Heavy Seas - Smoke On The Water - Heavy Seas Beer

billab914

Virginia

2.45/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Bruery tulip. It poured pretty close to black with a moderate tan head filling the top half inch of the glass. it did have some decent head retention to it and left some moderate lacing on the glass as I drank it.

The aroma has a moderate creamy malty flavor going on. it has some sweetness and what seems to be some licorice flavors to it as well. Unfortunately no smoke to be found which is disappointing.

The taste has a sweet chocolate, creamy and almost sugary taste to it with some more licorice sweetness coming in towards the finish. It has something like a brown sugar taste to it that I can't say I care for. Towards the finish I get just a hint of smoke and it's more like a mild burnt or roasted malt flavor then a true smoked malt. I'm very disappointed in the taste overall, I love smoked beers and I wouldn't call this one at all.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and carbonation is moderate. Drinkability isn't good for me. Not only was I disappointed by the lack of smoked malt flavor, I found it to have some pretty below average porter characteristics as well. The sugary sweetness that came through was just not good to me. I believe I had the same negative experience with their Big DIPA too so maybe it's something they add to more than one of their bigger beers. Unfortunately this is another one of their big beers I won't be buying again. Reviewing with style in mind doesn't fare well for this beer, it should have had some smoke to it at least.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 01:58:46 | More by billab914

yourefragile

District of Columbia

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

22 oz bottle with typical crappy looking Heavy Seas "artwork" poured into a nonic. I'm left wondering why they didn't seize the opportunity to name this "Smoke on the Porter" instead of the clunky "Smoke on the Water: A Smoked Porter" as the label reads. I would also classify this as an American Porter, not a Smoked Beer.

Pours a syrupy, opaque dark brown with a foamy light tan head. The head starts off initially large and billowy before quickly fading to a thin film with one or two large clumps of lacing and a lot of random small spots of lace that slide down the inside of the glass. Aroma is disappointing in the amount of smoke, as it smells like a typical, roast-y porter. Mild sweetness, artificial chocolate-like similar to Siren Noire, attempts to balance out the roasty charred aromas, but unfortunately the smell of stale ashtray dominate, not the type of smoke hoped for. Similar to the recent Rye Porter, the mouthfeel is way off for the style, syrupy and watery, with little carbonation and significantly lacking in overall body. Malt body flavor has a slightly more smokey taste than the aroma would have suggested, but milk chocolate sweetness ends up dominating throughout and in the finish. There also seems to be a potent boozy alcohol burn in the finish, which is disappointing for this abv and style. The aftertaste has the strongest "smokey" flavor returning to the unpleasant stale ashtray of the aroma. Not really a great example of a american porter, smoked porter or smoked beer, or whatever you want to call it. Not as bad a beer as my score suggests, but doesn't really compare to beers like Alaskan's smoked porter or even Captain Lawrence's Pleasantville.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2010 01:30:40 | More by yourefragile

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Grabbed a bottle of this at Kappys in Medford tonight. Smoke on the Water pours out a nice black color, with a finger of tan heading. Nose is of moderately dark chocolate, and some brown bread. Very little smoke can be detected in the nose here. Surprisingly the taste has hardly any smoke either, perhaps a hint at best. More dark chocolate, and fruit come through, making this more similar to a straight up American Porter than a smoked one. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy, and drinks well. While this isn't a bad brew, it is simply not what the label claims is. I am sure they did smoke this beer, but there is little evidence to support that theory from the smell or taste. If you are looking for a simple, decent Porter, this one should work. Those seeking the smoke should look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 01:44:46 | More by jamie2dope

esv

Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A) Nice fat head. Dark tan, suggesting roasted barley.

S) Smoky tobacco but not overwhelming like you might expect. Hint of dark fruit. Some salty ham. Light lacing on the top.

T) Nicely balanced. Sweet maltiness and bitter burnt. Coffee. Some tobacco but not that much smokiness. No dark fruits.

M) Medium. Carbonation is low.

Don't know much about the "smoked beer" style. Never had a beer with smoked malt, that I'm aware of. So this was little harder to review. It wasn't my favorite. It was missing something.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 00:31:18 | More by esv

Gavage

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: pours a dark brown color with a 1/2" head that falls to a thick surface foam. Some spotty lacing develops.

