Sue - Yazoo Brewing Company

FosterJM

California

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1509th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
22oz

Bottled June 27th, 2012
Shared with my brother in law
Thanks to BrandonBrew for this one

App- When I poured this into a standard shaker pint I noticed that as I poured it was what I would call blood red or even a crimson. However, but in the glass to me it looks like it is inky black. Small to medium, depending on how you call it 1-1/2 finger tan head that stuck around for a bit. A wonderful cling and stick. A good density in the center.

Smell- When you smell this it reminds you of a BBQ pit really. I mean that in a good way, but could be a touch better. It has a big malty base beer with a side of smoke. A little bit of chocolate and very roasty. Not overly agressive but nice.

Taste- What a very nice and a very balanced beer, for what I would call more a Rauchbier and I dont like Rauchbiers. Opens up to reveal quite A roasty with large beefy tasting malts paired with a smoky side. The roast plays against a good and thick chocolate flavor. All told a bit of a crisp bacon flavor thats balances and rounds it all out.

Mouth- A full and solid medium body. The body has a bit of a chewy meat smoke residual flavor and the medium carbonation levels make it more of a sipper than a chugger. More residual flavors of smoke and chocolate stick around.

Drink- I really appreciate this state tick. This was also a big want of mine for a while and I removed it because I didnt think it would happen. This was a big ol malt/smoke bomb. Most beers like this I dont like. This was quite tasty with a good depth of flavor and well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 14:59:20 | More by FosterJM

waldoiverson

Texas

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into standard pint

A: Dark brown, ruby tones, with fairly light head and medium fine lacing

S: Sweet smoke, chocolate, cherry, and a hint of alcohol

T: Chocolate, coffee, charred wood, cherry and chicory. it is lightly sweet and quite mild in the smoke. The finish is a pleasant bitter.

M: Medium body, highly drying but that is moderated by the sweetness in the flavor

O: I don't usually cotton to smoked beers but this one is rather exceptional. One is probably enough for one sitting but it is exceptionally complex, easy to drink, and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 22:56:41 | More by waldoiverson

brewskifan55

Mississippi

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass. One of the first bombers in Mississippi!

A: Blackish brown with a thick, tan, frothy one finger head that hung around and took a while to settle. Significant lacing.

S: Chocolate, heavy malts, smokey wood chips. Like being at a barbecue.

T: Follows nose with a smooth, robust flavor. Sweet, tangy, slightly hoppy finish with coffee notes. Could drink this for a while. The 9% alcohol creeps right in for a mellow groove.

M: Medium to heavy. Thick and chewy. Really coats the tongue.

O: My new favorite porter. Goes well with cheddar or a chocolate chip cookie. Definately cigars. Drinks like a Russian Imperial Stout. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 14:07:36 | More by brewskifan55

Mora2000

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to barzigkin for sharing this bottle. This has been on my wants list for several years.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma has a ton of smoke, as well as some roasted malt. The flavor is very similar. I get a ton of meaty, BBQ smoke up front. I also get some chocolate and a hint of roasted malt, but this is definitely all about the smoke - and the smoke is very well done. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice smoked beer that didn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 19:02:47 | More by Mora2000

jgagne

Kentucky

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Lost Abbey Teku Glass

A-pours an opaque black body. Similiar to an imperial stout. Nice light brown head.

S-huge smoke notes come off this beer, with nice undertones of woody earthiness. Very delicious smelling.

T-wow this beer is good. Great smoke flavor with wonderful secondary flavors of vanilla and dark chocalate bitterness.

M-intense body on this beer. Really heavy and creamy for a porter. Medium carbonation.

O- this beer is wonderful. If you love smoked beers this should be at the top of your list for must haves. I do understand though if it might be a hard one to like if you don't crave the smoke flavor, but I do and I think it's phenomenal. Truly a great beer that I can't wait to have again. Easily my favorite yazoo beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 23:58:24 | More by jgagne

estlinska

Arkansas

3.8/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a shaker from the bottle. The color is deep black with tan head that dissipates quickly with nice lacing. The nose is full of charred wood, heavily roasted malts; all smokiness really. The taste is again of char, roasted meat sweetness with almost no semblence of the 9% ABV (which gets on you later in the beer). The mouthfeel is full, a little creamy, minimal carbonation. Overall, the smoke just owns this beer; very enjoyable, but it's just a touch heavy on the smoke.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 13:42:12 | More by estlinska

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a small tan head and little lacing.

