Smoked Porter - Chipotle Peppers
Stone Brewing

Smoked Porter - Chipotle PeppersSmoked Porter - Chipotle Peppers
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Smoked Porter
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 13.49%
Reviews:
327
Ratings:
1,288
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 05, 2021
Added:
May 07, 2007
Wants:
  47
Gots:
  132
In 2006, Chris Carroll, a longtime member of Team Stone, took that adage literally, proposing that we produce a one-off version of our venerable Stone Smoked Porter made spicy from the addition of chipotle peppers. We gave it a shot and found that those smoked jalapeños melded quite naturally with the smoldery peat-smoked malt that gives the beer its flavor and moniker, creating a deep, roasty quaff with a carefully restrained tingle of tasteful capsaicin heat in the finish. The marriage of ingredients was so nice that it has become an annual summertime staple, released each May in honor of Carroll’s initial idea that Stone Smoked Porter w/Chipotle Peppers serve as an artisanal alternative to the industrialized adjunct-laden cerveza billed as the perfect fluid accompaniment to the sunny season. Cheers to variety and a quality alternative to mediocrity.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SuomiHobbit:
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Rated by SuomiHobbit from Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -33.9%

Jun 21, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by jak from North Carolina

Mar 05, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Kolb from Montana

Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.89 by DOCRW from Kentucky

May 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by jschott75 from Illinois

May 25, 2018
Photo of BEER88
Rated by BEER88 from North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nope
Sep 05, 2017
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I have a drinking buddy who comes over to The Porch at Chez Woody about once a week, bringing some of his beers (even though I ask him not to) & we run through whatever that week's theme may be. During our last meeting, we decided that this week would focus on smoked beers, accompanied by smoked meats, cheeses & seafood with crackers. We had smoked kielbasa, smoked Gouda & smoked oysters to go with the beers. I should add that SummerDave is also a pepper buff who grows his own & experiments with putting peppers into crowlers to allow them to further flavor the beer.

From the bottle: "Limited Summer Edition"; "Sometimes, developing a prodigious new beer is as simple as looking at an existing, already reliably delicious brew from a different angle. After all, as they say, variety is the spice of life.
In 2006, Chris Carroll, a longtime member of Team Stone, took that adage literally, proposing that we produce a one-off version of our venerable Stone Smoked Porter made spicy from the addition of chipotle peppers. We gave it a shot and found that those smoked jalapeños melded quite naturally with the smoldery peat-smoked malt that gives the beer its flavor and moniker, creating a deep, roasty quaff with a carefully restrained tingle of tasteful capsaicin heat in the finish. The marriage of ingredients was so nice that it has become an annual summertime staple, released each May in honor of Carroll’s initial idea that Stone Smoked Porter w/Chipotle Peppers serve as an artisanal alternative to the industrialized adjunct-laden cerveza billed as the perfect fluid accompaniment to the sunny season. Cheers to variety and a quality alternative to mediocrity."

It was an aged bottle, out of my basement beerfrigerator & I was curious as to how it would fare. I Pop!ped the cap & began a very gentle pour so as not to rouse any lees that may have settled out. An in-glass swirl raised two fingers of dense, foamy, light-tan head with great retention. Color was Dark Brown to Very Dark Brown (SRM = > 27, < 34) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a dry, smoky odor with some sinus-tickling heat behind it, a portent of what was to come. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was VERY peppery-spicy, undoubtedly a by-product of its aging. The smokiness was light, in comparison to previous smoked beers that afternoon, but the aging had allowed the heat of the peppers to come forward in a heated, spicy way! Phew. The commingling of the spices with the smoke made for a really brilliant drink! Finish was totally dry, as one might expect. We both agreed that this was the best beer of the day. I just wish that it was still being brewed.
Jul 18, 2017
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Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

3.74/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Modest head production and similar head retention. Brew is a clear dark brown.

Nose carries licorice, chocolate, dark fruit, and touches of smoke and peppers.

Thin on feel and up front flavor, but both chilis and smoke quickly announce themselves quite nicely. Throughout, there's a lingering roast and char, giving hints of dark chocolate and coffee.

This is a surprisingly tasty brew. The peppers are quite nice, and balanced well with the smoke and roast.
Jun 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kurzman from Rhode Island

Apr 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Nov 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by BrewskiBrandon from Missouri

Oct 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by ikidunot from Canada (ON)

Aug 23, 2016
Photo of Bierliebhaber3
Reviewed by Bierliebhaber3 from Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Its pitch black, as porters should be, with a moderate tan head. As you go to take a sip a strong smoked smell hits you in the nose. Good solid malts combine with a fairly strong smoky, faintly chocolate base. The pepper flavor is barely noticeable in the initial taste because of the smokiness, but in the aftertaste it’s apparent. Even in the aftertaste the chipotle flavor is not overwhelming though and blends very nicely with the other flavors, unlike some other pepper flavored beer variants (Habanero Sculpin) that I’ve tried which were too intense for me. The original Stone Smoked Porter is an excellent porter and I would have to say that the chipotle pepper addition is perhaps an enhancement albeit a slight one. This is a really great and very interesting beer.
Jun 12, 2016
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.81/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bomber from Brewer’s Haven. Pours inky black/muddy brown with small beige head. Faint pepper aroma on top of usual roasted malts. pepper becomes more apparent in the taste, with a little lingering spiciness on the tongue. Not quite as spicy as Crime, which is a good thing.
May 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.58 by GreyGhost4 from Ohio

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by GMorgan from Illinois

Apr 13, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Black in the middle, brown to the edge, crimson red right on it, 3/4" tan head that yields some uniform lacing. Aroma strove for those smoky notes, both the malt and the peppers.

Taste was a beer of substantial malt dimensions, but enough chipotle in the mouthfeel. Hops are up in there.
Apr 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by sposter4 from Pennsylvania

Feb 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by SweetwaterTuonker from Minnesota

Jan 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by aratcliffe from Kansas

Jan 24, 2016
Smoked Porter - Chipotle Peppers from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 1288 ratings