Zywiec Porter - Zywiec Breweries PLC (Heineken)

Bung

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml. Black pour, but not overly thick appearing. Thin light tan layer.

Aroma, roast, cocoa, milk chocolate. Not overly complicated but nice.

Taste, roast malt, chocolate, cocoa some coffee. Straight line with this one. Malted milk ball. Roast and cocoa linger nicely.

Medium bodied, maybe a little lighter. Healthy dose of carbonation. Similar to Okocim in that I wish it was just a little thicker. Warming, but no problems drinking this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 03:36:47 | More by Bung

yankeej13

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of my all time favorite porters and figured it was about time I rated it.

A- The color is dark as night with a small about of chocolate colored foam. Pretty mild carbonation.

S- Has a fantastic smell, extremely potent, a nice chocolate smell, bold in flavor just from the smell.

T- A bold fantastic chocolate taste. Pretty heavy malt flavor with mild hints of caramel.

M- Great drinkablility for a higher alcohol content beer, Great creamy mouthfeel leaves you with a pretty sweet finish.

Overall- A great success this is such a great beer. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 23:10:06 | More by yankeej13

cagocubs

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle poured into pint glass.

A: Pours an opaque dark brown/black, two finger tan head that bubbles, retains, then caps off with lacing. Did not explode out of the bottle.

S: Roasted malt, some chocolate, and smokey barley. Some alcohol was picked up.

T: Roasty and smokey malt/barley. Sweetness in form of caramel. Good warming finish from alcohol.

M: Slides down well for a porter, you don't have to fight it much. Good warming and decent carbonation level.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 23:14:05 | More by cagocubs

UCLABrewN84

California

2.9/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson brown with a 2 inch khaki head that stays at a 1 inch puffy cap. Thick foamy rings of lace stick to the sides of the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, dark fruits, caramel, and some chocolate aromas. Taste is of dark roasted malt, dark fruits, cocoa powder, and an off metallic taste. The metallic taste pretty much kills this one for me. Mild roasty bitterness on the palate after each sip. A low level of carbonation with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Ovearall, this would be a pretty good baltic porter if the metallic taste wasn't so overwhelming. As it is, I couldn't even finish a bottle of this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 02:29:31 | More by UCLABrewN84

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle into snifter.

A: Pours a deep black body, with a two finger tan head. Good long lasting head retention. Lacing is thick and frothy. Carbonation levels are slow.

S: The aroma is roasted and a bit smokey, not much hop bitterness. The aroma is a medium intensity. A light chocolate character.

T/M: On the front, the beer is full of roasted notes, toffee and a bit of caramel. The body is rich on the palate, but finishes a bit thin. A smokey note on the finish, with a bit of a lighter malted character.

O: Overall this is a fairly good beer, for the price and the ABV it is a decent drink, but lacking many flavors, I would find other beers in the style for a bench mark, but none the less a good offering.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 00:23:45 | More by GDBEERMAN

soju6

Missouri

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark brown with a tan head that slowly fades to good lacing.

S: Pleasant aroma of roasted malt, some chocolate and dark fruit with a very slight hint of alcohol.

T: There is a rich roasted malt flavor with chocolate and a bit of fruit. Has a nice bitterness and a dry finish.

F: Very medium body, smooth and creamy. The alcohol slowly sneaks in to make it complete.

O: This is my first Baltic Porter, wow! Great beer to finish the day with.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 22:01:52 | More by soju6

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

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

A - Very dark brown body, stout-like. Huge creamy head formed. Beige, soft, bubbly. Choppy and sticking hard to very top of the glass as it sinks.

S - Huge, sweet malt nose. Rich, roasty and almost chocolatey sweet. A hint of yeasty hops adding a little bitterness to the notes. Chocolate booze scents but pretty smooth smelling for a 9.5%. Robust.

T - A lot of sweet, tangy mineral water up front with a very rich yeast twang. Some tin notes bouncing around with dried grain. Middle of the sip provides the rich chocolatey malt body. Dark grains and sugar, with a warming finish from the alcohol, which is very well presented. A tad dry and bitter on the back of the palate in the finish.

M - A slick, smooth, soft beer with a luscious mouthfeel. Chocolatey and chewy on the palate with a semi dry, well balanced end.

