Death By Coconut
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew

Spike from England

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

330ml can.
No idea why Oskar Blues call this an Irish-style Porter. There’s no such thing.
No idea why this is classified on BeerAdvocate as a Robust Porter. It isn’t.
This is a milk stout with a massive amount of coconut added so that it mimics a dark chocolate Bounty/Mounds.
It’s gimmicky but of the good variety.

Jun 26, 2021

Sigmund from Norway

3.79/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

355 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Very dark brown to black colour, small tan head. Strong aroma of coconuts, chocolate, vanilla and suntan oil. The flavour is not very sweet, but has plenty of coconut, chocolate and vanilla. Moderate hops. The guys at Oskar Blues Brewery have the nerve to call this an "Irish Porter" - I had no idea that coconuts grow in Ireland, but what do I know. The beer is well worth sampling anyway.

Apr 12, 2021

RozzieBoy from Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Canned on 11/11/20
L - poured deep brown/ near back with a solid 2-finger, thick tan head. Minimal lacing.
S - more chocolate notes than coconut.
T - more coconut than chocolate. Pretty sweet taste with a bit of lactose aftertaste.
F - thin to medium mouthfeel. Some mild carbonation. Semi -dry finish.
O - after the pour, I though it looked sexy (weird, I know). But overall dropped off a bit from there. Overall, though, a decent beer.

Jan 16, 2021

KRug from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Canned 11/11/20

I’ve had a few beers in their Death By series and I’m generally a fan. This one is where it seemed to all start though, easily has the most ratings out of the entire series as well as currently sitting as the second highest rated robust porter on BA

Pours very dark brown with 2 fingers of dense tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing

The aroma is sweet but not overly so, bringing a ton of creamed coconut, milk chocolate, caramel malt, and almond. Pretty much smells like a liquified almond joy

The taste is not as sweet, but feels lacking. On the front end I get milk chocolate and some general malt. The swallow brings notes of sweet coconut, light roast coffee, and cacao. Not bad but nothing super exciting

Even for a porter, the body here feels thin and is only supported by very gentle carbonation. Finishes somewhere between dry and syrupy

This was pretty mediocre all things considered. It’s pretty highly rated but it just didn’t have anything that jumped out at me or caught my attention. That being said, I’ll finish my drink and I’d consider trying the barrel aged version if I can find it one day

Jan 11, 2021

DoctorZombies from Florida

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned 10/15/20. Poured at 57 degrees. Fizzy tan head atop ruby brown body; Tons! of suspended particles; poor cap retention, thin ring, minimal spotty lacing; no legs. Strong coconut nose, with toasted almonds and chocolate cake right behind. Coconut, dark chocolate, sweet milk chocolate; some light roast in middle; cream and vanilla on back end. Light body, slick oily feel; moderate carbonation; no warmth from 6.5% abv. Overall, the beer is thin feeling, but it does taste like a Mounds bar albeit a bit artificial; good balance between coconut and chocolate - pretty even flavor wise; the snow globe effect is still off putting, even if (hopefully) it’s shaved coconut; one and done until next year.

Jan 03, 2021

woodchipper from Connecticut

3.77/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12oz can dated 10/20/20 to a diagonal cut snifter at 55F.
Pours black with brown edges with a quickly fading small brown head.
There appears to be a strong alcohol in the nose, however the more I sniff it the more I think it might be other volatiles in the beer fooling me. This beer is only 6.5 ABV. Still, my final impression is of a coconut liquor or dare I say coconut adhesive. Not super inviting honestly.
A few tastes quickly turn my mind around about this beer. Coconut, bitter chocolate, and maybe a false impression of hazelnut. Still a hint of a volatile component but its not distracting like in the aroma.
The mouthfeel is also good. Very creamy and tongue coating. I actually view the low carbonation on this sample as a feature.
Overall- Non-impressive head, wierd nose, great taste, good feel. It helps that I like coconut I guess.

Dec 05, 2020

mboone67 from New Jersey

4.64/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Look: Dark to dark brown
Smell: Dominant coconut with hints of the smokey barley
Taste: Perfect balance of coconut under a traditional Irish Porter
Feel: Not overly carbonated with a barrel aged feel to it
Overall: At first the nose seemed like it would have that over sweet taste, not the case, very balanced

Dec 01, 2020

Hazyfuss from North Carolina

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It doesn’t get any better than this. Not too sweet. Just the right amount of everything. Try it after a glass off bourbon or some Cardenal Mendoza....
..phenomenal!! Coconut taste is outrageous!

Nov 22, 2020

AlCaponeJunior from Texas

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appropriately named, this one blasts you with coconut flavor, dominating the brew. A solid robust porter builds a nice base. Oskar Blues never disappoints, and there is no exception here. Tasty and different, well worth the price of a 4 pack.

