The Workman's Friend
The Bruery

The Workman's FriendThe Workman's Friend
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From:
The Bruery
 
California, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.12 | pDev: 10.92%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
84
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 10, 2015
Added:
Nov 12, 2010
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  28
The Workman's Friend is our take on a classic imperial porter. One of the more classic and "to style" beers we've brewed around here, it's a rich and creamy strong porter with a big malty backbone. Roasty and with a hint of smoke in the finish, a fantastic beer to get you through the foggy months of winter.

ABV: 8%, IBU: 20, SRM: 50, Release: One time only
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jmarsh123:
Photo of jmarsh123
Reviewed by jmarsh123 from Indiana

3.59/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a black and opaque with a finger of tan head that recedes immediately.

Smells of some semi-sweet chocolate, roasted malt with a little touch of smoke. Some dark fruit as well. Something weirdly sweet (maybe banana) I can't quite put my finger on.

Starts off with a bit of roasted malt. Notes of leather, molasses stone fruits and licorice come through. A bit of smoke comes out towards he end, increasing as it warms. The weird banana flavor is there again.

Creamy mouthfeel with maybe a touch too much carbonation.

Overall not bad. There are some good flavors here, but he weird banana like flavor knocks it down a few pegs for me. Still pretty easy drinking. Roasted malts are featured heavily and sweetness is kept in check.
Feb 21, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.56 by ivegot3Dvision from Oregon

Jul 10, 2015
Photo of Benjiehorn
Rated by Benjiehorn from Illinois

2.12/5  rDev -48.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Think I held onto this one for too long, was infected and sour.
May 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by MisterKilderkin from California

May 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by wethorseblanket from California

Oct 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Buck_Jones from Michigan

Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by SoCalSuds from California

May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by WynnO from Florida

Jan 20, 2014
Photo of HuskyinPDX
Reviewed by HuskyinPDX from Washington

3.96/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle opened on 11.1.13

A - Pours a dark brown with a foamy and active brown head that fades fast.

S - Nutty, roasted malt, smokey.

T - Smoke, nutty and roasted malts.

D - Decent carbonation with a lighter than expected body.

O - Lots of roasted and smokey layers.
Dec 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by deniserat from California

Oct 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Oct 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Mar 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by jsanford from Georgia

Mar 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 02, 2013
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into a few glasses. Pours black with a smooth mocha head. Rich and sudsy look. Smells of citrus, dark fruit, roast cocoa and touch of tobacco. Tastes of dark fruit, ripe citrus, cocoa powder and burnt roast. Pretty tight profile. Fuller bodied with a sharp and crisp feel. Barely any alcohol. Great Porter here with full flavors and a smooth body for the higher ABV. Great dark beer fix.
Jan 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by kjkinsey from Texas

Dec 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Dec 16, 2012
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Thanks go to Kegatron for sharing this one during a recent gathering. Poured into a Bruery snifter, the brew appears black in color with a finger of mocha head sitting atop. Some stringy to patchy lace sticks to the glass and the cap displays solid retaining powers. A swirl effortlessly revives a finger back to the surface. When held to the light, some lighter brown shines through the edges.

The smell is roast with a fruity depth like raisins mixing with notes of chocolate from the roast of the grain. There is a mild citrus hop component also present that blends into a bit of floral to fruity alcohol ester.

The taste is roasted from the grain that inmediately transitions to some dark fruit elements like raisin and/or plum. Chocolate grain is present throughout with a mild note of alcohol tang before transitioning back to a bit of cocoa quality. Faint notes of citrus hops are still present mixing with some vinous alcohol. The favors mingle together nicely.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is smooth and enjoyable and a bit different considering the advertisement as an imperial porter. Obviously stronger than your staple porter but not quite into the stout realm of roast. It was a pleasant experience with my only gripe being a bit of mineral inclusion. If you get a chance, this is worth checking out. Thanks again Heath!
Oct 04, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by drewone from California

Sep 30, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by enelson from Illinois

Jul 31, 2012
The Workman's Friend from The Bruery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 84 ratings