Samuel Adams Holiday Porter
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Porter - American
Ranked #905 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #35,800 - Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 12.3%
- Reviews:
- 1,214
- Ratings:
- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 57
- Gots
- 284
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Notes:
Reviews: 1,214
| Ratings: 2,568
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by Bierwolf:
More User Reviews:
Wer34truh from Minnesota
2.29/5 rDev -38.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
Small bubbly head, with a dark, yet relatively light, color for a porter.
A relatively straight-forward coffee bean smell, with some vanilla sweetness.
A skanky malty taste, with some minor cacao undertones. Has a fair amount of sourness to it. Overall, a quite unpleasant beer.
Nov 17, 2015
2.29/5 rDev -38.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
Small bubbly head, with a dark, yet relatively light, color for a porter.
A relatively straight-forward coffee bean smell, with some vanilla sweetness.
A skanky malty taste, with some minor cacao undertones. Has a fair amount of sourness to it. Overall, a quite unpleasant beer.
Nov 17, 2015
arizcards from North Carolina
3.83/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Part of a holiday sampler case picked up from Costco for 18.99.
This nice looking brew pours a midnight black with hints of ruby when held up to daylight. Poured a nice 2 inch tan head leaving generous lacing. Smell is more malty than a classic porter usually is. Picking up faint hints of chocolate and coffee. Taste is a melody of malts, chocolate, and a smooth coffee hopped finish. Mouthfeel is pretty good although thinner than some porters I have had. Overall drinkability is good. I recommend this brew!
Feb 27, 2005
3.83/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Part of a holiday sampler case picked up from Costco for 18.99.
This nice looking brew pours a midnight black with hints of ruby when held up to daylight. Poured a nice 2 inch tan head leaving generous lacing. Smell is more malty than a classic porter usually is. Picking up faint hints of chocolate and coffee. Taste is a melody of malts, chocolate, and a smooth coffee hopped finish. Mouthfeel is pretty good although thinner than some porters I have had. Overall drinkability is good. I recommend this brew!
Feb 27, 2005
Cylinsier from Pennsylvania
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz.
Pours a dark opaque chocolatey brown with a reddish glow around the edges, thin off white head retains indefinitely as a lacing.
Smells of mild toasted chocolate, brown sugar and malty grains.
Tastes notably toasty and smokey, with mild bitterness in the aftertaste and hints of hops.
Feels moderate to full with fine smooth carbonation throughout.
A good well rounded and nuanced porter. Interesting and unique combination of flavors. Not stellar, but very good.
Dec 13, 2010
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz.
Pours a dark opaque chocolatey brown with a reddish glow around the edges, thin off white head retains indefinitely as a lacing.
Smells of mild toasted chocolate, brown sugar and malty grains.
Tastes notably toasty and smokey, with mild bitterness in the aftertaste and hints of hops.
Feels moderate to full with fine smooth carbonation throughout.
A good well rounded and nuanced porter. Interesting and unique combination of flavors. Not stellar, but very good.
Dec 13, 2010
IlIlIllIlIllIlIl from New York
3.52/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - coffee and cola thin tan head with some weak lacing
S - toffee caramel not much there light hops and pocket change
T - light flavors, caramel coffee hint of hops a touch of bitterness at the back end. sweet
M - very pleasant, smooth with a bit of a dry finish
D - all day
Dec 15, 2010
3.52/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - coffee and cola thin tan head with some weak lacing
S - toffee caramel not much there light hops and pocket change
T - light flavors, caramel coffee hint of hops a touch of bitterness at the back end. sweet
M - very pleasant, smooth with a bit of a dry finish
D - all day
Dec 15, 2010
tkdchampxi from New Jersey
3.37/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Dec 01, 2015
3.37/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Dec 01, 2015
AlaskaAg from Florida
3.62/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Nov 17, 2015
3.62/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Nov 17, 2015
alexgash from Connecticut
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very dark porter-brown with a creamy, light-tan head. Nice lacing. Smells of roasted malt, burned brown-sugar, light smoke and leather with a hint of chocolate. Considerably aromatic and better than expected. Starts out dry and roasty. Baking chocolate-like faint sweetness. Woody, with a touch of smoke. Generous roasted hop bitterness. Finish is roasty and bitter with traces of woody sweetness. Medium plus bodied, with a creamy, mouth-coating feel. Nice.
