Red Eye Coffee Porter - Two Brothers Brewing Company

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Red Eye pours a very dark brown with a tiny tan head. A few spots of lace cling to the glass.

The aroma has lots of coffee some dark fruits and alcohol. Hints of vanilla and cherry (oak?) too.

Each sip of this medium to full bodied beer is smooth and oily with light carbonation. The flavor has nice rich malt notes with coffee mixed in. It begins with chocolate, vanilla and hints of roasted malt. Towards the end the coffee moves it before a nutty and grassy mildly bitter finish. Once gone the chocolate and vanilla lingers on the palate.

Very tasty and easy to drink. Coffee doesn't dominate and blends nicely with the other flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 21:03:42 | More by WanderingFool

TheSSG

Illinois

4.46/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slight, tan head with just a touch of lacing. Black color. Deep toasted malt in the aroma with the fruity brightness of coffee. There is a rich, black olive aroma underneath it all; slightly sweet and fruity. Flavor is intense, fruity, and acidic as the coffee dominates the front. There is a nice, bright, fruity-floral hop bitterness that peaks in the middle, and the toasted malt sits into the finish nicely. You don't much notice the booze (9.2%ABV), just the warming effect. A nice, viscous mouthfeel.

This is very, very good. If you like your coffee bright and floral, this is a coffee bier for you!
I think I may prefer the NG Coffee Stout, and Central Waters Peruvian Morning (both of which are a more toasty, deep flavor [which reflects my coffee choice; opposite of my chocolate]), but this is stunning as well. Sure beats Founders Coffee Stout in my book!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 18:38:59 | More by TheSSG

chicagoanbeerone

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this is one of the 15 series really great tasting i was not disspointed by this beer at all. It had a very deep coffee aroma, smell and taste of malts, it tasted like it was oaked aged with the smoothness it had, it is a great beer with a nice kick, good like bourbon county but lighter overall i would definity have this beer again

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 19:06:45 | More by chicagoanbeerone

Vierenner

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours beautifully and the aroma is wonderful ... chocolate and coffee similar to Big John from Goose Island. But the taste is an entirely different story ... rather weak in my opinion. Like it's watered down or something. I was hoping for robust, thick flavor but got slightly bitter averageness. I wish they'd pick one flavor and make it big!!

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 23:58:32 | More by Vierenner

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour was deep brown with a nice foam head. Smelled of faint coffees, more malty and dark fruits though. Taste was immediately too sweet with a distinct syrupy character, dried cherries and other dark fruit. Not much coffee here. Getting a bit overwhelmed by the cherry syrupy characteristics. I was expecting a flavorful coffee porter but that's not what I tasted here. Too sweet for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 04:49:40 | More by JackieTH

beagle75

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.

A: Opaque, dark brown color with less than one finger of diminishing light beige foam head. Light lacing remain on the glass.

S: A blend of dark unctuous qualities and rye-derived brine. Cherry liqueur emerges as it warms, but does not turn boozy.

T: Begins very off-dry, with refined malt and rye that tastes like a spiced cookie. Acidity is moderate but easy, enhancing the effect of the rye. Dark flavors are more influential into the second half of the profile, although detectable coffee presence is questionable. Bitterness is mild in the finish, where a doughy quality is more defining. No alcohol is detected.

M: Medium viscosity, very slick on the palate, with low carbonation.

D/O: This strong porter is more focused on the rye than the top-billed coffee it was brewed with. This results in an interesting collection of qualities for the style. It is remarkably approachable for a beer of over 9% abv.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 00:28:54 | More by beagle75

shand

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a nonic.

This beer pours out a very deep brown with a smaller head. The aroma is full of coffee, sweet chocolate, vanilla, and roasted malts. The taste is robust, with a full chocolate and vanilla taste at first. There's a bit of coffee that gets amplified on the finish, riding out with vanilla and roasted malts. The mouthfeel is full and lightly carbonated, and the drinkability is good. Overall, this is a good coffee porter. I'd like more coffee flavor - that might be found in a fresher batch though.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 05:10:57 | More by shand

hardy008

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pour a dark brown, almost black color with a small tan head which fades quickly leaving no lacing. The aroma has espresso, dark chocolate, and dark roasted malt. Smells very nice. There is no one aroma which overwhelms the others.

