-
Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more.
— Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Bad Elmer's Porter
Upland Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Upland Brewing Company
- Indiana, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
Ranked #467 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 81
Ranked #26,814 - Avg:
- 3.59 | pDev: 12.53%
- Reviews:
- 149
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 13, 2023
- Added:
- May 26, 2002
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 47
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good


Notes:
Even if you aren’t as tough as Bad Elmer, you can still drink with him. This porter is a medium-bodied beer, brewed with lots of roasted malt, giving it flavors of coffee, liquorice, and chocolate. It’s rich, creamy, and characteristically dark yet extremely smooth. The initial light sweetness is followed by a clean, dry, roasty finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On draft in Columbus IN.
Mar 13, 2023Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi
4.03/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Nov 24, 2021Pours 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.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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!!
Sep 26, 2021Opaque 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!!
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
3.96/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Jan 02, 2021It'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.
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
3.94/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Dec 05, 2019Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
3.5/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
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.
Feb 20, 2017Reviewed by Cole-Arnholt from Indiana
3.52/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
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.
Nov 03, 2016Poured 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.
Reviewed by bwood06 from Wisconsin
4.1/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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
Oct 15, 2016This 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
Bad Elmer's Porter from Upland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
356 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!