Jan 05, 2005
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very dark porter-brown with a creamy, light-tan head. Nice lacing. Smells of roasted malt, burned brown-sugar, light smoke and leather with a hint of chocolate. Considerably aromatic and better than expected. Starts out dry and roasty. Baking chocolate-like faint sweetness. Woody, with a touch of smoke. Generous roasted hop bitterness. Finish is roasty and bitter with traces of woody sweetness. Medium plus bodied, with a creamy, mouth-coating feel. Nice.
Jan 05, 2005
wingman14 from Ohio
3.23/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This one pours out black with red hues and a tan head that fades after awhile. The smell is of roasted malt, some sweet notes, and a hint of chocolate. The taste starts mild and malty, the some sweet notes, finishing with a subtle roasted flavor. The aftertaste is the roasted malt, sticking around for quite awhile. The mouthfeel is not as heavy as I would have preferred, the carbonation was a bit much, but the flavors were well balanced and really are the driving force of this beer. This is an average drinker, nothing that stands out here, a few improvements could make this a top notch beer, but it far from bad. Worth checking out, the winter 12 pack has some great beers. Enjoy.
Dec 26, 2008
3.23/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This one pours out black with red hues and a tan head that fades after awhile. The smell is of roasted malt, some sweet notes, and a hint of chocolate. The taste starts mild and malty, the some sweet notes, finishing with a subtle roasted flavor. The aftertaste is the roasted malt, sticking around for quite awhile. The mouthfeel is not as heavy as I would have preferred, the carbonation was a bit much, but the flavors were well balanced and really are the driving force of this beer. This is an average drinker, nothing that stands out here, a few improvements could make this a top notch beer, but it far from bad. Worth checking out, the winter 12 pack has some great beers. Enjoy.
Dec 26, 2008
Greggy from Minnesota
2.21/5 rDev -40.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
A- Pours a dark brown/black with ruby highlights. The head is a 1 finger semi-soapy tan color that recedes in about 1 minute. some slight lacing coats the glass.
S- dark fruits (raisin, prune, some fig), anise, some chocolate malt. There's just to much spicy fruit here.. This isn't exactly a porter nose.
T- Starts out a bunch of dark fruit and spice then some super quick dry chocolate, then a bunch of anise, and a really off dry malt. The finish is quite odd as well. This is miles away form a porter.
M- Low carbonation is fine but the finish is pretty haggard
D- The brutal honest truth is that this was a terrible porter. I am truly glad that I got this bottle for free. Will never drink again.
Dec 08, 2008
2.21/5 rDev -40.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
A- Pours a dark brown/black with ruby highlights. The head is a 1 finger semi-soapy tan color that recedes in about 1 minute. some slight lacing coats the glass.
S- dark fruits (raisin, prune, some fig), anise, some chocolate malt. There's just to much spicy fruit here.. This isn't exactly a porter nose.
T- Starts out a bunch of dark fruit and spice then some super quick dry chocolate, then a bunch of anise, and a really off dry malt. The finish is quite odd as well. This is miles away form a porter.
M- Low carbonation is fine but the finish is pretty haggard
D- The brutal honest truth is that this was a terrible porter. I am truly glad that I got this bottle for free. Will never drink again.
Dec 08, 2008
JayNH from New Hampshire
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- pours a deep brown almost black. A small tan foamy head that doesn't hang around long.
S- Sweet and slightly alcoholic. Some coffee and chocolate going on in there.
T- Starts sweet and alcoholic. Followed by some hops and coffee/chocolate malts.
M- Very smooth and a little creamy.
D- excellent. A very smooth drinking porter. Brew gets better as it warms.
