Dirty Penny Ale
The Olde Burnside Brewing Company

Dirty Penny AleDirty Penny Ale
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From:
The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 15.77%
Reviews:
58
Ratings:
152
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 27, 2017
Added:
Apr 02, 2004
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  13
Our popular “Dirty Penny Ale” is a hearty, but never heavy “black’n’tan” style* which is mixture of 60% Ten Penny/40% our own signature stout. This beer is also available year-round at your local bar or favorite beer store.

(Motto: Dirty Penny Ale …Polish One Off!)
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Ratings by dbmcrorie:
Photo of dbmcrorie
Reviewed by dbmcrorie from Connecticut

4.27/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation:
64 oz. growler poured into an American pint glass. No freshness date or inclination to the style.

Visual:
Wow. Pours thick into a pitch black body with slight brown hues when held to the light. Massive 3 finger head surprised me, khaki-brown with nice retention. Average lacing and a nice bubbly cap stays on top of the pint till the end.

Aroma:
Buttery diacetyl and rich biscuity malt punches the nose. Soft cocoa and espresso beans in the middle with hop earthiness around the edges. A slight smokiness piques, but doesn't linger. Slightly boozy in the finish. I'm curious to try the two ales on their own and compare which notes come from which brew.

Taste:
Porter-like chocolate and caramel malts create coffee, toffee, roasted almond, vanilla, caramel, and biscuit/bready flavors. Plenty of sweet flavors, but not overly sweet/sugary. Hops provide a decent balance with earthy peat flavors along the back of the tongue. Slight astringency between the hops and darkly roasted malt. There is a faint flash of dark berries somewhere in the middle, but has a hard time being distinguishable with all of that roasted malt. Full bodied with a creamy/oily mouthfeel. Rich chocolatey finish with a boozy cocoa aftertaste.

Overall:
Great version of the bottled Black & Tan style. Normally I can enjoy this style bottled, but am never impressed. However, this definitely took me by surprise; worth buying again. Rich body and a great aroma. Despite it's heaviness, it's extremely drinkable and easy to put back a few pints - glad it came in 64 oz's.
Would pair greatly with any savory or hearty dish, such as corned beef hash, clam chowder, shepherd's pie, etc. Would also stand up to rich chocolate/coffee based desserts such as chocolate cheesecake or tiramisu.

Cheers!
Jul 22, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.08 by Urs from Connecticut

Jun 27, 2017
Photo of CTHomer
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut

3.54/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: deep brown in color; 1 finger medium brown head that receded to a wispy cap; OK lacing;

S: deeply roasted grain; a little chocolate;

T: deeply roasted grain up front; pretty chocolately at the end; a little bitterness on the finish;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: not much remained from the scotch ale; still very nice;
Jun 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.73 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Feb 07, 2017
Photo of q33jeff
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey

2.61/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
**
08/09/2014
On tap at the ginger man,nyc.
Appearance...dark brown,
Aroma...mush, dark fruit, somewhat non-distinct.
Taste...a little sour, plum, malt, orange rind.

Ok beer, tough to categorize. I might even taste some copper."

**
Oct 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by CTaleMan from Connecticut

Aug 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by Sellen from Connecticut

May 17, 2016
Photo of PSanger
Rated by PSanger from Connecticut

3.16/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
Very cloudy looking nice taste not a huge smell. It's a fair ale.
Mar 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.4 by swierczt from Connecticut

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nebula1999 from Connecticut

Oct 19, 2015
Photo of Grichard
Rated by Grichard from Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice and malty, I like it.
Oct 08, 2015
 
Rated: 2 by nathanmiller from New York

Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by mltobin from Connecticut

Sep 30, 2015
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.22/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bottle from Bert's
Slightly hazy auburn brown with a decent sized bubbly off white head. Rich caramel and hints of chocolate with bits of earth and fruit. Nothing extraordinary here.
Sep 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by kdivers from New Hampshire

Sep 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.69 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Aug 31, 2015
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

2.83/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5
OLD BURNSIDE DIRTY PENNY ALE 8/20/15

Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams nonick pint.

a: Dark brown with clear ruby highlights at the sides. Enormous four inch thick tan head receded slowly to even surface foam and spotty lacing. Not bad looking once the foam tsunami subsided.

s: Dark roasty malt and alcohol turns to overripe dark fruit as it warms.

t: Follows the nose somewhat along with an intense sourness which persists. Sour finish.

m; Medium, good body and over the top carbonation.

o: Probably an off bottle, purchased as a single recently. Black and Tans should not be sour, and the foam should not be out of control. Beyond the first whif, eminently unenjoyable drainpour.
Aug 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Jul 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by Homebrew from Connecticut

Jun 20, 2015
Dirty Penny Ale from The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 152 ratings