Pivotal Porter (Barrel Aged)
Twisted Manzanita Ales

Pivotal Porter (Barrel Aged)Pivotal Porter (Barrel Aged)
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From:
Twisted Manzanita Ales
 
California, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.3 | pDev: 14.85%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
19
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 31, 2015
Added:
Apr 05, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.33 by JMBSH from Colorado

Oct 31, 2015
 
Rated: 2.25 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by BoRaeCho from Texas

Sep 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by rpjordan from Maine

Jan 26, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jan 22, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by LKFH from California

Jan 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jan 08, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by mjtiernan from New York

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of Retsinis
Reviewed by Retsinis from Arizona

2.63/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Review from notes

A: Poured from the bottled into a tulip glass. The beer pours a light black, with a brown hue, and a half inch of white head formed and faded fast, leaving just a ring of bubble, and no lacing.

S: Scents of mild caramel malt, very mild bourbon touch, and a sprinkingly of vanilla.

T: Mostly mirros nose, all mild notes. Medium caramel malt, light vanilla, and a bit of oak.

M: Light carbonation, with a light mouth feel, and mild malt weight.

O: Muddled, in my humble opinion. The first sign, is its called a "brown Porter" since it's basically a beer that is neither a brown ale, or a porter. While I'm fine with experimentation, and love what barreling aging can add to a beer when done right, this was none of those. The bourbon addeed little, and the backbone of the beer lacked the roasted malts, brown sugar, or smooth creaminess in the base beer to work, for me. From the looks of it, this brewery is not even a year old, and I know that barrel aging is risky, and sometimes does not work out. I'll give this another shot if they make a second batch, since the price point was reasonable, and perhaps it will improve.
Aug 23, 2011
Photo of HalfFull
Reviewed by HalfFull from California

3.48/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bomber poured into a large wine glass. Pours a deep brown with half an inch of creamy mocha foam and is largely clear and ruby in the light. Moderate retention and solid lacing follow.

Aroma is light with a bit of oak, some whiskey and a bit of dark cherry and some chocolate malt. Pleasant albeit subtle, both the barrel and the base beer as well.

Flavor is a bit bland with nothing really jumping forward on the palate. Touch of barrel up front with a soft segue to a chocolate finish. Decent feel with a return of dark cherry and caramel notes on the finish along with some chocolate powder..improving somewhat with warming. 7.5% ABV is unnoticed.

Overall light and subtle with thin barrel notes. Yet this is somewhat in balance with a base beer that is light in complexity as well. Drink is easy given light body and complexity.
Aug 17, 2011
Photo of SDtastentune
Reviewed by SDtastentune from California

3.58/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Dark deep brown, Some lace & head.

S - Whisky, Sweeter malts....

T - Whisky sweet, similar to the smell. Smoky and kinda roasty but not overpowering. A little burnt toast taste, but not over the top. Small amount of vanilla as it warms up a bit...

M - Medium to higher carbonation, kinda goes down fizzy. Not much of a strong aftertaste. Somewhat a little hot after.

O - Overall... Not too impressed, easy drinking and balanced... so might be good for some lower ibu drinkers, but I like more of a barrel aged taste. Ok porter, but I have had more robust brews that are not barrel aged in the porter style.
Aug 16, 2011
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.99/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Surprisingly light bodied, but then they call it a "brown porter" rather than an imperial stout. Nutty with a slowly growing bitter hop flavor. Lots of roasted malt, on the darker side. Great aroma of whiskey; the flavor carries over the charred barrel and booziness, but rather restrained. Creamy and quite carbonated. Golden brown color in the Duvel tulip. Modest head. Overall, a very drinkable and pleasing beer. Just not a giant heavy monster, but I like the lighter style in a BA beer. According to the label this is 7.5% ABV.
Jul 27, 2011
Photo of KevinBrewer
Reviewed by KevinBrewer from California

3.27/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
A- Deep ruby-brown with a decent tan head that dissipates to a blanket, leaving patchy lacing.

N- The main aroma is apple cider with a touch of roasted malt doused in whiskey. Smells like a good apple cider, but I don't think that's what they were going for.

T- The taste is much better than the aroma. Sweet roasty malt accented with subtle vanilla and dry oak. A hint of whiskey adds some complexity. Mild leafy bitterness lingers through the finish, with whispers of roasted malt, oak, vanilla, and whiskey in the aftertaste.

