Double Porter Smoked | Rock Art Brewery

4.27/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Label: This Ain't For No Mama's Boy or Daddy's Girl

I've been getting more into Rock Art beers, and I've been digging their extreme line of bombers. This one's been kicking around for a while now in my closet.. finally going to crack it. 22oz into wide snifter.

A- A rich, brown sugar and toffee beer with a tan, caramel head that settles quickly into less than a cm. Still looks nice, the coloration is very inviting. Big, bold bubbles rest on the surface.

S- The smoke is there, although is pretty reserved all things considered. Since this is a porter and not a rauchbier, I'm digging it. A sweet, sugary, and pretty complex candied aroma comes out to play behind the smoke. Almost like the sweetness from fresh carrots, I kid you not.

T- Very good. The porter is represented with a rich, roasted flavor compounded by candied sugars, mild dark fruit, and a bit of pepper on the end. The smoke weaves its way in and out, remaining constant without overpowering the rest of the beer. A hair milder (smoke wise) than Stone's Smoked Porter, I find this one to be significantly more complex. Bitter (mildly)) sweet (but not too sweet), rich, and smoky. MMhhmmm, a very good beer.

Note- had the 2nd half of the bomber with pizza, and bumped the score, as the flavors really started to shine. A great beer.

M- Pretty thick, not syrupy, but on the edge. Could use a bit higher carbonation, but that's probably just me nitpicking, as it is in no way sloppy.

D- Moderately high. Perfect cold-weather beer, the smoke ads a level of depth to this beer to stand it out from most other porters. I'd buy this one again, and if you have access to it, it's worth a shot. Not a legendary beer, but a damn fine porter.

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4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

4.2/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber, w/o freshness info. A nice touch that the label includes food ideas and guidance for a tasty meal to enjoy with this brew. Pours dark brown, moderate dark khaki head, that goes to a tiny bubble film and typical collar. The Lace/sheeting is delicate and copious. Light smoke and dark malt nose. Flavorful and easy drinking ramped up porter. Notes of more smoke/wood, dark maple malts. Dense waves of malty flavor, supplemented by a charged up level of resiny hops all adds up to a quite worthy and recommended porter.

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4.2/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Burlington Hearth on 02.28.2008. Served in a tulip.

Pours a deep oak with shades of maple, beneath a creamy, off-white head. Patches of thin lacing with pretty good strength. Moderately sweet aromatics: maple syrup and dark, vinous fruit. Peat moss and oak with a rounded alcohol aroma. Subtle bready malt character with a reserved vanilla and maple sweetness. Robust oak and peat that tie together the sweetness, malts, alcohol and spruce flavored hops. Almost full bodied; airy and dry on the palate. Great, distinct flavors, intricately crafted. Maybe I enjoyed this offering even more than usual due to it being served on cask which allowed this Porter's subtleties to shine. I'll gladly compare to a bottle.

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4.2/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light creamy brown head. I was expecting a very dark beer, it turns out, it's a crimson color -- like a raspberry red. A decent amount of bubbles can be seen. Nice looking beer.

Big time smokiness and some bitter coffee. That's about it but it's a nice smoky aroma.

This is all about the smokiness and chocolate! Wow! Tasty! Some roasted coffee is evident. Slightly bitter at the end. Booze flavor is pretty much subdued, although it's a relatively high abv. with a 8%.

Medium body, carbonation is light to medium, it leaves the mouth feeling very dry, yet the mouth is still moist.

I can't complain about Rock Art since just about every beer I tried by them has been good to excellent -- this is no exception. Although, this is a borderline sipper, it is so tasty you want to gulp it. But I would recommend sipping it; I figured that out about halfway through, as the 8% is sneaking up on me. I am not a big fan of smoky beers but this is great! If you see this, pick it up, immediately!

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4.18/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle from Middlebury Discount Beverage, Middlebury, VT.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" tan head above the clear, effervescent dark amber brew. Thick head lasts nicely, with heavy sticky lace. Aroma is sweet and smokey. Taste is malty upfront, gives way to ample smoke in the middle, and closes with a hoppy bite. Mouthfeel is small-bubbled and smooth, and drinkability is very good. Interesting slant on an imperial porter.