Dec 14, 2008
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- pours a deep brown almost black. A small tan foamy head that doesn't hang around long.
S- Sweet and slightly alcoholic. Some coffee and chocolate going on in there.
T- Starts sweet and alcoholic. Followed by some hops and coffee/chocolate malts.
M- Very smooth and a little creamy.
D- excellent. A very smooth drinking porter. Brew gets better as it warms.
Dec 14, 2008
gskitt from New York
3.93/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A- Blacker than black. Head is surprisingly thin and recedes quite quickly.
S- I smell a lot raisins, burned sugars and roasted malt.
T- Roasted malt backbone is quite nice. Very balanced and drinkable.
M- Smooth and a little thin, but finished clean and pleasant.
D- This is a highly drinkable porter and I really enjoyed this brew.
Jan 09, 2011
3.93/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A- Blacker than black. Head is surprisingly thin and recedes quite quickly.
S- I smell a lot raisins, burned sugars and roasted malt.
T- Roasted malt backbone is quite nice. Very balanced and drinkable.
M- Smooth and a little thin, but finished clean and pleasant.
D- This is a highly drinkable porter and I really enjoyed this brew.
Jan 09, 2011
bboelens from Florida
4.11/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass
A- Deep dark ruby verging on black with a finger and half to two finger tan head with great retention
S-Roasted malt, chocolate, maybe a hint of coffee
T-Roast caramel, slight fruity taste, mild sweetness, like the smell a hint of coffee
M-Silky and creamy, moderate carbonation
D-Goes great with dinner, probably could down about two or three of these, definitely would have again.
Dec 08, 2010
4.11/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass
A- Deep dark ruby verging on black with a finger and half to two finger tan head with great retention
S-Roasted malt, chocolate, maybe a hint of coffee
T-Roast caramel, slight fruity taste, mild sweetness, like the smell a hint of coffee
M-Silky and creamy, moderate carbonation
D-Goes great with dinner, probably could down about two or three of these, definitely would have again.
Dec 08, 2010
NeubTube from Texas
3.68/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 27, 2015
3.68/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 27, 2015
rajendra82 from Georgia
3.43/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Purchased as part of the holiday sampler pack, the nice wintry painting on the label was definitely festive, just like the sister beer Old Fezziwig. The beer came out burnt reddish brown with a head looking similar to foam on a cappuccino. The body was quite dark looking until held up against the light. Aromatically this was quite simplistic, since the basic smell was that of chocolate, and coffee, but much too light to be very interesting. The taste was a little more robust that the smell suggested, with chocolate and toffee riding atop soda water like fizz, and followed by a fleeting hint of grainy astringency. The hop oils showed up as a spicy earthiness, but werent all that bitter. Light in the mouth, and in the aftertaste department, and therefore very easy to drink, I found this Porter to be in a similar veins as the Black Lager, which was also in the sampler pack. A side by side comparison indicated that I preferred the Black Lager a little more, due to the overall smoother feel. If the Holiday Porter might have beer grittier, it might have fared better.
Jan 18, 2006
3.43/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Purchased as part of the holiday sampler pack, the nice wintry painting on the label was definitely festive, just like the sister beer Old Fezziwig. The beer came out burnt reddish brown with a head looking similar to foam on a cappuccino. The body was quite dark looking until held up against the light. Aromatically this was quite simplistic, since the basic smell was that of chocolate, and coffee, but much too light to be very interesting. The taste was a little more robust that the smell suggested, with chocolate and toffee riding atop soda water like fizz, and followed by a fleeting hint of grainy astringency. The hop oils showed up as a spicy earthiness, but werent all that bitter. Light in the mouth, and in the aftertaste department, and therefore very easy to drink, I found this Porter to be in a similar veins as the Black Lager, which was also in the sampler pack. A side by side comparison indicated that I preferred the Black Lager a little more, due to the overall smoother feel. If the Holiday Porter might have beer grittier, it might have fared better.
Jan 18, 2006
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
2568 ratings
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