O - A fantastic porter with tons of character and flavor. Complex but well balanced, with a high drinkability at this abv.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 00:07:04 | More by BeerForMuscle

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

nice dark brown with a light ruby tint to it. Some light could be seen on the sides and bottom of the glass. Nice big head with good retention and a slow fade,

laced with caramel and definite hints of alcohol. As it warmed some nice flavors of roasted malts and a robust grain and bread like flavor with just a touch of chocolate started to come through. The alcohol was the biggest factor here and needed to be reigned in a tad. A bit of a thin feel for something that I thought would be so big, almost had an ale like quality to it. Nice caramel malt sweetness could be detected under the alcohol with an ever so slight hoppy presence in the back. Very smooth and great carbonation led to a nice frothy feel

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 18:21:10 | More by mikesgroove

ktrillionaire

Florida

3.2/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The brew pours near black, and is capped by a filmy tan head, depositing rings of lace. The nose is mostly roasty with underlying notes of dark fruit. Flavor-wise, it is mostly nice, featuring notes of roast, cocoa and chicory, but it has a finish that I disdain. It gets very very bitter on the finish, acrid really, and has a lingering burn. The feel is good through most of the quaff, but again, it takes a turn for the worse on the finsh. Overall this is an underachieving brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 01:26:08 | More by ktrillionaire

MONKandTUCK

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

JAK SIE MASZ!!?? Will you be my friend!?

APPEARANCE: .5 Liter tube glass. Dark; black and ruby colors. Foam white cap. Looks a little leaner than the high ABV and body would suggest.

Aroma: big malts. Lots of fruits and a fair bit of roasted malts. Roasted malts aren't as prominent as expected.

Taste: wow! There's some bite: liquor-soaked cherries, sourmilk bread, mashed raisins, charred flavors pervasive but not dominant.
Lots of fusel. Alcohol bite. Think sherry spiked with dark chocolate shavings.
Licorice, licorice, licorice.
Some hops POP thru.
Caramel notes gives this more complexity than any Lager, but lack real depth.
Munich malt comes through as this Lager warms. Kinda chewy, even heavy.
Medical bite really detract from the enjoyment of this beer. Finishes HOT.

Think a big Lager meets sharp Porter. It's more Bock than Stout, but the sharp roasted notes and dark fruit complexities distinguish this mightily from any Bock or other strong Lager.

MOUTHFEEL: Massive. Thick going down, syrup, almost creamy. Finishes less than perfectly set, but not to a detriment. Flushes down over the palate, down the throat deep into the gut where it sits real warm.

OVERALL: Damn she sits on a big chassis!
Sure, this beer has some nasty imperfections - smart can be said of many American, Belgian and English hallmarks. However, it scores big for effort. Talk about ambitious!
I'd like it better if it were an ale, and brewed with toasted malts. I accept it for what it is and wants to be and where It's from.
This is the story of survival and sooo affordable!

Pound-for-Pound this is the king of beers!

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 20:54:53 | More by MONKandTUCK

RomaniIteDomum

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours back with a pretty brown head. It looks like a chocolate truffle poured into my glass.

Smells of sweet grain, chocolate, cream, and light bananas.

Bananas lead the way followed by creamy coffee, chocolate, mocha, and finishing with more mocha.

this is a very creamy and luxurious beer. I really enjoy the way this feels. Great body and carbonation.

Overall this is a pretty damn tasty brew. I would happily drink this again. I wonder if this is distributed down here.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 01:35:18 | More by RomaniIteDomum

shambeano

Australia

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

poured into a unibroue tulip at room temp.

A- Pours pretty black with about an inch of browny-white head. quite thick fluffy head which very slowly subsides. looks kinda like a very carbonated short black.

S- upfront its a mix of sweetish malt with a whole bunch of roasted malt. sweet and roasty. theres a fair bit of alcohol in there as well. smells good.

T- much like the smell, a lot of sweet malts and roasted malts. the alcohol is there, but not as much as on the nose. but most of what i get is roasty malts, nice, but the flavors don't seem to mix as well as on the nose.

M- in the mouth seems like an in-between beer. slightly to the heavier side of mid-bodied, slightly to the heavier side of mid-carbonated, a bit creamy, the roasty bitternes has a great length, and eventually leaves the mouth dry. very nice.