M- Perfect medium-light body for a porter. Lively carbonation, and a semi-dry finish.

D- Overall, this beer is really not bad. For a porter, the mouthfeel was spot on, the appearance is good, and the taste is appropriately subtle. The malt, hops, oak, and whiskey are all in balance. The aroma is where the beer falls very short. It's unappetizing for a beer to smell like straight apple cider, and it sets up a negative expectation for the taste. And I found the aroma distracting as I tried to enjoy the flavor. Although once I got my nose away from the glass, the beer really showed its tasty side.
Jun 21, 2011
Photo of cb462
Reviewed by cb462 from California

2.73/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
A: Pours a dark bronze, almost like a pool of rusty water. 1/2" of off-white head that quickly dissipates to a thin film. Light lacing.

S: Extremely muted. I had to wait for this to warm up a bit to pull any distinguishable notes off of it. Caramely malt, light vanilla and oak from the whiskey. Lightly metallic.

T: Again, not a lot going on here. Nothing horrible, but nothing great. It has a metallic alcohol harshness to it, followed by malty sweetness and just a touch of vanilla. Leaves an oaky aftertaste that is probably the most enjoyable aspect of the beer.

M: Far too thin. Carbonation is a little high for how thin it is. Lacking.

O: Honestly, I tend to enjoy most whiskey barrel aged beers. I love bourbon, but am generally not a fan of most Canadian whiskey. This is just an extremely underwhelming example. Nothing really stands out, but nothing is really horrible about it. It's just kind of bland. I believe this is Manzanita's first barrel aged attempt, so I applaud them for not going directly to a bourbon barrel stout, but kind of wish they had. I wish them luck in their future attempts.
Jun 05, 2011
Photo of danwho
Reviewed by danwho from California

3.19/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Poured from a bomber into a pint glass. I wanted to try this from local brewery, Santee, CA.
Poured with little to no head. Smell is good: whiskey barrel, caramel and vanilla notes, sweet, nice.
Taste the whiskey up front, then malts, not alot on the finish that is different. Tastes a bit thin with nothing to cover the 7.5%.
Little or no lace on the glass.
As it warms it becomes a little harsh (more bite) than I prefer.
I would like this to have a little more body and carbonation though.
One was enough for me.
Jun 05, 2011
Photo of SDDanC
Reviewed by SDDanC from California

3.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes.

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Pours a very dark brown with no head. There was a good amount of whiskey on the nose, a bit of caramel. Taste was not as strong as expected, slight caramel and roasty cocoa, with no depth from the whiskey I expected. Overall, it was a decent attempt, but for improvement I think it definitely needs more body and flavor profile.
May 25, 2011
Photo of badboyrsl84
Reviewed by badboyrsl84 from California

4/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark coke color with a nice 2 inch head.

Smell - whiskey! Super good aroma. Smell of malts and a tiny hint of coca.

Taste - whisky up front and in kicks the malt. Items finishes with a cocoa taste! Good for a first barrel effort.

Overall - I'm happy with it and would purchase it again
May 22, 2011
Photo of srandycarter
Reviewed by srandycarter from California

2.97/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Ok, I like this brewery and the brewer. Please don't take this personally.

A - Dark cola, near white small head leaves fast to ring. Some cling lace.

S - Toasty malt for the most part. Hint of coffee. Nice smell.

T - Nice enough flavor, but thin. Dull. Not much there. Watery.

M - Medium carb, fair balance, but not much to balance. Fairly clean finish.

D - Easy to drink but just dull. One would be nice.
Apr 24, 2011
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

2.67/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
On-tap at Oakquinox

A: The pour is a darkish brown color with a khaki head sitting on top.

S: Lots of bold oak aromas up front with some roast and char. The nose starts off sort of bland and light, but as it warms up a touch, it becomes rather harsh and has an aroma of nail polish remover.

T: The flavor is surprisingly bland as well. There is a bit of toasted and roasted malts, and some mild toffee and chocolate sweetness. The oak is there, but only a little bit of vanilla.

M: Medium in body with a medium level of carbonation.

O: Unremarkable at best. The flavor was slightly better than the nose, but only because it didn't really have anything going on.
Apr 23, 2011
Pivotal Porter (Barrel Aged) from Twisted Manzanita Ales
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 19 ratings