Espresso is front and center when I taste the beer, followed by the dark chocolate, and dark roasted malt. The taste is not as balanced as the aroma, but still is nice. Mostly bitter without much sweetness for balance. Given a name like Red Eye Coffee Porter, I am not surprised.

On the light side of medium bodied, with low carbonation. The alcohol is well hidden, and there is a coffee bitterness aftertaste. Overall a nice Porter, which I am glad I had a chance to try.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 04:18:54 | More by hardy008

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Lakeview Liquors. A well integrated coffee oriented beer even for a non coffee drinker, speaking about myself. Good roasted malt, choice and use of chocolate with an anise kiss. Above average mouthfeel, great drinkability. Coffee aroma is not overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 19:09:37 | More by northyorksammy

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Retro Release 1 of 15
No other freshness dating.

A= Pours a nice thick black color with a super thin brown head on it and very little lacing. Looks very much like I would expect only very little head.

S= Smells of heavy coffee. Nice robust almost woody coffee. A strong malt character in it as well.

T= Tastes of coffee and a little malty sweetness. Nice roasty coffee but actually very smooth coffee. A nice roast was used. Not overly acidic in the coffee.

M= The mouth is silky smooth and easy drinking.

O= This is a solid brew. Worth buying but not the most interesting or over the top coffee beer. The alcohol is very well hidden and the coffee is smooth.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 05:25:50 | More by jjanega08

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating but this was pretty recent(15th anniversary bottling). Pours pitch black color with a dense 1-2 finger tan head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some good lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of chocolate, coffee beans, roasted malt, caramel, toast, biscuit, molasses, light herbal, and light nuttiness. Pretty nice and balanced aromas; but are not nearly as strong as I was expecting. Taste of milk chocolate, roasted malt, biscuit, toast, caramel, nuttiness, coffee, molasses, and herbal spiciness. Light spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, biscuit, molasses, nuttiness, toast, coffee, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Nice robust and balanced flavor profile with minimal cloying sweetness; but not nearly as much coffee flavor as I was expecting. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good imperial porter. Nice robust flavor and balance; and very easy to drink. Nowhere near worthy of being called a coffee porter; but still a very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 06:18:32 | More by superspak

TheHoppiest

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had a few from Two Brothers' Retro Series releases, and thusfar have enjoyed them all, from the Mild Bitter to the Pillar of Salt. I hope this release, the first of their series, measures up to the others.

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into an oversized snifter. Pours very much like a stout would; dark liquid, a 1/4" tan head that dissipates, leaving a thin collar that clings to the sides , witha small island of thin head in the middle, punctuated only by the ocassional larger bubble that pops off the side.

Has a rich, creamy oaty aroma, with notes of vanilla, toffee, hints of bourbon, and maple. Oddly, though this is called a "coffee porter", I get no coffee or mocha smells.

The taste, however, is a different story. Has a weak coffee mocha start, with creamy oats, a leafy geen taste, and a mildly coffee bitter finish. Think an iced coffee that's had whole cream added and minimal sweetener, but maltier, with a definite hop finish.

Medium to full bodied, it feels more like a milk stout than a porter. THere's a creaminess and lack of bitter bite that you associate more with the milk stout than a true porter.

This ale hides its alchohol well; this clocks in at 9%, but has more of a 5% feel to it. Creamy and tasty, with a nice aroma profile and decent oat taste, this is an enjoyable brew. While ther are coffee notes there, however, many RIS and other porters have more of a coffee flavor than this does. Perhpas the distinction is that this is brewed with coffee beansm and those are brewed with malts and hops that give it a coffee flavor. Indeed, this has some of the same flavors I love from teh Hoppin' Frog Boris stout that is filterd through their coffee bean tower. A nice ale and one worth trying if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 01:10:43 | More by TheHoppiest

bsp77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Near black with thin tan head.

Smell: As expected - molasses, coffee and chocolate.

Taste: Espresso and cream, molasses and chocolate, char and smoke. Not harsh at all, pretty mellow actually despite everything going on.

Feel: Lighter than expected body. Pretty smooth with moderate carbonation. Alcohol is masked.

Overall: A nice Coffee Porter that I guess is Imperial (based on the abv), but doesn't taste or feel that way. Very good overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 21:57:07 | More by bsp77

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Never seen a bomber from two brothers so I paid the 8 dollars for one from Halftimebeverage.com

A - Look is fairly dark for a porter not pitch black but seems pretty thick. Carbonation is a bit lacking but I did get a 1/4 inch of mocha head that quickly turns to a thick lace ring.

