Charles River Porter
Cambridge Brewing Company

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From:
Cambridge Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 10.38%
Reviews:
79
Ratings:
165
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 01, 2021
Added:
Sep 22, 2000
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  11
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Shy5:
Photo of Shy5
Rated by Shy5 from Oregon

4.19/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Apr 22, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.91/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I am trying this beer off the tapper at the brewery as part of a four sample flight. It poured an opaque dark with off white head that is not leaving much lace. The scent had subtle coffee notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with subtle roast and dark chocolate presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.
Dec 01, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by whatsgoody from Vermont

Mar 02, 2020
Photo of jbertsch
Rated by jbertsch from Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Benchmark old school straight porter that all other porters should bow down and worship. Tastes as good today as it did to me 20 years ago.
Jun 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by redfox405 from Virginia

Jun 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by zotzot from Vermont

Jun 06, 2019
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.36/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75
Look: Dark chocolate, almost black. Two fingers of foamy tan head that quickly dissolves into one finger, covering the glass in lacing.

Smell: Roast beef, sweet and tart cherries.

Taste: Somewhat soapy floral and bitter flavors. Very little of the sweetness on the nose.

Mouthfeel: Full body with basically no carbonation.

Overall: I’m hoping that this was just a cask-conditioned beer gone wrong and not normally how this tastes.
Feb 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Oct 22, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into an English pint glass, the appearance was a dark brown close to black color with a stiff off white foamy cap of a head that dissipated at a mild pace. Not much lace, somewhat stringy running here and there.
The aroma had a nice blend of roasty chocolate malts, some dark fruity sweetness and then some caramel/toffee malts.
The flavor was mainly sweet and seemed to bring in the balance of the roastiness at a nice pace. Mild aftertaste of the caramel/toffee malts and dark fruit.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt on par. Mild finish of the smooth sweet malts, somewhat fruity with some chocolate.
Overall, I liked this for me but does Cambridge actually think this is an American styled porter? Seemed more of an English one.
Oct 10, 2017
Photo of ManapuaMan
Reviewed by ManapuaMan from Massachusetts

4.02/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Classic, roasty, smooth. A rendition of the porter that will have some folks dropping the flippant "meh" but it's a truly well crafted and tasty brew. Poured a rich, frothy black with a standard khaki head. Aroma and taste of roasted grains, light coffee, char, dark chocolate, bitter hops. Smooth, creamy and soft on the palate. Easy drinker that will continue to fly under the radar.
Jul 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.07 by Icemann383 from New York

Jun 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Gkruszewski from New York

Feb 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.96 by MI_beerdrinker from Texas

Oct 13, 2016
Photo of AirBob
Rated by AirBob from Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On cask with Chinook at the brewpub. Chinook added some wintergreen and piney undertones that complemented the base beer.
Sep 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Josbor11 from Ohio

Aug 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.82 by Dave2234 from Minnesota

Jun 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Fettpopps from Massachusetts

Apr 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by TheBeerSipper from Massachusetts

Mar 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by joberlander from Massachusetts

Feb 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.34 by Duffman79 from Connecticut

Feb 07, 2016
Charles River Porter from Cambridge Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 165 ratings