White Horse Porter
Selin's Grove Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Served on-tap at Selin's Grove Brewing Co in Selinsgrove, PA

A: Pours a clear but opaque very dark brown in color with minimal amounts of visible carbonation and some garnet red highlights. The beer has a half finger tall foamy tan head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of toasted and roasted grainy malts along with some hints of molasses sweetness.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of bready malts with toasted and roasted grains. That is followed by a light amount of molasses sweetness and hints of chocolate. Light amounts of earthy hops. Minimal amounts of bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Well balanced between the malt sweetness and the hop bitterness. Light enough to be easy to drink in the summer but feels a little on the thin side for the style in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

First had: on tap at the brewery

Poured a moderately dark tea brown, translucent around the edges, no head whatsoever. Aroma of toasted grains, very big on the molasses, with lesser notes of cocoa. Light taste, not very full, but quite sessionable; more of what was in the aroma, toasted grains, bready malts, molasses (less pronounced), cocoa, mild earthy hops. Borders on being a brown ale IMO. Body is about medium, lower carbonation, easily drinkable, very nice overall.

 

 

Thanks to wishuwerebeer for sharing this freshly filled growler. Poured into a snifter, the brew appears more brown in color than expected with ruby clarity seen when held to the light. A finger of tan froth quickly recedes leaving spotty and web-like patterns of lace. A swirl brings back a finger if cream to the surface.

The smell of this brew includes a light note of cheese initially that blends into cocoa and mild dark fruit indications. A little musty, metallic and mineral-filled with sulfur across the back. Raisins and more hints of fruit come out as the brew warms. It is significantly more fruity with less focus on chocolate than having it on tap.

The taste is dark and fruity reminescent of raisins, plums and a bit of musty chocolate. Some sweet caramel to toffee grain inclusion breaks up the fruity and chocolate character. Despite the mild must character, the grain inclusion for the most part comes across very fresh and grainy almost like oats.

This is a medium bodies brew with a light level of carbonation. Slightly watery at times in the feel but enjoyable and very easy drinking. I slightly prefer my last experience with this brew on tap. Regardless, it is an approachable brew for someone wanting to dry a darker brew.

Served on-tap at the Brewpub.

A - Pours dark brown bordering on black with a nice, creamy one finger tall off white head leaving light lace down the glass.

S - Smells of milk chocolate, old coffee grounds, dark roasted malt, and some faint hop bitterness at the end of each sniff. This nose is a little bit of a letdown.

T - Starts off with a good amount of cocoa sweetness that sticks around throughout. Hints of coffee, dark roasted malt, molasses, and some light bitterness; either from the coffee or hops; creeps in at the end of each sip.

M - Medium-Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Rich, creamy, feel that dies down a bit as the beer sits in the glass. Gets a bit watery at the end of the glass but I had no problem finishing it.

O - Pretty good. I have always liked porters and this one is no different. It has a good flavor profile and is pretty easy to drink. If you are at the pub and are looking for something new to try, I would suggest this one if it is on.

 

 

I went back to this beer many hours later. I refused to give up on this beer and decided on an aggressive pour from my growler. What an astounding difference.

We finally have same color, of course, but now I have a controlled head that is creamy if only a finger small. It is also coating and leaves spotted lacing on my glass. There is no cola like carbonation now, but tight bubbles present and decent whispy puck stays throughout drinking.

Nose improves dramatically from the aggressive pour. Chocolate punches out. But is still faint. Score on bouquet doesn't really improve, there is still a hint of sourness.

Taste still hampered slightly but the texture has improved dramatically. Mild cream sensation typical from this brewer comes back, to now going back with the roast coffee and now some chocolate sense.

Overall I almost feel like I am back at the tavern. Almost ;)

—--- first review original grade: C

Poured out of the growler into a nonic pint glass. Went from the brewery three hours from my car in a cushioned box, into my fridge. Opened up twenty four hours later.

Pours wet and flat with barely a centimeter of a tan head. Body color is a nice dark chestnut with orange hues at the bottom. Beer looks a bit lifeless.

Nose is light dark malt sense but not much going on here. Slight sense of toffee.

Taste is very wet and flat cola like texture. A little sour too. Acrid almost grain taste mixed with chocolate toffee and a hint of coffee.

Overall this isnt that bad but I am not sure this travelled or stored well. It's texture and appearance reminds me a bit of their Marzen which was ok. This may be turning, but if I had it fresh on tap I think it would only be slightly better. This unfortunately is not a great porter. Luckily they make some other great beers.

A - Two plus fingers worth of fluffy airy very light tan colored head... The color is a dark brown / light black... There sStill quite translucent with a bunch of light leaking in at all angles... Some faint red hues...

S - Chocolate cake... Some light milk chocolate notes... Even fainter whiffs of faint coffee... Cherries... Caramel... Toffee... Molasses...

T - A sweet but not overpowering molasses character... Light notes of black forest cake... Come cherry characteristics... Hints of baker's chocolate...

M - On the fuller side of medium bodied... Quite creamy... A bit rich... Rather satisfying... Exceedingly smooth...

D - This is a very good brew... The cask presentation only adds to the exquisiteness... I could drink a couple of this in the sittings... Highly recommended...

Pours a very dark brown, almost black color with a thin layer of creamy coffee colored head.

The scent is of roasted coffee and some notes of chocolate.

The taste is of roasted coffee, dark cocoa, and some sweet cream.

Full bodied, very smooth and creamy, no carbonation.

This was a pretty good beer, I thought the flavor should have been more bold for the style, but overall a nice beer.