Portamarillo
Epic Brewing Company
- From:
- Epic Brewing Company
- New Zealand
- Style:
- American Porter
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.75 | pDev: 9.07%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 43
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 04, 2019
- Added:
- Jun 26, 2011
- Wants:
- 15
- Gots:
- 10
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Collaboration with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
A collaboration, a Festive brew and the world's first tree tomato beer. A sorta-Porter fermented with New Zealand grown Tamarillos, which were smoked using wood chips from the sacred Pohutukawa tree (also know as the NZ Christmas tree).
A collaboration, a Festive brew and the world's first tree tomato beer. A sorta-Porter fermented with New Zealand grown Tamarillos, which were smoked using wood chips from the sacred Pohutukawa tree (also know as the NZ Christmas tree).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts
4.13/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
So, somehow along the past 8 years my review for this disappeared. Stumbled upon a txt file while looking through my old hard drive for beer photos. Wow. Should be from late 2011 early 2012.
A - Big fluffy two finger mocha head that fades to leave a thick blanket and nice side lacing atop a deep rich roasty brown almost black hue.
S - Aromas of lots of wood, cherry, fruit, smoke, tobacco?, sharp spice and slight herbal
T - Nice chocolate and roast malts (slight bitterness too). There is more of that nice wood aspect along with some subtle smoke. very unique smokey fruit notes with the flavour. No like anything I've had before. Nice and rich and fruity (more meaty fruit). See other notes
M - Nice mouthfeel here. Smooth, creamy, slightly sharp bitter finish. Very enjoyable.
O - Overall this was a tasty beer. Super unique. Glad I had a bottle and wish I had one more. Still delicious after these months.
Serving Type: Bottle
Dec 04, 2019A - Big fluffy two finger mocha head that fades to leave a thick blanket and nice side lacing atop a deep rich roasty brown almost black hue.
S - Aromas of lots of wood, cherry, fruit, smoke, tobacco?, sharp spice and slight herbal
T - Nice chocolate and roast malts (slight bitterness too). There is more of that nice wood aspect along with some subtle smoke. very unique smokey fruit notes with the flavour. No like anything I've had before. Nice and rich and fruity (more meaty fruit). See other notes
M - Nice mouthfeel here. Smooth, creamy, slightly sharp bitter finish. Very enjoyable.
O - Overall this was a tasty beer. Super unique. Glad I had a bottle and wish I had one more. Still delicious after these months.
Serving Type: Bottle
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin
3.35/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.35/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Given a few years to age since its discovery on Brewmasters, Portamarillo is a different take on a porter. I get a smokey and date-like flavor, and it doesn't have any stale or obvious oxidized flavors, so it looks like this beer has aged fine. Too bad it's not a standout beer.
Apr 27, 2015
Reviewed by MatthewWilde from Massachusetts
3.75/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sample: 1 bottle 2011
A: Pours dark brown, almost no head, some decent lacing, moderate internal carbonation, not translucent
S: Interesting nose, lots of smoke, definitely some herbal and vegetal elements, even some malt and caramel comes through
T: Much akin to the nose, smoky and malty, some vegemite qualities to it, some cocoa and a touch of spice, some espresso notes emerge as well, quite unique
M: Smooth, but feels quite thick in the mouth, a bit lingering on the palate as a result, almost oily, moderate smoky aftertaste, and moderately drying
O: A singular and interesting porter, definitely an experience, but certainly not one of my favorites, worth a try, more for the novelty, but still pretty decent
Sep 02, 2012A: Pours dark brown, almost no head, some decent lacing, moderate internal carbonation, not translucent
S: Interesting nose, lots of smoke, definitely some herbal and vegetal elements, even some malt and caramel comes through
T: Much akin to the nose, smoky and malty, some vegemite qualities to it, some cocoa and a touch of spice, some espresso notes emerge as well, quite unique
M: Smooth, but feels quite thick in the mouth, a bit lingering on the palate as a result, almost oily, moderate smoky aftertaste, and moderately drying
O: A singular and interesting porter, definitely an experience, but certainly not one of my favorites, worth a try, more for the novelty, but still pretty decent
Reviewed by ngeunit1 from Massachusetts
4.2/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a dark brown-black color with a finger of frothy off-white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.
