Old Growler
Nethergate Brewery Co. Ltd.

Old GrowlerOld Growler
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From:
Nethergate Brewery Co. Ltd.
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Porter
Ranked #68
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,633
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 10.7%
Reviews:
152
Ratings:
202
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 31, 2023
Added:
Jun 10, 2002
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
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Ratings by canadianbarman:
Photo of canadianbarman
Reviewed by canadianbarman from Canada (AB)

3.02/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
**Please remember that I am a rookie reviewer who is only trying to learn the art of beer appreciation**
--Upon pouring I noticed that the head did not last and ws minimul to begin with. It poured an almost 'cola like' colour, with a hint of purple when looking through into the light.
--It has a very earthy smell. The first thing that came to my mind was coffee.
--Not a bad taste. I found it to be very sweet, then almost changing into almost bitter. I guess kind of an earthy taste.
--I have been a lager fan for years and have just started to dabble into porters and stouts. I have had better tasting porters than this one. There are other porters I would drink before this one again.
**Thanks for reading
Jan 21, 2003
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.29/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Aug 2008: One of the first dark cask ales I had in England, and it made a lasting impression on me. Brimming with dark malts, dark fruits and everything you possibly could ask for in a classic porter. Brilliant!

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.5%. Very dark colour, nearly black, reddish brown in the highlights. Decent tan head with good retention, leaves a nice lacing. The aroma has loads of malts, also chocolate, dark fruits, caramel, rye bread and coffee, hints of oak too. The flavour has much of the elements as the aroma, plenty of malts, chocolate and fruit, but also decent hops in the finish. A brilliant porter, and a true classic.
Mar 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.54 by Daneve76 from Australia

Jun 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by smi69 from New York

Jul 09, 2020
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
New lable featuring a black+white pen+ink sketch of a grumpy looking bulldog in a bowler hat. Lable states this porter has twice won CAMRA Winter Beer of Britain Awards.
L- Ultra-dark ruby if held to a lightbulb, held away it likely appears black. Clear, pours with 3mm ultra fine bubble pale tan head that's holding well. [ps. 15 mins later, still mostly holding, with lacing down the sides of the half-drunk pint-pot).
S- Quite toasty with coffee notes, in a rounded/rich way. Also the suggestion of deeper Xmas pudding notes.
T- Classic roasty/toasty flavour, but in a very pleasant rounded way ie. not thin or bitter.
F- It is moderately rich giving it good balance vs the punchy 'black beer' taste.
O- I'm not a born fan of porter/stout though enjoy exceptional ones. This is a good one, for sure, certainly way more drinkable than say Guinness. This might be one to look out for for fans of the porter style.
Bought from the Co-Op shop at Norwich station. 500ml. BBE: Sep-2020
Dec 30, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Nov 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by bigred89 from Maryland

Oct 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by Pro_Magnon from Texas

Aug 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.61 by AleHunter805 from California

Mar 22, 2015
Photo of hosehead83
Reviewed by hosehead83 from Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brown with garnet highlights, creamy tan head of foam.
Aroma-Toffee, milk chocolate
Taste-Dark roasted malt, subtle chocolate, coffee, faint tobacco note. A session able classic English porter.
Mar 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by Eastbaysteve from Texas

Feb 15, 2015
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Strong aroma is malty and smoky with a firm undertone of apple and hints of molasses (should I say treacle?) and licorice. Pours a warm opaque sable that lets in a bit of light at the bottom and has a fairly thick wheat head. Mouth-filling flavor has notes of roast malt, coffee, treacle and licorice. Smooth texture has good, firm body and a fair amount of fizz, not as heavy as a stout but certainly pleasing. Let this one growl for you!
Jan 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by zenithberwyn from California

Oct 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by vonnerbeer from Massachusetts

Aug 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

Jul 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by KevinRailton from England

Jun 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Latarnik from New Jersey

May 27, 2014
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle into pint glass, L1125 bottle code. Pours fairly crystal clear dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of caramel, toast, toffee, raisin, fig, cocoa, brown bread, molasses, light roast, herbal, and toasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt and yeast ester notes; with good strength. Taste of caramel, toast, toffee, brown bread, cocoa, molasses, raisin, fig, light roast, herbal, and toasted earthiness. Lingering notes of caramel, toast, toffee, molasses, brown bread, cocoa, raisin, fig, light roast, herbal, and toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice balance, complexity, and robustness of dark/roasted malt and fruity yeast ester flavors; with zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied; with a moderately creamy and slightly slick/chalky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with no warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice English porter style. All around good balance, robustness, and complexity of dark/roasted malt and fruity yeast ester flavors; and very smooth to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
Jan 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by harpus from Alabama

Jan 10, 2014
Old Growler from Nethergate Brewery Co. Ltd.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 202 ratings