Black Oak Nutcracker Porter - Black Oak Brewing Co.

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -23.1%

01-05-2013 13:24:11 | More by cfalovo97

philmen

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-03-2013 03:56:46 | More by philmen

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thanks to jrenihan for this one.

Poured from a 341ml. bottle, no freshness info (but i know it's this winter's release).

Appearance: Very dark brown body with a small to average head and little beads of retention on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Candy cane, nuts, caramel, dark fruit, holiday spices and toasted coconut.

Taste: Don't want to sound like a broken record but it tastes what it smells like. Candy cane blends seamlessly with spices and dried fruits. Lingering coconut as well.

Mouthfeel: Very malty, warming, creamy and pleasant.

Overall: Very happy to have tried this and wish i had a sixer of this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 12:12:56 | More by papat444

MaxwellSchaefer

3.05/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Not so good, the head appears brownish and the drink is very dark in color.

Smell: Subdued chocolate notes and there is a "brightness" in the nose that I cant quite place.

Taste: Good bite, heavy on the coffee flavor rather than chocolate. It was a little too bitter and with its heavy coffee notes it kind of make me want to add some coffee mate to it. (I didnt)

Overall: a fairly light bodied stout that was slightly over-bitter, I think less hops in the beer would have made me not reminisce of those days where I forget to buy milk for my morning coffee.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 20:09:28 | More by MaxwellSchaefer

kinguy

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

11-10-2012 16:25:13 | More by kinguy

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

07-20-2012 02:08:48 | More by hopsolutely

dipso123

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-27-2012 23:59:34 | More by dipso123

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

1.5/5  rDev -61.5%

03-02-2012 01:36:36 | More by beerhunter13

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is dark brown. A very small tan head on top. Good lacing.

Smell is fairly light. Lightly roasted malt, nuts and a bit of cocoa.

Taste has lots of malty bread flavours with plenty of nice spices. Nutmeg sticks out, but a lot else is there too, like cloves. A lot of nutty flavours as well, a bit roasted. A slight bit of bitter hops. Ginger flavours at the finish.

Pretty high carbonation level, medium body.

Overall, pretty tasty beer. The spices are work really well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2011 03:38:14 | More by jrenihan

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown, nearly black, minimal soapy tan head, no retention, patches of lace show up toward the end. Smells of chocolate, nutty, coffee, good roasted malt and a nice subtle hop presence. Tastes like roasted malt, spice, coffee and mild bitterness round out the palate. Light to medium mouthfeel, moderate carbonation, long bittersweet finish, very enjoyable. Drinks very well, top notch stuff. Porter is not my fav. style but this is great stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 01:05:19 | More by peensteen

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from the brewery, this one was picked up last summer and has been sitting in the cellar for a bit. 341ml bottle into a tulip, consumed January 13.

Pours a shade off black, with a finger of tan head. Thin collar and some light retention prevail. Cocoa and cinnamon (among some other holiday oriented spicing) come through, with a lesser notion of some dark fruits. Taste has significantly less cocoa than the nose, with more milk chocolate and less spicing than the smell although still prominent. Touch of dark fruit in the middleground of the palate. Mouthfeel a bit thinner than I would've desired but reasonable drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 02:53:47 | More by liamt07

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nutcracker Porter is not only as black as Siberian crude but it's also ushered in a blizzard of white flurries, the proportion of which is synonymous with Siberian winters... but which, surprisingly, lasted only as long as a Siberian summer. The beer is thus left bare and opaque, withholding highlights even on its trim. Looks good - just throw a bow on top it.

How decadent smelling. Its bouquet has all the flavour and character of a beer two or three percent stronger and exudes a tremendous essence of bittersweet chocolate while traces of coffee quietly percolate in the backdrop. It is heavy and rich, quite so - like a pure, unblended dark cocoa - but not even a whiff of acrid or astringent roast perspires.

In Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet, in the second act, for her saving the Prince, Clara is honored by the Sugar Plum Fairy with a celebration of sweets from around the world. Included are: chocolates from Spain, coffee from Arabia, marzipan from Denmark and tea from China. Funny that all those flavours should be mimicked in this beer...

Honestly, the flavour crosses off just about everything on my porter want-list: bittersweet chocolate, roasty malts, rich espresso and, as little stocking stuffers, nearly imperceptible hints of cinnamon and piny hops to keep the palate from being too bogged down from all those heavy, roasty flavours. I think Black Oak is my new favourite chocolatier.

From experience, I can tell you that the beer's hefty roast and considerable bitterness is a godsend pairing for all the holiday's many sweets. It can crack the whip over any sugary cookies (I'm looking at you shortbread) or hold key with anything nutty and caramelly (Turtles). It is also friendly with fruits, strawberry and other dark berries in particular.

Nutcracker Porter is such an indulgent treat you just might find yourself joyously dancing. Sure, it might not be as famous as the Tchaikovsky ballet that bears the same name, but it has every bit as lovely a score and, for a few years now, it's been every bit a part of my Christmas rituals. Thankfully the brewery keeps releasing it for encores!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 19:34:48 | More by biegaman

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pint at C'Est What, arrives a dark brown with a finger of creamy tan head, leaves a few rings of lacing on the way down.

A pretty nice, straightforward offering - something you don't find a lot of for porters in Ontario. Dark chocolate, a light roast, a hint of smoke, molasses, dark fruits, a light bitterness in the finish with a moderate sweetness. Medium mouthfeel, spot on carbonation. Pretty bang on for the style. Nothing flashy but as a solid as they come. A nice offering I wish was around in the LCBO year round.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 21:38:42 | More by ritzkiss

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in to Duvel Tulip.

A - Dark brown/black with one finger of light brown head.

S - Dark roasted malts, sweet chocolate and some coffee notes.

T - Dark roasted malts with a nice sweetness; milk chocolate, some coffee and a slight bitterness. Very faint spice notes in the finish but I don't specifically pick up the cinnamon.

M - Medium body, slight chew; light to moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 03:34:13 | More by TheSevenDuffs

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Undated bottle received in trade from TheSevenDuffs. Thanks!

A: Looks pretty nice, dark, a bit reddish when light makes it through and a small head an minimal lacing.

S: Enjoyable. Mainly cocoa with a bit of coffee playing underneath, moving eventually to a sweet licorice smell.

T: As unlike an aroma as almost any beer I have ever had with a very strong roasted grain flavour that is verging on burnt. A little later of of licorice comes through.

M: Thin, like all the Black Oak beers I have tried recently... Light carbonation is OK, but it seems watery nonetheless

D: Decent, probably hurt by my having a Harviestoun Old Engine Oil earlier today.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 01:24:00 | More by kjyost

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to liamt07 for sending me this bottle in a recent trade. Cheers!

Dark color with a creamy head (beige color). A dark Porter. In the nose I get some nuts and chocolate. Very inviting. The taste is chocolate and nuts again. Full body beer but so easy to drink. It is well balanced and very good.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 22:47:21 | More by ZorPrime

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque brown with thin tan head and some lacing down the pint glass. Smell of some coffee and chocolate with the roasted malt. Flavour is more bitter than I expected, but it works well with the roasted flavour. Body is a little bit thin, but fairly smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2010 17:00:55 | More by kwjd

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Special thanks to liam07 for this one!
12oz poured into snifter.

A- Opaque black pour. Almond hue around the edges when held to the light. Half inch tan head that disappears quickly.

S- There is a lot going on in this one. Chocolate, toasted malts, bitter coffee, sweet cream, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, plums and figs.

T- Taste is less complex than the smell, but was still finding new tastes by the last sip. Cinnamon, figs, bitter coffee, faint hop presence, vanilla and toasted malts.

M- Good carbonation, little on the thin side.

D- Man this makes me wish it was Christmas now. I felt very festive drinking this and could easily go for another 2 or 3 more!

