Hub City Olde Browne Porter
Hub City Brewing Company

Hub City Olde Browne PorterHub City Olde Browne Porter
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From:
Hub City Brewing Company
 
Iowa, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 13.7%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
32
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 20, 2011
Added:
Jun 30, 2008
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Erdinger2003:
Photo of Erdinger2003
Reviewed by Erdinger2003 from Iowa

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice 1/4 inch head that dissapates into a thin layer. Good lacing. Smell is sweet nutty brown with a small amount of roasty flavor. Color is very black for a brown ale. That roasty flavor comes out in the flavor. I enjoy this brown ale, I think it even has a small amount of chocolate tones.
Dec 31, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of frankiepop
Reviewed by frankiepop from Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is a very impressive and over the top porter. I usually dislike a porter or stout that is super heavy in flavor and bitterness, but Hub pulls it off here. This beer excellent with bold sweetness. It has a wonderful mouthfeel and drinkability. The beer is properly carbonated with a smoothness that maybe be even a bit creamy. As a porter lover A+ for me.

This beer goes good with Paul Smoker blazin' Free Jazz Improvisation records.
Nov 20, 2011
Photo of nhindian
Reviewed by nhindian from Pennsylvania

2.02/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
12oz bottle poured into a Southern Tier goblet. Bottle generously provided as an extra by MilwaukeeCrusher, thanks!

A - This beer actually looks pretty solid all-around after it's all said and done. It settles in the glass as a dark brown, with a creamy, frothy head that stands about 2-fingers tall and is tan in color. Retention is long-lasting, and the lacing is very generous as well. A very nice looking beer.

S - The wheels start to fall off at the nose, however. It starts with a rather strange earthiness that just seems out of place, before gathering some nuttiness. Strangely, that's about all I'm getting in the nose; peanuts and dirt. Quite awkward and somewhat metallic as well. My girlfriend suggested that it is reminiscent of Kung Pao chicken, and now that she said it, I can't shake the thought.

T - This taste is confusing for me, as there are flavors that I can't really say I've gotten from a beer before, nonetheless a porter. It starts pleasant enough, with some cocoa and light roast, but from the mid-palate in, it takes on a metallic twang that ruins any momentum the beer had going. Additionally, the finish is full of an intense nuttiness to the extent that I can swear I can taste peanuts. There is even some semblance of leather that floats over my tastebuds every now and then.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with medium carbonation. It is pretty smooth going, if not a bit watery at times. Finishes especially dry for a porter.

D/O - Drinkability is low. There are too many off-flavors in this beer for me to really consider trying it again. While leather and peanuts are new notes for me, I can't say they were welcome in this porter. A shame that the appearance is the best part of this beer.
Aug 16, 2011
Photo of emmasdad
Reviewed by emmasdad from Colorado

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Dan for sharing this one last Friday night. The last time I reviewed a Hub City beer, the brewer contacted me and questioned my review of one of his beers. Here we go again. This is the third one we had from this brewery the other night, and the only one I had a second pour of. Medium brown, with reddish highlights. Lightly roasty, milk chocolate, dark malts and roasted nuts.
Mar 10, 2011
Photo of alleykatking
Reviewed by alleykatking from Indiana

3.91/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle. Review from notes.

A- Pours a darker brown color. Two finger beige head that shows good retention. Ring style lacing on the sides of the glass..this beer looks good!

S- Chocoalte malts in both bitter and sweet form along the entire beer. Light roasted malts with a hint of darker fruits. There is a nutty aroma in the ending of this that clashes with a hint of metallic aroma.

T- Lots of chocoalte in the front of this beer. There is more of a cocoa style chocoalte flavor than anything else. Light roasted malts with a hint of dark fruit in the middle. Light burnt toffee flavors in the backend of the beer with a hint of cofffee.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation was little bit on the light side for the beer. Medium drying on the palate from alcohol. Flavors were well blended overall and mostly clean tasting. Chocoalte malts are left on the palate with some light roast in the aftertaste and a hint of alcohol.

D- This was a very good porter that drank very easy. A nice beer from what seems to be a little above average lineup. Looking forward to trying this beer once again.
Nov 30, 2010
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle poured into a Sprecher nonic. No date or info.

Thanks to Beerwolf77 for this brew!

A - Deep, dark brown, almost black, with tiny slivers of mahogany showing through the clear beer. A two-finger, light toffee head rises quickly but disappears quickly too. Some thick but small strands of lace are left on the glass.

S - Rich milk chocolate fills the nose quickly, the sweetness offset by a lingering dusty cocoa aroma behind. Slightly burnt toast with roasted patent malts present as well but it smells like it might be a bit thin in flavor and texture. A tiny metallic hint is faint in the background.

T - I'm glad my judgment about it being thin was proven wrong. This brew is fully-flavored with the same strong milk chocolate backed by dusty, dry cocoa also found in the aroma,. A bitter chocolate, roasted malt, and coffee ground finish gives it a change in flavor. No hops.