Very smoky nose. It smells like someone is frying bacon. A little bit of burnt malt as well.

Smoke dominates the flavor as well. Not as much bacon as the nose, but more of a general wood smoke flavor. Bitter coffee and roasted malts also play in with a little hop presence.

Pretty good creamy mouthfeel with lowish carbonation. Alcohol is well hidden.

There are some good things going on here, but the smoke is a bit too overpowering to let everything else shine through. If it were dialed back just a hair, this beer would be fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 15:05:53 | More by jmarsh123

ackleydg

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Aromas of smoke and chocolate, very nice.

Opaque, dark brown, nearly black in color. Tan head hangs around for quite a while.

Taste is like the smell: chocolate with a smoky finish. There's some very clean hops bitterness, but not as much as I expected for 93 IBUs. Sweeter notes develop with each sip. A tiny bit of roasted barley astringency.

Feel that 9% alcohol, but not on the taste.

Medium-full bodied, medium-light carbonation.

Great beer! Well-worth the $2.99 a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 15:44:56 | More by ackleydg

Cresant

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

SErved this 12 oz. brown bottle in a Tulip pint glass. Bottled on: FEB 17 12. A vigorous pour created only a finger of head that left a ring but no lacing. The body was very dark brown. When swirled it left a leggy film to glide down the glass.

The smell was smokey. Lightly sweet roasted malts. Actually it smells like barbecue sauce.

The taste was creamy, malty and smokey. Roasty bitterness and caramel sweetness, but not too much. Steel, walnuts, and salt. Smokiness peaks near the end but the aftertaste is lightly sweet with a clean, hoppy linger. Well masked alcohol. Very interesting and tasty. Semi-dry.

The mouthfeel is rich and silky, bigger than expected for a porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 19:03:28 | More by Cresant

mullincs

Tennessee

3.63/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

First off, let me say I was really excited to try a porter from Yazoo while at the Cannery Ballroom.

Served in a 12oz bottle.

Appearance - Pitch black from what I could tell.

Smell - Had a nice, strong smokey smell mixed in with heavy malts.

Taste - The smokey flavor was great for the first couple of drinks, but then began to completely overwhelm any other characteristics of the porter. By the end of the bottle, I felt like I was drinking charcoal. I simply found the smokiness too overwhelming. Also, I never tasted the higher than avg. ABV

Mouthfeel - Nice full-bodied feeling with a good balance of carbonation. It really felt like a substantial drink.

Overall - I really wanted to like this beer. I love Yazoo, and I love American Porters, but the smokiness was just too overwhelming. Hopefully, I'll have a glass available next time; maybe it just needs to breathe a little.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:49:31 | More by mullincs

zachary80

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle. 93 IBU, 9% ABV. Twist-off cap.

Black body, slight reddish hints, brownish tan head. Head is large at first but falls before drinking.

Can smell the smokiness as soon as I popped open the bottle. Aroma is predominantly smoke, maybe a little heat, some sweetness, maybe light alcohol.

Flavor is very smokey, but the smoke is much more complex than I've had in other smoked beers. Lingering bitterness. Could maybe use a little bit more roastiness or malt presence, but its understandable with the smoke and high bitterness.

Mouthfeel is somewhat dry, carbonation is fine. Don't feel the alcohol except slightly on exhaling.

Overall a very good smoked beer. The bitterness and smokiness overwhelm some of the other character of the beer, which if it came through more would earn Sue a few more points.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 02:37:27 | More by zachary80

GameFreac

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My first real smoked beer. Finally decided to try this since I won't be back in Tennessee till August.

12 oz. bottle - bottled on date February 17, 2012

Appearance: Pours a beautiful black color with a nice khaki brown head.

