Wolaver's Alta Gracia Coffee Porter
Otter Creek Brewing
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- From:
- Otter Creek Brewing
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Porter - American
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 12.44%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 16, 2020
- Added:
- Oct 30, 2009
- Wants:
- 33
- Gots:
- 107
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Notes:
Unfiltered and unpasteurized porter brewed with Vermont grown organic coffee and aged on organic vanilla beans.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DoctorDog:
More User Ratings:
3.94/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
by sulldaddy from Connecticut
Sampling a cold 12 oz bottle poured into a snifter. The bottle has been in my fridge for many years and figured I would open it up tonight.
Beer pours a deep dark chocolate color with a creamy beige head of .5cm foaming up. This foam fades quickly to an edge layer.
The aroma of the beer is rich of coffee and hints of dark chocolate with some roasted malt too, but is still coffee dominant. No hint of hops nor ABV on the nose. Slightly surprised at how rich the coffee nose is on this one after how long its been in my fridge.
First sip reveals a medium bodied beer with gentle and spacious carbonation. Texture feels smooth and gently caresses my palate after each sip. Very easy drinking physical traits.
Flavor is roasted malt and coffee grounds with hints of sweet chocolate in the background. Pretty straightforward flavor profile, not really any hop character and booze is completely hidden. Beer does finish with a bit of a black coffee bitterness.
Solid porter with good coffee character. Not a lot of depth or complexity but would be worth a shot if it was still being made.
Aug 16, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
by sulldaddy from Connecticut
Sampling a cold 12 oz bottle poured into a snifter. The bottle has been in my fridge for many years and figured I would open it up tonight.
Beer pours a deep dark chocolate color with a creamy beige head of .5cm foaming up. This foam fades quickly to an edge layer.
The aroma of the beer is rich of coffee and hints of dark chocolate with some roasted malt too, but is still coffee dominant. No hint of hops nor ABV on the nose. Slightly surprised at how rich the coffee nose is on this one after how long its been in my fridge.
First sip reveals a medium bodied beer with gentle and spacious carbonation. Texture feels smooth and gently caresses my palate after each sip. Very easy drinking physical traits.
Flavor is roasted malt and coffee grounds with hints of sweet chocolate in the background. Pretty straightforward flavor profile, not really any hop character and booze is completely hidden. Beer does finish with a bit of a black coffee bitterness.
Solid porter with good coffee character. Not a lot of depth or complexity but would be worth a shot if it was still being made.
Aug 16, 2020
4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
The appearance was a dark brown color with a concave film of lacing around the glass. The smell had sweet and roasty smooth coffee beans over top of delicate sweet cocoa powder. The taste was mainly sweet through the previously mentioned flavors and lead to a nice rich sweet aftertaste running into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light allowing a silky texture all about. Overall, what a wonderful coffee porter.
Jun 22, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
The appearance was a dark brown color with a concave film of lacing around the glass. The smell had sweet and roasty smooth coffee beans over top of delicate sweet cocoa powder. The taste was mainly sweet through the previously mentioned flavors and lead to a nice rich sweet aftertaste running into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light allowing a silky texture all about. Overall, what a wonderful coffee porter.
Jun 22, 2017
4.19 by wonothesane42 from New Jersey on Jan 30, 2017
4.15 by wpreynolds from New Jersey on Jul 24, 2016
4.23 by digitalflood from New York on Jun 09, 2016
4.18 by manfromanotherplace from New York on Jun 06, 2016
4.03/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
From the possibly expired bottle, it pours a dark brown with a short lasting head. The nose exhilarates on the scent of coffee, vanilla and a bit of malt. The mouth enjoys the coffee and vanilla flavor. Yum!
May 15, 2016
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
From the possibly expired bottle, it pours a dark brown with a short lasting head. The nose exhilarates on the scent of coffee, vanilla and a bit of malt. The mouth enjoys the coffee and vanilla flavor. Yum!
May 15, 2016
4.58/5 rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by AngryDutchman from Pennsylvania
Almost black, ruby when you hold it up to the sun. Lovely caramel colored head, although it dissipated fairly soon.
