Newport Storm - Henry (Cyclone Series)
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

Newport Storm - Henry (Cyclone Series)Newport Storm - Henry (Cyclone Series)
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From:
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
 
Rhode Island, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
7.6%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.43 | pDev: 16.03%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
27
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 18, 2014
Added:
Feb 02, 2008
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
At the time of brew, Henry had the highest ‘terminal gravity’ of any beer we have made. This means there are more “non-fermentables” remaining. Purposefully created this way, the body of this beer is silky smooth and has an awesome mouthfeel, that is dead-on for a Munich dark style; over half the malt in this brew was Munich malt. We used our house yeast strain to ferment this brew a little cooler, giving Henry extended tank time to be more true to the style, finishing lager-style dry and crisp. Chocolate malts are abound in Henry and compliment bold meat dishes. Henry was the first beer in the US to use the 2008 crop of the famous ‘German Tradition Hop.’

20 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ybnorml:
Photo of ybnorml
Reviewed by ybnorml from Rhode Island

3.92/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A clean dark brown beer with ruby highlights. Has a small beige head the disappears quickly. The aroma has a sweet malty caramel character with hints of milk chocolate in the background. The taste starts out with the milk chocolate note. But quickly slides into a bittersweet chocolate character with a hint of coffee in the background. A very drinkable beer for the cold New England winter. But be careful at 7.6% this one could sneak up on you.

The brewery calls this a Munich Dark Ale.
Feb 10, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.25 by rorjets from Connecticut

Jan 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by nmann08 from Virginia

Nov 28, 2011
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

3.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:

A "Munich Dark Ale," according to their website; over 75 percent of the malt used is of the Munich Malt variety (and lots of it) to bring this beer up to 7.6-percent abv. Only 20 IBUs, so be prepared for a malt bomb.

Healthy-looking, tiny-bubbled, tan head leaves a curtain of lacing on the glass. Muddled tawny color that actually shows its clarity when put to the light. Sweet malty aroma of brown bread, demerara sugar and faint chicory. Creamy, slick mouthfeel, with a semi-smooth carbonation within the nearly full body. At first taste is a twang of toasted grain that seems a little husky and sweet, but then mellows with more of a toasted biscuit or lightly burnt pizza crust. Hops are extremely modest with a faint peppering of bitterness and a ghostlike floral note. Hint of fruitiness middle to end consists of grape skin and mealy Red Delicious apples. Finishes with more toasted graininess and a quick kiss of baker's chocolate.

A malt bomb it is, an experiment gone right here--we are loving the Munich. While not immensely quaffable, it's still easy to sip, as the sweetness is balanced out enough. Steaming some Quahogs in this beer sounds like a plan.
Sep 14, 2010
Photo of chaosmaster
Reviewed by chaosmaster from Rhode Island

4.74/5  rDev +38.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
strong fragrance as soon as i poured the beer into my mug. thick and heavy foamy head lasted more than 10 minutes, indicating a good selection of ingrediients. Very complicated caremel tastes came in layers. The beer gave me a quick buzz. After taste is also very pleasant. Wish I could drink it more often. Love Newport!
Feb 01, 2010
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my nonic pint glass. The ale appears a clear crimson brown color with about two fingers of dense light ecru foam. Nose and flavor consist of sweet caramel malts, medium roasted cereal grains, raisins, plums/prunes, mild chocolate notes, slightly nutty, bitter and tart. Right around medium bodied with light carbonation.
Jun 25, 2009
Photo of OStrungT
Reviewed by OStrungT from California

4.32/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a slightly cloudy mohogany color, with a thin tan head. The head fades quickly, leaving a good lacing.

This beer has a raisin like aroma. I can smells some sweet malt. Some molasses also. It has a fig aroma too. It has a slight chocolate aroma as well.

This beer tastes much like it smells. Chocolatey with some figs and raisins. It is definately sweet and malty. The alcohol is hidden well in the flavor.

This beer is full bodied. It goes down smoothly, leaving a sweet raisin aftertaste. The carbonation is good.

This beer might make a decent session beer. It is just a little high in alcohol, and the flavor may get a little cloying, but it tastes great.

Overall: Thank you TheodorHerzl for this generous hook up. This beer is great, and it is from a new state for me. I would drink it again.
Mar 14, 2009
Photo of far333
Reviewed by far333 from Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark chestnut colored with ruddy highlights at the base of the glass where light gets through. a thick head of light brown foam rises up a full inch and hangs on long.

