Chocolate Porter
Bayhawk Ales

Chocolate PorterChocolate Porter
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From:
Bayhawk Ales
 
California, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
7.9%
Score:
68
Avg:
2.84 | pDev: 25.7%
Reviews:
81
Ratings:
132
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 26, 2020
Added:
Feb 26, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  8
No description / notes.
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Ratings by jklecko2:
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Rated by jklecko2 from California

3/5  rDev +5.6%

Sep 25, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Mar 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.58 by Dsimenson from California

Jul 21, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
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
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, 2016
Photo of Fatehunter
Reviewed by Fatehunter from Oregon

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, 2016
Photo of tucson_brewson
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
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, 2015
Photo of Voldigar
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
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, 2015
Photo of flagmantho
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
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, 2015
 
Rated: 3.16 by IGOTASIXPACK from California

Jul 09, 2015
 
Rated: 2.81 by BowWowWowYippyYoIPA from California

May 27, 2015
Photo of Jbowmann
Reviewed by Jbowmann from California

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, 2015
Photo of Chanfles
Rated by Chanfles

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, 2015
Photo of TheMarkE
Reviewed 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
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, 2015
Photo of BeerAdvocate
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
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, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by jaswilson2 from South Carolina

Feb 09, 2015
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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
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, 2015
Photo of sd123
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
not amazing but not terrible either
Jan 20, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by Rick778 from California

Dec 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by GeoChase90 from California

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Alpha309 from California

Nov 28, 2014
Chocolate Porter from Bayhawk Ales
Beer rating: 68 out of 100 with 132 ratings