Smell: soft roasted malt, a hint a smoke, and a bit of alcohol is picked up by the nose.

Taste: roasted malt, a bit of dark chocolate, a mild bitterness, and barely a hint of smokiness comes through. Alcohol is slightly warming here.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp to start, smooth to finish.

Drinkability: this beer was really a decent porter, but forget the fact this is smoked as there is barley a hint of smokiness here. Not what I expected as I wanted some more smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2010 22:30:41 | More by Gavage

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On-tap 8/14/10 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, with a large beige head that fades slowly and leaves a very thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains smoky roasted malts, black coffee, chocolate and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of chocolate and a touch of dark fruit. Then there's a harsh bitterness that come in, not from hops but rather from black coffee and smokiness. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The after-taste is bitter despite having a very thin hops presence.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is sticky and very dry.

D: Not very tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, decent kick, not the best representation of style, there are definitely better dark & smoky beers out there that I would choose before this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 13:53:03 | More by TheManiacalOne

jrallen34

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber poured into my Darkness glass...Light black with some decent tan head, ok retention, better lacing...Weird aroma that is super sweet on the front with a small smokey finish. Very sweet chocolate syrup with vanilla, just not the right combination...Boring and off taste as well, sweet chocolate syrup with a hint of ashy smoke.

This is just off the mark in every way, don't bother.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 02:24:33 | More by jrallen34

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Dark chocolate when exiting the bottle shows glistening moments of ruby-plums highlights from the light. The head is a sturdy piece of work, a solid frothy state, khaki in color, that holds rather steady even after 5 minutes. The lacing is thick, clumpy and of average coverage.

S: Burnt chocolate with some burnt wood and lingering light moments of smoke. Later some dark fruit of plums come around with a finish of lightly roasted coffee fine grounds (think coffee in a can).

T: Some acidity on the open with light roasty coffee grounds, bitter chocolate and dried milk powder. Lingering moments of charred wood with some smoky afterthoughts but much lighter then expected or desired. Simple complexity overall, with some dark juicy fruit jumping into the mix along with some bitter bakers chocolate. At room temperature indications of alcohol in the way of cough syrup become evident.

M: The mouthful was meh, medium at best, oily in texture with a slippery smooth appeal on the tongue. Light effervesce with a lack of malt substance and lack of dark roasty appeal limits this to just average regards.

D: Average drinkability, again rather lackluster with no hidden surprises or bells. Mediocrity in excitement and just after a few sips this quickly becomes a boring chore and felt there was little if anything left to explore or appreciate. After finishing my early prejudice was justified. Kinda weak for a big series beer that strives to be middle of the road. A small beer packaged in a big bottle doesn't necessarily make it so.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 01:54:42 | More by beerthulhu

smakawhat

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Poured on tap at Alewife in Baltimore into a mug.

A simple dark black/brown body in appearance poured and presented with perhaps a one finger head that is a light cocoa brown in color.

Nose is just a mild smoke, some small roast, but a big strange sweet smell of grape juice. What the heck is this? This is real odd.

Unfortunatly that grape smell was no lie. The palate is just filled and rolling with Welch's style sweet grape juice all over. I can litteraly taste barely anything else on this at all. Texture and feel is perfectly fine and decent, surprisingly not syrupy with all the sweetness present.

Overall this is far too sweet, far too strange tasting (sweet grape juice and smoke just don't mix), and not what I look for in this style at all. It's drinkable but also kind of gross, I won't be having this again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 14:32:44 | More by smakawhat

engagechad

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had this on tap at Station 2 in Richmond VA - pint

looks amazing, very dark with dark head, very generous foam. Smells nice a smokey like a barbeque. Taste is okay however the booze knocked my socks off in a bad way.. very solventy. Counldn't finish the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 16:15:15 | More by engagechad

atsprings

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle into a Duvel tulip pours a deep almost opaque black with a decent frothy khaki head that diminishes to a ring and barely leaves any lacing on the glass. Aroma is slight brown malts and just a trace of smoke. The taste is an unusual blend of espresso and smoked malt with just a trace of hops. The beer is on the heavy side of medium with some sticky lingering alcohol. I'll admit, I did not get my hopes up on this one, especially after the Smoked Porter Highland released last year that was so great, oh well, the Mutiny Fleet seems to be getting back to it's not so great roots.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2010 01:31:21 | More by atsprings