O- this beer has everything going for it. cheap, strong and tasty. great length, and a great smell. tastes really nice, but a little more one dimensional compared to the smell, however the lower rating is purely a comparison to the nose. definitely worth trying, and a beer i often enjoy when it gets colder.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 13:19:56 | More by shambeano

aasher

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

$2 beers that're 9.5%, a style I really enjoy, and rated highly don't come around too often.

This beer pours a medium bodied dark chocolate brown in color with a one finger khaki head. It appears to be more of a black color once fully poured. It smells of dark chocolate, lightly roasted coffee, and it has an interesting creaminess to it. It tastes of coffee with cream, bitter chocolate, and has a subtle roast flavor that eminates. You don't pick up any alcohol at all, which is impressive all things considered. The unfortunate thing is this, after awhile you start to get some pretty heavy metallic flavors. You feel that you're drinking rustor something of that nature. It's a killer for a beer that would otherwise be pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 03:25:52 | More by aasher

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle at a pub in Warsaw. From notes.

A - Poured black and opaque with tons of carbonation and a two and a half finger tan head. Head was very creamy looking. Thick lacing left and great retention.

S - Mild. Chocolate and a little roasty.

T - Well balanced with semi sweet chocolate and espresso with some roastiness.

M - Full body and smooth silkiness. A little bitterness to finish. Some medium carbonation.

O/D - Couldn't have too many in a night but it was quite a tasty, smooth Baltic Porter. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 11:19:26 | More by tbeckett

womencantsail

California

3.2/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer pours a very dark brown color with some reddish/amber notes to it and a finger of off-white head.

S: Initial aromas are booze and metal, one might say pennies. A lot of dark roasted malts and a touch of dark, bitter chocolate. There are some dark fruit notes to the beer as it warms up, particularly prunes and raisins.

T: The flavor is fairly harsh. Lots of bitterness and lots of roasted malts. A rather intense metallic flavor to the beer with a hint of cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Not much in the way of the dark fruits that were present on the nose. Alcohol comes through quite strongly as well.

M: Medium in both body and carbonation.

O: Too boozy and harsh to be all that enjoyable. The metal wasn't doing much for me either.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 21:31:27 | More by womencantsail

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2011-02-26 in Columbia, PA (from tasting notes)

A - Dark, impenetrable brown with almost no head.

S - Plum, fig, yeast. Reminds me of a Rochefort 10.

T - Rasins, noble hops, alcohol, dark rye bread and mild bitterness.

M - Light-medium body and carbonation. Doesn't dry out very much.

O - A decent but not outstanding brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 19:48:34 | More by Tucquan

05Harley

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoy by 1/21/12
Lot# L1021616B1218

Purchased through West Lakeview Liquors, Chicago Il

Price - $4.99/bomber

Brewed with a traditional recipe dating back to 1881.

Appearance is deep dark brown with a full creamy tan head. Heavy lacing stains the glass. This beer looks fresh and inviting.

The nose is roasted malts, caramel, licorice and smoke draped across a sweet backround.

Dark fruit, mocha, bitter chocolate and a layer of sweetness hit the taste buds after each sip. A metallic aftertaste poisons the overall flavor in the finish which is disappointing.

Medium to heavy mouthfeel with a warming sensation over time. Ends slitely tart with a dry bitter finish.

The beer starts out great with appearance and smell but falls short in every other category after that. What needs to be addressed first is the metallic aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 23:34:46 | More by 05Harley

Jemonster

California

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Dark coffee brown with a tan head that fades quickly. Leaves a very heavy lacing of tight foam. Completely opaque and viscous looking.

S: Rye bread and malt, sweetness and yeast.

T: Rich coffee, toffee, malt, and brown sugar. Nice balancing hop bitterness that comes across like a dark cocoa. Almost a little too sweet for what it is, though. Tastes like a pretty classic porter. Just what I was hoping for. Alcohol is hardly present, but the beer is very strong and flavorful.

M: Heavy body, slight carbonation. Tingles ever so slightly on the tongue.

O: The best porter that I've had, even though I can only think of two others. A nice change of pace for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 03:54:38 | More by Jemonster

Duff27

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Booming two inch head within a pint glass. Normal looking dark brown borderline black porter. Excellent head retention and lacing!

S- Smells metallic.

T- Deep cocoa. Hints of cherry? Slight metallic taste as well.

M- Very full mouthfeel, good carbonation.

