Bad Elmer's Porter
Upland Brewing Company

On draft in Columbus IN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had Bad Elmer’s Porter poured from 12-oz. can, bottom stamped (apparently) canned on "080621" and "BB:020622," into Willi Becher.

Pours apparently absolutely black, but actually a deep golden brown transmitting only a little golden light at the edges when backlit, with 1-finger, dimpled tan head, with good retention, leaving etched rings of lace down the glass. Aromas of chocolate and roast malts off the pour, roast malts dominating, and some grassy hops and a hint of dark berry fruits joining as warms. Begins with carbonation floating chocolate and roast malts over a smooth and creamy (chocolate) body, with a crisply hoppy, moderate roasted malt finish.

World-class looks, great aroma, and very tasty. I seem to like this porter better than do most--possibly because it's now a bigger, 6.00 ABV beer.

 

 

Canned 8/6/21; drank 9/25/21 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque dark brown appearance.

A violent pour yielded a HUGE tan head; thick, frothy lace.

Fresh earth, cocoa powder & faint brown sugar notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium mouthfeel.

Fresh earth, cocoa powder & mild fall leaf flavors.

This is a real nice fall sipper; I'd have another!!

 

Deep, dark brown color, clear as much as can be gleaned; thick and frothy light khaki head; sticky rings and fingers of lacing cling to the glass. Robust roasted grain note on the nose; cocoa. Rich flavors of cocoa and grain char; coffee-like; moderate grain sweetness offset with a bracing bitterness. Heavy body; silky and rich on the palate; big residual sugar body tempered with a mild bit of dryness.

It's been at least 12 years since I last tried this beer on tap at the brewer. I can't say I remember the tasting experience from that far back, but this can experience is pretty tasty and enjoyable. It is straight-forward, no nonsense -- a real pleasure to drink.

 

 

12oz can stamped BATCH 5150 BB:APR 2020 poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 6% ABV per can. The beer pours very dark brown with nearly no light penetration and medium brown head. The head recedes quickly to a pencil thin ring and few scattered bubbles. The aroma is deeply roasted malt reminiscent of baker's chocolate & coffee. The taste follows with roasty malt mimicking dark chocolate and coffee while delivering a firm, medium bitterness throughout. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and dry finish. Overall, very good. I'm really surprised with this beer. The best shelf beer I've had from Upland. Recommended for those who enjoy this style minus the additives that drive up price and rarely deliver a better experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasted in a Spiegelau stout glass from a 12 oz bottle on February 17, 2017. Best enjoyed by April 2017. A good but not great traditional porter. I'm happy I got to try it, but I won't be seeking it out again.

 

 

 

 

 

Upland's stuff has been hit or miss for me. Was curious to see how one of their darker selection would hold up.

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a rich dark brown color, maybe an inch of tan head.

Aroma is heavy malt, cocoa and vanilla are also present.

Initial flavor is chocolate malt, what is there is good but not quite as rich as I was hoping, there is also some bready sweetness in this beer as well and finish has light coffee notes to it.

The body is decent, if a little watery for a porter, and the relatively low ABV makes it not too dry.

Overall, a serviceable porter, but doesn't quite come together for me, just okay.

Following a recent marathon that I raced, my and my wife's families all got together and went to Upland Brewing Company for dinner. Dad and I got there first so we decided to go ahead and grab a beer while we waited. Naturally, we went for an Oktoberfest first. Being the dark beer lovers we are though, we couldn't resist finishing with this porter.

This porter features an off-white head that is creamy with just a bit of froth, and dissipates slowly to a thin lacing. The beer itself is pitch black and opaque with no carbonation visible. 4/5 The aroma is very typical of the porter style with a focus on dark roasted malt. Notes of espresso, chocolate, vanilla, and dark wheat bread come through quite strongly with an herbal hop note acting as a balancing undertone. 4/5 Once again, the flavor is very typical of the porter style with notes of chocolate, vanilla, dark wheat bread and dark roasted grain really coming through during the entirety of the flavor profile. There is a bit of molasses that lends a nice sweetness as well as both herbal and grassy hops which provide a moderate bitterness which lingers lightly after swallowing. 4.25/5 This beer has a heavy body and a light initial carbonation tickle that leads into a moderate dryness that lingers for quite some time after swallowing. 4/5 I really enjoyed drinking this beer and it was the perfect beer to end the meal. Very drinkable and not overly heavy, although it is fairly heavy for a porter. The low abv of this beer makes it pseudo-sessionable. The only thing working against it in terms of sessionability is the body. 4/5