oberon

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Iam closer to giving up on the Heavy Series after this offering wich was decent but just not good enough.Poured into a tulip glass a deep dark brown with only a hint of of ruby when held to the light,a fluffy almond colored head atop.Aromas are dominated by smoke,other BA's said not enough smoke....,I say too much,not much else came thru other than some bitter chocolate.Flavors are one dimentional in the smoke category,a hint of unsweetened choclate comes thru, otherwise it has a bit of peppery spice as well.Just not enough going on here,yeah there is a decent amount of smokiness but not much else,Iam losing hope in the Below Decks series.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2010 23:14:17 | More by oberon

JamnesCameron

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

Pours black as night, not even any ruby around the edges. With a few fingers of tan head that does not last, and not much wisp left over either.

Aromas of deep roasted malt, hints of dark cocoa, and heavy roast coffee. A very faint smokiness at the back end. For a smoked beer, it's not very smokey.

First sip is of roasted malt, with that dark cocoa and heavy roast coffee aftertaste. Not much smoke in the flavor either. There is a slight smokey sweetness at the back end. Some alcohol warmth also comes through as it warms.

Mouthfeel is full, but not sticky sweet. Some light prickly carbonation.

Very drinkable beer, but just not enough smoke for a smoked beer, IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 01:56:30 | More by JamnesCameron

vgarneth

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I love smoke beers. Personally, I think I've found one of my favorite styles. The Rauchbier is where it's at in my opinion. Heavy Seas did a decent job for this smoked porter. The store manager at the Brier Creek Total Wine & More in North Carolina recommened this to me. Good choice.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 04:00:57 | More by vgarneth

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.33/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I think I picked this up in North Carolina, These guys need to impress me, the last few heavy seas have left me wanting...

Pours an effervescent mahogany with 3+ fingers of brown head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Faint chocolate, not much smoke

T: Chocolate, leafy & woody hops, a touch of pine too, then some oaky smokeyness up front. Dark fruit, some oaky smoke notes, baker's chocolate as well once warm, faint booze warmth as well. Finishes dry, sweet, with oaky smoke & bit of pine

MF: Creamy carbonation, medium body, great balance

A fairly subtle smoked beer that grew on me. Not one I would seek out though...

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 04:12:19 | More by russpowell

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased somewhere local in MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" brown head over the almost opaque dark brown brew. Head is down to a thin layer of bubbles pretty quick, with coating slow-falling lace. Aroma is sweet with only a wisp of smoke if that.

Taste begins with sweet darkness, rich through the middle, with a lightly bitter close. Still not sure if I'm getting any smoke. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is good as well. If it says smoke on the label four times, it had better be evident. As a brew, good, but as a smoked beer, fail.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 01:34:48 | More by ppoitras

SLeffler27

New York

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Turns a Roosterfish pint glass black with a puffy, dense, creamy coffee head that slowly recedes from an inch and a half, leaving a webbed coating behind.

The aroma is prominently mixed with malted milk balls, milk chocolate and coffee. There is a light, roasted malt as well.

The flavors follow the nose, although quite sweet. The roasted malt lingers long into the finish. Unfortunately, I perceived no smoke or wood notes at all.

This one is full, almost dense, with a syrupy body and gentle carbonation. Alcohol is as expected.

Tasty and enjoyable, but lacking complexity and rather off style.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 13:14:20 | More by SLeffler27

Josephkeene

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

On tap at local bar

Pours standard porter black with light tan head . Head dissipated within 20 seconds and leaves a slight white lacing.

Taste resembles a light smoked porter with hints of coco and lightly hopped. It's little below average for the style. Mainly coco taste with a smoked taste.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2010 21:16:44 | More by Josephkeene

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a deep black color. A fingers worth of tan foam sits on top. Doesn't last long though.

S - mild aroma. A subtle smokeyness, could use a little more for a smoked beer but it does add some depth to the beer. Some smooth bitter chocolate. And a touch of licoric.

T - a smooth chocolate sweetness in the front. A little smokey/ashey note in the middle. And a nice earthy hop bitterness on the back and a chocolatey finish.

M - smooth, creamy, almost milky. Very low carbonation.

