-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Dirty Penny Ale
The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
- From:
- The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
- Connecticut, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.55 | pDev: 15.77%
- Reviews:
- 58
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 27, 2017
- Added:
- Apr 02, 2004
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 13
Our popular “Dirty Penny Ale” is a hearty, but never heavy “black’n’tan” style* which is mixture of 60% Ten Penny/40% our own signature stout. This beer is also available year-round at your local bar or favorite beer store.
(Motto: Dirty Penny Ale …Polish One Off!)
(Motto: Dirty Penny Ale …Polish One Off!)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ams0286:
Reviewed by ams0286 from Connecticut
4.05/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
4.05/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Drink local is my motto! I picked this growler up off the shelf at the local package store. The growler had no freshness indicators which worries me slightly. In the growler format the shelf life on this beer might not be very long.
The appearance is darker than i would expect from a black & tan but in my opinion it looks very appetizing. The head is a little much for me. I prefer not to have to wait for it to settle but it could have been my pouring method. Nice tan color with not very much lacing.
The smell primarily consists of toffee. There are also notes of coffee and chocolate. The hop profile is lacking, even for this style.
The taste again mirrors the aroma, tons of toffee and caramel notes, with a slight background of roasted coffee and milk chocolate. Again not very much hop profile comes through, but the beer is not cloying.
The mouth feel of the beer is lighter than I would expect from it's appearance. Of course carbonation is on the lighter end, not only because of the style but also the packaging method. This is not terribly far off style.
Dirty penny is absolutely a sessionable beer. I like this because it isn't light in color, it is full flavored, and local! Despite the fact that I wish my local beers offered better taste qualities and more variety, I will always support them. I will be picking this growler up again soon.
Oct 29, 2010The appearance is darker than i would expect from a black & tan but in my opinion it looks very appetizing. The head is a little much for me. I prefer not to have to wait for it to settle but it could have been my pouring method. Nice tan color with not very much lacing.
The smell primarily consists of toffee. There are also notes of coffee and chocolate. The hop profile is lacking, even for this style.
The taste again mirrors the aroma, tons of toffee and caramel notes, with a slight background of roasted coffee and milk chocolate. Again not very much hop profile comes through, but the beer is not cloying.
The mouth feel of the beer is lighter than I would expect from it's appearance. Of course carbonation is on the lighter end, not only because of the style but also the packaging method. This is not terribly far off style.
Dirty penny is absolutely a sessionable beer. I like this because it isn't light in color, it is full flavored, and local! Despite the fact that I wish my local beers offered better taste qualities and more variety, I will always support them. I will be picking this growler up again soon.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.54/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: deep brown in color; 1 finger medium brown head that receded to a wispy cap; OK lacing;
S: deeply roasted grain; a little chocolate;
T: deeply roasted grain up front; pretty chocolately at the end; a little bitterness on the finish;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: not much remained from the scotch ale; still very nice;
Jun 15, 2017S: deeply roasted grain; a little chocolate;
T: deeply roasted grain up front; pretty chocolately at the end; a little bitterness on the finish;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: not much remained from the scotch ale; still very nice;
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
2.61/5 rDev -26.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
2.61/5 rDev -26.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
**
08/09/2014
On tap at the ginger man,nyc.
Appearance...dark brown,
Aroma...mush, dark fruit, somewhat non-distinct.
Taste...a little sour, plum, malt, orange rind.
Ok beer, tough to categorize. I might even taste some copper."
**
Oct 22, 201608/09/2014
On tap at the ginger man,nyc.
Appearance...dark brown,
Aroma...mush, dark fruit, somewhat non-distinct.
Taste...a little sour, plum, malt, orange rind.
Ok beer, tough to categorize. I might even taste some copper."
**
Rated by PSanger from Connecticut
3.16/5 rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
3.16/5 rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
Very cloudy looking nice taste not a huge smell. It's a fair ale.
Mar 31, 2016Rated by Grichard from Connecticut
4.03/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice and malty, I like it.
Oct 08, 2015Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
3.22/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bottle from Bert's
Slightly hazy auburn brown with a decent sized bubbly off white head. Rich caramel and hints of chocolate with bits of earth and fruit. Nothing extraordinary here.
Sep 30, 2015Slightly hazy auburn brown with a decent sized bubbly off white head. Rich caramel and hints of chocolate with bits of earth and fruit. Nothing extraordinary here.
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts
2.83/5 rDev -20.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5
2.83/5 rDev -20.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5
OLD BURNSIDE DIRTY PENNY ALE 8/20/15
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams nonick pint.
a: Dark brown with clear ruby highlights at the sides. Enormous four inch thick tan head receded slowly to even surface foam and spotty lacing. Not bad looking once the foam tsunami subsided.
s: Dark roasty malt and alcohol turns to overripe dark fruit as it warms.
t: Follows the nose somewhat along with an intense sourness which persists. Sour finish.
m; Medium, good body and over the top carbonation.
o: Probably an off bottle, purchased as a single recently. Black and Tans should not be sour, and the foam should not be out of control. Beyond the first whif, eminently unenjoyable drainpour.
Aug 21, 2015Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams nonick pint.
a: Dark brown with clear ruby highlights at the sides. Enormous four inch thick tan head receded slowly to even surface foam and spotty lacing. Not bad looking once the foam tsunami subsided.
s: Dark roasty malt and alcohol turns to overripe dark fruit as it warms.
t: Follows the nose somewhat along with an intense sourness which persists. Sour finish.
m; Medium, good body and over the top carbonation.
o: Probably an off bottle, purchased as a single recently. Black and Tans should not be sour, and the foam should not be out of control. Beyond the first whif, eminently unenjoyable drainpour.
Dirty Penny Ale from The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
152 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!