smell as expected has a nice dark malt flavor. There is some slight coffee ground aroma with a slight nut like aroma.

The taste is again, pretty darn malty with a nice dark malt flavor and some dark chocolate flavor as well. There is a nice burnt-like flavor is this beer as well, some slight smoky flavor that is interesting.

The feel of this beer is medium bodied and has a good smooth finish as it goes down. This is a low alcohol beer that is great for having a few without the worry of it growing on you.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 15:03:42 | More by Duhast500

Kanyon22

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this puppy in a geary's variety 12 pack. Been meaning to pick this one up for sometime. Since porters are one of my favorite styles and never really had many if any to date English porters, kinda got high hopes for this one. Pour 12oz. into my Murphy's Irish stout tulip glass.

A: Has a coal black body to it with a nice soapy brownish head which is slowly fading back into itself. Nice classic look hear.

S: Has a slight fruity, woody, roasted notes going here. Just a hint of dark chocolate or maybe my brains making that one up. Also has some earthy hops going on there I do believe. Was hoping for more chocolate but so far so good. Has that simple generic English ale smell.

T: Wow holy burnt malts here, wow okay hold on gather self. Okay from the top starts off with a hint of fruit then quickly to that woody middle then bombarded with dark roasted malts with just a hint of dark chocolate charcoal taste in the finish. Also as I'm drinking the beer takes on a plastic kinda character, not saying its a bad thing just something I'm getting here.

M: The body is on the heavier side of light almost medium and for a beer weighting in at 4.2% abv. kind of impressive. Also finishes kinda clean for all the dark bitter malts you know went into this thing.

D: Actually this one is ranking kinda high here as well. First the whole burnt roasted bomb taste dissipates rather nicely has your palate gets adjusted to whats attacking it. At. 4.2% I think Geary is brewing a wonderful take on a style that most craft breweries look over time and time again. A simple flavorful low abv. beer that packs flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 17:19:36 | More by Kanyon22

WhiteOak

Connecticut

2.33/5  rDev -38%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A- Nearly opaque brown color with a dark mohogany edge. A moderate tan head initially, but dissipates to absolutely nothing, not a film, bubble nor trace, within seconds.

S- There is an aroma of sweet oxidized white wine, a la sherry or tawny Port. Roasted malt, chocolate.

T- The flavor is dominated by an unappealing char/excessive roast, and even that just falls off. This beer didn't really even have a finish, it just disappeared from the radar screen of the palate with a thin watery poof. Tastes and feels like a burnt Coca-Cola, but was not as flavorful.

M, D- Too light in body, too weak in flavor, and (even with a non-persistent head) too carbonated. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 22:36:29 | More by WhiteOak

amcmaho1

New Mexico

4.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had been hiding in the back of the fridge, and has become my companion in finishing late-night term papers.

Appearance: Very attractive beer, great dark dark brown body with slight reddish highlights. Small head which dissipates quickly, and little lacing.

Smell: Initially there is a faint vanilla-like smell, sort of sweet. Lots of roast character though which is pleasing. The smell seems lacking though, and if more pronounced, would elevate this beer significantly.

Taste: Great roasty undertones with the malt, with those vanilla overtones coming in slightly. The aftertaste is somewhat woody and charred and dry.

Mouthfeel: A little heavy on the carbonation, but otherwise rather thin and smooth, definitely not syrupy or viscous. nice for a session beer with more color.

Drinkability: I have been very pleased with this beer. Great classic porter flavors which seem pretty traditional and true to the style. I'd have to say the drinkability is high on account of this being a very tasty beer, and a great paper writing accomplice.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 06:19:37 | More by amcmaho1

mooseisloose

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This brew showed up at my door courtesy of BOTMC, cool bottle, looks like a Mini Cooper without wheels. Let's give it a whirl. Uncapping the mini I get a nice whiff of chocolates and roasted malts. Pouring into a pint this brew is an opaque jet black with a nice micro bubble foamy tan head. On first taste the mouthfeel seems a little thin. The flavor starts in after the initial wateriness and has a flat bitterness combined with a chaulky roasted malt flavor. All in all tasty, but quite thin and seriously lacking in body.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 18:01:11 | More by mooseisloose

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pretty much opaque, with a light tan 2 finger head.

