Maple Barrel-Aged Smoked Porter
pFriem Family Brewers

A brief frothy head in a half-pint tulip. Taste / Look / Feel are all Outstanding.
Smokiness is well below that which you get with beers from Schlenkerla in Germany. The maple note compliments rather than overwhelms.
Kudos to pFriem for producing this unique addition to the porter world.

Pours a dark brown with little to no head and I didn't notice any smoke or maple aroma. It definitely had a moderate sweetness to it and the hop flavor was negligible. Had at Mahoney's Taphouse. A nice strong beer to sip on in winter. 45 IBUs Rated 1-23-2022

Review: 2303
Name: Maple Barrel Aged Smoked Porter
Brewery: pFriem Family Brewers
Location: Hood River, OR
Style: Barrel Aged Smoked Porter
ABV: 9.1%
Canned: 2020
Date: 10 Jan 2025
Moving toward a Smoked Porter, that reminds me of the Live Oaks Smoked Fest they have; I would like to attend one day.
I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at 50 degrees. The pour created a frothy, creamy, light tan, one-half fingered head with average retention. The somewhat slow retention left chunks of lacing on the glass. The inky black beer with dark brown hues, charts at SRM 36, and is opaque. The appearance of the beer is above average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I noticed the smoked portion is prevelant and inviting with aromas of char, smoke, Maillard, and light fire note. Smelling the beer again, I smell fresh maple, whiskey, oak, chocolate, light coffee, molasses, raisins, earthiness, floral, tobacco, and toffee.
Sipping the beer, the maple syrup and smoke intertwine, in a playful dance on the palate, seducing you to take another sip, as the rhythm continues hypnotically. Sipping the beer again, I notice oak, whiskey, char, light smoke Maillard, toasted bread crust, caramel, toffee, light floral, and tobacco. Other flavors I detect are chocolate, coffee, raisins, and earthiness.
The body is medium-light and has medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth and coating and finishing slightly bitter.
pFriem makes some tasty beverages, this one is no exception. I loved the interplay with the smoke and maple, it was favorite part of the beer, creating a wonderful harmony with the strong malt backbone. A terrific example of a smoke porter with adjuncts.

Poured from the tap into an 8 ounce tulip glass at a tap house.

Look- Ruby brown, opaque, medium brown frothy head, below average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Toffee, bourbon, maple, between weak and medium strength of scent.

Taste- Toffee, bourbon, maple, cocoa, between medium and high strength of flavor.

Feel- Medium body, average carbonation, moderately sweet, moderately creamy, mildly mouth warming, moderately bitter.

Overall- This beer provided a good drinking experience. Plenty of strength and depth of flavor, but the bouquet was underwhelming.

 

 

 

Pours a lovely dark burgundy color, clear, appears opaque in the glass; nice head, one-finger thick initially, dense and spongy; tiny flecks and fat strings of foam indicate another sip from the glass. Big malt aroma; hints of maple syrup; roasted grain character. Rich, sweet taste; maple syrup; a general spiciness, cinnamon and anise; light bitterness; whiskey note as the beer warms. Heavy, sticky mouthfeel; heavy sweetness; viscous; boozy warmth.

A generally tasty porter, heavy on the maple notes but lacking in any smokey elements. The beer's flavors do grow and expand as the beer warms.

Pouring temperature: 39 °F: bottling info: BOTTLED ON 09 16 23
Source: Tavour

Bottled 9/16/23

Smoked Porters are always a win in my book, but throwing that in a maple syrup bourbon barrel? That’s a home run right there. I haven’t had many stronger beers from pFriem but I’m sure this will be as good as their gentler styles. Let’s pop it open and find out

Pours a very dark brown with a finger of creamy light tan head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The nose is actually a bit subdued, good but not what I was expecting. I’m picking up on aromas of brown sugar, burnt caramel, vanilla bean, sweet bourbon, milk chocolate, dry oak, and a touch of maple syrup

There’s a bit more to it in taste though it still isn’t as aggressive as I was expecting. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting milk chocolate, burnt caramel, charred oak, maple syrup, vanilla bean, molasses, light raisin, and sweet bourbon. The swallow brings notes of maple candy, vanilla bean, burnt caramel, campfire smoke, milk chocolate, sweet bourbon, and charred oak

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes neutral and a bit sweet

It’s not as expressive as had hoped but it’s still very good

Opaque brown pour, light head, modest lacing. Delightful nose of maple, bourbon / brandy and chocolate. Taste carries through with the maple and malt flavors coming out strong. Although the beer is just 8.1%, it has a touch of alcohol heat on the finish. Enjoy at cellar temps.

 

Handsome dark golden brown with a veil of foam in the wine glass. Aromatic with a melange of wood, vanilla, and candy. Tastes of burnt sugar and a hint of maple. Fairly sweet with the burn of alcohol. Smoke does not make much of an impression. Notes of apple and dark fruit with dates. There is a slight bitterness and a long warm finish. Overall this is complex and highly rewarding. From the 375 ml bottle purchased at Central Market. This is the 2022 vintage.

12oz bottle from Bert's. Opaque brown pour, small bubbly beige head. Sweet boozy aroma, hint of maple, smoke. Taste has a little roasty smoked malts, which is quickly overcome by sweet maple and a mild boozy edge. Creamy feel.

 

 

 

this absolutely rules, one of my favorites from these guys in a long time, which is really saying something, as so much of their beer is wonderful and special. been sitting on this bottle a little while now, 2021 vintage says the label, but feels longer to me, anyway, its drinking incredible right now. this isnt super viscous, but its rich and dark and mellow looking, giving rise to a thick tan inch of lasting foam, almost nitro density to it, and it has high shine, just lovely. the nose is somewhat more subtle on the smoke than i anticipated, or at least the beer overall is more complex so its not the smoke that defines it, good balance between oak, rich high quality maple syrup, coffee and roast notes in the dark malt, a velvety warming cocoa thing, and a little whiskey aspect as well, earthy and wintery in the best ways, not as sweet as maybe i thought it would be, and overall extremely sexy and elegant and appealing, not even a little bit boozy. the flavor is incredible too, nutty like walnuts or pecans in the malt, some light toffee character too but again more dry than sweet, with the smoke, the bitter roast, and a dark chocolate note mellowing any sugar. the smoke is all though it, beautifully proportioned in this, rich and slow moving, not at all overdone. brownie batter, warming wood, and the honest maple character, fermented down to the perfect degree with a yeast that leans a little english and bready. light cigar, milk chocolate, and espresso to close, as bitter as it is sweet, just right. so smooth in texture too, palate coating and creamy but overly huge or anything, everything about this is dialed, and it was a delight to sip by the fire with friends we had not seen in way too long. this is memorably good, dont miss it!