Fuller's London Porter - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

erica

California

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought a case of this, because I had a coupon for a $10 rebate, so, when I receive my $10 in the mail like 80 years from now, It's the same price as Smuttynose IPA, which was the other beer I was thinking of getting. It's freakin hot here, end of July, and here I am sitting in a non-air conditioned 2nd floor room, drinking a sticky Porter. What's wrong with me, you may ask? Nothing, I just had enough of IPAs for a while.

So. The appearance of our Lovely London Porter is nice enough, nothing to rave about; a dark brown that looks reddish when held up to the light, not a thick black like you might imagine. About an inch of a creamy, light tan head that settles into a ring around the glass with a few straggling micro-bubbles. The kind where you can play 'what shape is that?' like with clouds. Right now it looks like there's either a fat hockey stick about to hit a puck or ball, or a booted lower leg that just kicked a snail. A bit of lacing as well.

Smells... a bit too sweet for my tastes. Very syrupy, molasses, maple, even like a super-sweet chocolate fudge. Not bad but I'm not drinking this one with my nose stuck in the glass the whole time. Tastes better than it smells- sweet coffee candy in the very beginning, almost like a coffee flavoring, maybe even a syrup over pancakes, followed by chocolate, dark chocolate brownies I'd say, then more roasted coffee, like maybe the brownies were frosted with a coffee or espresso, just slightly sweetened frosting. And just the faintest hint of a bitterness in the finish, and a very slighty larger hint of alcohol. That may be my imagination though, since it's apparently only 5.4%. The prominent flavor in this one is Roasty. Yes, I am using Roasty as a noun rather than the conventional use as an adjective. I should've thought of that earlier and used it in previous reviews. Next time.. hahaha.

Ahem.. Yes, moving on, mouthfeel is good, it's got a light carbonation that cuts through the sweet/syrupy taste so that it doesn't become like actual syrup. A nice refreshing tingle on the tongue, and not too thin either. Just right. Drinkability, well I'd say it's quite good, even on this hot hot night, though I would say it'd be better suited for a winter evening or something like that. Anyway, it is easy drinking, smooth and never boring. Something I do not regret buying a whole case of, which is a good thing, considering that is the most likely way I'd be able to get this one around my area. A good one!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2005 02:05:41 | More by erica

gr0g

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very dark brown, but not quite opaque. One finger of foam that leaves a small lace crown around the pint glass. Nutty and chocolatey aromas. Generic roasted nut aroma, but it's a freshly roasted scent that's very nice. Hazelnut and chocolate note, think Nutella. The first whiff is very pleasurable, probably this beer's best attribute.

Roasted malt flavors with a balancing bitterness throughout. Closer to a brown ale than a rich stout in terms of dark malt character. Fruity esters can still be detected. Some coffee and licorice on the finish. Soft, slick mouthfeel. A bit more carbonation would help, but this is pleasantly smooth without a trace of harshness as-is.

London Pride is a great dark ale that's more than the sum of its parts. Everything comes together to yield a porter that's tasty and easy to knock back, if not quite at sessionable ABV levels. While generally $10+ per sixer (in NJ, eastern US), it's worth the price tag.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 03:10:36 | More by gr0g

MeadEater

Ontario (Canada)

3.59/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Immediate off putting aroma. Wasn't pleasant in my opinion. Smelled a bit like something rotted. Poured to a mild 1" head. Solid lacing. Dark walnut colour, almost opaque.
Heavy molasses taste. For me, that's a good thing! Subtle chocolate and caramel notes, but overall sweet and molassesy. Not too astringent. A little thick on the tongue, but it is a porter.
Would definitely have bought a few for tonight had I known I would have liked it so much.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 03:02:12 | More by MeadEater

Jimbo4430

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 00:42:48 | More by Jimbo4430

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-20-2013 19:01:28 | More by BeerForMuscle

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-14-2013 00:06:58 | More by aty11b

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-12-2013 16:37:14 | More by Whiskeydeez

SSEngelbrecht

Louisiana

3.83/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

London Porter pours a rich, dark brown with a nice head that remains for a while before leaving a nice sticky lacing.

The aroma does not give away all that this beer has to offer in taste.

The big flavors from the roasted barley and bitter hops are apparent as soon as this touches your tongue. What I found was that this beer really doesn't open up until it comes close to room temperature.

Once warmed, the caramel and cocoa shine through as well as notes of spice and coffee that were hidden at lower temperatures.

This has a medium mouthfeel that gets thicker as the brew warms.

Overall, there is a reason this is a classic. It is not as adventurous as many new craft porters, but it is solid and there is a lot to appreciate.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 15:00:14 | More by SSEngelbrecht

DanGeo

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-12-2013 03:22:54 | More by DanGeo

tigernipples

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-11-2013 04:01:16 | More by tigernipples

JamesGWittel

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-09-2013 15:56:29 | More by JamesGWittel

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-08-2013 03:20:03 | More by dalepryor

Cramshawbar

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-05-2013 23:37:12 | More by Cramshawbar

McBraniel

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-02-2013 04:05:40 | More by McBraniel

powdersoldier

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

04-27-2013 17:40:30 | More by powdersoldier

ohiobeer29

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +1%

04-27-2013 03:56:31 | More by ohiobeer29

scmoore81

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

04-26-2013 23:31:09 | More by scmoore81

chippo33

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

04-25-2013 00:51:44 | More by chippo33

jmwildwest

Florida

4/5  rDev -5%

04-22-2013 19:10:28 | More by jmwildwest

Bluecane

North Carolina

2.25/5  rDev -46.6%

04-21-2013 06:39:20 | More by Bluecane

civicm87

New York

4/5  rDev -5%

04-21-2013 02:55:36 | More by civicm87

carlitosbronson1

California

4/5  rDev -5%

04-19-2013 03:18:28 | More by carlitosbronson1

saburky

Ohio

4/5  rDev -5%

04-18-2013 14:44:42 | More by saburky

jiffymon

New York

4/5  rDev -5%

04-16-2013 19:59:15 | More by jiffymon

wehttam

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

04-15-2013 14:29:28 | More by wehttam