Fuller's London Porter - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.93/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Barrowboy and Banker, London Bridge, half pint, dark mahogany colour. Smelled like roasted coffee. Could taste raisins after an initial burst of coffee and toffee. Smooth, went down well but not quite to my taste. When in London you should taste this beer.

Serving type: cask

10-18-2010 13:11:56 | More by jonb5

MrDanno96

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured straight from the hand pump at Tap and Mallet.

A: Pours an opaque chestnut color with a thin ring of off-white head. Foamy lace coats the sides of the glass.

S: Fresh roasted coffee mixed with cream and sweetener dominate the aroma. Vanilla and mixed dark malts add to a great smelling beer.

T: Not quite as good as I was hoping after the great nose; but still nice nonetheless. Espresso and roasted malt are really the only flavors I can pick out of this one. It's good, but pretty one dimensional.

M: The epitome of smooth! If you could turn silk into a drink, this is what it would feel like.

D: Not the best tasting porter I've ever had, but the smoothness of the cask version is, simply put, amazing. Give this one a try regardless, but especially if you have a chance to taste the cask version.

Serving type: cask

02-11-2010 05:25:41 | More by MrDanno96

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at Kickoff's in Waterloo.

Fell in love with this brew in cans, and was delighted to try it pumped from the cask.

A - Dark mahogany with a touch of ruby. Pours a thin tan head, which encircles the glass. A bit of lacing.

S - Malty, with hints of chocolate and caromel.

T - Simply brilliant. London Porter has always been my standard for the porter style, and on cask it does not disappoint. Lovely blend of malt, dark chocalate and bitterness. Caramel also lingers on the tongue.

M - The only drawback of the cask is the lack of carbonation, but the taste certainly masks it. A bit thinner than some porters, but still creamy and satisfying.

D - A real winner on cask draught. Great as a sessional, not too heavy and full of flavour. Fantastic as well in cans; well worth picking up!

Serving type: cask

10-16-2009 02:23:56 | More by JohnnyBarman

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A-Deep, clear--for those that understand--like New Jersey Barrens creek water full of tannic acid. A thin tan head quickly fades to a thin ring of retention and leaves spotty lace.

S-Dry oak, licorice, roasted malts and toasted biscuit.

T-Full flavoured rich licorice with roasted malt and some bitter chocolate. Light toasted oak and biscuit. Quite complex.

M-Medium bodied, very smooth and flavours that last throughout.

D-Beyond drinkable--->Full of flavour yet "light"! How can this be? Super smooth and absolutely poundable. A near perfect example of the cask delivered English Porter...this is my benchmark!

Serving type: cask

07-21-2009 13:08:49 | More by Deuane

wiseguy142

New York

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got a chance to pick up a pint of this on cask at the Old Toad the other night. Really great stuff. Smooth and creamy off the cask with a decent head. Brown, thick, and real beer. Makes me thirsty.

Taste is really out of this world. Rich with chocolate and real ale taste but not fruity like a lot of other American porters which keeps it a little more quaffable and unique. Not overly bitter at any point during the beer from either hops or roasted malt. Just amazing balance.

Serving type: cask

05-27-2009 04:55:53 | More by wiseguy142

dude

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark and opaque. Aromas of charcoal smoke and black olives. Taste is initially of chocolate, followed by coffee and finishes with a lingering bitter and smoky aftertaste. There's a metallic aftertaste that goes away after a couple of sips. Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Good drinkability although I have had better porters.

Serving type: cask

03-11-2009 22:37:44 | More by dude

JohnW

United Kingdom (England)

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had from handpull in Fullers "Old Joint Stock" pub in Birmingham UK. Is not normally available on hand pull here, only during winter or Christmas season.

Reasonable head on the pour, the head reflecting the very dark (but not black) colour of the beer. Aroma was sweet, malty, hint of roasted grains and coffee. Taste reflects this, initially fairly sweet, with smooth fairly rich texture. The beer - on this occasion - was served too cool for the style for my liking, so maybe muted as a result. The taste developes more in the mouth, with roasted grains, hints of dark chocolate and coffee, but not the very burnt flavours of some porters. Very little hint of any hop bitterness, the overiding taste is sweeter and roasted grains, making it a warming satisfying beer for cooler weather.

