Estes Park Porter - Estes Park Brewery

tronester

Oklahoma

3.8/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown, almost black in color. The head is thin and creamy and tan in color. Smells of a hint of coffee and some ripe fruit. Flavor begins with a hint of some bananna, followed by some sweet bread, then some milk chocolate, and a hint of earthy hops in the finish. Average mouthfeel. Overall a good porter that I would get again.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 03:11:41 | More by tronester

Beejay

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +27%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep brown, with root beer coloring at the edges when held to the light. Nice tan head on top.

S: A nice sweet chocolate scent comes out right away. Dark grains with hints of mocha, roasty aroma, and raisons.

T: Roasted malts, and a hint of chocolate are present. There is a bit of a english yeast characteristic that matches the grains well.

M: Medium bodied, with a creamy feel to it, and a slightly lower carbonation level.

O: Overall quite enjoyable. Nice dark malt character. Good.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 23:53:11 | More by Beejay

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

2.7/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I was very excited to try this estes park porter.

The beer was dark deep brown in the glass with no head at all.

The beer was lightly carbonated and had a decent mouthfeel.

The beer tasted malty and had a bitter coffee finish.

The beer was okay overall but was nothing special. Estes park is such a unique and awesome location it is a shame that this beer did little or nothing to stand out and at best was an okay interpretation of a porter lacking any imagination.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 00:49:47 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

Spider889

Ohio

2.08/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Well, if Samson Stout is Estes Park Brewery's flattest beer, then this HAS to be its most heavily carbonated.

Looks well enough, thin but black with a good head.

Smell wasn't too complex but appropriatly roasty for the style.

But man is this thing over-carbonated!!! It ruins the flavor profile and the mouthfeel is just unbearable. Not worth finishing.

Edit: after reading some of the other reviews my only guess is that this brewery has issues getting their beer carbonated. Their stout was flat, and apparently often this beer is near that, though my bottle was abhorrently over carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 17:37:57 | More by Spider889

jar2574

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This is an easy-to-drink porter that doesn't stand out, but isn't bad either. The appearance is dark, flat. Absolutely no head. The smell is roasted malts. The taste is malty, coffee, dark, smooth. There isn't a ton of excitement here, but it'd be a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 04:14:37 | More by jar2574

orbitalr0x

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours into my glass a deep dark opaque brown with a thin tan head and a few bubbles on top. Aromas start out with mellow roasted malt along with a fairly forward ground coffee as well. Chocolate accents along with a bit of a creamed grain undertone.

First sip brings sweet creamy chocolate upfront with mild roasted accents. Coffee and a touch of nuttiness moves through. Flows down with some bitterness and acidity. Overall, it's a bit too watery for my taste along with having too much residual sweetness.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side with quite mild carbonation. A little slick overall and on the sweet side. This falls flat of what I want body wise when I drink a porter. Overall, there is some good flavor here but it's a bit muddled and definitely not what I am looking for when I want a porter. More like a big brown ale. Thanks to kmpitz2 for the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2009 02:33:00 | More by orbitalr0x

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown with no head at all. The few bubbles from the carbination that do rise to the surface form a very faint ring around the outside of the glass and thats about all the excitement you get in the visual department. Mouthfeel is a little light but it makes it easy to drink. Carbination is perfect. You can taste trace amounts of chocolate and what seems like over ripe dark fruit. The yeast taste is evident as well even though I left a bit still in the bottle and poured carefully. After noticing the taste of the yeast, you can also smell it in this porter, along with a strange sweetness.

On a side note which plays no significants to my review, this beers flavor strangely reminds me of the taste of my first homebrewed dark beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2009 20:27:58 | More by stakem

Beaver13

Colorado

3.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Pours a dark brown with a thin light tan head that quickly diminishes to a thin collar.

The aroma is sweet lactic chocolate with some acidic roasted malts and coffee.

The flavor is sweet lactic chocolate and nuts with some astringent roasted malts and coffee. The finish has enough bitterness for good balance. The mouthfeel is medium and watery with almost no carbonation (seems to be common of EP beers).

Overall, a pretty decent and under-rated porter. If it was a little less watery (and thus subdued) and less acidic, this would be really good.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 00:18:24 | More by Beaver13

Golden2wenty1

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked up a single a while ago at Brennan's here in Madison. I've been to Estes Park on vacation and was curious to try one of their beers.

Pour: standard porter black, some ruby highlights, finger of creamy head with decent retention.

