Eden Porter
Jack Russell's Steak House / Maine Coast Brewing Co.

Eden PorterEden Porter
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From:
Jack Russell's Steak House / Maine Coast Brewing Co.
 
Maine, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
84
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 11.2%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
23
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 11, 2015
Added:
Nov 04, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WaltTrombone:
Photo of WaltTrombone
Reviewed by WaltTrombone from New York

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This bier came to me courtesy of the brewer himself, BA's own Bennybrew, a very extravagant, but much appreciated gift when I was recently in Maine!

This bier poured almost black, with dark ruby notes when held to the light, and had a fluffy tan head that left lots of nice lace in the glass.

The aroma was mild, with coffee, sweet malt, and dark chocolate. Taste also had the coffee, malt and chocolate thing happening, with a faint licorice note, and just enough hoppiness to balance the other flavors.

The mouthfeel was smooth, with a medium carbonation. The finish was hops, just a tad of bitterness to complete the ride.

Thanks to Bennybrew for the sampler, and also a fitting bier to have for my 20th review! So, I'm official now! Huzzah!
Apr 18, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.28 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Jun 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by KLHBB from Arkansas

May 12, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by cjgiant from District of Columbia

Aug 07, 2014
Photo of GarthDanielson
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Poured on-tap at Jack Russell's, the beer was served in a shaker pint. The beer is an almost translucent brown coloring with a light, filmy, clingy head. Nose of watered down coffee, with some earthy highlights. Flavors of bittersweet nut and hints of coffee. Very watery body. The aftertaste is a tangy blend of nut and chocolate, with a tangy, cloying finish. The body really pulls the whole beer down for me, weakening the palate completely.
Aug 23, 2013
Photo of jbsteiny
Reviewed by jbsteiny from Hawaii

3.57/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Got a bottle of this at the brewery -- wanted to stack it up against the very good stout I had on tap at the restaurant. Poured a dark brown with a huge light tan head, which foamed up and dropped within a couple of minutes, leaving a thin foamy coating atop the beer with minimal lacing. The smell was mostly faint roasted malts -- coffee, chocolate -- with some burnt notes, some sweet breadiness that I don't expect from an American porter, and a little bit of hops. Inviting, but very much on the fence.

Tasted good. The chocolate came out more, but the malt overall had more of a sweet characteristic than a roasted one. I was reminded of Cooperstown's Old Slugger, which I like very much. The problem with this beer (for me) is that it's way overcarboonated, which exacerbates its thin mouthfeel. Overall, it's a drinkable porter, and an interesting take on the style, but for an example of my favorite types of beer, I'm not sure it's one I'd come back to often.
Jul 09, 2007
Photo of tavernjef
Reviewed by tavernjef from Minnesota

3.44/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Leathery black with one really cool looking cap on it. Looks like a dollop of vanilla malt shake was placed on top. Nicely placed lacing in fluffy sheets with a few moth holes in em.

Aroma is thick of char and ash. And that's about it. Dry and ashy. Whoa is it ever. Wow. A bit much and a bit weird. And so it goes...

Why cook out when you can drink the stuff right off your grill. Cuz that's what this stuff tastes like. Definately smokey, ashy, charred, smokey, everything that has been fired up on the grill; corn cobs, steak, old iron, and blackened/burnt juices from various food items placed on the grill. Now with that said, it is definately not the norm for a porter, at least that I know of. This is a stretch on the interpretation of the style if there ever was one. No real balance as its all smoke, ash, and char. Interestingly unique, and a tad much, with lots of complicated smokey stuff going on. I would imagine a forest fire fighter might know some of these flavors more then I, but to me this is nearly like walking into a huge pit of ash and burnt stuff scraped from the grill.

Feel is a tang of ash and smoke within a dryish, ashtray-like medium-light body with no real fashion or care to making the flavors any more interesting then they already are.

One bizarre, smoke filled porter. Not something that can be enjoyed fully. Strangely capativating, yet not. If ya like stuff charred, this might be just the thing for ya.
Jul 31, 2006
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a tan, two-finger head that goes slowly and leaves a good lace. Black color. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Roasted coffee/smokey nose. Starts slightly sweet but mainly roasted coffee. Smokey/tobacco finish. $1.83 for a 12oz bottle from Maine Coast Brewery Bar Harbor, Me. And FWIW Eden was the old name of Bar Harbor until about 1870.
Sep 13, 2005
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.37/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle from a Xmas gift sampler of Maine brews from my friend Joe. Thanks!