I enjoyed this - though reckon it should be served at cellar temperature - not chilled - to get the full flavours.

A very tasty enjoyable dark porter style beer for the winter months, though not a session beer for summer days!

JohnW
B'ham UK January 2009

Serving type: cask

01-19-2009 10:21:11 | More by JohnW

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pint at Volo and also from cans and bottles. The beer arrives with a wonderful dark body and a nice foamy tan head. The aroma is of coffee and chocolate, and is extremely enticing! Very smooth - like drinking an espresso chocolate cake covered in cream. I find this to be far better on cask than the bottled and canned versions.

Serving type: cask

01-12-2008 19:36:10 | More by bobsy

clvand0

Kentucky

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

They recently got this on cask and beer engine at my local pub, so I had to try it. It poured a very dark color with red around the edges, a small head that had really good retention and left a little lacing on the sides of the glass. The aroma is very subdued. Lots of chocolate flavors with a small bit of coffee in the back. Slightly bitter finish. Very clean. Thick and creamy body. Drinkability on this one was wonderful. I'm not sure how it is out of the bottle, but I'm sure I'll be finding out really soon.

Serving type: cask

02-15-2005 15:58:23 | More by clvand0

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My score is based on the cask version in December 2007 which makes it an ideal cask, with just the required bitterness and stouty roast coffee. In bottle, Looks, smells and tastes like a chocolate liquor, a bit bitter, with some coffee and coffee roast. Rich and smooth in taste, aroma and colour. Drying finish. Had Feb 2005 again on tap and it just does it again.Fuller's and maybe all of the UK's best.

Serving type: cask

12-14-2003 02:36:50 | More by northyorksammy

AaronRed

New York

4.9/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have to say that this is one of the best beers I have ever had. Because it was hand-pumped, I know this review is slightly inflated; but I don't care. Tremendous beer, beautiful dark color with tan head- you could see the richness ebbing from the top. Carmel sweetness, but a rich, dark chocolate flavor, with some bitterness pulls you in and never lets you out. So fresh, nothing to distract from the taste. Creamy, but not in a nitro way- just and abundace of flavor. Wonderful.

Serving type: cask

06-21-2002 11:54:55 | More by AaronRed

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75

Serving Type - 500ml can poured into nonic pint glass.

Appearance - Pours a dark brown color. Sort of cola coloured when held up to the light. 1/1.5 fingers of off white, creamy coloured fluffy head crown the beer. The head shows no signs of going away. Quite pretty.

Smell - Strong smell of chocolate right away, followed by some caramel notes. Some light coffee and roasted malts. Another reviewer pointed out mollasses which is present as well.

Taste - Very chocolatey, more so that i expected. There are also some coffee and roasted malts that were in the aroma as well. There is also a light taste of nut towards the middle. Yumm

Mouthfeel - Very low carbonation. Heavy body makes this one a sipper. A truly world class beer (almost) ruined by nitro. Bleh (spit).

Overall - 3.75/5

Serving type: nitro-can

05-23-2013 03:42:59 | More by IdeaSpeeder

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

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

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. Pours a very dark mohagany that is almost black. 1 finger tan head that's quite fluffy. It quickly dissipates, but I won't knock it too much since a smaller layer of foam continues to linger throughout the drink. Fantastic sticky lacing.

S- Some intense roasted notes. Chocolate, coffee bean, mocha, molasis, english/crystal malts, and a touch of smoke.

T- A lot going on here. Nicely follows the headway the nose made. Sweet up front with the coffee and chocolate. A great roasted, warm finish with just a touch of bitterness from the hops to create the right amount of balance for the style. Layers of flavor.

M- Creamy, smooth, and drinkable. A little wet as it covers the tounge, but generates a dry finish. Everything you want here.