Dark malts and vanilla. Very promising.
Taste - delicious. Coffee, chocolate nib, roasted barley/chocolate malt and all good things barley.
Mouthfeel is smooth and lightly carbonated as it should be.
Top notch. Organic is a nice bonus. Another beer that raises the bar and discourages me from trying to brew my own out of fear of failure.
Apr 16, 2016
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by AngryDutchman from Pennsylvania
Almost black, ruby when you hold it up to the sun. Lovely caramel colored head, although it dissipated fairly soon.
Dark malts and vanilla. Very promising.
Taste - delicious. Coffee, chocolate nib, roasted barley/chocolate malt and all good things barley.
Mouthfeel is smooth and lightly carbonated as it should be.
Top notch. Organic is a nice bonus. Another beer that raises the bar and discourages me from trying to brew my own out of fear of failure.
Apr 16, 2016
4.91 by Manny1909 from Pennsylvania on Apr 15, 2016
3.75 by orangesol from Pennsylvania on Apr 11, 2016
2.25 by Sk8sean86 from Massachusetts on Mar 31, 2016
4.05 by Hearneator from Delaware on Mar 26, 2016
3.78 by koneill1976 on Mar 17, 2016
3.02 by JamminJay1986 from North Carolina on Mar 12, 2016
3.28 by shoretaxi from New Jersey on Mar 09, 2016
3.66 by Drunkie from Pennsylvania on Feb 24, 2016
4.15 by TimberSwanson from Pennsylvania on Feb 22, 2016
4.21 by ESPN_Woodsy from New York on Feb 17, 2016
4 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands on Feb 13, 2016
2.88 by bunta from New Jersey on Feb 13, 2016
4.49 by johnklotter from Vermont on Feb 04, 2016
3.43 by laurapompeo from Massachusetts on Jan 30, 2016
3.44 by doobie77 from New Jersey on Jan 24, 2016
3.91/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by PhillyB from New York
A good beer with a pretentious label.
Look: Let me address the labeling first. It tells you everything you need to know, but looks like something from Starbucks. A little holier than thou. The beer itself isn't particularly pretty either, no head at all but totally black.
Smell: Dark roast coffee with some bitter chocolate notes.
Taste: Quite strong coffee, again with hints of bittersweet chocolate. Very tasty.
Feel: Full bodied, smooth but not creamy.
Overall: After getting over the packaging and lackluster appearance, this is a solid coffee porter I may return to.
Jan 24, 2016
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by PhillyB from New York
A good beer with a pretentious label.
Look: Let me address the labeling first. It tells you everything you need to know, but looks like something from Starbucks. A little holier than thou. The beer itself isn't particularly pretty either, no head at all but totally black.
Smell: Dark roast coffee with some bitter chocolate notes.
Taste: Quite strong coffee, again with hints of bittersweet chocolate. Very tasty.
Feel: Full bodied, smooth but not creamy.
Overall: After getting over the packaging and lackluster appearance, this is a solid coffee porter I may return to.
Jan 24, 2016
3.9/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by NastyNorseman from New York
This is an enjoyable take on a coffee porter. The coffee aroma is robust and overpowers the flavor of the porter a bi. Dark as a strong java with a caramel ribbon. Wolaver used good beans to make this brew. A solid porter for winter.
Jan 21, 2016
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by NastyNorseman from New York
This is an enjoyable take on a coffee porter. The coffee aroma is robust and overpowers the flavor of the porter a bi. Dark as a strong java with a caramel ribbon. Wolaver used good beans to make this brew. A solid porter for winter.
Jan 21, 2016
3.81/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by mlockman from Indiana
Incredibly strong coffee aroma and flavor that manages to maintain its intensity with each successive sip, though the flavor is admittedly more coffee than porter.
Jan 20, 2016
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by mlockman from Indiana
Incredibly strong coffee aroma and flavor that manages to maintain its intensity with each successive sip, though the flavor is admittedly more coffee than porter.