S - Man the smell is pretty awesome. From the bottle I get a nice mocha chino like coffee and vanilla cream, then in the glass it has more of a chocolate/vanilla tone.

T - Well it is quite good and balanced, drinks almost like a mocha coffee really. Smooth chocolate undertones, nowhere near as chalky as I expected for a porter. Coffee is mild yet balanced perfectly with the hops.

M - Smooth and silky with a high ABV and a medium chewy body it's one great porter.

Overall for sure one of the best coffee porters I ever had and totally worth the 8 bucks I paid for it. Maybe someday they will put it in 4 packs (12oz) for a cheaper price. I would buy a case then!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 06:15:26 | More by DrDemento456

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Rudzud for sharing.

Very small fizzy head, dark ruby red light almost black color.

nose fresh coffee, coffee beans, light roast and dark chocolate, bit of caramel, light oatmeal.

taste is more of the same, chalky powdered chocolate, light creamy, light caramel, bit of roast, nice fresh coffee roast and coffee beans, mostly dry. Dark chocolate. Finish is fairly bitter with some earthy hops, bitterness from the roast, lingering coffee and dark chocolate.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied, decent carb, hint of warning booze.

Overall not bad, nice flavors, booze is hidden fairly well but nothing too special, also nothing wrong.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 12:10:56 | More by jlindros

BigPlay1824

New York

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a deep black with a two finger head that is medium mocha in color and lingers beautifully. the texture is quite creamy with nice large bubbles on top. dissipates leaving a ton of lacing on the glass
S: really delicious scent with plenty of roasted coffee malt notes and a slight sweetness like that of dark chocolate
T: begins with a really nice chocolate note which is not overpowering or too deep, nicely sweet, through he middle it mellows out a bit with gentle malt notes, but the finish, my god the finish is wonderful. pure and clean coffee, like just black coffee which is delicious and probably the closest note ive found in beer to actual coffee
M: medium high carbonation tingle, nicely thick on the palate but creamy enough, leaves the mouth feeling almost burnt, not dry but reminiscent of a bon fire
O: really delicious porter, quite drinkable and with phenomenal coffee notes, another good one from two brothers

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 23:49:27 | More by BigPlay1824

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber bottle. I don't see a date other than the 2012 on the label. Poured into a Victory tulip

A: Pours a really dark brown. There are some reddish hues around the edges of the glass. Not a ton of head. Thin layer of off white head. Leaves a touch of lacing.

S: You get the coffee but it's definitely the flat beans. It's not strong roast coffee. Almost like the beans hadn't be ground, but just added during the boil.

T: Nice dry coffee bitterness on the front of the tongue. It's more coffee than you smelled on the nose for sure. You also get a touch of rich chocolate in the mid palate. It's a nice smooth transition from coffee to roast to chocolate. Easy on the taste buds. I really like this one.

M: It's a medium but a light medium. It's rightly a porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 15:14:51 | More by inlimbo77

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A big thanks goes out to pmoney for sending this one as an extra in a recent glassware trade! Served from bottle into a Samuel Smith imperial pint. Poured pitch black with a half finger light tan head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, coffee, and subtle oatmeal. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, milk chocolate, cream, coffee, oatmeal, and subtle milk chocolate. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. For the style this one was pretty much spot on for the most part. The coffee aspect was quite nice on this one, but it definitely wasn’t the dominate factor going on. Definitely worth trying if the opportunity presents itself.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 15:39:47 | More by thagr81us

eclipse54

Idaho

3.6/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 22 ounce bottle of the 2012 re-release, sent by the always-generous fvernon; thanks! Release #1 of the 15-part "Retro Release" celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the company (according to the label). Split into snifters.

Pours black with a thin khaki head. The primary mass dissipates quickly, but there is an eternal ring of head surrounding the surface; scattered patches of bubbles on the glass serve as lacing. Pretty good looking overall, but I wish the main head had stuck around a tad longer.

The aroma is of cane sugar, toasted malt, coffee grounds, faint milk chocolate, caramel, and sweet dark fruits. It’s actually much sweeter than anticipated, and there’s very little in the way of roasted scents. Some vanilla on the back end as well.

