Chief BlackHawk Porter - Tyranena Brewing Company

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date present. Acquired as part of Tyranena's The Legendary Collection mixed twelve pack. Twelve pack says Packaged 04/02/2013.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Gentle pour yields half a finger of khaki colored froth on top of a mostly opaque black body. Some ruby hues shining through when held to the light, and some carbonation bubbles visible rising to the top. No lacing.

S - Big bitter coffee bean roast. Smells smooth, creamy, & inviting.

T - Taste follows the nose. Bitter dark roasted coffee bean flavor, toasted malts, and some underlying hoppiness.

M - Light to medium bodied, smooth, creamy, slight carbonation, and some lingering hop / coffee bean roast.

Overall, an effectively well-made porter. Porters aren't typically my favorite style, but I do like finding one I enjoy. Reminded me a bit of Founders Porter, which I also remember enjoying. Smooth, creamy, delicious. Another beer from Tyranena that I would be happy to revisit.

Tyranena Chief BlackHawk Porter ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:11:55 | More by mfnmbvp

rlee1390

Indiana

3.71/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Black in the glass, clear amber when pouring, one finger off white head.

S-Good deal of chocolate, roasted malt and some burnt notes.

T-Chocolate and roasted malt, some burnt notes, however the balance is off. Some candied sugar.

M-Light, tad watery with some carbonation.

O-Too watery and the poor balance really hurt this beer. Was expecting more.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:51:16 | More by rlee1390

Fuzzycuffs

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Got a bottle as a gift with a sampler of a bunch of other beers.

A: Pours the colour you would expect a porter to be. Very, very, very dark brown. Less than a finger of head on this one, no lacing.

S: Citrusy hops. Weak malty bouquet, hints of burnt caramel, little else to say.

T: A bit of burnt malt, not much else. Watery, lacks malt. I feel like I know exactly what the brewers were thinking when they put this porter together. They likely decided that if they added too much malt, the burnt taste would be overpowering. Amateur mistake, with a porter, your malt options are so diverse, but it tastes like the wort was a weak burnt malt tea.

M: Smooth, but seriously lacking in body. With this style, I would prefer a full-bodied feel. The carbonation is there, but unremarkable. Low carbonation is probably not something that I should fault a porter for, but I found myself seeking distraction from the boring flavour of this brew.

O: The smell of this brew promised much more. Not well balanced. Not malty, which is all I need say to damn a porter. I like trying new brews, but I can't say that I would ever go out and buy this. Maybe if I'm looking for an example of how not to make beer. Boring, but unoffensive.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:01:08 | More by Fuzzycuffs

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from session notes.

Poured out the expected dark brown color with a nice two finger khaki head that lasts for several minutes, medium levels of lacing are left behind on the glass. The aroma contains a mild amount of chocolate and roasted malt notes, but the flavor contains all of these thing -plus- a nice medium dose of coffee with a hint of plums wandering around in the background, and the texture of the brew is silky smooth. Now this is definitely more like it!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 02:29:29 | More by WastingFreetime

MaximalC

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours ebony in color with faint brown highlights if you look for them. Vigorous pour yields a bubbly tan head that recedes after a short while. Aroma is of darkly roasted malt--almost acrid and coffee-like. Flavor is bolder than I expected, like black coffee but not as obnoxiously bitter. The carbonation helps temper the astringently roasted malt flavor. A bit more hop presence than I'm used to in a porter, but not bad. My lamentation here is there isn't much complexity behind the bold, yet one-dimensional, flavor. What's there is not objectionable, but it wears thin without greater depth. Overal, this is a decent porter that offers a more palatable coffee-flavored malt than most, but it lacks the nuance a complexity to really engage me.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 01:35:10 | More by MaximalC

znichols

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark, dark ruby, almost black. Tan head that leaves rather quick. Average lacing. Looks like a lighter bodied porter.

S- Smell is full of roasted barley, caramel, vanilla, wood, earth, soil, all mingle well together. Really begs for a sip.