O- Another classic by Fullers. One of my favorite porters. So complex and so delicious. A brew that is tough to set the glass down. I felt like I just poured it, started making notes on the review, and before i knew it, it was all gone. Now I'm a little sad that I don't have another.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 17:04:25 | More by Bosoxfan20

Stew4106

Louisiana

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

I feel that the beer has the same appearance, smell, and taste as previouse reviews. I am writing this to note that the roasted hops come on strong and one would expect a powerful taste, but this beer is suprisingly light an complex given its rich and dark smell and appearance.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 23:37:25 | More by Stew4106

barczar

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours an almost opaque deep brown with ruby highlights and a frothy half inch khaki head that dissipates moderately, leaving sheets of lacing.

Chocolate and toasted malt are evident as soon as the bottle is opened. Rich roasted malt is not at all charred, giving a coffee-like impression. Caramel nuttiness and hints of dark fruit add complexity.

Chocolate and a hint of roast open the flavor profile, initially dominating the slightly buttery, toasted, nutty caramel malt backbone. The finish is slightly dry. Malt character is very rich, with hints of dark cherries and coffee complementing the slightly sweet malt body.

Body is a touch full, with moderate carbonation.

Excellent beer. Not at all acrid, plenty of chocolate, not overly sweet. Very well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 21:39:17 | More by barczar

PaterMorse

Indiana

4.31/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As I sit in the loft of a favorite London pub, I swear the setting has nothing to do with the fact that I've happened upon one of my favorite beers. OK, very little to do with it....

Either way, this beer is simply a winner all around.

A quick review follows (pecked out on PDA, to commemorate a new friend):

A: Raisin colored, translucent. Think Pepsi after ice starts to melt. Quarter-inch head remains for a good little while, giving way to some nice lacing.

S: Very pleasant, mild. Choco-coffee, but yet earthy/grassy. Hints of red berries.

T: Very easy, very drinkable (dangerously drinkable, in fact!). Coffee aftertaste (coffee ice cream, to be precise).

M: Excellent balance. Perhaps I'm just off here, but it seemed wet on the tongue but dry on the finish. Near perfect. A bit higher carbonation than I'd expect and not "Guinness velvety smooth" -- which isn't a knock, but a point of comparison (and a note that the taste and aroma are silkier than mouthfeel).

O: A great new staple. Recognizing that the following is relative to taste preferences, the universe of beers you've tried, and how one defines a "macro-brew," this is [by far] the best macro-brew dark beer / porter / stout that I've had to date -- with the exception of Samuel Smith's very fine pours. Very enjoyable, great drinkability. For whatever it's worth, it also kicks more than 5.4% would suggest.

Repeat? Absolutely. It will rival Sam Smith, nudge Guinness to the back of the 'fridge, and all but extinguish future purchase of Murphy's when stocking good macro-brew stouts/porters for gatherings. {Two disclaimers: I'm not seeking to provoke debate by suggesting porters and stouts are interchangeable; I'm only confessing that porters & stouts are my favorite beers and the only types of beer regularly stocked in my refrigerator. I'm also not suggesting London Porter is as fun or complex or even as tasty as some other craft stouts/porters I've enjoyed/reviewed; but for the beers brewed by a seemingly large scale brewer (and, heck, for ANY brewer anywhere), this is VERY tough to beat!!}.

Where Best Enjoyed? I suspect anywhere, anytime. That said, I can guarantee it will be wildly enjoyed if any / all of the following are true: (a) you're in a pub on the fringe of Covent Garden with friends and family; (b) you're just digging in to a piping hot Sunday roast; and/or (c) it's one of those piercingly cold English days outside and yet you're sitting near a fireplace with no place to be anytime soon.

Two Words: London Perfect

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 02:48:36 | More by PaterMorse

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From the bottle.

Appearance: Quintessential porter. Deep dark black. Perfectly fluffy tan head.

Nose: Chocolate and smoke. Burnt toast. Creamy vanilla.

Taste: Restrained doses of chocolate and charcoal. Super balanced and drinkable. There's a wisp of smoke over everything and an earthiness keeping it from being overly sweet.

Mouthfeel: Light but creamy. Endlessly drinkable.

