Dark Star Porter | Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's
Brewed by:
Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's
Kentucky, United States
Style: English Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.60%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
A rich and robust blend of light, caramel, and dark malts sets the stage for BBC Dark Star Porter’s robust presence on the palate. This smooth but robust porter has complex notes of chocolate and roasted grains balanced by additions of traditional English hops, creating a delicious chocolaty and smooth ale.
35 IBU
Added by OldFrothingSlosh on 07-30-2001
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
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Ratings: 223 | Reviews: 151
2/5 rDev -44.9%
seeswo, May 26, 2012
2.39/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Pouring this beer into a pint glass was certainly an experience I wasn't prepared for. It was so carbonated that it overflowed. I wondered if this was an old bottle but it said best before 01/09. It appeared a dark brown with an almost mahogany tinge. The head was way too out of control and didn't really settle nicely.
S - Not impressed at all. I guess I get a slight coffee/chocolate aroma under the overall mustiness.
T - Again not impressed at all. This is beer is way too carbonated for my liking and also tastes metallic-like. It's too weak and watery for a porter, in my mind anyway.
M - Carbonation galore and tingly on the tongue.
D - It is a drinkable beer if it's your cup of tea but I doubt I'll be seeking this one out again.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Pouring this beer into a pint glass was certainly an experience I wasn't prepared for. It was so carbonated that it overflowed. I wondered if this was an old bottle but it said best before 01/09. It appeared a dark brown with an almost mahogany tinge. The head was way too out of control and didn't really settle nicely.
S - Not impressed at all. I guess I get a slight coffee/chocolate aroma under the overall mustiness.
T - Again not impressed at all. This is beer is way too carbonated for my liking and also tastes metallic-like. It's too weak and watery for a porter, in my mind anyway.
M - Carbonation galore and tingly on the tongue.
D - It is a drinkable beer if it's your cup of tea but I doubt I'll be seeking this one out again.
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2.41/5 rDev -33.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
from the bottle to a mug, fairly aggressive pour. Dark black color with a thick caramel creamy foam, visible flecks of something, makes me excited, 9reminds me of a few great barley wines). Light in the aroma, but did catch a bit of roasty sweetness, can't tell of what though. Taste is all right, notice a few subtleties to it (coffee, chacolate?) but the beer is a bit watery, not as thich and full bodied as the appearance would suggest. I've heard bad things about BBC from a few folks, so this is the first one of thier brews I've tried. I would say that while not the best porter, it was an enjoyable drink, and I'm now going to plan an outing of my other brew brethren to check out what else they have in store. I'll let you know ....
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
from the bottle to a mug, fairly aggressive pour. Dark black color with a thick caramel creamy foam, visible flecks of something, makes me excited, 9reminds me of a few great barley wines). Light in the aroma, but did catch a bit of roasty sweetness, can't tell of what though. Taste is all right, notice a few subtleties to it (coffee, chacolate?) but the beer is a bit watery, not as thich and full bodied as the appearance would suggest. I've heard bad things about BBC from a few folks, so this is the first one of thier brews I've tried. I would say that while not the best porter, it was an enjoyable drink, and I'm now going to plan an outing of my other brew brethren to check out what else they have in store. I'll let you know ....
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2.44/5 rDev -32.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
courtesy of BiF 18 and lackenhauser
thick brown pour with no head or lacing. aroma smells like a mix between dirt and grass... some sweaty aromas and a bit of maltiness to go along with all the weirdness. tastes better than it smells, although it has a very penny-like aftertaste. in the foreground are light notes of roasted malt and european hops. a little too crisp and bubbly for my tastes, and overall too light for me as well. not a beer i'd revisit. maybe a bad bottle, but ill have to see this on tap in order to attempt a rereview.
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look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
courtesy of BiF 18 and lackenhauser
thick brown pour with no head or lacing. aroma smells like a mix between dirt and grass... some sweaty aromas and a bit of maltiness to go along with all the weirdness. tastes better than it smells, although it has a very penny-like aftertaste. in the foreground are light notes of roasted malt and european hops. a little too crisp and bubbly for my tastes, and overall too light for me as well. not a beer i'd revisit. maybe a bad bottle, but ill have to see this on tap in order to attempt a rereview.
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2.48/5 rDev -31.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Enjoyed 05.02.09 from a 12oz brown bottle poured into a 14oz pint glass.
A: dark w/a shimmery mahogany. A big 1.5in head with a salty large ring and left lots of thick lacing.
S: Good molasses, but a complex fruitiness that just misses.
T: Carbs. Too much carbs. I can't get passed this. I'm sorry if this is a bottling/shelf-life issue. One of the worst carb experiences I've had in 2009.
M: Good & rounded after the carb dissipates.
D: Again, skewed by the carbs. I would REALLY like to give this brew a shot at it's brewery or at least on tap. I think the brewer has a great idea on his/her hand.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Enjoyed 05.02.09 from a 12oz brown bottle poured into a 14oz pint glass.
A: dark w/a shimmery mahogany. A big 1.5in head with a salty large ring and left lots of thick lacing.
S: Good molasses, but a complex fruitiness that just misses.