S - Aroma is a mix of roasted chocolate malts, smoke vanilla, tomatillos, and some oak.
T - Starts off with a mix of roasted chocolate malts, vanilla, and some tomatillos. Through the middle, the smoke and oak flavors come through with some milk chocolate. The finish is mix of roasted chocolate malts, smoke, oak, and some tomatillos.
M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and smoky finish.
D - Very drinkable. Nice smoky porter with some nice complexity from the tomatillos. Good overall balance.
Sep 02, 2012S - Aroma is a mix of roasted chocolate malts, smoke vanilla, tomatillos, and some oak.
T - Starts off with a mix of roasted chocolate malts, vanilla, and some tomatillos. Through the middle, the smoke and oak flavors come through with some milk chocolate. The finish is mix of roasted chocolate malts, smoke, oak, and some tomatillos.
M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and smoky finish.
D - Very drinkable. Nice smoky porter with some nice complexity from the tomatillos. Good overall balance.
Reviewed by Lare453 from Florida
4.3/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A nice cola color with a small light grown head.
The smell is roasty, smoky with a light malt.
The flavor starts out light with a malt middle and a smoky ending. The aftertaste is short but good with a light smoke.
The mouthfeel is smooth with a medium carbonation.
Overall this beer was delicious and I would definitely have it again.
This beer was great I was able to try it at a small pub in NYC. I would recommend trying it if you ever have a chance.
Jul 31, 2012The smell is roasty, smoky with a light malt.
The flavor starts out light with a malt middle and a smoky ending. The aftertaste is short but good with a light smoke.
The mouthfeel is smooth with a medium carbonation.
Overall this beer was delicious and I would definitely have it again.
This beer was great I was able to try it at a small pub in NYC. I would recommend trying it if you ever have a chance.
Reviewed by beer2day from North Carolina
3.77/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown pour with ruddy hints of red along the edges. Really looks like port, except for the 1-finger medium cream head. Retention is ok, lace is marginal.
Nose is that of a strong smoked porter. Very strong. Woody with lots of smoke.
Taste is smoked porter up front and lightly spiced bloody mary in the finish. Front side is very nice, back end is just a bit off - but I'm sure the taste is accurate for what they had in mind. Not terribly off-putting, but just different. A bit of vegetable at the end of the glass. Even the celery comes in a bit, or that could just be my imagination.
Feel is about right for a porter. Not too thick or oily. Medium-to-slightly heavy body.
Overall, worth a shot if you are a smoke fan.
Jun 13, 2012Nose is that of a strong smoked porter. Very strong. Woody with lots of smoke.
Taste is smoked porter up front and lightly spiced bloody mary in the finish. Front side is very nice, back end is just a bit off - but I'm sure the taste is accurate for what they had in mind. Not terribly off-putting, but just different. A bit of vegetable at the end of the glass. Even the celery comes in a bit, or that could just be my imagination.
Feel is about right for a porter. Not too thick or oily. Medium-to-slightly heavy body.
Overall, worth a shot if you are a smoke fan.
Reviewed by bbeane from Pennsylvania
3.97/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Poured into a snifter... Starts with a finger thick off white colored head that disappears quickly leaving a bit of spotted lacing. Beer is dark in color that turns a shade of ruby when held up to the light
S- Nose is chocolatey a faint smokeyness and definite notes from the tamarillos. The smoked aroma becomes more prominent as the beer warms
T- The taste has far more evidence of the smoked malts than the nose let's on. It accompanies the chocolate malts before being joined by some light notes from the sweet fruit in the finish
M- Medium bodied with light carbonation
O- I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. To me, it was a nice smoked porter with the tamarillo adding an unnecessary, yet pleasant finish that is one of a kind
Cheers
Apr 20, 2012S- Nose is chocolatey a faint smokeyness and definite notes from the tamarillos. The smoked aroma becomes more prominent as the beer warms
T- The taste has far more evidence of the smoked malts than the nose let's on. It accompanies the chocolate malts before being joined by some light notes from the sweet fruit in the finish
M- Medium bodied with light carbonation
O- I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. To me, it was a nice smoked porter with the tamarillo adding an unnecessary, yet pleasant finish that is one of a kind
Cheers
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