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Polka King Porter
Door County Brewing Co.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Door County Brewing Co.
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- English Porter
Ranked #123 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 81
Ranked #27,419 - Avg:
- 3.54 | pDev: 11.02%
- Reviews:
- 17
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 24, 2022
- Added:
- Jul 27, 2013
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 22
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good


Notes:
This dark brown porter is brewed with pale chocolate malts and English hops. It’s a malty beer with notes of roasted chocolate and caramel—the perfect stepping stone for those looking to venture into the realm of darker beers.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota
3.77/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Door County Polka King Porter, 5.3% ABV. Pours dark brown with a ring of white bubbles. Nose is malty, taste follows, slightly sweet, slightly bitter. Decent mouthfeel, overall very good. Wish I could say more than "inoffensive".
Jun 06, 2021Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.58/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.58/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I got a 6pck of this beer from a beer store in LaCrosse, WI. It poured an opaque dark with ecru head tbat is leaving some lace. The scent had subtle roast notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with roast presence and subtle chocolate hints. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a decent beer.
Jan 03, 2021Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota
3.5/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a darker brown color. 3 finger tan head. Retention is good. Some lacing on the glass.
The nose is minimal. Really nothing to say about it. Nothing off putting, but nothing there.
Taste - There's a bit of malt here. Slightly sweet. There's also a bitter flavor going on. Slightly nutty tasting.
Decent body. Somewhat crisp feeling.
This porter has a bit of a nut brown ale feel, over all. It is a porter, and it works well. No real flaws, but not my favorite style.
Oct 25, 2020The nose is minimal. Really nothing to say about it. Nothing off putting, but nothing there.
Taste - There's a bit of malt here. Slightly sweet. There's also a bitter flavor going on. Slightly nutty tasting.
Decent body. Somewhat crisp feeling.
This porter has a bit of a nut brown ale feel, over all. It is a porter, and it works well. No real flaws, but not my favorite style.
Rated by joeltorto from Wisconsin
4.21/5 rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A tasty chocolate and coffee tasting stout. Perfect for a cool breezy Door County evening.
Jun 17, 2019Rated by pigmissile from Iowa
3.59/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
One of our staples when we go to Door County. Always have to bring some home.
Oct 06, 2018Reviewed by AlexBrews from Missouri
4.17/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I'm not a huge fan of Porters, but this is one of my all time favorite Porters because to me it resembled and tasted more like an American Brown ale. And a very, very good one at that! I brought a 6 pack home with me to Missouri and everyone that tried it agreed- it's a fantastic Brown Ale!
May 10, 2018Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
3.69/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a amber tinged brown color. When held to the light the beer is mostly clear and thin in appearance. Thin tan frothy head
Smell has notes of chocolate, coffee, smoked malts, earthy hops, and some nutty aromas. The aroma is very pungent - you can smell it instantly when you crack the beer and it lingers.
Taste follows the nose with some notes of cocoa, chocolate, and coffee. The malt backbone has both roasted and a slight smoked characteristic. Strong hop presence give the beer an earthy nutty flavor with some strong bitterness. The hop presence is rather prominent - more what I'd expect from an American porter. There is also a slight citrusy flavor from the hops - don't love that in this.
Feel is thin, light and drinkable. Too thin for my tastes - I'd like a bit more heft to this beer. Medium carbonation provides a lively tingle. semi-dry finish.
Overall a nice porter. I'd drink it again if the opportunity presented itself. This would be great around a campfire.
Aug 06, 2017Smell has notes of chocolate, coffee, smoked malts, earthy hops, and some nutty aromas. The aroma is very pungent - you can smell it instantly when you crack the beer and it lingers.
Taste follows the nose with some notes of cocoa, chocolate, and coffee. The malt backbone has both roasted and a slight smoked characteristic. Strong hop presence give the beer an earthy nutty flavor with some strong bitterness. The hop presence is rather prominent - more what I'd expect from an American porter. There is also a slight citrusy flavor from the hops - don't love that in this.