Smell: Smells of smoke, cherry, chocolate, sweetness, and alcohol.

Taste - Wow. Super interesting. Taste is cherry, smoke, wood, barbecue, and roasty chocolate. You can taste the hops in the background to balance it all out.

Mouthfeel: Medium to thin mouthfeel…could be a little thicker but it's fine.

Overall: $7.99 for a 4 pack of a 9% smoked porter. Great value. Very weird and interesting but very good. One of the most interesting beers I've ever had. THIS is why I love craft beer. So different.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 03:26:40 | More by GameFreac

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled Feb 17, 2012

Beer is black and a vigorous pour results in a moderately-sized tan head. Good retention and a fair bit of lacing.

Aroma is quite smoky, as may be expected. Behind that, I get some vanilla, wood, some roasted malt and chocolate.

Lots of smoky wood flavours. This beer is seriously smoked. Coffee, roasted marshmallow, dark chocolate, roasted malt and vanilla underneath. Slightly bitter finish. The smoke flavour is a little much at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to it, after which this beer becomes really good. Very nice indeed.

Full bodied, moderate carbonation. Very smooth, slightly oily.

Overall, very good stuff. Have not had a lot of smoked beers but I am certainly a fan of this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 01:04:49 | More by jrenihan

NODAK

Tennessee

3.13/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Smell is certainliy smoky, with undertones of burnt malts and dark chocolate. But certainly a lot of wood-fired smoke smell.

Pours completely black with a nice, tight black head in my glass.

Taste is perhaps even smokier than I thought it would be. Basically, there's a roasted/burnt malt backbone with a lot of liquid smoke (or so it tastes) poured in. Wow. They weren't kidding around when they said that this is a smoked beer on the label. Nice bitterness on the finish, though I wouldn't say it's assertive. It's enough to finish out the beer somewhat dryly at least.

This is the type of beer that I would drink one of, and one of only. It's so smoky it's almost novelty to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 00:16:42 | More by NODAK

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - A pitch black, 1 finger of head, and sticky lace all over the glass

S - Roasted dark malts, smoke. Smoky aroma dominates

T - Roasted dark malts, sweet chocolate. Nice hoppy backbone to balance the beer. Tasty.

M - Medium bodied, creamy. Dry, and crisp.

O - A damn good smoked imperial porter. One of the best out there in my opinion. Well done Yazoo!

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 03:05:00 | More by BeerDawgs

cvm4

Mississippi

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aug. 10, 2011 bottle.

A - Pours a clear black with a small tan head.

S - Dark cocoa, burnt barrels and roasted malts.

T - A lot of rich/smokey/burnt flavors. Picking up some charred oak, dark chocolate and roasted malts.

M - Coats your mouth with just enough carbonation.

O - Very well put together smokey stout. The flavors meld and everything comes together beautifully.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 00:04:40 | More by cvm4

Boto

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught in Chattanooga Mellow Mushroom: This was served in a 10 oz. goblet that was unfortunately frosted (BOO!). It pours an opaque dark brown. There was a wisp of a tan head on it that left some lacing. Chocolate and some roasty notes to the nose. Also a hint of earthy hops. The taste is good. Fairly full bodied. Chocolate malt, caramel, some roastiness. Minimal sweetness: lots of hops in here to balance it nicely. Very Good!

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 00:37:29 | More by Boto

otto251068

Tennessee

3.43/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass. "Bottled on date" is printed on the label but no date is printed on the space where it should be.

Appearance: Pours a very dark chocolate brown, bordering on black but definite brown around the edges. Stunning milk chocolate colored head rises an inch, then slowly fades. The head itself is packed with large and tiny bubbles which leaves a great lacing. After the head fades a thin layer is all that is left.

Smell: Rich bittersweet chocolate, charred oak, and smoke kick things off. Very pleasant with a balanced malt aroma. Quite a bit of earthy hops come out on the pour.

