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Chocolate Porter
Bayhawk Ales
- From:
- Bayhawk Ales
- California, United States
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
- ABV:
- 7.9%
- Score:
- 68
- Avg:
- 2.84 | pDev: 25.7%
- Reviews:
- 81
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 26, 2020
- Added:
- Feb 26, 2003
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 8
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jklecko2:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
2.61/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
2.61/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Thin appearance, light brown, beige head, 1/3". Aroma did kick down some chocolate. Some.
Taste was there, but a thin brown ale body masquerading as a porter doesn't give me happy feels. Chocolate brown ale ok? Needs more. MOAR. Moar malt, more roast, more chocolate. More substance.
Only good if you think of it as a adjunct chocolate Newcastle (i.e. set the bar really low in the first place).
Feb 01, 2016Taste was there, but a thin brown ale body masquerading as a porter doesn't give me happy feels. Chocolate brown ale ok? Needs more. MOAR. Moar malt, more roast, more chocolate. More substance.
Only good if you think of it as a adjunct chocolate Newcastle (i.e. set the bar really low in the first place).
Reviewed by Fatehunter from Oregon
2.44/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
2.44/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Pours a big foamy two and half fingers of head on a dark brown body.
The aroma is chocolate and roasted malt.
The taste starts out with chocolate sweetness, then turns to a sour middle and finish.
The texture is crisp.
I'm not sure if it's supposed to have the sour flavor, but it shouldn't.
Jan 12, 2016The aroma is chocolate and roasted malt.
The taste starts out with chocolate sweetness, then turns to a sour middle and finish.
The texture is crisp.
I'm not sure if it's supposed to have the sour flavor, but it shouldn't.
Reviewed by tucson_brewson from Arizona
3.1/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.1/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
22 oz bomber poured into a tulip, just 'cause.
L - Jet black, brown bubbly head that disappears in seconds and leaves a light lacing
S - Cola, burnt chocolate, coffee, artificial fruit
T - Slightly better than the smell. Starts off bitter, almost tart sourness that quickly transitions to a dark chocolate/coffee flavor and a nice bit of caramel sweetness finish. The first sip seemed a bit off-putting, but I've only drank stouts up to this point, to my knowledge.
M - Thin, carbonated, watery. I read that stouts are creamier, more like milk, whereas porters are thin and water-like. It's not as heavy as a stout, but the carbonation and alcohol content are definitely present. The sour start coats the mouth and brings down its drinkability.
O - I feel like I would take a Guinness or even a Left Handed Milk Stout over this. While the color and decent amount of sweetness help balance out the bitter/sour funk, it's not something I'd buy again. Only bought it because it was the cheapest of all bomber dark beers. An okay winter-warmer. Not to mention a quick Google search shows that the brewery is "Permanently closed." Am I drinking the last of these? Or am I drinking it at all...?
Dec 22, 2015L - Jet black, brown bubbly head that disappears in seconds and leaves a light lacing
S - Cola, burnt chocolate, coffee, artificial fruit
T - Slightly better than the smell. Starts off bitter, almost tart sourness that quickly transitions to a dark chocolate/coffee flavor and a nice bit of caramel sweetness finish. The first sip seemed a bit off-putting, but I've only drank stouts up to this point, to my knowledge.
M - Thin, carbonated, watery. I read that stouts are creamier, more like milk, whereas porters are thin and water-like. It's not as heavy as a stout, but the carbonation and alcohol content are definitely present. The sour start coats the mouth and brings down its drinkability.
O - I feel like I would take a Guinness or even a Left Handed Milk Stout over this. While the color and decent amount of sweetness help balance out the bitter/sour funk, it's not something I'd buy again. Only bought it because it was the cheapest of all bomber dark beers. An okay winter-warmer. Not to mention a quick Google search shows that the brewery is "Permanently closed." Am I drinking the last of these? Or am I drinking it at all...?
Reviewed by Voldigar from Washington
1.87/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.5
1.87/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.5
Bought at the grocery store in Irvine, CA.
Look: Entirely opaque. Good head, but diminishes quickly. Classic porter brown color to the head, but just a touch of whiteness too.
Smell: Powerful alcohol, burns the nose. Malty molasses odor was out of balance/too strong. Smells old, dank, and musky.
Taste: Flavor is week and sour, almost nauseating. Lack of balance. The aroma far surpasses the flavor.
Feel: Chewy/slimy, like pressed fruit juice.
Overall: Very poor representation of a Porter. Almost unrecognizable. Unfinishable.
Nov 16, 2015Look: Entirely opaque. Good head, but diminishes quickly. Classic porter brown color to the head, but just a touch of whiteness too.
Smell: Powerful alcohol, burns the nose. Malty molasses odor was out of balance/too strong. Smells old, dank, and musky.
Taste: Flavor is week and sour, almost nauseating. Lack of balance. The aroma far surpasses the flavor.