Nose: a strange melting plastic aroma peeks through roasted malts, lactose and cocoa.

Taste: again the plasticky taste distracts from an otherwise pleasant roasted/charred malt, and cocoa/coffee porter.

Feel: smooth and to style.

Drinkability/Overall: something a little off with this one, a shame as there seems to be a solid porter lurking underneath.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2007 23:41:34 | More by Golden2wenty1

Musky

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Label was indicative of area where brewed. Poured extremly foamy not sure if it's over carbonated, had to let it rest 5 minutes to pour entire bottle into pint glass. Bubbles are small, brownish in tint, lacing the glass as they recede. Aroma is very cocoa with little hop aroma to be noticed. Rich and creamy mouthfeel, chocolate taste, very smooth on the palate. No hop aroma that I noticed. Good beer true to it's style.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2006 01:31:24 | More by Musky

kimcgolf

Georgia

4/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured to a dark brown with hints of ruby, thick tan head that quickly settled to a tan ring and very good lacing. Aroma was that of malt sweetness, nuts and coffee. The flavor was a very pleasant roasted nut blended well with the malty sweetness. Althought the body was a tad on the thin side, the finish was very pleasant and warming. Don’t know what everyone else is rating, but I actually really enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2006 00:42:38 | More by kimcgolf

rowew

Colorado

2.8/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12 oz longneck. No freshness info. Old picture of Estes Park with a dirt main street on the label.

Appearance: Pours black with just a bit of red around the edges and a respectable head. Fades slowly to leave quite a bit of lacing on top of the beer and the galss.

Smell: Aroma is not very strong - what is there is mainly roasted, with a bit of an astringent smell.

Taste: Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but creamy. Low carbonation level. Dominated by roasted flavors - but there is a bit of off flavor as well. Tastes almost like many extract homebrews I have had.

Overall impression: Meh. Not bad - drinkable enough, but I am glad I only got a single.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2006 22:23:49 | More by rowew

dirtylou

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz single, Brennan's

appearance: pours a dark mahogany, slight ruby tinting, minor off-beige head and very little lacing

smell: wet cardboard? ovaltine cocoa powder, thick malt, plum, sweet dark fruit...seems to be missing something

taste: more of the same...wet cardboard, watered down, not enough of the typical chocolate/coffee that makes porters tolerable...just some bland cocoa powder, awkward fruit sweetness. Just kind of boring

mouthfeel: watered down, smooth but bland

drinkability: its not so bad that it needs to be dumped, its just bland

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2006 02:21:08 | More by dirtylou

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

2.28/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

12 ounce bottle. Pours out a very dark brown color with no head and no visible carbonation. The aroma is chocolate, caramel, berries, and a bit of coffee. Chocolate flavor with berries and a little sourness. Not at all malty. The flavor is not very good at all. The biggest problem is the mouthfeel. This beer is almost entirely flat. A bit buttery too. Maybe a touch of hops. Truly a nasty beer. I've never seen a porter butchered like this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2006 04:10:30 | More by beveragecaptain

bditty187

Nebraska

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Dark brown but not quite black, I can see some ruby influences, more so when backlit. On a harder then normal pour only a skimpy, soapy cap formed. I wouldn’t call it a head. This collection of bubbles quickly faded to a thin collar, it was unimpressive. The subsequent lacing was spotty, the dots didn’t cling all that well either. Overall the appearance is respectable but flawed due to the lack of head but plays the part of a Porter well enough.

The nose says, “Porter.” I like that. Roasted malts create a coffee vibe. This is the strongest aspect of the nose; I detect a few hints of chocolate and charred wood. There isn’t much else. Potency is moderate but I can understand, clearly, everything this beer is saying. I like the nose, no complaints. Inviting.

The palate is pretty much what the nose said it would be. The chocolate is a bit louder, either that or the coffee is turned down. Whatever the case, the palate has good balance between the chocolate and coffee. In the distances is a kiss of charred wood. There is no trace of hops but the malt is not sweet either; this beer does lack richness. The palate has some positive elements but some hop bite is needed, some ale fruitiness would be nice and a fuller finish would really help. It tastes alright but it is not a very good Porter.

The mouthfeel is the worst aspect of this beer. It is thin and watery plus the carbonation is low. It feels like water in the mouth. This is very disappointing.

