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Black Lightning Porter
Lightning Brewery
- From:
- Lightning Brewery
- California, United States
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.68 | pDev: 14.67%
- Reviews:
- 54
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 27, 2014
- Added:
- Feb 07, 2007
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by flannelman808:
Reviewed by flannelman808 from California
4.32/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
4.32/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
A: toward the center this is "midnight" brown. It is very opaque and has a light golden hint around the edge. Topped with a tan head which has fairly weak to ok retention ... decent lacing.
S: Deep dark chocolate with a cookie like quality. Smells great though not very potent.
T: Loving this stuff. Everyone who spoke poorly about it must not have known what a Baltic porter can really be! First off this is shockingly bitter and does not finish sweet whatsoever. Charred dark dark chocolate. Burnt chrome in the best way. Subtle espresso/over roasted coffee bean qualities (like eating the bean not the brew). Certainly the most bitter most I think I've ever had. I wish more Double Ipa's had this quality. This is a beer to motivate the style. All that said its not quit in balance and Isn't a finished product.
M: very prickly due to bitterness and high carbonation.
O: Im loving that this is not a BS baltic porter and want to see more in its footsteps.
Jun 01, 2011S: Deep dark chocolate with a cookie like quality. Smells great though not very potent.
T: Loving this stuff. Everyone who spoke poorly about it must not have known what a Baltic porter can really be! First off this is shockingly bitter and does not finish sweet whatsoever. Charred dark dark chocolate. Burnt chrome in the best way. Subtle espresso/over roasted coffee bean qualities (like eating the bean not the brew). Certainly the most bitter most I think I've ever had. I wish more Double Ipa's had this quality. This is a beer to motivate the style. All that said its not quit in balance and Isn't a finished product.
M: very prickly due to bitterness and high carbonation.
O: Im loving that this is not a BS baltic porter and want to see more in its footsteps.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle, undated, served in a snifter at about 50-55F.
This porter pours nearly black with a small, dark tan head that has weak retention but leaves good lacing.
The complex aroma has an attractive mix of malted and dark roasted grains with hints of toffee and dark fruits.
Flavor: strong, complex and rich, with a load of dark roasted grains. Clear suggestions of both coffee and dark chocolate add to the flavor. Some burnt grain with a touch of smoke but in proportion to the other dark roasted grain flavors. Lightly acidic. Hops not obvious except in the mildly bitter balance of this bitter+sweet porter. (3.8+)
Feel: Soft, low carbonation. Full bodied. Creamy smooth.
O: an extreme porter with fairly well hidden alcohol.
Nov 27, 2013This porter pours nearly black with a small, dark tan head that has weak retention but leaves good lacing.
The complex aroma has an attractive mix of malted and dark roasted grains with hints of toffee and dark fruits.
Flavor: strong, complex and rich, with a load of dark roasted grains. Clear suggestions of both coffee and dark chocolate add to the flavor. Some burnt grain with a touch of smoke but in proportion to the other dark roasted grain flavors. Lightly acidic. Hops not obvious except in the mildly bitter balance of this bitter+sweet porter. (3.8+)
Feel: Soft, low carbonation. Full bodied. Creamy smooth.
O: an extreme porter with fairly well hidden alcohol.
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio
4.02/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 ounce bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with a half inch tan head that lingered around for a long time. There's also a good amount of lacing. The aroma is nice, the brew smells like roasted/burnt malt, coffee, chocolate and dark fruit. Taste is similar to the aroma, it tastes like roasted/burnt malt, dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, molasses, coffee, and a bit of licorice. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's somewhat creamy and has moderate carbonation. I think it's a good, bitter roasty porter. $11.49 a bottle.
Aug 04, 2013Reviewed by ngeunit1 from Massachusetts
4.25/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A - Pours a dark brown-black color with a finger of frothy chocolate-khaki colored head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.
S - Aroma is a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts, coffee, dark fruits, and a touch of vanilla.
T - Starts off with some roasted dark chocolate malts with some dark fruit sweetness and some vanilla. Through the middle, some roasted coffee comes through with some sweeter milk chocolate. The finish is a mix of roasted chocolate, coffee, and dark fruits.
M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth and a bit creamy with a sweet and roasted finish.
D - Very drinkable. Really nicely balanced Baltic Porter with a great mouthfeel.
Aug 05, 2012S - Aroma is a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts, coffee, dark fruits, and a touch of vanilla.
T - Starts off with some roasted dark chocolate malts with some dark fruit sweetness and some vanilla. Through the middle, some roasted coffee comes through with some sweeter milk chocolate. The finish is a mix of roasted chocolate, coffee, and dark fruits.
M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth and a bit creamy with a sweet and roasted finish.
D - Very drinkable. Really nicely balanced Baltic Porter with a great mouthfeel.
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia
4.11/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smoky aroma has notes of coffee, malt and yeast. Pours an opaque warm sable with a thick, fluffy tan head. Very appetizing. Flavor is very satisfying - smoky and oily, good tones of coffee, molasses and licorice plus hints of yeast and apple. Texture is smooth and firm, but fizz is lacking. Overall, a darned good porter. Bolt to your package store if they have this one!
Jun 06, 2012Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Great Divide tulip glass. Pours an opaque black. Great three finger fine medium tan head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of roasted malt, some char and coffee. Flavor is very well integrated roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, slight char. Finishes with roasted malt and a nice hop bite. Somewhat subdured flavors, but so nicely blended that this was a pleasure to drink. Medium bodied with some creaminess. I liked this a lot and hope to try other styles from this brewery.
Apr 30, 2012
Black Lightning Porter from Lightning Brewery
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
76 ratings
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