Smell is faint cocoa, with loads of roasted malts.

Slightly bittersweet, roasted, toasted malts. Slightest hint of chocolate on the very back end.

A bit too carbonated on the feel. Past that, it's smooth and light to medium in body.

With its low ABV, and it not be at all offensive in any way, this would make a great session brew. Nothing wrong with a dark one either.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2010 02:44:42 | More by EgadBananas

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Very dark with translucent chestnut edges. The foam was a bit coarse and most of it fell quickly, but some fine bubbles remained and formed a thick collar that lasted. Aromas of molasses, caramel, licorice, dry cocoa, a bit phenolic from the dark malts. The texture was a bit rough due to the coarse carbonation and light body. Drying astringency from the dark grains. Low bitterness with less sweetness than I expected. Biscuit and cocoa with a hint of licorice, not as much caramel as in the aroma. Seems a bit thin on malt. My overall impression was that it was alright, but a fell a bit short of being great.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 00:21:23 | More by DrJay

rsgcwhite

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one tap at the Lost Bear in Portland.

A: Poor bar lighting aside, this beer was dark - almost black. Very little head retention.

S: Licorice! There's a lot going on here - it's smokey, malty, with ample dark chocolate.

T: Initial roasted malt tastes give a little bit of smokiness (not a rauchbier by any means), smooth layering of espresso beans and caramel, finishing with a good balancing hop balance.The beer had relatively lower carbonation than expected, resembling English ales.

This was pleasant to drink, and coupled well with the buffalo chicken sandwich I ordered. It is a complex layering of smells and flavors - some of which blend perfectly, other times you ponder "what is that?".

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2010 12:06:18 | More by rsgcwhite

argock

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a clear oversized wine glass. No freshness date. Received as part of a beer of the month club gift membership.

A: Very dark brown-black with 1-finger, oatmeal colored head with average retention and a few blobs of lace at the top of the glass.

S: Very complex aroma profile with sour nuttiness, roasted malt, coffee, cocoa, and light caramel cola aspect with herbal, English hopping.

T: Chocolate-cocoa and cold black coffee are first but are overcome by sour nuttiness from the Ringwood yeast that lends a very interesting, unique twist on the flavor. THe yeast flavor is distinctive and leads to the sharp roast edge in the finish. The hops are herbal and blunt the very light cola sweetness.

M: Unfortunately the feel is pretty thin and not up to snuff compared to the aroma and flavor.

D: A low ABV, flavorful porter that could use to be 5.2% and much heftiness at great gain with a bigger maltload. Still, all in all, a really good beer that works well with the Geary's signature Ringwood yeast.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 00:25:05 | More by argock

Parrotbeak

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with an eighth-inch cream colored head that remains. A little bit of light passes through when held up to the light, giving it a very deep burgundy hue. Good lacing.
Smell is slightly roasted malts with some ample notes of dark chocolate and cocoa. Faint, bitter coffee notes as well. Touch of vanilla and toffee.
Taste is slightly burnt malts with some bitter dark chocolate and cocoa. Faint notes of espresso and vanilla. Subtle notes of malts and chocolate on the finish.
Mouthfeel is crisp and a bit watery up front, with a dry finish. Medium body and moderate level of carbonation.
Drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 01:42:43 | More by Parrotbeak

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

At dba, NYC. Into a pint glass, it poured a dark mahogany, with a thin khaki head, little retention, yet good lacing. Little visible carbonation. The aroma: nuts, maple syrup, roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. The taste was a perfect blend of the above, finishing on a semi-dry roasted coffee note, which lingered afterwards. Very flavorful. Full-bodied, with more carbonation than expected. This is a great session porter.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2010 21:05:03 | More by donniecuffs

lou50rp

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice dark brown with a small head and little lacing.
Smell was dark chocolate and coffee.
Taste was same as smell with a hint of sweetness at the beginning and a good finish.
Mouthfeel was a bit watery.
Very drinkable, especially with the ABV. Always good to drink a tasty brew without going nuts with the ABV,
Not a great summer beer, be definitely will find room in the fridge for it this fall.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2010 19:11:18 | More by lou50rp

koopa

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up in Maine on a road trip.