T- Taste follows aroma with slight herbal hops, burnt wood, earthy essence, dark baker's chocolate. Nice roastyness that doesn't overpower. Decent amount of bitterness from the roasted malts, not so much the hops. No alcohol present. A good tasting porter.

M- Very nice mouthfeel. Creamy yet fairly light bodied so two or three wont fill you up. Good amount of carbonation for the style, not ideal.

O- This is a really, really good everyday porter. Not something i'd reach for if i'm feeling sophisticated, but after a long day or by the bonfire, the lighter body and nice roastyness make this a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 00:18:48 | More by znichols

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A rich black colored brew with a small off-white head that settles slowly and some patchy lace. Aroma is typical porter stuff, but fairly assertive; roasted malt, bitter black coffee, a bit of char and a hint of chocolate.

Pretty tasty. Lots of roast, chewy malt, again, bitter coffee and chocolate. Fairly hoppy for the style, somewhat herbal and spicy, with lingering bitterness in the finish. Modest sweetness, very dry.

Medium-thin bodied, medium-high carbonation. A bit prickly and fizzy. I enjoy a somewhat smoother, creamier porter but this isn’t bad. Flavors and aroma are strong, falls on the bitter side of the style, still highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 15:01:50 | More by tobelerone

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to erric for this one.

Screw top really?

Pours a nice fluffy fizzy 1 finger head that fades at a med pace with a bit of lacing, over dark midnight black beer with no light coming through.

Nose adds creamy porter, light sweet malts, toasty malts, caramel, hint chocolate, aromatic malty aroma, hint of biscuit, and some lactose sugar.

Taste starts slight sweet malts but mostly dry, trial typical porter flavors but light feeling. Hint of bakers chocolate, caramel, biscuit and toasty malts, wants to get syrupy but doesn't quite. Then hops, a light earthy and spicy hop come through with a decent bitterness. A very light yeast flavor. In the background I get a hint if roasted malts and light acrid burnt flavor subsequently. Finish is dry still, a slight metallic mineral adrift burnt flavor lingering, more chocolate and roast, light syrupy malt. A hint more cocoa late.

Mouth is med to slightly richer bodied, good carb.

Overall not bad, interesting porter, somewhat drinkable, a slight burnt acrid flavor, nice malts, hops come through nicely,

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 01:14:22 | More by jlindros

samie85

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque, inky black color with a finger of light brown head.

Smells of deep cocoa with some dark chocolate with light hints of earthy hops.

Roasted and dark chocolate notes with a slight vanilla note and some bitter, dark chocolate on the finish.

Light yet rich with moderate carbonation and a slick feel.

Pretty nice example of a porter; I could see myself buying this one again.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 21:33:18 | More by samie85

tykees88

Indiana

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Amazing pour. Two fingers of gray khaki colored rocky foamy head. Stays about one finger the whole glass. Lacing licking all sides from each drink. Beautiful.

S-Smell is a bit of a letdown. I don't get in touch with many of the coffee and chocolate aromas as I am used to in a porter. I am instead greeted by a much more dull aroma in a mild form. A hint of coffee gives way to a spicy peppery aroma.

T- Also not great. It's just really mild tasting. The chocolate, the coffee and roasted malt character is there, but nothing stands out. They all are very mild tasting. The hop flavor is almost nonexistent to me too.

M- It's lighter bodied for a porter.

O-It's alright. Maybe I had an off day or an off batch. I love porters so I'll come back to this

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 14:00:07 | More by tykees88

codsmith

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours black with a nice finger tall mocha cream head that laces the glass nicely.

S: Heavy malt aroma mixed with a nice mellow nut, coffee and roasted malt character.

T: Very malty character with a low touch of roasted grain character towards the end. Finishes with a nice bittersweet chocolate and hop touch.

M: medium-to-full body. Sits fairly heavy and very creamy and smooth. Goes down very easily. Carbonation is right on.