M - Medium-bodied and smooth on the tongue with a little viscosity going down, Olde Browne has a moderate-to-lower carbonation level with a balanced dry-bitter finish. Nice.

D - What kind of cruel brewery puts caps that read, "twist off" on a pry-off bottle? Regardless, this is far superior to the Brown Ale of their I had not too long ago. Very good porter for a small brewery. It blurs the line between porter and stout.
Nov 01, 2010
Photo of FreshHawk
Reviewed by FreshHawk from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Dark mahogany brown with a large, thick, frothy, tan head. Good retention that settles into a nice layer of foamy lace.
 
S - Good amount of roasted malt with a strong dark chocolate aroma that gives way to a bit more of a milk chocolate aroma. Hints of dark, tart fruit and some nuttiness. Very slight smokiness.
 
T - Similar to the nose. Roasted malt, including some oat are pretty strong. Dark chocolate and nuttiness make up a strong amount of the flavor. The tart dark fruit flavors are a bit stronger than the aroma, especially after it warms up a bit.

M - Lighter side of medium body with a fair amount of carbonation (a bit less than typical for the style). Drying finish.

D - Fairly drinkable, but a little dry and lacks a bit of creaminess, and it is a little on the bitter side as well. Not exactly a great example of the style, but pretty tasty.

Notes: Decent tasting beer and probably my favorite, along with the Oatmeal Stout, from this brewery. Tasty with a good amount of dark and roasted flavors.
Aug 29, 2010
Photo of KeefD
Reviewed by KeefD from Minnesota

4.17/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I honestly can't believe this beer has as this low of scores. It's easily the best from this brewery, and a great porter to boot. I've had this several times on tap at a local pizza pub. Since I made homemade pizza last night, decided to pick up a sixer. Pours a dark brown color with a small tan head that was gone quickly. Aroma is deliciously fudge like with a tinge of roast and plenty of caramel, but overall very clean and dry. The flavor is what really does it for me. Lots of chocolate, but not sweet. In fact, it's got a nice dry finish that's reminiscent of an Irish dry stout. Mouthfeel smooth and creamy, low carbonation, but if it had a little more body it would be like milk. Great brew and really underrated. This is my go-to local porter from here out!
Aug 20, 2010
Photo of lester619
Reviewed by lester619 from Wisconsin

3.57/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Pours a deep dark mohogony brown with a thick foamy dark tan head. There are some reddish hues when held to the light. Roasty chocolate malty aroma. The tasty is very thick and malty. Stong burnt coffee espresso type flavor up front. It becomes a little sweeter with notes of dark chocolate, toffee, and vanilla. There is a strong burnt toast aftertaste. Very thick and creamy chewy mouthfell. Overall this is pretty much what you would expect from an American craft porter. Not the best I've had, but a flavorfull beer with solid dark porter flavors.
Jul 23, 2010
Photo of Cubsfan1087
Reviewed by Cubsfan1087 from Iowa

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
The Olde Browne Porter isn't the best Hub City beer I've had. It pours very dark, good head. I thought this beer had a somewhat coffee smell. Can definitely taste coffee as well, with a little bitter aftertaste. This "porter" seemed to be more similar to a chocolate or coffee stout than to other porters I've had. I don't think I could drink more than one in a sitting.
Jul 12, 2010
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

2.58/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Maybe this one is just starting to turn. Not too bad, but just a bit of sour tang in the middle of the tongue half way thru. Poured with a decent tan head and a little lace. Color is an opaque brown black. Aroma is like classic sweet stout. Flavor is good up front then, the bite and ends with a strange chemical sweetness to match up to the roast. Ok body and carbonation. Finish isn't bad except for those off qualities that skew the whole thing wrong.
Jun 30, 2010
Photo of cokes
Reviewed by cokes from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Murky brown-black with mahogany highlight. The tan head dwindles quickly, leaving small rings of lace.
A mild roastiness hits the nose, then fades toward milk chocolate. Lesser notes of blackberries, caramel, and vanilla-caramel candies arise.
In the mouth, like the nose, the roastiness hits first- mild roast coffee- then subsides and sweetens. Brownie batter and milk chocolate. A nuttiness wells up and gives a chocolate-covered peanut impression. It lingers with a grainy, caramel and berry note. The light overall astringency makes up for a lack of discernable hop contributions.
Lightish medium in body. Carbonation is on the low side.
It's a sweeter, milder, lighter porter. In other words, it's exactly what it claims to be: a Brown Porter. And an absolutely solid one.
May 18, 2010
Photo of kimcgolf
Reviewed by kimcgolf from Georgia

3.82/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Had bottle as part of a variety pack. Poured to a very dark brown with medium-thick tan head that lingered to mid glass and left okay lacing. Nose was a malty mix of chocolate, toffee, coffee, some roasted nuts and a hint of dark fruit. Mouthfeel was medium bodied and somewhat sweet, though not overdone. Taste accentuated the malty scents of the nose and the finish was long lasting with a pleasant after taste. My first beer from Hub City was definitely an enjoyable experience.
Feb 17, 2010
Photo of smibroncos
Reviewed by smibroncos from New York

3.59/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A. Poured a dark coffee color, with a nice short tan head. Slight lacing on the glass.

