Black Balsam Porter
Innovation Brewing
- From:
- Innovation Brewing
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
Ranked #358 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #25,820 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 11.84%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 01, 2026
- Added:
- Oct 28, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
For those that choose to walk on the dark side, Black Balsam Porter is the beer for you. The magical combination of roasted malts creates a velvety smooth mouthfeel that contains full notes of bittersweet chocolate with a hint of coffee.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Picked up a 12 oz can from the Ingles market on Highland Lakes Road 11-16-22 for $2.00. Canned 10-10-22; consumed 2-6-23.
Beer poured dark brown with a nice off-white head that has some decent hang time.
Nose has light notes of mild roasted malts and chocolate.
Taste is nice as the light roasted malts emit notes of chocolate and coffee. Hopping is spot on as this finishes balanced and without hint of astringency.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and kind of smooth and refreshing.
Overall a well-made American Porter!
Feb 06, 2023Beer poured dark brown with a nice off-white head that has some decent hang time.
Nose has light notes of mild roasted malts and chocolate.
Taste is nice as the light roasted malts emit notes of chocolate and coffee. Hopping is spot on as this finishes balanced and without hint of astringency.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and kind of smooth and refreshing.
Overall a well-made American Porter!
Reviewed by md3kcn from North Carolina
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Purchased as a draft pour from The Scotsman. Poured into a standard pint glass.
L - Pours a nice pitch black, adorned with a two-finger somewhat tan head. Pretty good lacing, and excellent head retention.
S - Bittersweet chocolate, earth. Assorted grain.
T - Follows nose exactly. Bittersweet, but well-balanced.
F - Medium-full in body, with plenty of carbonation. Extremely easy-to-drink; finished it in under five minutes without realizing it!
O - All things considered, a really tasty porter! I'd definitely give it a try, and I'll probably end up purchasing it again.
Jun 07, 2022L - Pours a nice pitch black, adorned with a two-finger somewhat tan head. Pretty good lacing, and excellent head retention.
S - Bittersweet chocolate, earth. Assorted grain.
T - Follows nose exactly. Bittersweet, but well-balanced.
F - Medium-full in body, with plenty of carbonation. Extremely easy-to-drink; finished it in under five minutes without realizing it!
O - All things considered, a really tasty porter! I'd definitely give it a try, and I'll probably end up purchasing it again.
Reviewed by lagrluvr
2.5/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.5/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Innovation is a local brewery, but their beer is not usually up to my standards. Black Balsam PORTER is probably their best beer. It has decent roast malt flavor content, etc. and the balsam twist is a nice touch. But, still kinda flat and watery as usual. Looking forward to going back this weekend for the BrewHop.
Jan 10, 2022
Reviewed by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drinking this at The Innovation Brewery in Downtown Dillsboro NC.
Poured from a tap into a pint glass.
Smells malty sweet chocolate.
Taste follows the nose nicely.
Mouth feel is medium for the style style.
Overall a very nice Porter that I would definitely order again.
Cheers!
Jun 18, 2021Poured from a tap into a pint glass.
Smells malty sweet chocolate.
Taste follows the nose nicely.
Mouth feel is medium for the style style.
Overall a very nice Porter that I would definitely order again.
Cheers!
Reviewed by HattedClassic from Virginia
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice creamy head and body. Interesting balsam note (a nice herbal pine note) that works very well with the traditional porter notes of chocolate and light cocoa notes. A pretty smooth and creamy body. Overall a pretty good porter.
Apr 23, 2015
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.89/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the brewpub in Sylva.
Black and opaque with spotty lacing and a good head.
feel: near medium body; good soft carbonation.
Very aromatic with some dark chocolate mixed with the dark roasted grains.
Flavor: an abundance of dark roasted malts. Very nice bitter/sweet balance too: overall near neutral but mildly bitter in the finish and aftertaste.
O: very well crafted Amer. style (hops) porter.
Oct 28, 2014Black and opaque with spotty lacing and a good head.
feel: near medium body; good soft carbonation.
Very aromatic with some dark chocolate mixed with the dark roasted grains.
Flavor: an abundance of dark roasted malts. Very nice bitter/sweet balance too: overall near neutral but mildly bitter in the finish and aftertaste.
O: very well crafted Amer. style (hops) porter.
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