Nov 22, 2020

jockstrappy from Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz can pours a deep coffee hue, sudsy tan head, not too sticky. Nose is strong coffee with background notes of dark chocolate and mild coconut. Flavor follows with coffee, cocoa and coconut at the back end with a pleasant dark chocolate sweetness to fight off the coffee. Strangely easy drinking given the bold flavors. Worthy of its high marks!

Nov 05, 2020

Singlefinpin from North Carolina

4.21/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Drinking this at The Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard NC.
Poured from a tap in a 8 ounce pour, this is a full pour at Oscar Blues.
Appears dark brown almost black with a foam tan head that dropped to a thin cap with nice lacing.
Smells malty, chocolatey, vanilla and very definitely coconut.
Taste follows the nose very nicely.
Mouth feel is medium for the style with nice carbonation.
Overall a very nice Porter that I would definitely order again.

Oct 28, 2020

AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark brown with a dark tan head. Minimal lacing. Aroma is coconut forward. Flavor is coconut, chocolate and dark roasted malts. Feel is rather thin, light bodied, low carbonation. Overall a great beer for coconut lovers.

Jul 25, 2020

rex_4539 from Greece

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

L: Jet black color, two finger brown head, amazing lacing, no visible carbonation.

S: Coconut, sweet. Heaven!!!

T: Coconut, coconut, coconut. Basically, liquid Bounty!

F: Light bodied, full of coconut flavor, extremely drinkable.

O: Superb porter, full of coconut.

Mar 12, 2020

thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz can from a 4-pack purchased at the LCBO a few months ago; dated Jul 26 2019 and served at cellar temperature.

Pours virtually black and functionally opaque, producing one finger of foamy, tan-coloured head that dissipates within the next couple of minutes. A modest-sized collar of froth remains, but not much else, with little in the way of lace. I'm getting coconut, chocolate syrup and dark chocolate on the nose, with plenty of caramelized sugar sweetness, as well as hints of roasted malts and coffee. It's kind of got a Malibu rum vibe - not a plus for me, but I can't rightly ding a coconut beer for smelling like coconut.

Now this right here is pretty tasty - the coconut flavours are hard to miss, but aren't completely dominant over the dark/roasted malt and chocolate flavours. Both dark and milk chocolate are accounted for, coming through alongside notes of toffee, coffee and just a touch of figgy dark fruit. Roasted malts and coffee bitterness round out the tail end of the sip, with another burst of coconut flavour lingering on into the aftertaste, which has a faint twinge of rummy booziness. Medium in body, with low carbonation that weakly agitates the surface of the palate, resulting in a mouthfeel that is smooth like felt. I could drink a few of these in a row, and I don't even like coconut that much.

Final Grade: 4.05, an A-. Personal biases aside, coconut can really be an effective addition when used judiciously, particularly when it comes to darker styles such as this one. This brew manages to hit the mark for me, more or less - if there were much more coconut then it'd start giving off that 'suntan lotion' vibe, but any less and you could hardly justify calling it Death by Coconut. If you're the opposite of me and can't get enough coconut, then this is a beer that I can't recommend highly enough. It's been out of stock locally for a while now, and I wouldn't take it over Ten Fidy or anything like that... but if it comes around again next year I'll be back for more.

Feb 24, 2020

Nugganooch from California

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can poured into a nonice pint

Mounds bar in a can. A very successful brew, they really nailed the coconut flavors. My pour yielded a fat stack of dark khaki suds with solid hang time. The body is dark to the point of near black. On the nose and tongue the coconut is center stage, so fresh, with supporting players of dark chocolate and dark roast malt. Some hints of coffee as well. Nice and fluffy on the palate with a drying in the finish. I love how all this flavor is packed into a nice approachable everyday porter versus having to bust open a big ol' impy stout. Definitely worth picking up again here and there.

Jan 02, 2020

SLeffler27 from New York

3.86/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jet black with a two inch, fine chestnut foam that is dense and lasts several minutes. Eventually, the head becomes a ring, leaving plenty of lace on the walls of a Pretentious Beer Glass Company dimpled mug that PBGC calls "Sparkles".

The aroma is very similar to a Cuba-Libre with coconut added. I imagine the rum-barrel-aged version is truly amazing. There is something else light and below the surface that I was unable to identify.

Coconut is secondary to the light chocolate and cold black coffee flavors. There are no bold flavors as I had expected from something called "Death by Coconut". There is some late molasses and the sweet/bitter balance is in play, though neither are very significant. The finish is mild and lingering.

A smooth, metallic texture with a light medium body. Alcohol is as expected against light carbonation.

This beer, while good, falls short of my expectations. I enjoyed it on a covered deck during early Autumn while light rain made for a nice start to the season.