S. Coffee, dark roasted malts.

T. Coffee, slight chocolate. Bittersweet, good sweetness to bitternes exchange.

M. Medium bodied, lightly carbonated.

D. Usually a porter is a brew I could only drink a few of. These are a little on the lighter side of porter so I could have several and not fill up. I like the brew, I thought it should have a creamier mouthfeel.
Nov 13, 2009
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark brown with a lighter tan along the bottom of the glass. 1/2 inch head of a tan color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight hops, and slight toffee sweetness. Fits the style of an American Porter. Mouth feel is sharp and slightly smooth with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt, sweet malt, hop background, and slight acidity. Overall, good blend, body, and drinkability. The best Hub City I've had.
Oct 23, 2009
Photo of katan
Reviewed by katan from Colorado

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle into a pint

A - Pours a dark amber to almost black color. head formation is light, but results in a mocha color head that breaks down to a film. Can't see much inside, but I don't see hazing.

S - Roasted chocolate and barley on the nose - fairly assertive. No off-scents detected. Some yeast and carbonation notes as well.

T - Starts off with a rather biting roasted note - very strong. Only gets more bitter with some coffee notes through the mid-stream. Hops are not present. Finishes with a cold pressed leftover coffee scent. Aftertaste is minimal.

M - A fairly thin porter. the beer feels as through it is missing body for the style. The carbonation is certainly present, but not overbearing.

D - A really easy drinking porter. ABV is manageable, flavors are well integrated (while not great). Carbonation doesn't create a very filling beer.
May 22, 2009
Photo of BretSikkink
Reviewed by BretSikkink from Mexico

3.64/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Blood orange highlighting around the rim and bottom of a dark brown brew. No head - big pour, but no head. And really not much lacing is coming through.

The nose is pleasingly strong and malt-forward, with a lot of chocolate malt and hints of patent malt, roasted barley, etc. A little bit of that watery, porter-thing comes through too, with a pleasing dark fruitiness. Smells quite nice.

The taste is solid if unspectacular. Roasted malts lead nicely, chocolate and coffee mix is well done. Fairly dry overall; that carbonation issue from earlier certainly isn't gone. There's some bitterness that lingers; maybe some hops, but probably just astringency from the charred malt side.

Body is thin and would appear to be a touch over-carbonated if the visual evidence didn't point so overwhelmingly to the contrary. So I have to chalk it up to a thin malt end, and dock the flavor a bit. Not bad at all; decent porter available to Des Moines and surrounding areas.
Mar 25, 2009
Photo of OStrungT
Reviewed by OStrungT from California

3.17/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer pours a dark brown color, with a tiny light brown head. The head fades instantly, leaving no lace.

This beer has a malty caramel aroma. It also smells of vanilla. It smells of roasted malts.

This beer tastes much like it smells. Vanilla and roasted malts mostly. It also has a slight coffee like flavor.

This beer is a little thin for the style, I think. It is very low in carbonation.

This beer might be a decent session beer. While not bad tasting, it isnt all that great either.

Overall: A big thanks goes out to BuckeyeNation for giving me the chance to try this beer. Although not my favorite, it was not bad, and I always enjoy trying something new.
Jan 10, 2009
Photo of maximum12
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota

4.07/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
My first bottle of Hub City courtesy of pepsican.

Almost no head on this deep brown bad-boy, but the smell is whacked surprising, with a sweetness & a latent vanilla outpouring that was completely unexpected. Taste matches the nose to a tee, light, sweet, vanilla syrup.

This is about as straightforward, pleasant porter as I've had in quite a while. The mouthfeel matches the brew perfectly, & I could see myself tying into a few of these.

Very good, well-crafted porter from a brewery I'd never heard of; took me by surprise. Makes me look forward to the other two that are resting innocently in the fridge.
Jan 09, 2009
Photo of sgoodship
Reviewed by sgoodship from Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This bottle was donated to the cause by my good friend bjones10. Thanks Brian!

A: Cute little 12oz bottle. An aggressive pour led to a very small espresso head that dissipated to a slight mist and ring in no time at all. The liquid is reddish brown (almost black) with mahogany highlights against the light. There is some small spotty lacing but it fades away.

S: Heavy roasted malt with a bitter chocolate/coffee. A little more sour than the typical porter signature nose but pleasant enough.

T: Nice and roasty - much like the smell. Nothing mind boggling. A little watery toward the end with an almost seltzer-like aftertaste. The flavor just doesn't quite deliver what it promises.

M: Medium bodied and smooth but slight wateriness to the taste gave the impression of thinness. Very light carbonation.

D: I'd be happy to drink this again but I am not going out of my way for it when there are so many better and more readily available porters.
Jan 07, 2009
Hub City Olde Browne Porter from Hub City Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 32 ratings