Jan 20, 2016
3.89 by DuncanBishop24 from Vermont on Jan 16, 2016
4.49/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
by briancroz12 from Connecticut
Alta Gracia Porter has been one of my favorite beers for quite some time now. Perfect to drink outdoors or around a fire on a cold fall/winter night, it disappoints me to have to speak about it in past tense.
Pours the darkest of browns with a decent espresso-colored head while tasting like the dream balance of malts and coffee beans. One of the cleanest, most "authentic" tasting coffee beers (regardless of style) that I've ever had. This beer had the look, smell and mouthfeel of the quintessential porter.
Jan 14, 2016
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
by briancroz12 from Connecticut
Alta Gracia Porter has been one of my favorite beers for quite some time now. Perfect to drink outdoors or around a fire on a cold fall/winter night, it disappoints me to have to speak about it in past tense.
Pours the darkest of browns with a decent espresso-colored head while tasting like the dream balance of malts and coffee beans. One of the cleanest, most "authentic" tasting coffee beers (regardless of style) that I've ever had. This beer had the look, smell and mouthfeel of the quintessential porter.
Jan 14, 2016
4.05/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by psruss from Maryland
Also am very upset to hear about the discontinuation of the brewery and this Porter. Seems like when I find a good porter it shuts down like Catamount so many years ago. I tend to like porters more than Stouts, though stouts have dramatically changed over the past 10-15 years. Anyway, really like the balance of the coffee and vanilla flavors. If you have a chance to get it at your store before they're gone, I'd recommend it.
Jan 10, 2016
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by psruss from Maryland
Also am very upset to hear about the discontinuation of the brewery and this Porter. Seems like when I find a good porter it shuts down like Catamount so many years ago. I tend to like porters more than Stouts, though stouts have dramatically changed over the past 10-15 years. Anyway, really like the balance of the coffee and vanilla flavors. If you have a chance to get it at your store before they're gone, I'd recommend it.
Jan 10, 2016
4.21 by bobv from Vermont on Jan 03, 2016
4.23 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania on Dec 29, 2015
3.68 by EnthusedAboutBeer from New Jersey on Dec 24, 2015
4.06 by 13tido from North Carolina on Dec 24, 2015
4.42 by chalkda01 from New York on Dec 23, 2015
3.98 by Barnsley from Pennsylvania on Dec 20, 2015
3.63 by MGibbons from Maryland on Dec 19, 2015
3.84/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by Stignacious from New York
Like many others, I bought this for the first time after hearing of Wolaver's shut down. Pours like motor oil out of the bottle, although more transparent than I expected. A puffy white head transmits instant coffee notes with hints of sugary sweetness. You really taste the vanilla bean on the palate, which compliments the roasted malt very well, but it tastes a little saccharin and artificial at times. Overall, this is a very good porter. Too bad.
Dec 18, 2015
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by Stignacious from New York
Like many others, I bought this for the first time after hearing of Wolaver's shut down. Pours like motor oil out of the bottle, although more transparent than I expected. A puffy white head transmits instant coffee notes with hints of sugary sweetness. You really taste the vanilla bean on the palate, which compliments the roasted malt very well, but it tastes a little saccharin and artificial at times. Overall, this is a very good porter. Too bad.
Dec 18, 2015
4.1/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by kalosjakar from Rhode Island
I bought this after hearing it was retired/discontined.
This also the second ported i tried tonight that was better in the bottle/can rather than in a glass. I am now convinced porters are best not in a glass.
Anyways, so this porter is a borderline milk stout to me.
Full and silky. Good malt character with a noticeable coffee vibe. Its a shame this will no longer be brewed. This is a great sessionable porter.
Dec 17, 2015
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by kalosjakar from Rhode Island
I bought this after hearing it was retired/discontined.
This also the second ported i tried tonight that was better in the bottle/can rather than in a glass. I am now convinced porters are best not in a glass.
Anyways, so this porter is a borderline milk stout to me.
Full and silky. Good malt character with a noticeable coffee vibe. Its a shame this will no longer be brewed. This is a great sessionable porter.
Dec 17, 2015
4.1 by Hendry from Vermont on Dec 15, 2015
Wolaver's Alta Gracia Coffee Porter from Otter Creek Brewing
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
782 ratings