Yes, this beer is drinkable but I need not have another one. The mouthfeel is too thin to be paired with rich foods like cheesecake. Really this is a pointless beer, while it is not bad it is far from memorable. I can think of a dozen Porters, easily, that are much better. I purchased this sample as part of a mix six-pack purchased at the brewpub in Estes Park, CO. I say, skip this yawner.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2005 13:09:28 | More by bditty187

Winter

Wisconsin

2.4/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours near black with dark brown protruding at the bottom of the glass. Thin tan head. Aroma consists of cocoa and chocolate malt. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, but leans more toward thinnish. This is one of the blandest porters I have ever tried. Taste has some grain and roasted malt in the flavor. Nothing exciting. Cascade hops provide some flavor near the back but not enough to save it or make it interesting. Is it possible to make a near flavorless dark beer (porter none-the-less)? I think I found one...

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2005 01:09:00 | More by Winter

Mitchster

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours out to a clear dark mahogany, forming a small rocky tan head with poor retention and average lacing. Carbonation is mild to moderate. Aroma is pleasant with darkly roasted and slightly smoked malts, oily french roast, distant bitter chocolate, slight hink of chalk..actually quite nice smell going on here. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth with a medium body. The taste is an echo of the aroma, with a light alcohol note in the middle. The finish is moderately dry with an earthy, woody mild bitterness and touches of pine resin, chalk, and light smoke in the aftertaste. There is an off-flavor of isopropyl and mild fusels towards the end.

Overall, the aroma on this is a winner, but the alcohol hurts it's enjoyability. This has alot of promise if they could clean it up a bit. The astringency is a little much as well.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2004 16:41:05 | More by Mitchster

cokes

Wisconsin

2.23/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Murky dark crimson. Very little head on the pour. A brief visitation by a tan edging.
Nose is virtually empty with hollow tones of chocolate and cardboard.
Taste is similarly uninspired. Bittersweet chocolate, albeit faint, off the bat. Fades to a strange toasted cranberry sourness paired with green apple skins. Wet paper and carboard boxes comprise the middle. Touches of butter. Attempted salvation via Cascades. Fails again. Soapy, lightly grapefruit finish. Watery and blah.
Extremely thin and lifeless. No carbonation. Somewhat comparable a (very) lightly roasted NW American Golden ale. And a bad one at that.
Porter? Hah! This is a waste of water.
Pure garbage.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2003 01:12:06 | More by cokes

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a clear dark ruby with just a thin film of a beige head. Pretty decent bittersweet chocolate nose. Nice roasted character to this porter. Some subtle bittersweet tones and slight coffee bean as well. Pretty decent hop attributes. Seemingly of the NW variety. Body is a little light. Maybe Medium or so. The beer is not overly bitter but not overly packed with flavor either. Regardless, it's not too bad of a porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2002 19:49:57 | More by Bighuge

marc77

California

2.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Ruby - brown in hue w/ nice clarity topped by a soapy head. Quite light in color for a porter. Lightly roasted malt, mild chocolate and nutty sweet caramel followed by an unexpected citrusy hop nose. Typical chocolate malt and roasted flavors are overpowered by an out of place grapefruit Cascade hop flavor. Generic dark crystal malt sweetness makes an attempt at adding malt complexity, but fails. Very thinly bodied w/ a watery mouthfeel. This apparent Cascade dry hopping of this brew has left it unbalanced... Even without that this would've a been an unimpressive porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2002 10:33:54 | More by marc77

manahansf

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Well presented roasted chocolate malt aroma over a nice creamy tan head. Clear, deep dark brown color with moderate levels of carbonation. Great malt and hop balance, done very well. Smooth chocolate and coffee flavors in a nice viscous body. Ends with a smooth chocolate sweet finish and fades slowly and nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 01:16:43 | More by manahansf

supercolter

Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tried this on tap at the brewery...
Appearance is good, very dark in color with no noticable head. There is a bit of tan colored lacing.
Smell and taste were not really what I was hoping for. The malt was overpowered by the alcohol and there wasn't much backbone to it.
Mouthfeel was light-medium with very little carbonation.
Drinkability was ok.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2008 03:00:15 | More by supercolter

ndekke39

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ordered this on-tap at the Estes Park Brewery. Poured a nice, deep brown color, as expected from a porter. Very low carbonation, and thus little to no head on it. Aromas and tastes of dark coffee mostly. Nothing too exceptional in the tasting of it. The coffee dominates and lingers. Again, very low carbonation gives it a slightly creamy mouthfeel, which I tend to like from porters. A pint of it goes down easily. Overall, a good beer, but not exceptional as far as porters go.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2006 12:50:48 | More by ndekke39