Ølfabrikken Winter Porter
Ølfabrikken

Ølfabrikken Winter PorterØlfabrikken Winter Porter
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From:
Ølfabrikken
 
Denmark
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
11%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 9.79%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
26
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 11, 2015
Added:
Mar 10, 2008
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by koopa:
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottle purchased online from liquid solutions back in 2008.

Appeareance: Pours an extremely dark brown with a 1 finger beige crown that shows good retention and lace.

Smell: Nice roast malt, chocolate, a hint of red fruit, and some spice.

Taste: Same as nose but the chocolate stands out and some vanilla rounds it out.

Mouthfeel: Hefty, creamy, and delicious!

Drinkability: Smooth and tasty but strong and thick!
Sep 07, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.92 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by enelson from Illinois

Jan 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by KAF from Iowa

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Mar 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jan 17, 2013
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a pitch black color with a rather modest head that fritter away rather quickly - I was surprised to get any head at all when the cork withdrew silently from the bottle

Smell: Chocolate, dark fruit, coffee and a sour cherry tone

Taste: Chocolate and dark fruit flavors, up front,. but the sour elements take over and ruin the finish

Mouthfeel: Full body with low carbonation

Overall: Brewed in 2007 but supposed to last until 2017 - I guess it didn't quite make it that far (but I will be generous with my scores though this is a drain pour)
Jan 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by a74gent from Massachusetts

Nov 05, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by imperialking from Illinois

Dec 01, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 26, 2011
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.01/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Bottle purchased at West Lakeview Liquors. Bottled 12/2007, best before 12/2017. Served in a Cigar City snifter.

A - A half-finger of light mocha foam settles to a thick collar and partial cap, leaving behind splotchy lacework. The body is pitch black, with the faintest red-brown glint at the upper lip when held to the light.

S - It's got that quintessential Scandinavian character to it. Heavily roasted malts, dark chocolate, light smoke, and some salt and olive brine character that I get from from other Ølfabrikken offerings. There's a hint of oxidation and mineral note creeping in - I don't think this will make it to 2017 to be honest.

T - The taste is sweeter, with some of the honey shining through and suggesting a smoked meat note when combined with the char and smoke. Plenty of licorice, dark chocolate, and some caramel and dark fruits in there as well. Less apparent age, and shockingly well hidden alcohol. I would never have guessed this is stronger than their regular porter.

M - Medium-full body, chewy and sticky texture, lower carbonation, and no alcohol heat present. The residual feel is smokey and mouth-coating.

D - I think the age blunted some of the things that make this beer distinct from the regular Porter - the coffee and honey are pretty much faded memories. It's still quite good, although it's too rich and intense to drink in large quantities. Was probably better fresh, but we'll never know due to the ownership changes at Ølfabrikken.
Nov 10, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
From notes:

Pours a deep, dark ruby/chestnut brown color that appears pitch black in the glass. Almost completely opaque with slight mahogany edges and a two and a half finger frothy, dark mocha head. Excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap that coats the glass with large rings and chunks of soapy mocha lacing.

Roasted malt aroma with hints of sweet chocolate, molasses and candy sugar. Slightly acrid smelling with hints of burnt toast and a slight lactic cream presence.

Full bodied with a luscious, silky chocolate malt flavor. There's a nice balance of sweet flavor and subtle roasted malt. Hints of milk chocolate, caramel and hazelnut balanced by toast, slight alcohol heat and faint spice. Slightly dry finish. The high ABV is excellently masked, making this beer dangerously drinkable. One of the best examples of the style that I've ever had. Highly recommended!
Jan 22, 2011
Photo of Bung
Reviewed by Bung from Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
750ml. From 2008. This was black, pretty much, some brown around the edges. Thin layer of whispy tan head.

Heavy malt, fig and booze in the aroma. Lighter molasses and dark chocolate.

Malty molasses, but heavier dark fruits and fig. Dark chocolates and cocoa.
Goes downhill quickly.
Nothing would lead me to believe the bottle has turned, other than this slight sour fruit and acridness. So, I think this is just really a let down from what I was expecting.
The alcohol is well hidden though, nothing like the booziness in the nose.

Viscous full body. Still enough carbonation to keep cloyingness at bay. The acrid coffee and sour fruit really hurt the drinkability for me though.