Inviting aroma of dark roasted malt and cocoa, some fig.

Flavor of roasted malt upfront, moves to charred bark and cocoa, some raisin and cherry, then to a puckery oaky linger.

Full and creamy mouthfeel, just a bit tannic. Pretty drinkable, but the tannic and puckery finish detracts.
Dec 26, 2008
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

3.3/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a fat-two-finger-thick, lightly browned, tan colored head. The beer is quite dark, and looks like a very burnt, amber tinged color, when held up to the light the beer shows a brilliantly clear, deep ruby color. The aroma smells of well toasted malt, a touch of roasted notes, a soft nuttiness, perhaps a touch of cocoa, a lightly sweet burnt raisin note, some notes of sweet plum and even prune. The aroma grows on me after a bit and seems a touch more complex than I at first thought it would be.

Lightly sweet tasting up front with a touch of dry roasted grain in the middle that starts to balance this, the beer finishes though with a fair amount of tartness that seems a bit out of place. The tartness is fairly tart, but definitely noticeable, the beer is pretty clean though. Flavors of raisin and light concentrated plum up front are then greeted by notes of lightly roasted coffee, well toasted grain husks, a lingering roasted nuttiness and of course the tartness that brings out some notes of tart plums and even some roast grain acidity. The roast character lingers on the palate after each sip with an almost nuttiness as well as a touch of burnt bitterness. This beer is surprisingly light (which should be another warning, along with the tartness) for a beer of this strength and percentage of Munich, the carbonation actually is somewhat high and contributes a bit of fizziness to the texture as well.

I am starting to think that this clean tartness is a house bug that has intruded into a lot of the Newport Storm beers. Not bad, but the tartness is definitely a bit out of place.
Dec 17, 2008
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

2.58/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Appearance: Pours a chocolate brown color with a rocky tan head; sticks nicely and leaves a few strands of lace

Smell: Interesting vinous aroma, with a tart cherry aspect to it

Taste: Starts out fruity, with some Christmas spice elements, but quickly the tart vinous flavor takes over; after the swallow, the beer becomes a sour cherry mess that I don't think was ever intended

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation, but puckering acidity

Drinkability: Yet another Coastal Extreme beer that fails to last, despite the high ABV; this brewery is a real enigma

Thanks, TheManiacalOne, for the opportunity
Dec 13, 2008
Photo of csmiley
Reviewed by csmiley from Ohio

3.07/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to ph2001 for sending this along in a BIF

A - Pours a deep, dark mahogany color that does hold some appeal. The tan head was able to reach just under half inch before dissipating rather quickly. Lacing is minimal at best. Nice color overall but lacking in other areas.

S - Comes across as a very malty brew. Notes of dark fruit rush out of the gate. I'm getting mostly raisin. Caramel and maple also have a strong presence. Some spice comes in around midway but gets muddled amongst the other aromas. Alcohol is noticeable and works very well for this particular brew. The tail end has some honey, nuts, and sweetbread. Nice overall.

T - Fruity in the flavor as well. Some raisin and grape are in there. Alcohol steps it up in the flavor and gets considerably warmer. Some bread on the end that comes across as gingerbread and maybe some honey flavored granola. There is a nagging flavor on the very end that just seems out of place. Tastes like sour cherries. Not sure if it is supposed to be there but it just tastes like it shouldn't.

M - Medium bodied with low carbonation. Finish is clean with a slight tartness that hangs on for a few minutes.

D - Drinkability is average. Henry starts out showing some potential but doesn't live up to expectations. At the end of the first sip it all just starts going downhill. The alcohol is hidden fairly well in aroma and taste which helps this category. Glad I got the chance to try it but would not seek this brew out agian.
Nov 25, 2008
Photo of PEBKAC
Reviewed by PEBKAC from North Carolina

2.67/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
Leftover notes from ABF leftovers.

Best before date notched... err... no notch. :|

Some dry gunk on the inside rim, but no gushing or odd smells on the pour. Emptied out into my Ommegang tulip for no particular reason. Inch an a half of oatmeal foam, leaving archipelago-like lace. A couple shades from black, ebony brown with a garnet hue around the edges.

A little dank, with scents of red grape skins, sugary Hershey's faux chocolate, & a touch of smoke.

Taste is a mix of ash, smoke, sharply rich malt, with lingering bitter roasted coffee, cocoa, & some citric acid on the finish. Alcohol is evident, but not the worst of it's melding problems.