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a little 1/4" tan head above the reddish mahogany brew. Head is short lived, quickly down to an uneven layer of bubbles, and lacing is average at best. Aroma is dark grains, especially a sweet coffee, with maybe even a bit of smoke hiding in there. Taste follows the lead of the nose, although perhaps a bit more sedate than indicated. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, almost harkening towards an English Porter, maybe, but drinkability is excellent. This one's kind of all over the board, but would make a good session if you were looking for such.
Mar 23, 2005
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First off, fantastic carbonation, as it exploded on opening and then, no matter how carefully I poured, the head took over most of the glass. After that tumult, we see...dark brown color, showing clear, reddish edges, and a faint-tannish head, supremely bubbly, to say the least. Aroma: dark toned, with bittersweet espresso-ish notes, distinctive cocoa expressions, a touch spicy, too. So far, so good, porterly speaking...
Taste: mild, if any hops, thick malt, with an unusual undercurrent of tobacco-y tastes. Fruity flavors emerge as well, but this smokiness won't quit, either. Taste like an ashtray, almost. Carbonation is huge, rushes forth in every meeting with the lips. Mouthfeel isn't quit as full as I'd like and the finish is a bit faint. Too often, though, and I swear I'm not making this up, it's like drinking a chocolate cigarette!
Not to say I didn't like it, it's just a bit unusual!
Mar 08, 2004
Photo of ViveLaChouffe
Reviewed by ViveLaChouffe from Georgia

3.28/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours dark mahogany with hints of lighter colors around the edges. nice big tan head. Smells bitter and astringent, like too much CO2?

Tastes is malty and smooth. Nutty and understated. A real smooth and mellow porter. It's humble for lack of a better word and I like that. What I don't like is the weird CO2 aftertaste on this beer. It tastes like sparkling mineral water, a taste I cannot abide. My wife loves it on the other hand. To each their own. i have enjoyed this beer on draft and I think the bottle does not do it justice.
Dec 22, 2003
Photo of BillyBrew
Reviewed by BillyBrew from Maine

3.88/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
"The Dark Ale of Paradise"? My dark paradise would be full of porters and this one would be invited.

A shade towards brown from black witha very fine, creamy head that stays a quarter-inch thick throughout. A nice roasted caramelly-sweetness, but too faint in the nose.

Great balance in roasted malt and caramell sweetness complimenting a present, but unoffensive hop. No stars, but a solid, quiet team.

The body lives close to the light-heavyweight/too heavy line, but on the good side. Pretty clean for its fullness without the lingering
oily-porter taste. Almost dry. Great session porter.

I like this one more with every taste, wish I had more.

Cheers!
Nov 03, 2003
Photo of Hhawk06
Reviewed by Hhawk06 from Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It poured deep ruby/black with a rocky inconsistent head. The smell was incredible, a rich chocolate malt that was almost like dessert. A lot of sensations dance on the tongue here. It starts with a silky chocolate character but quickly morphs into a pale roastiness. Finishes slightly woodsy and roasted. A fabulous porter!
Oct 24, 2003
Photo of marc77
Reviewed by marc77 from California

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Deep chestnut hue, with a uniform deep, hazed burgundy hue when held to light. A vigorous pour produces a thin, but well retained light beige head that yields loose, muddled lace. The aroma is a combination of mild, bittersweet chocolate malt and sharper, mildly burnt, coffeeish notes and is thus mocha like in nature. Subtle hints of dark caramel add richness. Clean and lightly roasty. Drying, sharp surge of carbonized, smokey grain initially in flavor abates slightly, allowing caramel sweetness to emerge and assuage burnt grain bitterness transiently. Black patent asserts itself mid palate, and lends a perceptibly tart, tempered carbonaceous astringency that serves to help faciliate a parching, thirst inducing nature. Well attenuated and lanky in body, with a vacuous, but inobtrusive mouthfeel. Sweetens as the carbonic acid bite dissipates and mellows overall, with simple residual dextrins eventually tapering grain bitterness. Finishes with a vapid tartness, but otherwise clean, roasty and with fading notes of unsweetened cocoa. An enjoyable brew, but the roasted grain astringency detracts from what would otherwise be a excellent porter. Sometimes I like it rough, and this beer thus hits the spot. A rustic, flavorful porter that would be superb on cask and / or at a lower carbonation level. Thanks to Bennybrew for sending the goods.
Aug 29, 2003
Photo of Gusler
Reviewed by Gusler from Arizona