Maybe worth trying, would try again since the style is one I really like and have especially liked the ones listed at the right...except this one. Reminds me a bit of a New Glarus porter, that was different, but not really that good.
Probably a great brew for a sour fan.
Oct 30, 2010
Photo of jgasparine
Reviewed by jgasparine from Maryland

4.42/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Sample bottle was dated 2005.

A- Poured with a 1/4" tan head, which quickly receded to a haze layer and a touch of nice lacing. The body was a completely opaque dark brown, almost black, with no visible carbonation.

S- Smells strongly of rum-soaked raisins and plums, with strong complimentary roasted malt aromas. There is a faint underlying booziness throughout. Smells delicious and intoxicating.

T- Heavy flavors of dark fruit (raisins, plums and prunes) come bursting through on the palate, and are backed with smooth candy and roasted malts. Some faint sourness hits the back of the tongue midway. Finishes with a little sour fruitiness and some big booziness. The heat from the alcohol pleasantly burns the throat and sinuses on the way down. What a fantastic winter warmer!

M- Wonderfully thick oily body. Fantastically underattenuated and complimented with a "velvet blanket" of carbonation. An exquisite mouthfeel for a Baltic Porter.

D- Very drinkable, but the alcohol can become a bit much... This beautiful winter warmer is best split with a friend or two.
Jan 02, 2010
Photo of Travlr
Reviewed by Travlr from District of Columbia

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750 ml bottle stored for 15 months prior to serving.
A: Deep dark maroon with medium beige head that settles to a thin layer and nice lacing.
S: Dark chocolate aroma with berries and light spice, possibly cinnamon.
T: Flavor begins with sweet chocolate with a bitter cocoa edge, dark fruit, and vanilla. Nicely complex.
M: Great body, exactly as expected for a winter brew.
D: Worth seeking out. Laying it down for a season mellows it quite a bit.
Dec 12, 2009
Photo of tmoneyba
Reviewed by tmoneyba from Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Corked bottle from Champane's Wine.

Poured a clear dark brown color with a moderate frothy head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Moderate roast coffee, chocolate malt and small alcohol aroma. Medium to full body with a thick smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy roasted bittersweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration.

A smooth drinkable brew.
Apr 28, 2009
Photo of Beerzebub
Reviewed by Beerzebub from California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured in a big wine glass at 57 F/ 14 C.

Almost black. Small dark tan head. Speckles and blots of lace.

Deep roasty and sweet aroma, chocolate with caramel, fresh herbs, and some fruit. Some light smokiness pokes through now and then.

Tastes sweet and suprisingly tart and fruity, berries and chocolate, with a good dose of roastiness, herbal hop flavor and light bitterness, and an unusual rustic honey flavor. A lot going on, but it's fairly cohesive. Tangy in a very unusual way, and I like it. Long long finish, fresh herbs and tangy honey.

Smooth round texture with some nice thickness, quite easy to drink.

Good interesting beer, I enjoyed this.
Apr 02, 2009
Photo of gford217
Reviewed by gford217 from Georgia

3.92/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark, dark brown, almost black in the glass with a one-inch tan head that receded slowly.

The aroma is textbook Baltic porter with a huge sweet roasted malt aroma with some bittersweet chocolate. There is definitely a bit of alcohol in the nose.

The taste really explodes on the palate and it took me a few sips to sort things out. There's a huge blast of licorice and chocolate sweetness up front but with an interesting and slightly astringent bitterness. The honey is present and actually lingers into the finish.

The mouthfeel is slick and almost oily with subdued carbonation. It has a dry-ish finish with some cocoa powder on the palate.

This is an interesting and very sweet Baltic porter and taste was very complex though I'm not sure it came together completely for me. I still think this is a notch below their standard porter.
Mar 04, 2009
Photo of dreadnatty08
Reviewed by dreadnatty08 from District of Columbia

4.52/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Quite the viscous pour out of an unceremonious cork popping. Basically a pitch black color with a nice sticky tan head that seems to whittle down to a covering. Aromas of booze, raisins, toffee, sherry notes, tootsie roll, and not a whole lot in the way of roasted malts. On the palate, it really opens up to a complex drive through roasted malt, chocolate, honey, burnt cocoa powder, finishing quite boozy with some floral hops and a touch oaky. Despite its borderline cloying sweetness, this is a really nice baltic porter.
Feb 21, 2009
Ølfabrikken Winter Porter from Ølfabrikken
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 26 ratings