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4.11/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Grabbed a bottle of this last winter and loved it so I tried another to be sure... This beer was a very dark garnet color which looks quite gorgeous held up to light. Sandstone colored head laced very well and displayed good retention too. The aromas were indeed smoky, caramel malt and roasted malt in there too. The flavors were at first like a Baltic Porter or Jamaican Stout but then the smokiness rolls in. Dark chocolate appeared in the sweetness as it warmed up and the finish is hoppy and a little bitter. Very good mouthfeel, medium to full body. I am pleased to report this one is as good as I thought it was the first time.

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4.02/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22-ounce bomber into a Saranac pint glass.

A: Deep, ruddy brown under a two-finger thick head of creamy, tan foam. Carbonation could be seen in the reddish-brown tinge and lacing was decent.

S: Roasted, smoky malts, earthy, herbal hops and a smoked meat and tobacco aroma.

T: Roasted caramel and black malts load up the flavor first, turning fruity and bitter with a nutty snap before mellowing out with an earthy, smoked peat taste. Herbal hops settle in to dry out the palate and a smoked meat and alcohol bitterness flushes out the aftertaste.

M: Full-bodied, a bit creamy and savory smoked flavors make it a fine evening sipper around the fire.

O: A very nice porter, albeit a bit lighter looking than I had anticipated. The 8% ABV is noticed in the finish a bit, but the fine, smoky malt complexity smooths things over pretty nicely. I'd like to pair it up with a smoked meat and cheese charcuterie some time to see where it stands with smoked foods.

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4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: pours a dark brown/slightly black with a tiny hint of head that disappears quickly.

Smell: Roasted malts, some smoke, strong toffee notes with hints of chocolate and caramel.

Taste: First hit with toffee and malty flavors then it finihes rather smokey (almost a rauchbier taste)

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with a smokey dryness.

Drinkability: Out of the three Rock Art beers that I've had, I rank this as #2. A very interesting smoked porter that I could drink regularly, just not more than one in a sitting.

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4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rock Art Double Porter Smoked
22 oz brown bottle
Served in a hotel mini glass

I spotted this beer at the Vermont State Liquor Store down the street and thought I would give this local beer a try.

Pours a mahogany brown with some ruby highlights on the bottom the glass. The brown color borderlines black, but with a close inspection reveals a dark brown quality. A nice fluffy head forms on top too, leaving trails of sticky lacings.

Whiffs of roasted malt, fireside smoke and sweet dairy.

A dark roasted malt backbone with subtle hints of liquid smoke. A touch of dairy sugar sweetness and a solid hop snap finishes this beer out. The carbonation level is perfect and this is an enjoyable beer.

Nicely done Rock Art, a really good porter.

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4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%

3.99/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a- dark brown, almost black with some red hues...decent sticky head not quite frothy

s- BACON..real smokey smell

t- BIGG smoked bacon flavor upfront with some roasted malts in the background. Also a real sweet caramel taste to it. ends with a real charred taste to it.

m- smooth not quite creamy

d- 1 of these is enough, i enjoy the distinct smoked bacon flavor to it, but a bottle of it is plenty

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3.97/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Split a 22oz bottle. Poured into a pint glass; a small, single finger dark tan head formed and quickly dissipated, leaving no lace behind. The body is dark brown (poor lighting...cannot tell is it is black or not..).

The nose has lots of campfire smoke aromas. The background has some coffee grinds, chocolate and roasted malts.

The taste is right in line with the nose. Strong smoke presence...peat, black coffee, cocoa and malts.

The mouth feel is a little thinner that I would have liked. Moderate carbonation.

Pretty drinkable, but no more than one pint per night. I would like to compare this directly with the other popular smoke beers...

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3.97/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours out a cola color. Nice tanish head, pretty fluffy. little bit of lacing
S:roasted coffee up front. somewhat sweet/fruity, and smoked
T: deep roasted smoke flavor right up front. and yes, there is some fruitiness, and malt presence, those first 2 flavors really prevail to the end
M: Very light. rather surprising
D: high

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3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours from 22oz. into pint glass a deep dark brown with not much light coming through. Thick tan head settles nicely.

S: Roasted and burnt malt, chicory, smoke, molasses and faint earthy hops.

T: Malt is sweet yet smoky with some burnt and roasted grain complexities like molasses, char and coffee. Hops are very subdued.

M: Full body with crisp bubbly carbonation and noticeable alcohol warmth.