Overall: The shining example of a quaffable porter. Packed full of earthy flavors with just enough sweetness to keep you coming back for more.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 20:28:48 | More by fdig23

John_Henry

Japan

3.71/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

This is a great porter. Pretty much what you would expect. My only concern is that this is a little thin, especially in comparison to the Kernel and a number of other exceptional porters I've had lately. That said, I would certainly have this again, and could even see myself having a session of it if it were on tap.

Overall, certainly worth a go, but not in the same league as the Kernel.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 17:18:47 | More by John_Henry

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.76/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The bottle on this beer is great. Not only is it an attractive label, but homebrewers can reuse it to showcase their beers as well.

It pours a very dark brown/black that is almost opaque, but does allow light through highlighting some deep reds. It's not hazy but clear as you can tell by the bottom of the pint glass in my picture. The head is minimal and stays as a tan/brown ring around the glass mostly and has a decent dispersed polka-dot pattern that is pretty minimal.

I served this beer to myself too cold, which means that I am going to have to drink it slower that I desire so I can experience more of the aromas. I was first struck with roasted coffee and chocolate. I feel like dipping it in my fish tank water to heat it up. There are some notes of vanilla, caramel sweetness and some bread along for the ride. As I drink it and it warms up, I will make note of any other aromas if they occur.

The flavour is pretty much the same as the aroma. Creamy sweet maltiness starts off on the tip of the tongue and works its way back. By time it reaches midway it is in full force and the bittering hops become palpable while tastes like coffee, chocolate and, most importantly, vanilla start to show through to the end making it truly very smooth and creamy. Hints of bread also dabble in the mix.

The mouthfeel is sensational. Smooth and creamy dominate the drink with a nice moderately full body. The bittering hops take you through to the end leaving a medium dry, wanting feeling on your palate begging for another sip. The carbonation, mildly moderate to really help with the creamy soothing feel of the beer.

Overall, I would have to say that this is TOTALLY world class! I'm going to have to give this high 4's in most of the categories and ultimately the same for the overall score.

To H.E. double hockeysticks with the big boy beers! Get out there and taste what really makes a beer like this a craft. It was crafted long ago and perfected over the years. There is ages of experience in this beer and you have to give it a try. If you hate dark beers, this is by no means a mild dark beer, but it is one of the best and you owe it to yourself to try it. I guarantee that in the least you will appreciate this beer as a quality beer. You may not like it, in which case I would deem you insane, BUT you will know what a good beer truly is. Life is too short to waste on watered down experiences, go full throttle! *enter rebel yell here*

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 00:40:17 | More by WissBrauSean

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark chocolate brown with a just a bit of light coming through. Excellent lacing and good foam. Surprisingly light in appearance despite the color.

Smell: Tobacco is the main thing here. Some molasses, brown sugar, and chocolate. A hint of coffee. I love the smell, but would like it to be a bit stronger.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Roasted tobacco and some maple syrup. A bit too subtle for my liking, but it is enjoyable. Mouthfeel is definitely too thin, but not flat.

Overall Drinkability: This strikes me as an excellent example of an English Porter. Not my favorite style of porter, but this one is worth it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 21:52:55 | More by tjsdomer2

JasonTaverner

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

11.2 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Appearance-Extremely dark, barely any light penetrates

Smell-Inviting dark chocolate with undertones of high quality coffee.

Taste-Unbelievable, it tastes like it smells but even better. Chocolately with a delicious
Coffee finish.

Mouth-This is the kicker. Thin and light but ridiculously creamy. I don't how that is possible.

Overall-Great beer, quite possibly my favorite porter. Even better on draft.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 17:53:00 | More by JasonTaverner

T100Mark

California

4.46/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 ounce Euro bottle in a 16 ounce mixing glass. A very nice looking bottle.

Appearance - Very dark. Tan head that doesn't stay around for long. Minimal lacing.

Smell - Big nose. Semi-sweet chocolate.

Taste - Semi-sweet chocolate. Malty. Oatmeal. Really smooth.

Mouth - Full bodied. Again, really smooth. Light on the carbonation.

Overall - What a great beer! Bold yet smooth. Complex yet chugable. How do they do it?

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 02:49:21 | More by T100Mark