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 03:37:08 | More by korguy123

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours dark brown with a tan head. The aroma is heavy on the coffee and roasted malt. The flavor is a mix of coffee and roasted malt with some chocolate thrown in. A pretty basic porter flavor profile. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2010 05:19:09 | More by Mora2000

eat

Quebec (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This black beer retains a thin cover of caramel coloured head, leaving some lacing behind.

Smells like chocolate cake, caramel, light molasses and coffee, bits of vanilla, whiskey and hops. The ingredients list cinnamon but I'm not getting any here; I'm actually getting some nutmeg instead. Strange. Pretty nice smell.

The flavour focuses on a nice balance between dark chocolate and hops. Some subtle spice is noticeable here, though it tastes more like a mixture (nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon) rather than cinnamon specifically. Some vanilla joins in, with a touch of whiskey and a dark fruitiness. The flavour is decently complex however it comes off a little watery. Everything else is nice but I'd like to have some more malt in there to fill it out.

The downside to this otherwise fine beer is the feel. This beer definitely needs some more body to it. I wouldn't call this full bodied as the label claims; it's medium bodied at best, though I'd even say it's light bodied. The finish is moderately dry and the carbonation light.

This is a really decent beer that could be great with a couple minor changes: more malt presence and a bigger (or maybe just more viscous) body. As is, I would drink this again but won't be going out of my way to get any.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 05:03:16 | More by eat

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap-Black body, topped with a foamy mocha head. Aroma is nutty,black coffee , roasted malt and toffee with a good hit of spices. Roasted malt , sweet nuts and black coffee taste. Finish is creamy, with a smooth and delicate mouthfeel all the way. Nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 22:08:00 | More by mrmanning

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at C'est What.

This beer appears a dense black, with no discernible edges, and one finger of creamy beige head, which very little lace remaindered. It smells of dry chocolate malt, and espresso. The taste is dry roasted malt, more bitter coffee, and weey, herbal hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body on the light side of medium weight, and it finishes dry and fruity.

A nice porter, drinkable and smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2010 04:56:16 | More by biboergosum

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is the last of 18 I picked up from the brewery two weeks ago, I'm surprized to find tonight that I've not reviewed this before. Poured a very nearly opaque with a crimson crown observed from under a bright light. Mocha head of one finger settles into a wispy clouded surface with a ring and slippery lace. Sure looks good!

Nose features cinammon, nutmeg perhaps, dark chocolate notes and lots of burnt toast. Taste is anything but subtle with strong toast and chocolate malt presence, balanced hops and astringency in check, very full bodied for a porter. The long finish is more bitter than expected, there is a strong aftertaste of burnt toast, a little rougher than was expected, more raw and less polished than many porters.

Overall, a Christmas treat I wouldn't want to miss ... it's worth the drive to Etobicoke to get this hard to find Yuletide treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 03:28:24 | More by ThatWineGuy

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at The Rhino, a fresh beer and a fresh review, five years later. A peppery beer, smooth not too sweet. Beautiful white head on very dark brown. Sweet smell with cinammon. Smooth drinker. Some carbonation, on cask serves it right. Great dessert.

Serving type: cask

01-22-2010 13:44:54 | More by northyorksammy

cratez

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

341ml bottle at Chancey Smith's. Chestnut brown in colour with dark ruby edges and a beige/tan cap. Smell and taste are bitter chocolate malt, roasted barley, chewy black coffee beans, cinnamon and nutmeg (quite prominent), a pinch of brown sugar, floral and grassy hops, and a good amount of smoke with more bitterness to end. The cinnamon spice runs deep throughout the flavour and nicely compliments the malty aftertaste. Soft creamy mouthfeel, medium bodied, with average carbonation. Signature chalkiness in the finish. Everything I expect from a porter, but with a spicy holiday twist. Black Oak's second best beer IMO, next to 10 Bitter Years DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 19:02:04 | More by cratez