Body is a bit chalky, but offers strong & tight carbonation to help you push on. Average build.

I did a couple. Nothing terrible, just uneven.
Nov 22, 2008
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

2.86/5  rDev -16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This was sampled in November 2008 from a 12 fl. oz. bottle with an expiration date of December 2008. The pour is a handsome dark-reddish brown with little to no tan head on top. There was virtually no lacing in the sample I had. The aroma comes across as sweet chocolate. I would call it a medium bodied beer. The flavor was a strange mixture of something very sour and something very much like dark chocolate. This one did not stand out as anything extraordinary.
Nov 16, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

2.7/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Pours a dark brown body with ruby-hued edges and a thinnish, off-white head.

Smell: Toasty dark maltiness with a pinch of unsweetened cocoa and a pervasive grape and prune fruitiness.

Taste: Dark malts tasting a bit chocolaty, a bit toasty, but not overly deep in overall character. Tart, twangy fruitiness lurking in there. Very light bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-low carbonation.

Drinkability: Not at all good, unfortunately. I'd recommend you steer well clear of this one and have a Henry or Isabel instead.
Oct 19, 2008
Photo of ATLbeerDog
Reviewed by ATLbeerDog from Georgia

2.4/5  rDev -30%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Pours a dark brown root beer like color, very low in carbonation. Extremely light lacing. Smells nicely of rich deep malts. First taste is surprisingly flat tasting with some caramel notes present. Awful mouthfeel as there is a severe lack of carbonation. How can something smell so promising be so disappointing?
Oct 11, 2008
Photo of WanderingFool
Reviewed by WanderingFool from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Henry pours a dark brown color into the glass with a medium bodied, frothy tan head on top. The foam fades down to a thin sheet on the beer leaving several lines of lace on the side of the glass. The aroma is mainly dark fruit with notes of plum, cherry and raisin. Almost rum like.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is soft with a very mild carbonated tingle on the middle of the tongue. The flavor is rich and malty. Lots of dark fruit flavors of raisin, cherry and plumb. In the background some roasted and chocolate malt is present. It finishes sour with a hint of hops. Once gone the fruity flavor lingers on the palate.

This beer is mainly malt and somewhat dry in the finish. It could use a bit more bitterness to help balance out the flavor.
Sep 27, 2008
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Impressive three finger head with a rocky recession on the glass side (spotty, but clumpy lace). The liquor is deep ruby brown where light will penetrate (even on the thickest part of the glass).

Chocolate ice cream nose, but darker, like semi-sweet chocolate ice cream. Background fruit like currents, but again not sweet. Repeated smells bring it closer to a rich brandy with lots of sinewy raisin.

Lots of tart, dark cherries in the flavor; strong oily alcohol presence that wasn't obvious in the smell. Some darker malts such as chocolate and 120 crystal also make up the flavor without giving it bitterness. Light hop in the swallow, but there's more of a (dry) fruit punch aspect to the aftertaste.

This is far more complex than I expected. Lots of interesting transitions in this tasting. It's dry yet has a raisin/cherry quality to it. No dramatic bitterness throughout the tasting.
Sep 13, 2008
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.82/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a dark reddish brown color, with a thin beige head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of roasted malts chocolate, coffee, nuts, dark fruits and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is sweet and very porter-like up front with flavors of chocolate, coffee and dark fruit. The malt character is very hearty. There's a decent hops presence that comes in to provide a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, this is a good beer to drink for a while, but it's not one that I would go after immediately.
Aug 26, 2008
Photo of soccerman7
Reviewed by soccerman7 from Vermont

3.45/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle form
website said a Munich Dunkel style

Appearance - Nice dark brown. A large creamy head
Smell - Nice malts and sweetness, little hops on the backend.
Taste - Out of balance. Malts are up front but there is a bit of sweetness/sourness and hops are not quite there. Not together. It started complex but couldn't keep it.
Mouth - A nice finish. Slight sharpness to it has has a good body.
Drink - Its a good beer and well worth trying for the style since it has become rare. It was not anything great nor bad.
Aug 22, 2008
Photo of auxiliary
Reviewed by auxiliary from Rhode Island

3.27/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
appearance - Poured dark brown, small ring around the glass.

smell - Smells of malt and dark chocolate here.

taste - Dark chocolate taste, with molasses and a finished with bitterness.

mouthfeel - Medium body.

drinkability - Was ok, little on the sour bitterness end.
Aug 11, 2008
Newport Storm - Henry (Cyclone Series) from Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 27 ratings