Heavy Seas - Smoke On The Water - Heavy Seas Beer

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

High-ish pour yields a half-finger of tan head that dissipates into some surface memory. Body is opaque blackish-brown with some brown highlights.

Nose is quite nice for the style. Smoke and roasty cocoa, as well as campfire wood and a hint of raisin.

Taste is nice and potent, and quite representative of what I think a smoked porter should be. Good balance of malt, hops, and smoke, though it's really rather tilted in favor of malt. Pretty rich.

Mouthfeel is quite fine, and doesn't really steal from flavor.

Overall this is a good, malty porter with some smoke. I've tried several smoked porters; this one stacks up.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 23:45:57 | More by zaphodchak

eat

Quebec (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thin-looking on the pour. Opaque black body with a cover of large cream-white bubbles.

On the nose: minerals, dusty dark chocolate, subtle smoke, astringent grain. Caramel malt comes out more as it warms.

The smoke here is well-played; subtle and well-balanced. Dusty cocoa, light grain, caramel, coffee, minerals, soily hops and a little alcohol bite. Mildly drying finish. The flavour is light in the way a porter should be.

Nice silky medium body with a light carbonation. Fitting feel.

This is a very drinkable, delicious and balanced smoked porter. This would be a great place to start if you're just getting into smoky beers, the smoke here is just right.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 20:58:17 | More by eat

CooperEllis

New York

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

22oz into 6 ounce goblet. From therealnomayo, cheers!

I enjoy smoked beers that utilize the smoke as an element in the overall profile. I don't particularly enjoy where the smoke dominates the nose and palate.

To this end, this is a good beer that has a mild smoke note in the aromas and the taste. The nose has a very slight malt while there is a bit of smoke. A faint peat in the smoke.

More malt in the body and a lighter smoke, even than was in the nose. I do prefer my Porter with full roast malt, heavy underlying bittness that is cued off of chocolate and plum note. Here there is more of a raisin.

The mouthfeel is solid. I would, again, prefer this to be more full, but the lightness in the body matches the light smoke in the aroma and taste.

(133rd)

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 02:15:00 | More by CooperEllis

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber of the 2010 vintage pours a near black color with some ruby highlights. Fluffy tan head displays average retention and lacing.

Nose is interesting, lighter on the smoke than I would like though. Rummy dark fruit mixed with some sweet chocolate. Low roast and a fair amount of bready yeast.

Low on smoke again in the flavor department, unfortunately. However, the beer overall is actually pretty tasty. Bready, fruit-laden yeastiness with malts that are soft and chocolaty. ABV is well hidden and has a soft, lightly creamy mouthfeel - carbed just about right. Kiss of smoke and light vanilla as it warms and has just the right amount of sweetness. I like it, would bump up some more though if it were more smoky.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 19:59:13 | More by twiggamortis420

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

'Smoke on the Water' is written by Deep Purple, and the beer by Heavy Seas Brewing is more like 'deep brown', if not black. The streaks of colour along its top and bottom edges give away that it's not entirely opaque and spoil the perception of this as one of those big, intimidating beers. It also doesn't help that the lacing it leaves is 'pretty'.

The smoke is definitely in there, but it plays nice with the other (even more prominent) note of bittersweet chocolate. What can be accomplished when the two work together - wow, this smells exquisite! And the whole bouquet is complimented by a rather genteel, very coffee-ish roast that is weaved in with swirling (and later more so with warming).

Full disclosure: I didn't expect the beer to have anywhere near this much flavour, so you'll excuse me if I get a little excited in listing everything I'm tasting. It's like a quality cappuccino, sweetened with cane sugar and real vanilla, with dark chocolate shavings on top and, almost as an afterthought, a slightly bacon-y smoke to boot. Molto bene!

I noticed a faint something in the aroma that I couldn't tell was either fruity or spicy. Now, in the mouthfeel, I note it again and I'm ready to accuse the 8% alcohol as the culprit. The taste of bruised dark fruit and the brief, zinging sensation of alcohol are each too delicate and short-lived so as to even be considered moderate, but they can be sensed.

The base porter actually resembles a foreign/export stout: it has a cane sugar-like sweetness and, on some sips, seems to have a distant lactose kind of twang about it. The brewer went light on the heavier malts and extracted all the delicious barley juice he could from a less meaty grist. A definite raw earthiness is gained from ample bittering hops.

Smoke on the Water is a great offering for anyone wanting to have a taste of smoked beer without traveling too far down that rabbit hole. I hesitate to consider it a 'training wheel' smoke beer, however, because the smoke is far from it's main or most marked feature, it's simply one of many (and probably the least appreciable at that). Still, this recipe has really brought out the best in both smoked-things and porters. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 23:54:13 | More by biegaman

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

KajII

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

[Best served in a Dimpled mug]

Bottle. Poured black with a brown/red hue with a small light brown creamy head that was fully diminishing and had poor lacing.