The taste follows suit, being relatively sweet. Cane sugar, vanilla, rich caramel, and milk chocolate seem to jump right out. The coffee is certainly there, but in a subdued, smooth sort of way as opposed to a stand-out bitter presence. Sweet fruits, date, dark cherry, and even a touch of orange seem to lend some bright esters as well.

Mouthfeel is very smooth through and through, and the carbonation works well to lighten its effect on the tongue. It still manages to coat the palate, and leaves a thin sugary coating that produces a dry finish.

Overall, this is a good coffee porter that I’m really enjoying. It’s a lot sweeter than I would have expected, but it seems to work pretty well here. I’d happily have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 22:33:50 | More by eclipse54

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation near the surface. The beer has a thin tan head that very quickly reduces to a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate lacing is observed.

S: Moderate aromas of dark roasted malts with some stronger notes of coffee.

T: The flavors start out with dark roasted malts and light amounts of creaminess. Then the coffee flavors really take over, strong coffee tastes. There is some subtle vanilla sweetness in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with low to moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Alcohol is very well hidden in this big beer (9.2% ABV) - cannot detect it at all. I really enjoyed that this kept true to the porter flavors and enhanced it with the coffee. A very nice sipping beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 18:39:15 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a thin tan head that dissipated very quickly, leaving only a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass and some wispy lacing on the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of coffee beans in the nose; these grow a bit stronger as the beer warms up.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of coffee beans along with hints of cocoa nibs and chocolate. No bitterness is detectable and there are very slight hints of sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some slight hints of warming from the alcohol as the beer warms up.
O: This beer is very easy to drink; no traces of alcohol are noticeable in the taste. It seems to be a bit heavier compared to other porters and closer resembles a lighter-bodied stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 21:41:30 | More by metter98

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Received this as an extra in a trade. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice deep dark brown nearly black with a good one finger creamy mocha head that fades to leave a nice thick creamy blanket.

S - Nice solid black coffee aroma, not too overpowering or assertive. Getting some light roast, but not much else.

T - Hmm...Nice black coffee flavours, slightly bitter but still fresh. Some nice malty sweetness and roast. Theres some nice bitterness on the end and almost a sweet sugary vanilla on the end somewhere. Would like abit of chocolate in this, perhaps rounded out a bit more?

M - Love this mouthfeel. Carbonation is nice, actually a bit sharper than one expects with a porter. This is smooth but not quite velvety. Super drinkable, ABV not there.

O - Overall this is a solid beer. Semi one note, but that note is done well. Wouldnt mind some of the porter notes to come out more but the coffee is definitely nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 23:32:31 | More by rudzud

sweemzander

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz. bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a pitch black color. Minimal tan froth.

(S)- A wealth of raisin, nuts, molasses, and subtle coffee.

(T)- A good profile of roasted coffee grounds. It has an interesting subtle smokiness with a bit of raisin as well.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Lots of raisin with a subtle smokiness.

(D)- A solid porter with the nice coffee addition. Not too strong or unbalanced, but almost stout-like in its feel.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 14:32:27 | More by sweemzander

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.23/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bomber into a snifter; shared with jtclockwork (from RB) at the Ginger Man in Manhattan.

A: Black body with clear brown highlights. Thin, fine brown head. Not much in the way of retention, and spotty lace. Pretty average.

S: Stale coffee, chocolate, and a breadiness that resembles a multigrain bagel. Disappointing.

T: A little better here, with some nutty, caramelized sweetness offsetting the staleness of the coffee. Grainy, bittersweet finish with some coffee on the aftertaste. Better than average, but far from impressive.

M: Medium body and lively, smooth carbonation. Very good.

O: While not horrible, this one was pretty disappointing. Perhaps the bottle had been behind the bar for a few months too long, but with no date to be seen I can't be sure. I won't be seeking it out again.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 18:14:56 | More by woosterbill

sweethome

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pour is dark as night. Light tan head.

Nose of dirt - a bit funky, spent coffee grounds, roast malts.

Entry is rather dry, builds out to a dry stout profile. Mid mouth, a funk takes over. Dirt, funk, wormy taste. Not enjoyable flavor. Finshes with coffee dryness.

Several aspects I like, but my goodness...this is the worst flavor profile I have had witha Two Brothers beer - this was hard for me to finish- last half of bottle was a drain pour. Laxks a "good" coffee flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:16:33 | More by sweethome