Dec 01, 2019

cousintom

4.16/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a 16oz Yosemite Sam pint glass. Very dark pour almost black with a slightly brown off white head. A small amount of lace.
This beer has very strong roasted dark coffee aromas with lots of dark chocolate following. No smell of coconut, however. I was surprised to find that there was a small amount of burnt charcoal or burnt oak smell in this even though it is not the barrel-aged version of the beer.
Interestingly, I did not taste coconut upon drinking it either which is interesting because of the beer's name. Instead, I got a huge amount of coffee and very dark chocolate. I almost felt as if I were drinking a black coffee with no sugar and added the dark chocolate. I was very disappointed in the lack of coconuttiness in this beer because I was expecting a very coconut forward flavor profile. The after taste of this beer was where the coconut was hidden and it pleasantly floated around like a cloud at the back of my throat as I would breathe.
The body of the beer was amazing and felt velvety smooth in my neck and the back of my throat. it completely coated my back throat.
A very good beer that closely follows the tradition of Irish porters but with a nice twist in the coconut after taste with a very velvety body.

Nov 18, 2019

rdilauro from Connecticut

4.11/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was really looking forward to this one. Pours that black porter look, not jet black like a stout. Appeared to have a decent amount of carbonation. The aroma really didnt hit me with anything. Almost non existent. But then at the first sip. Coconut alive all over my mouth combine with some cacao. Finish left me wanting another sip. And when I had that next sip. I understood the meaning for this beers name

Nov 12, 2019

Megamickel from Texas

4.24/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 12 oz can into a pint glass. Thin, cream-colored head with decent retention, leaving behind some thin lacing. Aroma is heavy with coconut, balanced by chocolate and subtle roasted malt. Chocolate comes through stronger in the taste - the beer evokes memories of a Mounds bar, with roasted malt in a supporting role behind the strong dark chocolate and toasted coconut flavors - a bit too subtle, but still present. The rich, creamy texture is offset by the carbonation, making it deceptively light. Overall this heavy, rich porter is full of flavor, and can easily stand alone or be paired with creamy desserts, but the sweetness wears thin, and I don't think I'd want to drink more than one at a time.

Oct 27, 2019

EnderFett11 from Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a can into a snifter glass resulting in three fingers of frothy tan head. Smells very strongly of coconut (duh). Taste is pretty much straight up toasted coconut. Feel is pretty thin. Good if you're in the mood for coconut, but not much complexity to it.

Oct 20, 2019

jkblr from Indiana

4.09/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz stamped CANNED 08/16/19 (about 6 weeks ago) poured into a shaker pint at fridge temp 6.5% ABV. The beer pours very dark brown with chocolate tan colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a few spots of lacing. The aroma is dominated by coconut. The taste is semisweet chocolate which transitions to coconut quickly before a barely bitter finish. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, adequately carbonated and mostly dry in the finish. Overall, very good. Well crafted and the coconut, while dominant, is not artificial.

Sep 30, 2019

Wattie83 from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Deep, dark brown on the pour with a nice tan cap. Rich looking beer that doesn't let any light through. A quick swirl rebuilds a nice thick head. Really nice look. Smell is cocoa and coconut. Smells like a candy bar in a glass! Very enticing smell. Taste follows nose with cocoa and coconut dominating. Malt is present too, but it's all balanced by the hops bitterness that keeps all of it in check. Even a little raspberry taste underneath everything. This is a nice medium bodied beer. It looks like it will sit heavy, but not so. It has a nice carbonation that is soft yet refreshing, not quite creamy though. Overall, this is a really fine beer packed with flavor. Don't think the coconut would hold up to aging very well, but I wouldn't want to wait to drink it anyway!

Aug 24, 2019

Newbeergeek1 from Maine

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Never heard of this and was in Total Wine just shooting the breeze with some folks that were there JUST for the beer that was being released. Figured what the heck. They looked like they had a clue so I got a four pk. Glad I did. Very smooth and drinkable beer. Moral of the story is to not just have tunnel vision when there are others around. Share views

Aug 06, 2019

brewale4me from Pennsylvania

4.07/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark brown with a tan head
Aroma: strong coconut, with coco notes
Taste: strong coconut with a dark chocolate cocoa
Mouth feel: velvety medium high carbonation
Overall: I am glad I bought this one. What a good desert beer.

Apr 18, 2019

mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

3.67/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black, quite solid, head is tan with fine bubbles and presents 2 fingers deep and then dissipates to at least a 1/4 inch solid top. Great presence, solid dark color and enticing head.

Smell is blend of coconut, chocolate, and malt with light roast and toasted malts.

Taste is seems muddled between the coconut, chocolate and porter base. The coconut flavors to me are better as secondary or backing, many seem to think this needs more coconut, I think it needs more base beer flavor. The coconut or chocolate flavors are not overdone or off, just needs more porter flavor.

Mouthfeel is slightly sweet, then moderate carbonated for crisper than expected mouthfeel with lingering light sweetness.

Overall, this is a coconut brew that could use a bit more base beer depth, or maybe I just can't handle heavy coconut presence.

Apr 01, 2019