The aroma was of burnt dark chocolate malts and a doughy yeast with notes of licorice, coffee, and a smokey alcohol scent.

It tasted lightly sweet with hints of dark chocolate and licorice at the start then progressed into a smooth-bitter-smokey-coffee flavor that exploded on the tastebuds and stayed with you for a wonderfully long time.

Mouthfeel was full in body and creamy in texture with a nice soft carbonation.

Overall an extremely tasty brew. If only all smoked beers tasted like this.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 18:44:31 | More by KajII

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

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

Duhast500

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1pt. 6oz bottle into a dimpled mug.

The color is a complete black with no highlights and a finger of foamy brownish/tan head ans some slight lacing left on the glass.

The smell is a bit woody with a bit of a bready flavor. There is a definite smoked malt flavor that is unyielding and seems to be the main anchor in the aroma. There is a sweetness coming out in between the smoke flavor that is spicy things up in the background.

The taste is sweet and through back a bit. The smoke flavor comes right out and pronounces itself and reminds me of cigar smoke a bit. There is a bit of a tobacco flavor with the sweet malt flavor. There is a bit of a salty flavor as well that leaves a bit of the same kind of flavor on my tongue.

The feel of this beer is big but not too large. It puts ideas of food pairing that would go well with this beer. A good, flavorful beer that has a easy drinking feel and goes down smooth.

This would go well with a good cheese burger. A burger with some swiss cheese and some onions paired with this would match well with the smoky flavor. Don't forget the bacon as well. This would also be great with steak, even better with a steak that was marinated with bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 04:48:08 | More by Duhast500

TexIndy

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a pint glass. No dating info. It was a dark black color with a little bit of carb bubbling on the surface. It had an average sized head that quickly settled into a very thin collar. Minimal lacing with none sticking.

The smell was very good with dark roasted malt, smoke, chocolate malt and some alcohol. Was good but wish it had more smoke aroma. It was there but weak - actually more of the alcohol showed thru than the smoke. The taste followed the aroma with nice dark and chocolate malts leading the way with a bit of smoke. Alcohol was less prevalent here. Again, good but needed more smoke. Mouthfeel was creamy but could have used more carbonation. Good aftertaste.

Overall, a good beer but could have been much better with some more smoke to it. Easy to drink as is but doesn't leave a big impression. Do recommend. Not avail here in TX so shipped back from Indy. Rotation - not shipping worthy. If avail near me, it would make the occasional rotation as I do love smoke but would be bigger player if they upped the smoke content. [O;Y]

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 02:35:23 | More by TexIndy

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque, very dark brown. The latte-colored head is fairly tall at first, with a dense, frothy texture. Retention is mediocre, but a few solid splotches of lacing stick to the glass.

S: Chocolate and black malt in the nose. Some light smokiness, but nothing outrageous. Some light caramel/brown sugar sweetness, along with a very faint hop note.

T: Dark, slightly roasty malts up front. Definitely a bit sweet - caramel/brown sugar are fairly prominent. Semisweet chocolate is also featured. Light vanilla. Light smoke as well, but more of a complementary flavor than anything else. Some faint, lightly tart fruitiness.

M: Fairly hefty body. Carbonation lends some smoothness and creaminess. Slightly sticky, but not in a bad way. Roastiness contributes some mild dryness into the finish.

D: It's definitely not very smoky, but this is a big, solid, enjoyable porter. If you're looking for something with lots of smoked character, you may disappointed, but it does add a nice bit of depth here. A nice beer despite some style/marketing inconsistencies.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 23:47:28 | More by Clydesdale

beveritt

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a shaker pint glass. Label is shiny black and depicts a pirate themed skull.

Appearance: Pours with just over 1 finger if medium tan head. This settles to a ring around the glass,leaving behind some lacing. The beer itself is extremely dark brown, enough that it is opaque throughout. Looks like a small amount of sediment remains in the bottle.

Smell: Strong sweet dark malt upfront with notes of chocolate, dark fruit, and molasses. Hints of roasted barley bitterness.

Taste: Strong milk chocolate flavor upfront with a mellow barley roastiness following. Hints of toffee and toasted marshmallow. Not much, if any, smoke here.

Mouthfeel: Slightly lower than average carbonation level. Body is incredibly thick and viscous.

Drinkability: A good, if a little sweet porter, but not much in the way of smoke in this one. Drinks like an Imperial (higher ABV) porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 01:43:42 | More by beveritt

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown colour with thick tan head. Some small lacing down the glass. Smells of chocolate and roasted malt, but the smoke is quite faint. Flavour is fairly sweet, no smoke really shows up in the aftertaste either. Smooth mouthfeel. I enjoyed this beer, just not enough smoke for a smoked beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 19:51:54 | More by kwjd

donniecuffs

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Relatively recently at Rattle 'N Hum, NYC. Poured brownish, with two fingers of beige head, great head retention and lacing, and little visible carbonation. Smelled more of dry coffee beans and bittersweet chocolate, and only modestly of smoke. The taste began on a lightly smokey note, followed by a pleasant coffee midpalate and a chocolate/mocha finish. Medium-thickness; non-carbonated and smooth. Very tasty and nicely-balanced beer, but I would like a little more smokiness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2010 23:53:58 | More by donniecuffs

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

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - a good amount of red around the edges. Tall creamy tan head leaving no lacing.

