Zywiec Porter - Zywiec Breweries PLC (Heineken)

techfed87

Michigan

2.75/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a steep black with moderate-sized head.

Smelled very strongly of caramel and dark dark malts.

First sip was very syrupy, with a strange combination of bitter and sickly sweet. I'm not saying it was bad, but it was unexpected.

An alright porter, but definitely not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 21:03:39 | More by techfed87

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

06-15-2013 23:19:41 | More by IchLiebeBier

Danielr26

Michigan

3/5  rDev -23.7%

06-12-2013 22:32:53 | More by Danielr26

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.29/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

500ml bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark cola color, revealing hints of ruby-red translucence when held up to a light. A two-finger mocha head is formed with a beautiful creaminess and very strong retention. As it slowly recedes, it leaves behind large sheets of lacing down the glass.

S: It's very forward in dark fruits, chocolate, and molasses. Distant notes of roast, coffee, and mild hops are hidden behind the sweet maltiness. My only real problem is how mild the aroma is - which is a shame, because it's good otherwise.

T: Sweetness opens the flavor profile strongly, with strong caramel, dark fruit, and chocolate qualities. This will transition to a very roasty, mildly hoppy finish. Hints of earth and booze pop up on the back end, as well. While it's a bit boozy, it doesn't really hinder its drinkability, thanks to the mildness of flavor. It even has a bit of depth to it. The booze note get stronger as it warms up, so drink cold.

M: A bit on the thin side, with a typical crisp lager bite on the finish and strong carbonation. It's almost as if this is designed for drinkability over richness; in regards to the former, it's pretty successful.

O: This is a very dangerous brew. It's inexpensive and drinkable, with only mild hints to suggest its actual strength. While not fantastic, it's a great way to get drunk on the cheap(ish) - I know I'd much rather drink this over some crappy Euro malt liquor.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 21:53:49 | More by ThisWangsChung

silverking

Florida

4.04/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A- A-Dark cola color with a rocky tan head. head Retention is moderate and there are well defined rings of lace.

S- Dark fruit, Dark roasted malt, almost Smokey.

T- Less dark fruit than the aroma. Flavors lean more towards dark coffee and burnt malt. A small trace of alcohol is also detectable. The finish is long, with a pleasant cocao bitterness on the back of the palate.

M- Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. There is a definite warming sensation from the alcohol.

O- Very nice, I would refinement this and I will buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 02:28:10 | More by silverking

ajzy

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

06-01-2013 11:29:43 | More by ajzy

jwps214

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -23.7%

05-31-2013 00:00:37 | More by jwps214

Mikkiicky

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-29-2013 21:06:45 | More by Mikkiicky

TheDarkKnight

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-25-2013 00:08:13 | More by TheDarkKnight

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-23-2013 02:26:25 | More by MistahBeah

CB2maltygoodness

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-22-2013 19:17:13 | More by CB2maltygoodness

RockinRob925

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-20-2013 12:52:14 | More by RockinRob925

brewcifix

Connecticut

2.39/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

A- This pours red-brown, but is opaque black in the glass. This porter has a great head on it's shoulders with pretty decent lacing.

S- Roasted malts, notes of honey, hay, and some distant chocolate sum up the nose on this one.

T- Deep espresso and roasted malts are subdued by extremely subtle hops, some sweetness, and a heavy alcohol finish. You can taste every bit of that 9.5% ABV for sure! My inner "beer snob" comdemns this. But, my manliness is inflated. I feel like this is putting hair on my chest, and I should be accompanied by some vikings or something. There's a lingering espresso-malt thing happening in my mouth that I really can't complain about.

M- There's a medium amount of carbonation (medium to high for a porter), with medium weight. If not for the heavy alcohol finish, I'd say the tongue weight makes this more drinkable than most fine porters.

Overall, this is a porter for men that want to drink like manly men. It isn't notably complex, and I wouldn't consider it to be among the best I've tasted. As I often say about beers in this category, (out of respect for beers in ANY category): I "wouldn't kick this one out of bed". It's tasty, cheap, and unassuming. Although, I prefer sophisticated, intelligent, beautiful women- I can enjoy the "tasty-cheap-unassuming" type on occasion. If there are better porters on tap or in the store- by all means: buy them. However, if you're on a budget, and nothing else is up your alley- do not be ashamed to give Zywiec Porter a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:23:42 | More by brewcifix

DS31

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-18-2013 14:45:56 | More by DS31

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-27-2013 04:36:09 | More by DaveAnderson

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - A fairly dark brown, nice cocoa head with a ruby hue when pouring, Head is a 1/2 inch that seems to stick around for a while.
S - Nothing really stands out it smells of lager yeasts, some roast and a touch of chocolate but it's faint.
T - Well it doesn't taste like any porter I ever liked. Mild German hops meets some old coffee with a slightly chalky finish.
M - Best part of the beer it drinks like a black lager but hides the ABV so well. Wish the flavor was better also.

Overall for $2.50 I guess its not so bad. Wish I would have know it was Heineken before I got it since it has the classic "skunked" flavor even though it's a brown bottle...

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 04:25:46 | More by DrDemento456

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

04-22-2013 10:40:32 | More by beerhunter13

zenithberwyn

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-18-2013 04:05:22 | More by zenithberwyn

JeffTheJuice

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-17-2013 16:08:45 | More by JeffTheJuice

Bear1964

Nebraska

3.54/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 500 ml bottle into a pint glass, almost jet black with a nice 3 finger tan head. It smelled rich,roasted and sweet...things I like in a Porter. Taste held roasted malt with a bittersweet edge also some metallic notes and alcohol/dark chocolate flavors after each sip. Mouthfeel was medium to heavy and was what I would expect for a Baltic Porter....I would get this again as a single ( $ 1.67 ) and recommend to anyone who wants to explore Porters for a good price.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 16:09:48 | More by Bear1964

Asics

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-14-2013 07:17:02 | More by Asics

Bromine

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-12-2013 10:46:18 | More by Bromine

StoutItOutLoud

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-12-2013 01:18:18 | More by StoutItOutLoud

Samuel906

California

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

This was going out on a limb a bit for me; I don't venture to the import section of the bottle store too often, and I think this is my first beer from Poland. Overall I was very pleased, very rich full beer and absurdly cheap. Pours dark with medium head. Smells very good: chocolate and cinnamon and roasted malt. Follows with rich flavor as well. Chocolate and malt, hints of coffee. No booze. Very mild metallic taste. Only thing odd to me about this is that it is called a porter. I was expecting something a little lighter weight. Good all around!

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 02:40:03 | More by Samuel906

magpieken

Australia

2.25/5  rDev -42.7%

04-08-2013 16:01:27 | More by magpieken