Taste: Plenty more bittersweet chocolate, along with some cocoa nibs hit the tongue immediately. Very rich and in your face. More smoky/roasted/burnt flavors that match the aroma. The flavors are bold and really wake the taste buds. Quite a bit of earthy hops fight through to provide bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with high carbonation. Maybe a little on the lighter side when it comes to the body. Carbonation level is surprisingly high but pleasant.

Overall: Very flavorful and rich. The overwhelming flavors make this one a sipper. The 9.0% ABV is well hidden. The smokiness is harsh and bold, but this beer is good overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 03:32:00 | More by otto251068

BierBliss

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in an imperial tulip

Aroma: strong smoke flavor

Appearance: pours black no head or lacing

Flavor: hoppy, smokey and a bit of chocolate at the end

Mouthfeel: smooth feel, no burn from high alcohol

Overall: I'm not a smoked beer fan. Doesn't burn the tongue out like many smoke porters do.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:57:03 | More by BierBliss

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Opaque black showing a little deep red around the edges. No head with a vigorous pour, just a touch of foam along the sides of the glass.

Sharp nose of smoke, a bit of cherry and alcohol. Barbequed porter!

Smoked roasted malt character dominates the taste. Just a bit of sweetness and cherry manage to show through the main smokey note.

Mouthfeel is a little light compared to the big flavor and abv.

An interesting porter, probably better classed as a smoked beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 00:23:05 | More by CliffBrake

danedelman

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thank you Bulbman for adding this as an extra in our trade!!

A-deep dark black with a tan head

S-like a rauchbier and a good one too. lots of smoked malts with a hint of lox(good way). A hint of astringent too.

T-smokiness hits first with a hop bite and a very smokey aftertaste. Dark malt is up there too.

Overall, I am not a huge Rauchbier fan but this one is very good and complex. I could use a bit less hops on this one. Definate american way of doing this style. Porter it may be but Rauchbier is how I will see this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 00:05:12 | More by danedelman

Merkur

Tennessee

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at 12 South Taproom.

Beer pours a very dark brown with a slight bit of khaki head.

The initial smell is definately the smokiness. A bit of malt and chocolate is also detectable.

Beer tastes much like it smells. The smoke is very powerful upfront, but then mellows out and the roasty taste of chocolate and dried fruit starts. Nicely balanced.

Beer has a good texture and mouthfeel.

Overall, one of the best smoked porters out there

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2012 01:27:54 | More by Merkur

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle - thanks to iguenard for this

Appearance - Black/brown colour with a large size fizzy light brown coloured head. I can't see much carbonation due the darkness of the beer and there is some good lacing on the sides of the glass. The head lasted for over 5 minutes.

Smell - Chocolate, coffee, malts, dark fruits, smoke

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation and I can taste chocolate/coffee mixed with malts and a smokiness. I can also taste some dark fruits.. maybe raisins or plums. It ends with a chocolate and malt aftertaste with just a touch of bitterness.

Overall – A very drinkable an tasty porter. Other than the slight amount of bitterness during the aftertaste, this beer is very smooth to drink. It's got a big taste but doesn't come across as cloying. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 18:20:16 | More by spinrsx

koopa

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle given to me as a gift by grassblue thanks!

Appearance: Pours the darkest brown to barely black with a 1 finger off white crown that displays moderate retention and some lace.

Smell: Smoked cherry malt, caramel, and roast.

Taste: Same elements of the nose but a bit more disjointed. The smoke isn't as pronounced in the flavor profile. The malt has more graininess which doesn't work very well with the decent light caramel note I taste, and the hops are slightly faded (I've had the bottle for a while).

Mouthfeel: Thick side of medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall: A decent beer in theory that could probably be tweaked into a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 01:13:15 | More by koopa

mjw06

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The unique and very distinct cherrywood smell is dominant and gives way to what is going to be the overall experience of this beer. I love smoked beer. Yet this beer managed to present a very distinguished smokiness without overpowering. The smoke taste authentic, like my beer was literally hung over a grill. The 9% abv is nearly unnoticeable. It's a slow sip, and some might find the smokiness unpleasing, but if you like smoked beers, this is a winner.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 02:47:29 | More by mjw06