O: A very malty beer and sits rather heavy. Not sure if I would choose to drink more than 2 in a session because they are rather filling, but still has a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 23:34:24 | More by codsmith

dlello2

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Nice medium-bodied dark brown (almost black) pour into a snifter. Finger of head leaves a soap bubble ring around the edges of the glass after 20 seconds.

S - Subtle smoky chocolate and espresso. Touch of sweetness/molasses.

T - Really smooth. Nice chocolaty finish is (oddly) the first thing that I notice. Maybe a touch of dark chocolate/espresso-bean bitterness in the middle of the tongue. Really well balanced!

M - Nice carbonation, and again, a nice smooth finish. Nice coating of the mouth and some dark fruit stickiness on my teeth.

O - While not overwhelmingly intricate, all of the pieces to this porter seem to fit really well! Definitely happy to have tried it (thanks Binny's new mix-a-six!)

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 23:34:05 | More by dlello2

chicagoabbot

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a fine porter...12 oz bottle into a tulip and it bubbles up reddish and black. Classic porter nose, slightly sour with some malt backbone sweetness. Smooth on the tongue. A little sweetness. Nice bite. Well balanced. Mouthfeel is excellent. Recommended. Price is reasonable too.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 01:36:24 | More by chicagoabbot

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A-poured a very dark brown almost black with no light showing through

S-lots of coffee to start with followed by some cocoa and maybe a little smoke

T-much like the smell coffee and chocolate with some smoky finish

M-good carbonation and a little creaminess

O-This is a really good beer from Tyranena I might have to make another trip to Wisconsin to pick up some more of this beer,

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 22:38:12 | More by tvv375ia

GallowsThief

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in trade from the man himself ChugginOil. Thanks man! Poured out of a 12 oz bottle into my tulip.

A – Deep dark root beer brown pour with tan one finger of head.

S – Dark chocolate, mocha, vanilla and slightly sweet.

T - Bittersweet chocolate and coffee bitterness start it off. Vanilla comes along after leading it to a bit of a sweet taste. Has a nice roasty malt that finishes the flavor off. Touch of molasses.

M – Medium bodied with decent carbonation. Leaves a bit of a smoky sweet taste on your palate.

O – Pretty solid porter here. Has nice flavors and they balance well. Easy drinker and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 23:28:43 | More by GallowsThief

ChugginOil

Illinois

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

Pours a dark cola color that is nearly opaque. Less than a fingers worth of tan head with little lacing. The nose is quite chocolatey with a roasty wrapper. The taste is also quite roasty with some chocolate and little tobacco. The mouthfeel is a bit thin but suites this beer just fine. Overall, a great session porter that isnt too filling and packs some great flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 19:33:41 | More by ChugginOil

jwinship83

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle out of a recent sixer. drank from my samuel adams perect pint glass.

A- the pour yields a black body under a small beige colored head. the head sticks around for a while and leaves behind small spots of lacing on the sides of my glass.

S- roasted malts are the first things that i notice. after that i get chocolate and a hint of smoke. earthy and spicy hops along with coffee finish this off.

T- the taste starts off with the roasted malts that i could smell before moving onto some milk chocolate with just a hint of dark chocolate. a touch of smoke is picked up just after that. coffee, along with spicy and earthy hops move in at the end.

M- medium bodied with a nice and middle of the road carbonation level. smooth and easy to drink.

O- overall, this is a very solid porter and a pretty under rated year round offering from tyranena. this is something ill definitely pick up again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 20:39:33 | More by jwinship83

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a DFH glass

A- pours a very dark brown, nearly black, with a one finger tan head. The head sticks around for a decent bit of time

S- crisp aromas of chocolate, coffee, and cola. Smells good

T- nice notes of cocoa, with a slight finish of cola. Tastes pretty solid, albeit not spectacular

M- it's actually a little thin, and pretty watery. Disappointing

O- this is a solid, inoffensive porter. Nothing wrong with this one

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 21:20:54 | More by bigfnjoe