Appearance: Pours an attractive deep mahogany with slightly red folds and a 1 finger dull khaki crown that shows moderate retention and dcent lace.

Smell: Brown sugar, chocolate, molasses, ltouch of roasted malt and a hint of vinegar.

Taste: same as nose.

Mouthfeel: Fairly thin with good carbonation.

Drinkability: I'd give it a higher score if I liked the flavor profile more.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 00:56:44 | More by koopa

ZAP

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice roasty porter with good chocolate notes...medium light body...slides down almost like a brown ale but has the flavor a porter...enjoyable..low abv...I could see kicking back many of these while shooting some pool with the boys....I really like the chocolate notes to this and how easy drinking and flavorful it is...nice workman like porter...

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 04:06:04 | More by ZAP

feelmefoam

South Carolina

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

Geary's London Porter pours a black coffee-bean color with a good bit of mocha-colored head, nearly two inches worth, pushing up off of the top of the liquid. Despite a big head, though, it's full of "soap-suds", it doesn't have the greatest retention and provides almost no lacing.

Dark toasted malts, coffee, and a bit of chocolate greet the nose, as well as a bit of an sweet/earthy undertone lurking in the back.

The flavor, though not quite as robust as I'd like, is still flavorful. Lots of roasty coffee bean and dark chocolate, as well as some earthy, slightly spicy hop notes that are a bit more subdued. The maltiness is there, just not as much as I'd expected it to be.

The mouthfeel is probably the weakest point of the beer. It's pretty highly carbonated and the beer fizzes a bit in your mouth; coupled with a body that's not as thick as I'd like gives a bit of a soda-ish feel. Thicken it up a bit and knock off some of the carb, then we'd have a winner.

Overall, the drinkability is pretty good here. Relatively low ABV, a solid flavor and aroma, and just a few minor slip-ups here and there make this a fairly sessionable English Porter. If you're into that.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 21:58:29 | More by feelmefoam

buschbeer

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I poured into a pint glass to a skim of mocha head. It is brown with ruby highlights. The aroma is dark fruit and chocolate. The taste is more on the coffee side with some dark fruit. It is a bit on the watery side, but the taste makes up for it. This is a pretty solid beer.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2010 19:21:58 | More by buschbeer

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours brown, looks black. Thin tan head leaves decent retention that rides down most of the glass and leaves a few lacey stragglers.

Bready, roast malt aroma--like pumpernickel. Hints of toffee and brownie. Taste is, again, pumpernickel and bitter chocolate with a noticeable but balanced neutral hop presence. Chewy mouthfeel. Has an acidic kick in the ass which, though I'm aware is historically authentic, I just don't like.

I'd like it better without the acidity but appreciated the glimpse in the history of the style. Like a time capsule going back when the actual bartender would mix soured beer with the new stuff. Neat.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 13:26:00 | More by donkeyrunner

lackenhauser

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown in color with a small tan head. Good aroma-has a mild caramel, somewhat slight espresso tinge to it. Nice roasted flavor-mild chocolate tinge. Roasted grain bitterness. Finish is quite dry. Decent body for the lower abv-I was afraid of it being too thin. Overall a good UK porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 00:28:56 | More by lackenhauser

grub

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

got this one from jlindros as an extra in a trade. thanks jared!