D: Great price and good balance and flavor. Highly recommend this one.

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3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Burnt walnut with orange highlights on the coaster... which becomes glazed brick red with orange and amber accents when backlit. The sandstone colored cap looks very nice. The firm creaminess of the foam and the shredded sheets of lace are the highlights of the appearance.

The aroma contains a few tendrils of smoke, along with very little roasted maltiness. The beer smells moderately sour and minimally sweet. Forget the word 'Extreme' on the label. At least as far as the nose is concerned.

The first few mouthfuls are a pleasant surpise (I haven't had good luck with this brewery so far). There's enough malt for the style, the carbonation seems about right and the smoke is neither subtle nor overpowering. Tastes more like an American porter than a Baltic Porter.

As the ounces flow by, the various elements of the flavor profile become more cohesive. Specifics include dark chocolate, dark caramel and a *just right* amount of wood smoke. Sweet is favored early, bitter is favored late, and tangy dark fruit is just beneath the surface.

The mouthfeel is right on the money. It's medium-full and has fewer rough edges than one would expect with 60 IBUs worth of bitterness. An ideal amount of carbonation doesn't hurt.

Double Smoked Porter or Smoked Double Porter (certainly not Double Porter Smoked as it appears on the label) is the best Rock Art beer of the small handful that I've had so far. It isn't spectacular, but it gets the job done in fine fashion. Thanks to Vermonthiker for the bomber.

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3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Extreme? Really? This is certainly a larger than typical Porter but at 8.0% and 60 IBU's it sits about where you want a solid American-style Porter.

A froathy, dark brown pour releases a lightly tanned head that laces and retains very well and with a medium haze.

Medium smoke aromas are supported by nutty, cocoa, and heavy toasted barley malts. Burnt currants and cherries give a bit of rise to the estery mix and lifts the alcohol scent a bit. Piney hops seem to fit well with the woodsy malt character.

Flavors of kettle caramelization, nuttiness, woodsy (campfire) smoke, and columbian coffee land early on the palate and with a quick follow up of those piney hop flavor and building bitterness. The smoke seems to take a step down after the first few sips and become only a secondary factor from then on. Esters don't seems as prevailant in taste as was in aroma.

The beer has some rougher edges from a combination of acrid roasted grains, alcohols, and sulfurs (match sticks). A light astringency from grain and the well-attenuated dryness might work against the beer.

This is a delicious Porter that has all the right characteristics hitting at the right place for balance, intrigue, and power. I wish that the body were more malty and that we could avoid the harsh grain bite in the finish and aftertaste.

Thanks Indiapaleale!

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3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brown, not too dark, with some highlighting. Head is off white but not quite tan. Foam doesn't last long, but the top film of lace is quite nice.

A little sweetness on the nose, some roasted malt, and a tiny little hint of smoke. Nothing to worry about yet from the EXTREME tag on the front.

Again, not much in the way of smoke in the flavor; decent amount of bitterness from the roasted malts, but again not extreme by any means. Chocolate, caramel sweetness, and "campfire" charcoal flavor.

Finish is characterized mostly by bitterness, both the darkly roasted malt and the drying citric hoppiness. Pretty tasty overall, and with the nice heft to the body, definitely something to give a try if you like them darker and bitter..er.

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3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bomber purchased for $3.99 at Beverage Warehouse in Winooski, VT. Served cold in a chilled pint glass. I've been looking forward to this one 'cause I haven't had anything dark in a while, mostly bock and IPA lately.

Heavy pour gives a slowly building light brown head. Brew itself is cloudy and very dark brown. The light trying to pass through it is obscured just as much by turbidity as it is color. Decent webby lacing is generated throughout. Scent is mostly of smoked malt and pineapple. Also earthy oak and tobacco, faint citrus and pine hops. Taste is a big dose of smoky malt followed by tobacco, molasses, and a touch of nutmeg. Hops are felt a bit throughout but only become prominent toward the end and linger in the finish. Finish is long and complicated- first citrus and pine hops, then becoming smoke and pineapple, which linger for quite a while. Mouthfeel is pretty thick, dry, and a little too carbonated. Carbonation adds a bit of fizzy feeling to the finish.

Overall a good hearty porter. Main complaint is the bit of over carbonation, but not bad. Label might be a bit sensationalized, I wouldn't call it all that "extreme".

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