D/O- One enjoyable ride. The high abv does not drink as such...so good I just want to gulp it all down in a hurry.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 23:30:19 | More by Duff27

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours an extremely dark brown; a shade from being black. Very tall fluffy head.

N: Whoppers, cookie dough, milk chocolate and coffee.

T: Milk chocolate, ripe plums and bitter dark roast coffee which is immediately covered up by a metal/copper taste.

M: Medium bodied, creamy and smooth. Low carbonation.

D: Alcohol is well hidden but can't get over the metal/copper taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 01:32:03 | More by justintcoons

biglite351

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - considerable red around the edges. Tall creamy off-white head.

S - heavy malts, a touch of chocolate and fruit and I seem to get some Belgian yeast.

T - strong Belgian flavor. Some dark fruit and chocolate. Alcohol all through the after taste.

M - solid coating and tingle on sides of tongue. Alcohol burn in the throat.

D - pass, don't care for the Belgian flavor or the strong alcohol front.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 01:17:07 | More by biglite351

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up on a whim from my corner liquor store from the fridge (Polish run) for something like $2.50.

A - Wow, is this a sign of things to come?? Poured into my Duvel tulip with a MASSIVE two and a half finger milk chocolate headthat left an incredible amount of side lacing and stayed as a thick blanket. All of which sat atop a dark brown brew. The head is unreal on this.

S - Nice roasted malts and light chocolate. There is some light dark fruit and alcohol notes as well.

T - Much like the nose. There is some more heavier dark fruit notes and maybe some yeast qualities as well. There is also a slight metallic taste as well which is very odd.

M - Nice and creamy mouthfeel here with the appropriate carbonation for this style.

D - This stuff is quite drinkable. Really solid mouthfeel and a great appearance. That metallic finish though I just cant get past. Such a shame though. Still, I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 06:02:14 | More by rudzud

BeerManDan

California

3.43/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a very dark brown with loads of light tan foam and loads of lace from start to finish on the side of the glass.

The smell was of roasted malts, fruit, chocolate and with a hint of what seams to be an over dated sour/bitter porter.

The taste was the roasted malts, bitter burnt chocolate, with a hint of banana.

Not really impressed with the aroma or taste. To over the hill in flavor and aroma. To bitter and sour for a porter. The big turn off was the aroma first, then the taste. Not close to a great or even good, average Porter!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 01:12:27 | More by BeerManDan

peabody

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a semi-transparent liquid in the chocolate brown realm with 1/2 finger of foamy suds. Lots of lacing.
Smell is frothy coffee with malt sugars. A yeast burns the nose a bit but this is all pretty faint.. Might be too cold.
Taste is a dirty water at first then the sugar and charred malts kick in then a bitterness comes back. Raisin and coffee and dirty water.
Mouthfeel if fairly clean for a 9.5%er.
Mouthfeel is not-sticky and the mouth is left wanting another drink.
Drinkability is pretty nice despite the abv. Heck you can't tell the 9.5 at all here. Aywiec hides it well.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 23:40:49 | More by peabody

crayolahalls

Ohio

5/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am having a hard time writing this since I feel no matter what I say I can not do this superb porter justice. I will dispense with a breakdown of my rating:

Appearance: The bottle is classy and hearkens to lodges filled with happy country people and refined gentlemen coming to fill their bellies and hearts with merriment. When poured, there is a great amount of control over being able to either full-pour a thick tan head or side-pour no head. The manna in the glass is a luxurious deep black.

Smell: Slightly alcohol. Heavily nuanced with exotic spice. This smell brings to mind lavish palace gardens with ripe herb gardens and exotic apothecaries lined with medicines worth their weight in gold.

Taste: Rich malt and fine hops are immediate. A myriad of subtle spices unfurls almost too quick to pick them all, but not so quick that you miss coffees, dark fruits, and other gifts from heaven.

Mouthfeel: Medium thickness. Gives plenty of room for the taste to take precedence over the alcohol.

Drinkability: If I could, I would forgo drinking water in order to consume this at every meal. It is an experience that I can not wait to repeat over and over.

Next time I should drink this with a blind fold or in the dark. The taste and smell will surely transport me to fantastic places far and wide: places full of fellowship, exotic women, warm sunsets, and hearty living. The hefty level of alcohol will doubtlessly help speed that journey!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 06:27:45 | More by crayolahalls