12oz bottle. sampled feb 20/2010.

pours deep brown, nearly black, with a big fluffy dark tan head. the head drops slowly and leaves plenty of lace as it falls.

aroma is good. dark and milk chocolate. coffee. toasted whole wheat bread. bit of biscuit and cracker. hint of alcohol. earthy and slightly herbal. touch of caramel and toffee.

taste is nice. dark chocolate. bit of coffee and milk chocolate. lightly toasted whole wheat bread. light biscuit and cracker. hint of alcohol. nice earthy and lightly herbal hop character. medium-low bitterness level.

mouthfeel is good. medium body. medium bitterness level.

drinkability is good. nice balance. decent depth and complexity. overall a nice english porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 02:04:36 | More by grub

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a dark brown with a foamy tan head which leaves a hige sheet of lacing.

S-Mildly roasty and a bit of sweet cocoa and chocolate.

T-Mildly sweet in the front with a nice bittersweet chocolate note, followed by a nice roastiness. Continuing my streak with Geary's bottles, there is a discernible diacetyl note. But it kind of neatly round the finish off into a Heath bar like toffee taste.

M-Pleasantly light to medium bodied with good carbonation.

D-Heck, yeah! A classic English porter, light in ABV but big in flavor.

HV

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 02:11:49 | More by sholland119

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a very dark brown, nearly black color with a bit of light coming through. A tall frothy tan head takes it's time settling down and leaves good lacing on the glass.

S: Rich roasted malt with, dark chocolate, espresso, raisins, molasses, and charred grains. Some herbal and grassy hop aromas push through the grains slightly.

T: Roasted and burnt malt, nutty and chocolatey with some molasses and raisins. Some watery coffee comes to mind as well. Hops add a bit more bitterness.

M: Medium body and chewy with a light creamy carbonation.

D: Good overall drinkability for this porter. It is not off balance or off flavored in any areas but not the best porter I have ever had. Very solid though and with low alcohol easy to sit down to a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2010 03:44:26 | More by scottbrew4u

albern

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The labeling has changed but it is the same porter as I remember it. The beer pours a deep brown mahogany with a nice tan creamy head, decent retention, not much lace. The nose is quite pungent, and impressive for what is a rather mild, low ABV porter. Heaps of roasted malts, dark malts, some crystal malt, some chocolate notes as well, maybe a slight hint of caramel.

The taste for the most part follows the path taken by the nose. The beer is a bit watery and thin, not a warming type porter, but it is tasty. The beer has the usual suspects one would expect from the style, but there is an English interpretation to this beer with a toffee-ish flavor and what I think is a bit of diacetyl buttery flavors. The yeast strain may not have been the most complementary given what the brewery was aiming at. There is just a touch of drying cocoa in the finish, but it is hidden behind the toffee and everything else happening here. This is a tasty brew, I like it, but it is not a hearty porter by any means. Just approach it for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2010 22:38:01 | More by albern

gfreed

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Certainly black, but hold it up to a light you'll see some deep ruby around the edges, which is very attractive. Easy to get a big head on this one. A subdued burst of roastiness, chocolate and caramel is evident in the aroma-- not terribly strong but persistent. The body is a tad watery; given the color and the smell I expected something with more density. The taste is, like the aroma, restrained. The finish has no bitterness but it does have a faint mystery taste. Could it be... vinyl? Yes! It's akin to the vinyl twang you get when you blow up a beach ball. Hmmm.

Yes, you'll find plenty to like but you may find yourself wanting it to be just a bit more porterish. This is no Tadcaster Porter, but is still a nice, smooth, low-ABV beer. Worth a six.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2010 02:26:12 | More by gfreed

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a nearly opaque brownish-black color. The head is one inch of light tan foam that recedes slowly into nice lacing. The aroma is of roasted malt, graham cracker, and Geary's yeast. The taste is much like the aroma. It is quite yeasty for a porter, but good nonetheless. Actually, the more I drink the more I like the yeast notes. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, and a smooth texture. The feel is more fuller bodied than I would expect from a beer of 4.2% ABV, and I really like that. Overall, this is a really nice beer that I could easily session regularly.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2010 21:20:57 | More by KarlHungus