JAYAR1

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 OZ BTL. FROM BINNY'S
BLACK AS PITCH, DARK- CAN'T SEE LIGHT THROUGH IT-MUCH LIKE 30W
CREAMY MOUTH FEEL, RICH, LIGHT CARBONATION, GOOD FOR DESSERT OR ANYTIME
COFFEE, CHOKLAT, TOASTY MALT , SMOOTH OF
BOTH SMELL AND TASTE
NOT BOOZY OR MILD
ANOTHER ABOVE AVERAGE OFFERING FROM LAKE MILLS

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 00:40:41 | More by JAYAR1

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle from jsilva poured into a shaker pint. Thar she blows; we've got a gusher here. After a delayed 2nd pour, I've got a nice rocky and dimply head formed of foamy, large bubbles. Looks a bit like a cola, except with excellent head retention. Thick patches of scattered lacing.

Cherry pie filling appears to be the dominant aroma; lighter notes of roast and chocolate in the background. The label proclaims this to be a 'sharply bittersweet' ale, and it certainly is. An interesting take on the porter style. Tart cherry and bittersweet chocolate give way to a clean, but not exactly dry, finish. Thickish but not clinging, with abundant carbonation. Tart cherry lingers.

Overall impression: Interesting, and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 19:41:49 | More by PDXHops

Duff27

Illinois

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

A- Pours a dark brown/black color with a thin head. Solid lacing and average head retention.

S- Rich chocolate notes.

T- Dark maltyness/sweetness. More coffee notes than chocolate. Nutty. Very sweet aftertaste.

M- Smooth, creamy. Well carbonated.

D/O- I liked this one a lot...a porter without gimmicks (ie. smoked/coffee/etc). A good session porter from one of the best porter breweries around, Tyranena.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 03:05:07 | More by Duff27

iDrinknewglarus

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Black with ruby red edges. Nice tan head that slowly dies down, but never disappears. and leaves some nice lasing.

S: Roasted malt. Sweet caramel notes. Some coffee. Pleasant smell.

T: Slight roasted taste with some bitter chocolate. A little bit of coffee as well. Finishes with a nice bitterness.

M: Light mouthfeel.

This beer started out with a nice solid taste, but as I progressed, it turned a little watery. This is a good beer, and would make a great session beer as it is very drinkable, but I prefer a slightly more robut porter. I preferred Edmund Fitzgerald.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 22:54:00 | More by iDrinknewglarus

secondtooth

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep black, with a thick, tan head. Attractive lacing on the old ale glass.

Aroma is chocolate, with a little roastiness. Not bad.

Flavor is bitter chocolate, burnt with a bitter finish.

It's not too memorable or unique, but as a representative session porter, this one is well-balanced and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 02:29:15 | More by secondtooth

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

again i have to give huge thanks to dave for all of these fantastic tyreanna extras. i never would have guessed i would be able to try all of these. muchas gracias.

rich, dark black color and no light shining through on this one at all. Really nice head of tan that was easily a couple inches high at first, slowly settled down into a nice pillow that laid across the top and thoroughly coated the inside of the glass. Rich dark chocolate and roasted coffees are the first things that I am picking up in the Aroma. Really nicely done with hints of caramel and smoked malts, there is almost a peat like smell to it at times, especially as it warmed up. Equally well done as it transfers over to the flavor. Smooth, mellow, creamy, this was a very session able porter. Rich chocolate notes, hints of smoked malts, nice touches of coffee in the finish which left a slightly dry and bitter taste as it rolls away across the tongue. Very smooth and very enjoyable,

Overall while not the most complex thing in the world, this does have a lot going for it. Very rich and smooth and very well done

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 01:50:52 | More by mikesgroove

richkrull

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a very dark brown, very nearly black color with quite a bit of dark beige head on it. Smell is very nice - roasted malt and coffee. Taste is good as well. Some coffee flavor, maybe a hint of chocolate as well. Taste is not overpowering, this is very smooth. Medium bodied mouthfeel. This is a very good beer, easy to drink, goes down easy, not too filling. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 23:17:21 | More by richkrull