Smuttynose Robust Porter | Smuttynose Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
New Hampshire, United States
smuttynose.com
Style: American Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
This hearty, mahogany colored ale is brewed to evoke the dark, full-bodied ales that were a favorite of dockworkers and warehousemen (hence the name “Porter”) in 19th century London. It is a good bet that when Dickens’ Mr. Pickwick sat down for a pint, we would have been drinking an ale much like our Robust Porter.This is a smooth and very drinkable beer, characterized by its well-balanced malt and hops, plus subtle notes of coffee and chocolate.
43 IBU
Added by BeerAdvocate on 10-18-2000
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 2,712 | Reviews: 1,088
3.75/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.76/5 rDev +15%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Almost black in color,medium carbonation. A really pleasant smelling porter with aroma of coffee,chocolate , and malt. Not a creamy heavy porter but not thin or watery like some can be but perfectly in the middle. This has all the components that it should. As soon as I finished a bottle I immediately wanted to open another. Can't go wrong with trying this one
363 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Almost black in color,medium carbonation. A really pleasant smelling porter with aroma of coffee,chocolate , and malt. Not a creamy heavy porter but not thin or watery like some can be but perfectly in the middle. This has all the components that it should. As soon as I finished a bottle I immediately wanted to open another. Can't go wrong with trying this one
363 characters
4.38/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle from a six-pack purchased at The Beer Store; no bottling date, and served barely chilled. Listed at 6.6%.
Pours an opaque, deep brownish-black colour reminiscent of a cola, topped with an inch of foamy, light beige-tinted head. Retention is quite good - after nearly ten minutes have passed, there's still one finger of creamy foam on the surface, as well as a smooth coating of lovely lace slowly being generated. Looks great, and the nose is no less enticing - rich chocolate notes come through clearly, along with brown sugar and molasses sweetness. Hints of mocha coffee, raisins, toasted nuts and earthy, somewhat resinous hops add to the depth of the aroma.
It's yummy, if nothing else. Roasted dark malts supply most of the flavours, ranging from molasses sweetness, to dark chocolate richness, to ground coffee bitterness. Hints of dark fruits and citrusy hops are also detectable, with the profile ending upon an earthy, pine-resiny bitterness at the finish, followed by some roasty astringency and mild chocolate maltiness in the aftertaste. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that weakly nudges the surface of the palate; the texture is soft, smooth, and almost silky, and a pleasure to sip.
Final Grade: 4.38, an A grade. Smuttynose's Robust Porter is aptly named - this is a strong, flavourful dark brew that is sure to satisfy the needs of porter lovers everywhere. The rich dark malt notes are fantastic, but the hop flavours are what catapult this beer from "really good" into "great" territory - the earthy bitterness at the finish is a perfect counterpoint to the chocolate, molasses and coffee flavours imparted by the malt backing. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of this in the future, and recommend it highly to any and all curious BAs.
1,798 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle from a six-pack purchased at The Beer Store; no bottling date, and served barely chilled. Listed at 6.6%.
Pours an opaque, deep brownish-black colour reminiscent of a cola, topped with an inch of foamy, light beige-tinted head. Retention is quite good - after nearly ten minutes have passed, there's still one finger of creamy foam on the surface, as well as a smooth coating of lovely lace slowly being generated. Looks great, and the nose is no less enticing - rich chocolate notes come through clearly, along with brown sugar and molasses sweetness. Hints of mocha coffee, raisins, toasted nuts and earthy, somewhat resinous hops add to the depth of the aroma.
It's yummy, if nothing else. Roasted dark malts supply most of the flavours, ranging from molasses sweetness, to dark chocolate richness, to ground coffee bitterness. Hints of dark fruits and citrusy hops are also detectable, with the profile ending upon an earthy, pine-resiny bitterness at the finish, followed by some roasty astringency and mild chocolate maltiness in the aftertaste. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that weakly nudges the surface of the palate; the texture is soft, smooth, and almost silky, and a pleasure to sip.