Feel: Chewy/slimy, like pressed fruit juice.
Overall: Very poor representation of a Porter. Almost unrecognizable. Unfinishable.
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington
2.8/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2
2.8/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2
Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.
Appearance: black hue with a finger of frothy tan foam. Head doesn't stick around too long but the color is quite nice.
Smell: sweet and toasty with a dash of dry cocoa flavor. Not bad at all.
Taste: there's an unappetizing sourness here that doesn't work for me at all. There is some interesting caramel character here, but in general it really is not great.
Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent carbonation and creaminess.
Overall: there are many cases where sourness is a good quality in a beer -- this is not one of them. I won't be finishing this.
Nov 10, 2015Appearance: black hue with a finger of frothy tan foam. Head doesn't stick around too long but the color is quite nice.
Smell: sweet and toasty with a dash of dry cocoa flavor. Not bad at all.
Taste: there's an unappetizing sourness here that doesn't work for me at all. There is some interesting caramel character here, but in general it really is not great.
Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent carbonation and creaminess.
Overall: there are many cases where sourness is a good quality in a beer -- this is not one of them. I won't be finishing this.
Reviewed by Jbowmann from California
4/5 rDev +40.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4/5 rDev +40.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Surprisingly good for the price. I don't understand why this beer has gotten such lukewarm reviews. I may have found a new daily drinker that doesn't break the bank but brings some quality
May 05, 2015Rated by Chanfles
3.51/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Really enjoyed it. Especially considering the price of the bottle.
Apr 07, 2015Reviewed by TheMarkE from California
3.27/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Appearance: Deep dark brown with a good head of foam, moderate lacing, and visible carbonation in the dark depths.
Smell: Cocoa powder and a hint of coffee.
Taste: Cocoa and coffee.
Mouthfeel: Thin body with some cocoa bitterness in the finish.
The Verdict: It’s okay. Pretty tame, but a decent value for the money.
Apr 07, 2015Smell: Cocoa powder and a hint of coffee.
Taste: Cocoa and coffee.
Mouthfeel: Thin body with some cocoa bitterness in the finish.
The Verdict: It’s okay. Pretty tame, but a decent value for the money.
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland
3.41/5 rDev +20.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev +20.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
From BeerAdvocate Magazine #75 (April 2013):
A bit more cleaning up and this would be a winner. The distractions take away from it, though it ends up being a decent sip. Don’t be tricked by the name as the chocolate character is pretty light. A decent Baltic Porter at best.
STYLE: Baltic Porter
ABV: 7.9%
AVAILABILITY: Year-round
LOOK: Dark brown, ruddy highlights
SMELL: Toffee, chocolate, mild roastiness, ripe figs, Brazil nuts, yeasty
TASTE: Smooth, creamy, medium body; slight chocolate edge, burnt sugar, coffee grounds, yeast, mineral, walnut skin; warming, semidry finish
Mar 07, 2015A bit more cleaning up and this would be a winner. The distractions take away from it, though it ends up being a decent sip. Don’t be tricked by the name as the chocolate character is pretty light. A decent Baltic Porter at best.
STYLE: Baltic Porter
ABV: 7.9%
AVAILABILITY: Year-round
LOOK: Dark brown, ruddy highlights
SMELL: Toffee, chocolate, mild roastiness, ripe figs, Brazil nuts, yeasty
TASTE: Smooth, creamy, medium body; slight chocolate edge, burnt sugar, coffee grounds, yeast, mineral, walnut skin; warming, semidry finish
Reviewed by samtrillo from California
3.85/5 rDev +35.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +35.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Not sure why this is so underrated.
Nose features roasted cocoa powder and toasted almond.
Taste is more subtle than a lot of chocolate beers, but that could be because it's a porter and not a stout. You do get the bitter crisp feeling from the porter and not the creaminess of a stout. Dark cocoa powder and burnt mocha flavors dominate. I like that's it's not in your face but definitely is still chocolatey. Maybe I'm a sucker for a chocolate beer or maybe the eaters have fallen victim to the appeal to average bias. I say try this one if you like coco, bro.
Jan 25, 2015Nose features roasted cocoa powder and toasted almond.
Taste is more subtle than a lot of chocolate beers, but that could be because it's a porter and not a stout. You do get the bitter crisp feeling from the porter and not the creaminess of a stout. Dark cocoa powder and burnt mocha flavors dominate. I like that's it's not in your face but definitely is still chocolatey. Maybe I'm a sucker for a chocolate beer or maybe the eaters have fallen victim to the appeal to average bias. I say try this one if you like coco, bro.
Rated by sd123 from Georgia
3.56/5 rDev +25.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev +25.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
not amazing but not terrible either
Jan 20, 2015
Chocolate Porter from Bayhawk Ales
Beer rating:
68 out of
100 with
132 ratings
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