Feel is thin, light and drinkable. Too thin for my tastes - I'd like a bit more heft to this beer. Medium carbonation provides a lively tingle. semi-dry finish.
Overall a nice porter. I'd drink it again if the opportunity presented itself. This would be great around a campfire.
Reviewed by hoptheology from California
4.08/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark chocolate brown pour forming into a nice, smooth black-brown color. 1/2 finger of head in the snifter.
Lots of aromas of rich hot chocolate, roasted barley, hop, and earth.
Flavors are very earthy and esoteric, but still balanced with the milky chocolate notes. Earth, cacao, roast barley, and lactose. It doesn't get too chocolatey (which wouldn't be a bad thing anyways) but the hop profile and the malts are just super impressive here.
Feel is well within porter territory, but hovers safely in the medium bodied area. Heavy biting carbonation. Nice milky dry finish.
Overall, a super impressive porter. It's so English it has an accent. It's not my style but I respect the heck outta this beer.
Dec 21, 2016Lots of aromas of rich hot chocolate, roasted barley, hop, and earth.
Flavors are very earthy and esoteric, but still balanced with the milky chocolate notes. Earth, cacao, roast barley, and lactose. It doesn't get too chocolatey (which wouldn't be a bad thing anyways) but the hop profile and the malts are just super impressive here.
Feel is well within porter territory, but hovers safely in the medium bodied area. Heavy biting carbonation. Nice milky dry finish.
Overall, a super impressive porter. It's so English it has an accent. It's not my style but I respect the heck outta this beer.
Rated by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.2/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.2/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
My first from Door County, Polka King is a good rendition of what Americans, now, made big.
Polka King's chocolate malts interfere with simple food.
Nov 24, 2016Polka King's chocolate malts interfere with simple food.
Reviewed by jzlyo from Iowa
3.73/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.73/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Aroma is coffee, chocolate, dark malts and slightly earthy. The flavor is dark malts, dark/brown bread, coffee/chocolate, toffee, mild sweetness and a mix of acidity and slight spiciness in the finish.
Jul 18, 2016Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon
3.48/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle. Served in a snifter glass.
Pours a dark toffee brown body, one finger thick, substantial offwhite head with good retention, not a lot of lacing. Smells of toasted malt, toffee, a minimal amount of roast and nuttiness. A bit of earth and grainy sweetness. Nothing too special. Flavour is similar; grainy sweetness, toffee, a bit of toasted malt, more nuttiness than in the nose. Mild bitter earthiness on the backend rounds things out. Nothing too special, more on the grainy, slightly raisiny sweet portion of the spectrum. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, a bit lower carbonation, solid drinking beer with nuttiness and a bit of bitter earth on the finish. Decent English porter, nothing to write home about.
Jan 07, 2016Pours a dark toffee brown body, one finger thick, substantial offwhite head with good retention, not a lot of lacing. Smells of toasted malt, toffee, a minimal amount of roast and nuttiness. A bit of earth and grainy sweetness. Nothing too special. Flavour is similar; grainy sweetness, toffee, a bit of toasted malt, more nuttiness than in the nose. Mild bitter earthiness on the backend rounds things out. Nothing too special, more on the grainy, slightly raisiny sweet portion of the spectrum. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, a bit lower carbonation, solid drinking beer with nuttiness and a bit of bitter earth on the finish. Decent English porter, nothing to write home about.
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona
3.84/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark brown with a thin that settles to an island. Some lacing sticks.
The smell is of cocoa, coffee, light sour touch. Mild earthy notes.
The taste is of cocoa, coffee, hint of anise, earthy English hops. Somewhat sweet, slight sour, mild roast.
It's smooth.
A nice interpretation of an English porter. Fits the style well. Easy to drink.
Dec 15, 2015The smell is of cocoa, coffee, light sour touch. Mild earthy notes.
The taste is of cocoa, coffee, hint of anise, earthy English hops. Somewhat sweet, slight sour, mild roast.
It's smooth.
A nice interpretation of an English porter. Fits the style well. Easy to drink.
Polka King Porter from Door County Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
107 ratings
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