London Porter
Meantime Brewing Company Limited

London PorterLondon Porter
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From:
Meantime Brewing Company Limited
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Porter
Ranked #11
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,617
Avg:
4 | pDev: 10.75%
Reviews:
291
Ratings:
464
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 01, 2023
Added:
Aug 28, 2005
Wants:
  35
Gots:
  47
Porter was the great London beer style of the 18th and 19th centuries, when the city was revered as both the brewing capital and trading hub of the world. Named after the legions of porters in her docks, streets and markets who drank this powerful beer to slake their thirst, Meantime London Porter is a classic interpretation of this complex dark beer style.

Wonderful with mature cheese, beef, lamb, or as traditionally served, with oysters.
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Ratings by jazzyjeff13:
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.65/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A 750ml bottle with a BB of July 2013. Acquired ages ago from a supermarket and stored in my garage. The label suggests that this porter was created using a historic recipe from the 18th century.

Poured into a Delirium chalice. Appears black in the glass, however when held to the light it is revealed as a lovely ruby-chestnut hue with good carbonation. Yields a massive head of creamy beige foam with good retention; this slowly subsides to a surface layer. Aroma of dark roasted malt with hints of chocolate, nuttiness, mild coffee, molasses/caramel, faint dried fruit, earthy yeast and stewed hops. Dry, subtle and delicious.

Tastes of roasted malt with a delicate, earthy character and a dry finish. Notes of roasted grain, mild chocolate, faint coffee, hints of caramel/molasses, dried fruit, musty yeast and stewed hops. The overall flavour is balanced but understated, with a dry maltiness upon swallowing. Little bitterness to speak of, though there is a subtle sour quality in the background. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, with pleasant carbonation. Body is decent but errs on the thin side. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of chocolate malt, old tea and earthy yeast.

Rather nice, though falls short of perfection. Perhaps it's a little too old (despite being in date). Nicely presented in a corked/caged champagne bottle, and looks appealing in the glass. The aroma has a satisfying depth to it; the flavour slightly less so. The mouthfeel could be a tad more viscous. A tasty brew that goes down nicely, but could perhaps have a more defined roasted malt character. Nonetheless, a quality porter that is well worth trying.
Nov 26, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.58 by shelby415 from Oregon

Jul 01, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Rerate, 750 ml corked "champagne" bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Aroma of roast malts, cold coffee, woodwork and unsweetened cocoa. Moderately roasty and quite dry flavour, notes of mild cofee and dark chocolate, some woody hints too.

Original rating: 750 ml "champagne" bottle, RBESG 2005, Grand Tasting. Dark brown colour. Aroma of roast malts, oak and spices. Surprisingly moderate roasty flavour.
Jun 30, 2022
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.06/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can't remember if corpulent or bonerhog brought this to corpulent's birthday jam in September 2016. Unlike the others around the golf course, this one was at the hotel before the Primus show.

Pours brown, a lighter brown than your average American porter, although I guess half of those tend to be imperial porters that really blur the already razor thin distinction between a porter and stout, but I digress. Dark red towards the edge, tan head 1/3". Aroma was also a little different, less roast, more akin to brown ale brown malt feels. Thought there was a chance it was going to be one of those 19th century slightly sour porters, but no.

The taste went into scotch ale territory, had an earthier, peaty aspect to it, way more bitterness than this malt bill should be handling. What is that, pipe tobacco? Lower carbonation brings on caramel creek where some acorns fall into the watershed through the forest.

A little bit taken back the scores are so high. Shoulder shrug.
Jun 19, 2020
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

2.83/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
L- Black. 2Cm cream head, looks like it'll hold forever.
S- Leather saddles, the kind the hot bird you fantasised about as a tennager has just effortlessly straddled off.
T- Smokey, peaty. Not huge into black beer, but here we are...
F- Crisp, it's balanced too
O- Too porter/'black' for me, too intense on that dimension. Too mega 'heavy roasty/toasty'.
Aug 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.96 by ak010101 from New York

Feb 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.72 by TheCrowsEye from California

Dec 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.87 by dandy14 from Brazil

Oct 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.66 by Casey_L from Texas

May 04, 2017
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed in Roger Protz' CAMRA classic "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!" .
Also on the list of "1001 Beers To Drink Before You Die," stay tuned for my review and next tasting.

Meantime represents to me the "Sam Adams" of British craft brewing... really great marketing (see their deal with the mid-level department store that specializes in groceries.) And yet, Meantime also has a love of beer and is still experimenting.
Apr 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Chadbo from Illinois

Apr 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Mar 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by couchsitta from Minnesota

Mar 11, 2016
Photo of Trentt2
Rated by Trentt2 from Alaska

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Delicious. But nothing extraordinary. I'd totally have it again
Feb 29, 2016
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.84/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours black with medium foamy head. Aroma of roast grains, chocolate. Taste is sharp, whiskey barrel, dark chocolate, espresso. Mouthfeel is just right, smooth and velvety. Lingering dark chocolate on the palate. Nice!
Jan 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by That_Turtle from New Jersey

Jan 18, 2016
Photo of tkdchampxi
Reviewed by tkdchampxi from New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is an exceptional example of the style. Aged 4 years, it still had an exceptional head with a full, thick mouthfeel that was both smooth and creamy. Lots of rost character with hints of coffee and chocolate
Jan 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.16 by Pens1967 from Louisiana

Dec 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by hkyplyr73 from New York

Dec 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Poupae from Thailand

Nov 29, 2015
London Porter from Meantime Brewing Company Limited
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 464 ratings