Final Grade: 4.38, an A grade. Smuttynose's Robust Porter is aptly named - this is a strong, flavourful dark brew that is sure to satisfy the needs of porter lovers everywhere. The rich dark malt notes are fantastic, but the hop flavours are what catapult this beer from "really good" into "great" territory - the earthy bitterness at the finish is a perfect counterpoint to the chocolate, molasses and coffee flavours imparted by the malt backing. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of this in the future, and recommend it highly to any and all curious BAs.
1,798 characters
4.75/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Look - Pours pitch black with dark ruby highlights when held to light, two fingers of tan head, great retention, some lacing.
Aroma - Dark roast coffee, charcoal, yeast, subtle smoke.
Taste - Layers and layers of roasted malt with a very nice slightly charred character. Rich coffee flavors about halfway through. Sweetness is there with a hint of malted milk ball but the star of the show is the charred malt. Hop flavors are minimal but do have a slight oily earthy quality. Finishes balanced with a hint of wood smoke. Aftertaste has lingering roast.
Feel - Medium bodied, soft carbonation, on the dry side yet creamy.
Overall - Complex, balanced and packed full of flavor. A world class beer.
698 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Look - Pours pitch black with dark ruby highlights when held to light, two fingers of tan head, great retention, some lacing.
Aroma - Dark roast coffee, charcoal, yeast, subtle smoke.
Taste - Layers and layers of roasted malt with a very nice slightly charred character. Rich coffee flavors about halfway through. Sweetness is there with a hint of malted milk ball but the star of the show is the charred malt. Hop flavors are minimal but do have a slight oily earthy quality. Finishes balanced with a hint of wood smoke. Aftertaste has lingering roast.
Feel - Medium bodied, soft carbonation, on the dry side yet creamy.
Overall - Complex, balanced and packed full of flavor. A world class beer.
698 characters
3.65/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark brown, close to black. Smells of chocolate and roasted malts. Tastes of bitter chocolate, roasted malt, mild coffee, and some dark fruits. Light-medium moutfeel with light carbonation. Overall a good porter, just a tad watery in flavor.
249 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark brown, close to black. Smells of chocolate and roasted malts. Tastes of bitter chocolate, roasted malt, mild coffee, and some dark fruits. Light-medium moutfeel with light carbonation. Overall a good porter, just a tad watery in flavor.
249 characters
4.31/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.98/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L -- 1,000 lumens passed through the glass reveals a dark amber with no haziness whatsoever. Big tan head produced with moderate pour. Great retention and moderate lacing.
S -- Mild roasted malts, baker's chocolate, cacao, and sour fruits
T -- Bittersweet chocolate upfront, followed by notes of dark fruit, coffee, and barley. Not particularly unusual flavors for a porter, but this one has a very good balance between them.
F -- Medium bodied with good carbonation and finish
O -- One of the more enjoyable Smuttynose offerings, although I still like their Finest Kind and Pumpkin ales more.
80/100
601 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L -- 1,000 lumens passed through the glass reveals a dark amber with no haziness whatsoever. Big tan head produced with moderate pour. Great retention and moderate lacing.
S -- Mild roasted malts, baker's chocolate, cacao, and sour fruits
T -- Bittersweet chocolate upfront, followed by notes of dark fruit, coffee, and barley. Not particularly unusual flavors for a porter, but this one has a very good balance between them.
F -- Medium bodied with good carbonation and finish
O -- One of the more enjoyable Smuttynose offerings, although I still like their Finest Kind and Pumpkin ales more.
80/100
601 characters
4.32/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Deep brown with a finger of tan head that sticks. A nice rich roasty malt in the aroma, with some coffee, molasses, and, plenty of milk and dark chocolate. Same for the flavor, exactly. The feel is medium full carbonation, and it feels like a porter instead of a stout. Bit of a creaminess to the beer, and the sweet is up front with a pleasant bitter note that lingers after the sip. I'd buy it again.