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The beer pours from the bottle a beauteous dark walnut color, the head is portly in size, spumous in texture, and the color a light tan and the lace formed is a satiny sheet to hide the glass. Aromas of toasted grain predominate in the nose, sweet and fresh, quite a treat to the olfactory and ocular senses. Start is malt laden, sweet and the top moderate in feel to the palate. Finish has a mild to moderate acidity, the hops pleasant in their spiciness, very dry and long lasting somewhat tart aftertaste. A fine drinking porter and another treasure from the state of Maine.
Aug 09, 2003
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Reviewed by longpondbeerman from Maine

4.07/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Shared a growler of this dark brown brew with greatpondbrewer, courtesy of bennybrew. It had a light chocolate head that receded quickly, and the smell was oaky malts with a tangy undertow. The taste was much lighter than I expected, though the coffee notes were clear, and there was suprising effervescence, which I liked. There was just a hint of hoppiness too, which I found also refreshing as a balance to the mustiness of most porters. A fine light porter.
Aug 06, 2003
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Reviewed by GreatPondBrewer from California

4.07/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
1/2 gallon growler courtesy of bennybrew

More of a brown than a black with a chestnut bottom and a thin cafe au lait head that receded into a film with some lace around the edges. Smell was roasted coffee and some black chocolate malts. But mostly coffee. Not any hops to detect. Taste was thin and refreshing with some more astringent coffee notes along with some light caramel flavor and a little hop taste as well. Carbonation was not at all prevelant which fit nicely with this beer. Certainly a easy drinking beer that was none too heavy unlike most porters I know of. This is a wonderful session brew and something I could drink all night. Three cheers for the brewer!
Aug 06, 2003
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Reviewed by cretemixer from Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A deep brown brew with a mocha colored head. It fades to a thin, even layer with a decent lace.
Deep roasted aroma of coffee with a touch of chocolate. There is a sweetness there too...mollasses??
Smooth taste. Coffee and a strong maltiness. There is also a nice bitterness in the background to balance things out. Dryer on the finish with a lingering bitterness.
Slightly thin body with mild carbonation. A nice drinkable porter from a hell of a nice guy. Thanks to bennybrew for the selection.
Jul 31, 2003
Photo of cokes
Reviewed by cokes from Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep and dark ruby brown under and thin tan top.
Medium roast coffee, toasted bread and yeasty aromatics.
Begins, and stay, fairly roasted coupled with a near milk chocolate. Mocha-esque and downable in gulps. Dairy creamer like sweet-sourness counters. Undercurrents of smoldered plums and raisins. Mild herbal hop departure.
Medium bodied with low carbonation. This is a porter with an authentic British lean.
A choice session-styled porter.

Thanks Bennybrew. Put this on cask, my man, and I'll be there as soon as I can.
Jun 07, 2003
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz stubby brown twist off bottle with no freshness date.

Appearance: Tight bubbly light tan lace with random bubbles sticking to the glass, deep dark brown that is about a shade or two off black.

Smell: Musty chalky yeast aroma, some soft roasted dark malt and sweetness present.

Taste & Mouthfeel : Smooth with a light carbonation and moderate body. Charcoal bite from the roasted malts seems to linger for a while. Thick yeast flavour intrudes on the taste buds with a mustiness. Hops play second fiddle but seem to balance things just fine. Finishes with a thin layer of residual sweetness and more roasted malt and yeast flavours.

Drinkability & Notes: An ok porter, yeast is a bit over the top for me but the roasted flavours are great. Not bad but I’d find a way to tone down the yeast.
Feb 17, 2003
Eden Porter from Jack Russell's Steak House / Maine Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 23 ratings