Black Cat Stout
Portsmouth Brewery

Black Cat StoutBlack Cat Stout
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From:
Portsmouth Brewery
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Irish Dry Stout
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 9.95%
Reviews:
105
Ratings:
198
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 31, 2017
Added:
Jan 30, 2002
Wants:
  60
Gots:
  11
Yes, Arthur, there is another stout. Our Irish-style "dry" stout is brewed with four different malts, roasted barley and Chinook hops. It is big, bold, smooth & tasty, and we think it's the best thing on either side of St. James Gate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by gentlebubbles:
Photo of gentlebubbles
Reviewed by gentlebubbles from Massachusetts

3.56/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
9/27/05 on cask at the brewpub

Utterly black with fat yeasty tan head, just like a scoop of ice cream on a float as the (root) beer underneath starts to invade. The fluffiness never gives up, leaving grey clouds on the glass and a lumpy cookie in the bottom.

Very yeasty scent, like bread yeast. I'm still of divided mind as to whether I like this on a beer.

Sweet smooth chocolate that melts like silk on the tongue.

Slightly syrupy body.

Actually, it got a little too sweet and syrupy for me toward the end. If I didn't have to drive home, I would have tried something else.
Oct 02, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had on tap. Medium black with 2 fingers of brown foam. Dark chocolate, roasted malt, slight earth, and toasted caramel in the nose. Taste has decent toasted caramel and chocolate, nicely accents the earthy and roasted notes, slight nuttiness in there too. Feel is dry, roasted, and earthy, but a touch more depth would go a long way, still a nice IDS
Dec 31, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.52/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was poured into a pint glass and a mug. The appearance was a nice looking dark brown close to black color with a decent one finger white to off white foamy head that once it dissipates, there’s a decent amount of white foamy lacing that’s kinda light for the most part. The smell had a nice dry roasted coffee aroma with some light chocolate trying to come through but stays in the background for the most part The taste was mostly dry with a nice roasty sort of coffee-ness coming through. On the palate, this one sits about a light to medium on the body and it has a fairly decent sessionable aspect about it. Overall, I say this was a decent Irish Dry Stout worthy of having again.
Jun 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by pieface22 from New Hampshire

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.82 by Didier from New Hampshire

Dec 20, 2015
Photo of Back_in_the_Saddle
Reviewed by Back_in_the_Saddle from Vermont

3.99/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a black color with a one and a half finger foamy white head that dissipated at a nice pace. Light lacing graced the sides of the glass nicely.
The smell started off with some smoked malts and bleeds into a nice roastiness. Dry cocoa beans and a light dark chocolate glide in for the balance.
The taste was moderately balanced between the sweet, the smoke and the roast. Cocoa beans blend with a light coffee bean. There's a light quick roasty to smoky aftertaste leading into a dry finish.
The mouthfeel was about a light to medium in body with a decent sessionability about it. Carbonation felt right for the style and for me.
Overall, nice Irish Dry stout, pretty sure I could do this again.
Nov 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by DrStiffington from New Jersey

Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.39 by Biggiekrock627 from Maryland

Nov 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by unclekeith from Alaska

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by SocalKicks from California

Oct 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.26 by parris from Massachusetts

Oct 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Oct 20, 2015
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lem me start by warning that this beer is incredibly carbonated. A soft pour gets four fingers of rich carmel colored fat foam head. It has excellent retention and leaves scattered lace. Body is pure ink black. Nose has distinct hops, burnt malt and a dry mineral quality. With first sip I am taken by how the dryness of this beer teams with the soft smoked malts to form a dynamic union. There is the slightest of sweetness on the back of the tongue then a bit of citrus rind or even piney hop tone. They really hit the style perfectly with this one. Maybe the best American version of the style I have has the pleasure to try. Mouthfeel is both dry and thick with a bitter bite on the end. Wonderfully drinkable, long term sipper.
Sep 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Aug 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.55 by ejmw from Michigan

Jun 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by SnacksGarces from Massachusetts

Jun 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by MisterKilderkin from California

May 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.78 by Faxmesomehalibut from New Hampshire

Apr 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by jwwjd from New Hampshire

Mar 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by snowmageddon from Massachusetts

Mar 08, 2015
Black Cat Stout from Portsmouth Brewery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 198 ratings