Bell's Porter | Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Michigan, United States
bellsbeer.com
Style: American Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.60%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
One of our many award-winning beers, Porter emphasizes the darker, roasted aspects of malt. Hints of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee provide the focus, while hops remain in the background. Not as full-bodied as a stout, Porter bridges the gap between malty brown ales and our more heavily roasted stouts.
Added by Mitchster on 02-06-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 2,941 | Reviews: 1,068
4.41/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.63/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2.74/5 rDev -29.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
3.56/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a gentle hazy dark brown color with a slight edge leaning towards black. The head was about a finger’s worth of white to off white level foaminess. There was an ample amount of foaminess. The smell had a nice roasty coffee to a fairly decent dried cocoa powder aroma embracing an eloquent yet light bitter to sweet goodness all around. The taste was mainly sweet but had enough kick from roasted coffee notes. The aftertaste was mildly sweet and enticingly bitter to lead to dry light coffee finish. On the palate, this one sat right at a medium on the body with a pretty good sessionability about it. The carbonation was right on par for the Porter style. Overall, well done American Porter that I would most definitely have again.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a gentle hazy dark brown color with a slight edge leaning towards black. The head was about a finger’s worth of white to off white level foaminess. There was an ample amount of foaminess. The smell had a nice roasty coffee to a fairly decent dried cocoa powder aroma embracing an eloquent yet light bitter to sweet goodness all around. The taste was mainly sweet but had enough kick from roasted coffee notes. The aftertaste was mildly sweet and enticingly bitter to lead to dry light coffee finish. On the palate, this one sat right at a medium on the body with a pretty good sessionability about it. The carbonation was right on par for the Porter style. Overall, well done American Porter that I would most definitely have again.
753 characters
4.23/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich, dark brown color, light tan head. Aromas are cocoa up front, and then earthy hops follow.
The cocoa is present up front on the taste, but the earthy hops are the star of this show - they add a dark fruit flavor that blends so well with the cocoa flavors, making this a flavorful and poundable porter. Exceptionally well done by Bells.
351 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich, dark brown color, light tan head. Aromas are cocoa up front, and then earthy hops follow.
The cocoa is present up front on the taste, but the earthy hops are the star of this show - they add a dark fruit flavor that blends so well with the cocoa flavors, making this a flavorful and poundable porter. Exceptionally well done by Bells.
351 characters
3.99/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bell's Porter, 5.6% ABV. Pours medium viscosity and black, with a one finger tan head. Nose is malt, chocolate, and coffee. Taste follows, very little bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent. Stout-like, they could have called it a stout.
254 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bell's Porter, 5.6% ABV. Pours medium viscosity and black, with a one finger tan head. Nose is malt, chocolate, and coffee. Taste follows, very little bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent. Stout-like, they could have called it a stout.
254 characters
4.5/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My favorite porter so far.
On tap at Clocked Burgers in Athens, GA.
Great aroma.
Great flavor.
Paired with a big juicy burger... oh my... so good!
149 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My favorite porter so far.
On tap at Clocked Burgers in Athens, GA.
Great aroma.
Great flavor.
Paired with a big juicy burger... oh my... so good!
149 characters
3.9/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.95/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From the back label: "PKG 12/28/2016 PRN 16946"
Appearance: Black body with just a touch of brown as it is held to the light a bit. The head is short and light khaki. It fades out to a ring and a small film. The ring has good retention but not much in the way of lacing.
Aroma: It has a beautiful coffee aroma with a touch of toasted caramel and just a bit of burnt wood.
Taste: It has a great mix of coffee and burnt wood flavor. It has a very full flavor profile but it doesn't feel too bitter or harsh. Each sip is satisfying. The aftertaste lingers with coffee flavor and a bit of wood character.
Mouthfeel: Medium body that feels a bit on the lighter side. Just the right amount of carbonation. Good roasted bitterness that is not too punchy.
Overall: A very enjoyable and drinkable robust porter that is full of great aroma and flavor. The flavors are very simple and well defined. I would drink it again and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a porter with a nice roasted edge.
997 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From the back label: "PKG 12/28/2016 PRN 16946"
Appearance: Black body with just a touch of brown as it is held to the light a bit. The head is short and light khaki. It fades out to a ring and a small film. The ring has good retention but not much in the way of lacing.
Aroma: It has a beautiful coffee aroma with a touch of toasted caramel and just a bit of burnt wood.
Taste: It has a great mix of coffee and burnt wood flavor. It has a very full flavor profile but it doesn't feel too bitter or harsh. Each sip is satisfying. The aftertaste lingers with coffee flavor and a bit of wood character.
Mouthfeel: Medium body that feels a bit on the lighter side. Just the right amount of carbonation. Good roasted bitterness that is not too punchy.
Overall: A very enjoyable and drinkable robust porter that is full of great aroma and flavor. The flavors are very simple and well defined. I would drink it again and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a porter with a nice roasted edge.
997 characters
3.6/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.83/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Nice dark almost inky black color with small light tan cap.
An aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, caramelized toffee and something like overripe dark figs in the background. Don't really get much hop presence except for some hint of freshness riding as a top note overall.
Taste is rather simple yet complex, which is to say there are a number of threads woven together but not too tightly. The flavor threads remain distinct but that may be a plus because I've had some Porter/Stouts with the same characteristics that were frankly a muddled mess whereas this one comes across as brightly distinct.
Texture is full and balanced with sufficient carbonation.
Overall it's a cut above. This is not a diminished Stout, rather something that proudly stands on it's own.
780 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Nice dark almost inky black color with small light tan cap.
An aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, caramelized toffee and something like overripe dark figs in the background. Don't really get much hop presence except for some hint of freshness riding as a top note overall.
Taste is rather simple yet complex, which is to say there are a number of threads woven together but not too tightly. The flavor threads remain distinct but that may be a plus because I've had some Porter/Stouts with the same characteristics that were frankly a muddled mess whereas this one comes across as brightly distinct.
Texture is full and balanced with sufficient carbonation.
Overall it's a cut above. This is not a diminished Stout, rather something that proudly stands on it's own.
780 characters
4.55/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
12 oz. bottle dated 01/19/2017
Pours dark maroon black with a creamy light khaki colored foam head. Smells like dark fruit, grapes, plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, char, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like dark fruit, grapes, plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, char, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy with moderate low carbonation. Overall a nice porter.
546 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
12 oz. bottle dated 01/19/2017
Pours dark maroon black with a creamy light khaki colored foam head. Smells like dark fruit, grapes, plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, char, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like dark fruit, grapes, plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, char, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy with moderate low carbonation. Overall a nice porter.
546 characters
Bell's Porter from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
3.88
out of 5
based on 2,941 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4