D - a nice porter. Easy drinking. Would've been better on a colder night, and could use a little more smoke but still a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 03:37:13 | More by Teleweizen2

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Cellar temp 22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
Beer pours a rich cola brown color with minimal fizzy beige head that fades to nothing fairly quickly after the pour.
Aroma is sweet chocolate and some brown sugar mixing with a littel roasted malt, am I missing the smoke? I just dont find it anywhere :(
First sip slightly thicker than average body with silky texture and very gentle carbonation.
Flavor is sweet choclate and molasses then rolls to roasted malt and finally a little bit of campfire ash. Very little mind you. As a smoked porter this fails, but as a robust porter, I like it. Dont expect smoke but it is a solid malty big porter that isnt boozy but seems big on each sip.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 05:48:56 | More by sulldaddy

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

16 ounce pint - Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Cheerfully served up a dark brown, near black body with faint garnet hues at the edge and topped with a layer of beige foam.

Smell: Darkened malts present a not particularly potent nose, with only lesser notes of roast and chocolate. The addition of the smoked malts yield no more than a modest poof of Pall Mall cigarette smoke.

Taste: Roasted barley with a touch of unsweetened chocolate and minute hint of smores. Small amount of encroaching smokiness. Light dark fruitiness with an even lighter, distant sourness. Slight licorice. Lightly bitter. Finishes dry and chalky with a bit more of the dark malts.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Fairly smooth mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Personally, I found it to be a flimsy porter imparted with a lackluster smoke character, and therefore an unappealing brew. I tried this a week later out of the bottle at a dear friend's cookout - same results, sadly.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2010 21:33:37 | More by ChainGangGuy

Bung

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. Solid dark brown pour, quite nice frothy light tan head.

Aroma, pretty mild. First sign this belongs in the porter category, like the label says, not the smoked category. Roast malt, peat, chocolate, really no smoke.

Taste follows suit, but there is a bit of acrid harshness. Burnt malt, dark chocolates and earthy peat and charcoal. Finishes a little warm with the burntness. As this warmed there is some faint smoke present.

Lighter mid body, possibly too much carbonation. The carb and abv add to the bit of harshness. Mellows a bit though as it warms, nearly creamy, much better. Still pretty drinkable, just probably not something I will reach for again. Especially since rescently having Surly Smoke.

I will choose to review this on the merits as a porter, this really isn't a smoked or even much of a smoked porter. A descent baltic like porter.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 02:56:55 | More by Bung

JayQue

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice Porter, not much smoke!! Pours a dense brown color , no light getting through. Average size tan head with average retention and minimal lacing.

Good smell, some chocolate and coffee! Tastes good as well. A little smoky, good coffee flavor and a little semi-sweet chocolate. A strong roasted malt presence too like any good Porter.

Mouthfeel is above average for richness. No metallic or other unpleasant aftertaste.

Drinkability is pretty good, nice Porter....Don;t see why this is more of a smoked beer than Alaskan Smoked Porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 01:56:06 | More by JayQue

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: black in color with a 1 finger tan head

smell: smokey, roast, sweet malts, chocolate

taste: caramel, sweet, brown sugar, vanilla, lil smoke

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, smooth, medium body

drinkability: this was an easy drinker. love what heavy seas does in there mutiny fleet beers.

Cheers,

The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 17:24:27 | More by THECPJ

Citadel82

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at the little Market near the Gaylord National Harbor as well. A great find. I tend to like smokey aromas and tastes. This one is nice and not overwhelming in the smoke area and is aoverall a tasty balanced porter.

Pours an opaque black with a creamy tan head that left some nice lacing in my recently rinsed and dried glass. No way to get this glass truly clean as I would have like at the hotel but the fact that some lacing is sticking points to a measure of success.
Smell is slightly smokey, some coffee notes, some sour yeasty porter notes a nice clean balanced smell overall.

Taste is a complex mix of espresso, anise, some and some slight fruity sweetness with a long arid finish. Wow! Dry somehow seems inadequate arid is the only word that comes to mind. Like someone took a towel to mouth and dried it out...

Mouthfeel is substantial. At first oilly with tingly carbonation and a quickly drying finish that leaves a film on the tongue that lingers for quite sometime...

Overall a tasty warming porter. I think the smoke is an asset and not at all overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 22:48:49 | More by Citadel82