S - mild. Malts and an under tone of chocolate. Not really getting any smoke.

T - mild smoke. Roasted malts and chocolate. Coffee through the middle.

M - medium coating. Mild tingle on sides of tongue. Tingle on to I'd tongue during after taste.

D - decent flavor and mild feel make it easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2010 01:32:53 | More by biglite351

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

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

It pours like everything I expected a porter should look like.
Nice enduring head but not the longest lasting head but it hung around as a tan-brown covering of the beer.

Scant nose radiating some hits of toasted malt and alcohol.

This is unmistakably a porter. Hops, I pick-up a bit of citrus-- maybe lemon flavor, coffee and peat. It's sort of a hodge podge of flavors that are not distinct to any one brew style-- so I conclude it must be a porter.

The big question is that Heavy Seas makes a bit of a deal out of smoke.. so before I opened the bottle I had certain expectations in mind none of which came true. Try as I might I can't find the "smokey" hints...

This is generally a very congenial porter but maybe it's a bit light in places.

The mouthfeel is cordial- nice 'n' smooth on the palate with a clean long lasting finish. It's not particularly strong flavor or distinct with a memorable quality but it's still comfortable none the less- my pint+ bottle went down the gullet without a hitch.

Drinkability- the ABV isn't so over powering but I've just finished my pint+. It's a very smooth flavor and very easy on my digestive tract..

But the thing that sticks in my beer taster's craw is "where is the smoke?"

Good porter but nothing that will make me remember it.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2010 01:24:30 | More by gueuzeonhigh

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Barely opaque bittersweet chocolate brown with russet accents and an attractive crown of golden brown sugar colored cream. It's still early, but it appears as if the quality and quantity of lace won't disappoint. This is pretty much what a smoked porter should look like.

Smells like an American porter. Given the name, shouldn't there be more smoke than this? In fact, there's very little. So much for any rauchbier comparisons. Major work to do on the palate.

Smoke On The Water is slightly more capable on the flavor front, but it still isn't blowing the best versions out of the... uh... water. Roasted barley is front-and-center, which makes this brew taste more like a stout than a porter. Dark chocolate, charred coffee beans, a hint of vanilla, and a puff of wood smoke share the spotlight.

Compared to expectations, flavor depth and smoke are less than anticipated, while hop flavor and bitterness are more. Guess that means this is a pretty fresh bomber. Partly due to well-buried alcohol and partly due to a wee lack of heft, this CCB offering drinks more like 6.0% than 8.0%.

Actually, as the beer gains a few degrees, it's filling out and settling down in fine fashion. Might have to give kudos the mouthfeel after all. A lack of sappy stickiness is a boon to drinkability.

The Mutiny Fleet Series of beers from Clipper City ranges from good (The Great Pumpkin, Hang Ten) to decent (Holy Sheet, Big DIPA, Below Decks) to disappointing (Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout). Smoke On The Water falls squarely into the middle group. Bottom line: worth the first bottle, but probably not worth a second.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 14:19:49 | More by BuckeyeNation

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

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

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

JMOvechkin

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a snifter.

A: Very dark with a soapy head. The color was a bit lack-luster as dark beers go.

S: Wonderful, I could really pick out the chocolate and coffee notes.

T: Coffee and chocolate, in that order. Could have used some more hops IMO. Finished smooth.

M: Felt watery to me, would have enjoyed a little more fullness to the body.

D: I like my porters to be a little heavier. The flavors were certainly there, it was a fun ride. However, I have enjoyed better beers by Heavy Seas.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 16:19:14 | More by JMOvechkin

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Black with a big white soapy head. Mild smoke aroma. A bit thin for a beer, for the style, but smoke in the taste, a bit of chocolate malt. Ken's bottle. Pleasant enough drinking.Middle of the road in the smoked style.Sweetish smoke, though not overly sweetish.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 14:44:19 | More by northyorksammy

RickS95

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A cross between extremely dark brown and a mostly dark black. A nice thick tan head sits on top and keeps you company while you drink.

No surprise, there's a smoky scent; but also some bittersweet chocolate and some flowers play in the background. Actually has a slight cola smell to it.

Tastes like it smells, but I picked up some coffee notes as well. A gentle alcohol flavor is present too.

There's no sweetness like I was hoping for, but it's not exactly bitter either. It feels creamy in the mouth, but then finishes with just a bit of heat from the alcohol.

It's a pretty easy beer to drink if you're ok with smoke beers. It's high in alcohol, but it comes across gently with only a slight taste and just a hint of warming.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 02:14:55 | More by RickS95