Smoked Porter
Stewart's Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a: deep chestnut brown in color, thick mocha colored head is sustained throughout, and coats the glass in thin lace

s: medium roast barley, dark cocoa, mostly dry with a balanced sweetness level provided by fruity dark sugars, nice, clean beechwood smoke, very well rounded

m: silky, low-medium carbonation and a body just on the full side of medium

t: dry and semisweet cocoa, roasted barley, and a smooth, clean beech smoke flavor in perfect harmony with the base beer - pure wood smoke and not meaty at all, earthy hop flavors, a pleasant bitterness mixes with the smoke and roast for a flavorful finish

d: easy

standard pint at the brewpub

22 oz bottle provided as a reward for my GABF volunteering efforts...this was a bottle left over after completion of the competition. Pours a finger of brown head over a very dark brown liquid. Smells smoke, chocolate, and english woody hops. Smoke is char, like wood from a campfire that was doused with water the night before. There is a not quite acrid character that comes across as more of a spiciness. Deep inhale reveals alcohol heat and some solventy/rubbery. Without the rubbery, this wold score a 4.0 in the nose.

Tastes wet sweet carrying through and serving as a base upon which the other flavors play. Smoke and chocolate predominant, but neither overly bearing. Drying finish has roast and burnt marshmellow flavors. Nice wood scorch flavor avoids phenolic ickiness and soured coffee. With searching, I find a mild presence of dark ester worked into the malt sweet. Overall, the flavors are balanced in regards to intensity and work well together. None of the flavors are fighting each other, yet the flavors are not quite blended. A small amount of aging could do this beer wonders. Nice dexrinous mouthfeel helps the sweet balance and moderate carbonation is appropriate. I'll be honest, I dislike smoke beers, but this one was quite a nice drinker. I actually could go for another.

This brew is real dark with a thin sticky , white head. The nose is lots of wonderful smoke. It taste just like it smells, light smoke on the tip of the tongue. This is followed by a light chocalte flavor followed by a nice smokey aftertaste. The beer was medium to full bodied and a nice sipping beer. The menu stated it went well with most foods. I would agree, it was very enjoyable with my steak.

Not only was this the best beer I had from Stewart's; it may have been the best beer from the fest today. Truly an exceptional smoked porter.

Appearance: Served a dark – almost black with a light brown head.

Smell: Light whiffs of smoke cents rise from an otherwise pleasant porter nose on the beer. Roasted malts chocolate and molasses.

Taste: Dark roasted chocolate malt character and a lightly sweet dark fruit flavor with a bit of woody earthy attribute and a dry bitter finish. The smokiness is solid but not overwhelming.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and easy with a slight hint of bitter tingles from time to time, immediately washed down by more smooth creaminess.

Drinkability: This beer is very tasty and each sip begs for more. I went back for another.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!