402 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Deep brown with a finger of tan head that sticks. A nice rich roasty malt in the aroma, with some coffee, molasses, and, plenty of milk and dark chocolate. Same for the flavor, exactly. The feel is medium full carbonation, and it feels like a porter instead of a stout. Bit of a creaminess to the beer, and the sweet is up front with a pleasant bitter note that lingers after the sip. I'd buy it again.
402 characters
4.34/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.96/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Black with thin foamy tan head that leaves splotchy brown lacing.
S: Roasted barley, milk chocolate, cocoa powder, burnt toast, coffee, earth, plums and raisins.
T: A nice smooth layer of chocolate, complimented by dark roast coffee, that pushes its way through to the finish. A nice mixture of sweeter dark chocolate and bitter cocoa powder, with roasted grains and burnt toast in the middle, and a very subtle dark cherry and plum note that compliments the almost fruity dark coffee flavor. Finishes with a light coffee and cacao bitterness.
F: Medium, smooth and rich, with a nice pushing carbonation that makes you keep reaching for sip after sip.
O: Complex, flavorful, and infinitely drinkable. One of the better porters I've had thus far.
755 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Black with thin foamy tan head that leaves splotchy brown lacing.
S: Roasted barley, milk chocolate, cocoa powder, burnt toast, coffee, earth, plums and raisins.
T: A nice smooth layer of chocolate, complimented by dark roast coffee, that pushes its way through to the finish. A nice mixture of sweeter dark chocolate and bitter cocoa powder, with roasted grains and burnt toast in the middle, and a very subtle dark cherry and plum note that compliments the almost fruity dark coffee flavor. Finishes with a light coffee and cacao bitterness.
F: Medium, smooth and rich, with a nice pushing carbonation that makes you keep reaching for sip after sip.
O: Complex, flavorful, and infinitely drinkable. One of the better porters I've had thus far.
755 characters
3.74/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Black, brown head, on finger, soft.
Toasted malt, a bit of coffee, light resinous, an interesting green flavour.
Full mouthfeel, chicory, coffee, the resinous and grassy, more in the aftertaste, along with bitter roots and a light chocolate.
Average body.
Good, satisfying beer.
278 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Black, brown head, on finger, soft.
Toasted malt, a bit of coffee, light resinous, an interesting green flavour.
Full mouthfeel, chicory, coffee, the resinous and grassy, more in the aftertaste, along with bitter roots and a light chocolate.
Average body.
Good, satisfying beer.
278 characters
4.23/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.4/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
There are several wonderful porters available in MA and this is one of my regular favorites. Rich dark and "robust". Has tremendous flavor, medium body , creamy, full flavor . The roasted malt and bold flavor are standouts, improves as it warms. I compare this with Mayflower and I continue to be torn with which is "better" , both are distinctively different and are both must haves. This is an excellent offering and overall a standout. Long term great brewery .
465 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
There are several wonderful porters available in MA and this is one of my regular favorites. Rich dark and "robust". Has tremendous flavor, medium body , creamy, full flavor . The roasted malt and bold flavor are standouts, improves as it warms. I compare this with Mayflower and I continue to be torn with which is "better" , both are distinctively different and are both must haves. This is an excellent offering and overall a standout. Long term great brewery .
465 characters
Smuttynose Robust Porter from Smuttynose Brewing Company
4.14
out of 5
based on 2,712 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It poured a nice black with a half inch foamy off-white/tan head leaving a superb foamy spider web lacing, very ringy. The smell had chocolate malts combined very nicely with a nice roastiness. The taste had the chocolate overpowering pretty much everything else, but in a good way, nothing overbearing, just really good balanced really well with the coffee. The palate was about a medium, perhaps maybe even closer to a heavier feel with nothing harsh on the tongue. Overall, this is good for the style and very good to me.
524 characters