Muddy River Porter
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

Good starting head but it settles to a thin grouping of rim bubbles. Littles spots for lace. The liquid is deep brown where a little light shines through the the edge.

Some mellow darker malts and some black patent harshness to the nose.

Light flavored start, but the mocha and dark chocolate flavors come through in the swallow. Modest hop that is strongest in the aftertaste. Thin bodied--almost like a brown ale. Good carbonation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured on-tap and served in a tumbler, the beer is a hazy, muddled, ruby highlighted brown coloring with a thin, low profile, light brown head. Aromas of coffee, butterscotch, and caramel blend very well. Flavors are roasted, with a coffee backbone giving rise to a bittersweet chocolate highlight and creamy characters. Thin, light body that gets sharp with the roasty notes. The aftertaste is dark chocolate and coffee, with a smooth finish leaving hints of flavor on the palate. Decent brew!

 

 

Poured a blackish body w/ a small tan head and some lace streaks down glass. A light malt aroma but I can pick up some chocolate and roasted malts. Taste is the same as this is a rich, smooth, creamy beer w/ some burnt chocolate, roasted and even hints of coffee malts. A little dryer and harsher finish and not as sweet as I like my porters but a good beer nonetheless.

Had on 3/11/11.

Pours a dark brown, almost black color with no head. Looks right for the style.

There's just a hint of coffee upfront with not much else in the way of aroma.

It's very light in flavor with only a hint of coffee and cocoa. Hmm, I was expecting more.

Interesting texture that feels "muddled" in a way. Hard to pin down.

Feels somewhat bland for the style. It doesn't taste like an award-winning beer to me but then again, it's been 12 years since that time.

On-tap from the cask at the location on Brookline near Fenway. Poured into their custom pint glass (though there's probably a name for it I don't know), which is conical-shaped and very cool.

Appearance: Definitely nearly opaque, and it also looks like a nitro Guinness a lot. A thick and dense-looking head sits atop the body, leaving a few drops every half inch down or so with each sip.

Smell: Lighter roasted malts, mild coffee, chocolate. Balanced, but extremely subdued and expected.

Taste: Initial taste of charred malts, chocolate, and mild coffee, but it levels out quickly into a not-so-lingering finish, and the flavors don't last as long as I'd hoped.

Mouthfeel: Feels nitro rather than cask here especially, but it's good and creamy all around.

Drinkability: I'd have this again. It went well with my turkey club, and in that case I was glad it wasn't something super-heavy and possibly over-the-top. It definitely could be a sessionable brew too.

I love Porters and this one had a nice dark beer hardly any tinge at all with a healthy head. Not as bitter as it is sweet with some roasted malt flavor and a hint of caramel and chocolate. Would get it again probably in the colder season. Smooth on the tongue and good on the way down. An average porter in my opinion...

Brought this bad-boy home after the Sox game. $18 for a growler -- my ass hurts. Pours a deep brown with a nice thick tan head that dissipates rather quickly. No lace.

Burnt sugar and charred scents, with something yeasty and herbal as well. Unique and pleasant.

A little disappointed. Charred caramel and light coffee tones, wih some herbal biterness, but there is a yeastiness hat shines hru on this that I'm not really digging that much. Likee they spilled a stout in a glass of hefe. Not awful, but not what I'd expect in a porter.

Thinner-side brew with enough body to make this a swisher. Good.

Oveerall, these go down quick, but you can do much better. Not a favorite, but not something I'd trash or drain pour. Worthy of a try, but you might transition to a different pint after one of these.

Growler filled at the Salem brewpub the other day.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" tan head over the clear dark brown (with burgundy highlights) brew. Head is down to a layer of small bubbles, with superb dwelling lace. Aroma seems somewhat simple at just dark malts, but maybe that's not a bad thing. Taste starts with the slightly burnt malt sweetness, then opens the door for some light to moderate hoppiness, and gives a shot of char at the close. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both about where they should be. Another solid offering from Beer Works.