Pile O' Dirt Porter
Crow Peak Brewing

Pile O' Dirt PorterPile O' Dirt Porter
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From:
Crow Peak Brewing
 
South Dakota, United States
Style:
Robust Porter
Ranked #50
ABV:
6%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,316
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 10.9%
Reviews:
67
Ratings:
190
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 29, 2023
Added:
Aug 22, 2010
Wants:
  29
Gots:
  24
This robust porter is black in color, is medium-bodied and has a rich, roasted malt flavor ending with a pleasing hop flavor and mild hop bitterness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by feloniousmonk:
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

3.67/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Crow Peak Brewing Company, Spearfish, South Dakota, Handcrafted in the Black Hills. Alcohol 6% by volume. As mentioned in a previous post, I can't imagine what was in their heads when they okayed this name. "Pile-o-Dirt"? What? Doesn't even sing. Thuds. Clunks. Sits. Ah, well. Let's crack and slurp.

Solid stygian appearance, no light escapes. Small brown, espresso-toned head, slims down, but stays.

Aroma, roasted malt and cocoa. Bittersweet espresso tinges, slightly sweeter chocolate edges. Very even, mellow, nice.

Taste: smooth on the palate, slight bitterness, good malt, with hardly a sweet note anywhere. Excellent balance, even tempered. Cola tints here and there, medium bodied, not too full, not too rich, just right, as porter ought to be, right? Hold together just so, and continues to deliver flavor.

I do like this, and would be very happy if I were a frustrated South Dakotan dark beer lover, encountering this for the first time. This is the first packaged SD brew I've ever had, apart from a brewpub growler, years ago. I hope Crow Peak does well. That would be a good omen for the craft beer community at large. Next up…North Dakota???
May 01, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12oz can into a nonick pint glass.
L: Pours med-dark brown w ruby mahogany edges, a thin 1/4" smooth light khaki head, soon to a thick skin, low visual carbo, spotty lacing w broken sheeting.
S: Toffee, caramelized malts, chocolate, light molasses, moist brown bread, raisins, a hint of dark fruits.
T: Dark roasted caramelized malts, baking dark chocolate, a hint of molasses, melon rind, lime zest, background dark fruits, distant hazelnut. It is gently sweet.
F: Lightly crisp and cola-like with a light fizz, a slick medium body with a glassy & smooth med-fast finish that is moderately dry.
O: A really EZ drinking and great tasting American Porter. It has a bit of a snap to it which offsets the bitters and chocolate. Great use of hops. I would really enjoy this on tap and will get it again. Even keeled and balanced it is very good in its style.
Apr 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Jan 16, 2023
Photo of detgfrsh
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas

3.92/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a can. Dark brown color with an inch of light brown head. Roasted malt and brown sugar aroma. Medium body, well carbonated. Roasted malt and cocoa flavors with an earthy hop finish. Nicely done
Oct 10, 2022
Photo of KTCamm
Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey

3.82/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
7/1/21...rich brown color, like deep furnished wood. Fluffy lightly tanned foam. Nutty caramel and toffee nose, hints of coffee. Smooth flavorful chocolate coffee body. Lighter bodied, low carbonation porter. Lingering bitter gives some finality.
Dec 31, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by Vylo from New Jersey

Jul 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.82 by Thirstygoat from Illinois

Jun 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by Chrispy_Creams from Minnesota

Jul 29, 2020
Photo of Mindcrime1000
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

3.57/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a can into a tulip.

Pours dark, not quite opaque brown. Outstanding head and lacing. Very cola-colored head.

Solid straight aromas of roasted barley, coffee, and cocoa. Not strong but very present.

The brew hits the tip of the tongue with initial malt sweetness, but it never gets overwhelming that way. Decent earthy hop in the background to balance things out.

The brew has a nice feel. Certainly not light, it's still lighter than expected.
Jul 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.14 by eppie82 from Illinois

Jul 14, 2020
Photo of TheSixthRing
Reviewed by TheSixthRing from California

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From tasting notes 02/04/20
Had on-tap at Dakotah Steakhouse in Rapid City, SD

Appearance - Served up in a 23oz glass, near black with cola brown edging and a thin, consistent layer of sudd sitting atop. Nice lacing with broken sheeting, trailing off into lines and small spotting.

Smell - Fair aroma, with hints of chocolate, earth, roast and a bit of smokiness.

Taste - Rich, sweet chocolate and some smokiness upfront, then light coffee roast, hint of caramel, and then an earthiness that develops in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Light-to-medium in body with fair carbonation. Slick, smooth drinker before a mostly dry finish.

Overall - Really nice American porter showing good complexity and progression of flavor. Maybe a bit light in body and dry, but otherwise not much to complain about here.
Feb 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.74 by BeerBeast from Florida

Sep 05, 2019
Photo of BigGold
Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had at The Deadwood Social Club, Deadwood, South Dakota, twice poured from 12-oz. can, no date, into tumbler.

A bit over-carbonated, but a lovely creamy mocha porter with a nice hop bite finish.
Aug 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.67 by Chancy from Wyoming

Jul 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by Sir_Goatman from Oregon

Jun 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.18 by Pfishin28 from South Dakota

Apr 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.63 by NastyNorseman from New York

Apr 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.08 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Nov 19, 2018
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz undated can poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 6% ABV. The beer pours dark brown with chocolate tan colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is mild with roast coffee and chocolate notes predominant. The taste is tangy and mostly roast malt based hinting at coffee and dark chocolate. The finish is dry and roasty with a noticeable bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, sharply carbonated and prickly to the tongue. Overall, good. Not very complex, but not flawed either.
Oct 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by BenHoppy from Michigan

Oct 21, 2018
Pile O' Dirt Porter from Crow Peak Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 190 ratings