Robust Porter
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Robust PorterRobust Porter
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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Robust Porter
Ranked #9
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,943
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 10.17%
Reviews:
1,114
Ratings:
2,812
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 11, 2024
Added:
Oct 18, 2000
Wants:
  209
Gots:
  485
This hearty, mahogany colored ale is brewed to evoke the dark, full-bodied ales that were a favorite of dockworkers and warehousemen (hence the name “Porter”) in 19th century London. It is a good bet that when Dickens’ Mr. Pickwick sat down for a pint, we would have been drinking an ale much like our Robust Porter.This is a smooth and very drinkable beer, characterized by its well-balanced malt and hops, plus subtle notes of coffee and chocolate.

43 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kuishinbo_tantei:
Photo of kuishinbo_tantei
Rated by kuishinbo_tantei from New York

3/5  rDev -27.4%

Jul 06, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of KP7
Reviewed by KP7 from Massachusetts

4.31/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours the darkest of browns with ruby at the edges. One-finger tan head dissipates quickly.

Aromas of cocoa and dark chocolate, roast coffee, molasses, burnt black bread, and woody/earthy hops.

The taste starts off with a hit of bitter roast coffee and dark chocolate that then mellows with a sweetness that ranges from molasses up to brown sugar. Everything remains nicely balanced throughout the sip and onto the finish which brings in semi-sweet chocolate, some toffee, burnt bread, and a hint of dark fruit that becomes more noticeable as it warms. While a bit sticky on the finish, roast and hop bitterness linger through a long aftertaste, keeping this well away from cloying territory. Earthy hops become more prominent on the aftertaste as it warms.

Moderate carb lends some liveliness to this medium-bodied, easy-drinking porter, and that stickiness on the finish really coats the mouth.

Overall, a classic. It's hard to find anything at fault with this beer when you consider how easy-drinking it is. When you look at highly ranked robust porters on BA with a significant number of ratings, this would be third, as is appropriate.
Feb 11, 2024
Photo of mcgiants
Rated by mcgiants from New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tulip glass.

Chocolate leads, followed by coffee. Malty & bitter on the aftertaste. Delicious.
Jan 03, 2024
Photo of QuietlyJudgingYou
Reviewed by QuietlyJudgingYou

4.48/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a very dark brown almost black color with a fluffy dark tan head.
Smell: Milk chocolate, fresh coffee, brown sugar.
Taste: Like the smell. Subtle roasted malt, bit of a charred taste, milk chocolate, fresh medium roasted coffee, toast, bittersweet aftertaste.
Feel: Medium to full bodied, plush carbonation.
Overall: Still the best porter I've had. Great beer.
Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by carolinabeerguy from North Carolina

Jan 06, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is a classic that I’ve yet to get around to. In fact I’m surprised it’s still brewed at all, who is actively drinking Robust Porters in 2022? Well I know I’m always down to try one when I see it, so I’m excited to try one of the OGs. Let’s crack it open and see what it’s all about

Pours a very dark brown with a finger of creamy tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

The nose definitely has a light fruity sweetness as I’d expect, but the roast dominates more than I expected. I’m picking up aromas of brown sugar, dark roast coffee, char, earthy hops, milk chocolate, raisin, light toffee, and toasted nuts. There’s a very light salty/briny note that I get every now and then

It remains pretty similar in taste and a touch elevated without the hint of salinity from the nose. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting medium roast coffee, toffee, dark chocolate, charred toast, brown sugar, and light raisin. The swallow brings notes of raisin, milk chocolate, earthy hops, molasses, black pepper, medium roast coffee, smoked malt, and toffee

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes dry and roasty

This is solid stuff. Very drinkable for the abv but nicely complex
Dec 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by zotzot from Vermont

Nov 25, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.07/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. Head retention is excellent.

Smell: It has aromas of chocolate and coffee with some light dark fruits.

Taste: It has roast and chocolate flavors with dark fruits. The most prominent dark fruit is plums. There are low levels of coffee in the background.

Feel: It has a medium body and has medium high bitterness in the finish.

Overall, well balanced and flavorful porter that is quick easy drinking in spite of the bit of a bitter bite.
Jun 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by aasher from Indiana

Jun 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by tscanlon51 from Massachusetts

Mar 18, 2021
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I honestly dont know how I have never reviewed this beer on BA. Ive consumed this beer well over 100 times for sure.
Im pouring a cellar temp 12 oz can into my snifter. the beer pours a rich mahogany color but doesnt allow any light to pass through when I hold up the glass.
A dense creamy head of 3 cm foams up even with a gentle pour and this foam remains as a sturdy surface layer throughout the sampling. I also scattered lattice when I take a sip or swirl my glass.
The aroma on this beer is roasted malt, a bit of char, maybe tobacco too. This mixes some dark chocolate and just a hint of caramel. Spot on nose and appealing. Reminds me why I used to drink this beer so often.
The first sip reveals a medium body and medium tingly carbonation. The beer drinks really easy on the physical traits.
Flavor is roasted malt, some dark chocolate, hints of caramel and brown sugar too. This creates some balance and doenst make the beer sweet, just increases the complexity of flavors. There is also a bit of molasses on the finish and then the roast malt lingers long after each sip.
No hints of any booze and I dont get much hop profile. Very nice porter, that I will get back to buying more frequently again!
Mar 14, 2021
Photo of officerbill
Reviewed by officerbill from New York

4.17/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: The stoutest looking porter I've had. It pours a solid black with a tall, foamy dark tan head that slowly dissolves into a thick film, leaving some nice lacing along the way.
S: Coffee, cocoa, smoke from a good cigar
T: very complex flavors that meld well. Roasted malts, strong coffee with a little sugar, 90% cocoa dark chocolate, tobacco, caramel or molasses, the burnt crust of a roasted marshmallow, toasted Russian rye bread, all followed by some bittering hops
F: medium-full bodied and smooth, slight tingle from little carbonation and a bitter-sweet finish.
O: This is damn good. Buy it.
Mar 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.2 by hopley from Massachusetts

Mar 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by DarrellK from Florida

Mar 01, 2021
Photo of RozzieBoy
Reviewed by RozzieBoy from Rhode Island

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - dark brown with thick two-finger deep tan head. Good, sticky lacing.
S - roast malt. Oak?
T - follows the nose for sure. Nice.
F - thick mouthfeel with semi - dry finish.
O - really good beer! Really enjoyed it. One heck of a solid beer.
Feb 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4.41 by Jonnybgood from Massachusetts

Jan 07, 2021
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Large but short lived dense mocha colored head leaves good lacing atop a black body. Roasted malt aroma with threads of chocolate, chicory and dried fruit. Earthy, smoky flavors of the roasted malts are reminiscent of hearty pumpernickel bread washed down with a strong cup of coffee. Aftertaste swings toward a bitter, modestly hopped, long lasting finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, full bodied and moderately carbonated.
Dec 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by shelby415 from Oregon

Dec 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Noelito76 from New York

Dec 07, 2020
Robust Porter from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 2812 ratings