T: Carbs. Too much carbs. I can't get passed this. I'm sorry if this is a bottling/shelf-life issue. One of the worst carb experiences I've had in 2009.
M: Good & rounded after the carb dissipates.
D: Again, skewed by the carbs. I would REALLY like to give this brew a shot at it's brewery or at least on tap. I think the brewer has a great idea on his/her hand.
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2.65/5 rDev -27%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle
Poured an aggressive head that took off and blasted over my glass with a quick spurt. Really foamed up fast and too much! I left a nice area for it to expand and it excedded it. Way too much head and over carbonated!
It smells like shit to be honest with you! I smell alcohol and sweet chocolate. Not a good smelling beer at all.
Burnt coffee, roasted malts, and trash. Not a good beer/porter at all. I used to like this beer, being from the Ville, but damn it's not good compared with other at the same price.
Not GOOD, really thin and lacking any real depth.
They make a Heine Bros. Imperial Stout that is unreal though!!
A huge let down...
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle
Poured an aggressive head that took off and blasted over my glass with a quick spurt. Really foamed up fast and too much! I left a nice area for it to expand and it excedded it. Way too much head and over carbonated!
It smells like shit to be honest with you! I smell alcohol and sweet chocolate. Not a good smelling beer at all.
Burnt coffee, roasted malts, and trash. Not a good beer/porter at all. I used to like this beer, being from the Ville, but damn it's not good compared with other at the same price.
Not GOOD, really thin and lacking any real depth.
They make a Heine Bros. Imperial Stout that is unreal though!!
A huge let down...
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2.71/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a beautiful dark brown/black with a fluffy soap suds espresso colored head.
Smells weakly of coffee. Perhaps a little toasted.
Tastes very weak and metallic. Washed out weak coffee flavors try to break through but are squashed down by this overwhelming metallic twang. Very weak on the porter flavors.
Moderate in mouthfeel, also way too much fizz here.
Sorry, this one is not for me.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a beautiful dark brown/black with a fluffy soap suds espresso colored head.
Smells weakly of coffee. Perhaps a little toasted.
Tastes very weak and metallic. Washed out weak coffee flavors try to break through but are squashed down by this overwhelming metallic twang. Very weak on the porter flavors.
Moderate in mouthfeel, also way too much fizz here.
Sorry, this one is not for me.
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2.92/5 rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
This beer was given to me by a friend who wanted to know if I had ever had it before. I hadn't so I gave it a try. Dark Star poured out like any porter should. It had a nice dark body with a tan colored head on it. Even with the darkness the beer was almost see through, it could have been a little darker I think. The smell was nicely roasted and had just a touch of hops coming through. The Mouthfeel was just a bit too light for a porter I think. This beer isn't terrible, but better choices are out there.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
This beer was given to me by a friend who wanted to know if I had ever had it before. I hadn't so I gave it a try. Dark Star poured out like any porter should. It had a nice dark body with a tan colored head on it. Even with the darkness the beer was almost see through, it could have been a little darker I think. The smell was nicely roasted and had just a touch of hops coming through. The Mouthfeel was just a bit too light for a porter I think. This beer isn't terrible, but better choices are out there.
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2.94/5 rDev -19%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Poured into a perfect pint.
2.75 A: Dark brown black color. Two fingers of foamy tan head. Retention is below average and no lacing is left.
3.0 S: Dry with a lot of roastiness that borders on ashy. Some coffee and chocolate notes, but mainly just the standard roastiness.
3.0 T: Like the nose, there's a lot of roastiness in here, perhaps a bit too much. A bit sweeter than it smells, but still dry overall. Again some chocolate and coffee notes under the roast.
3.0 M: Light to lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Lacking creaminess.
2.75 D: It's not a bad beer, but it's simple and the flavors it focusses on aren't the right ones.
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look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Poured into a perfect pint.
2.75 A: Dark brown black color. Two fingers of foamy tan head. Retention is below average and no lacing is left.
3.0 S: Dry with a lot of roastiness that borders on ashy. Some coffee and chocolate notes, but mainly just the standard roastiness.
3.0 T: Like the nose, there's a lot of roastiness in here, perhaps a bit too much. A bit sweeter than it smells, but still dry overall. Again some chocolate and coffee notes under the roast.
3.0 M: Light to lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Lacking creaminess.
2.75 D: It's not a bad beer, but it's simple and the flavors it focusses on aren't the right ones.
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2.94/5 rDev -19%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
The porter pours a deep dark mahogany brown bordering on black but there's almost no carbonation. Even with a vigorous finish to the pour there was at best a thin collar of bubbles that instantly disappeared.
The nose was pleasant with a good dark caramel aroma mixed with a toasted note. Only a little sweetness in the smell.
Flavor was pretty run-of-the-mill for a porter with a few caramel notes, a strong focus on roasted, coffee-like flavors and note much else. No hopping that you'd notice and very little sweetness either.
Mouthfeel was disappointing. The porter was thin - as if they'd taken a standard porter and watered it down a bit. Light bodied, no residual sugars to leave a coating on the palate and very little carbonation to add any sparkle. The finish is a roasted grain bitterness (light, like everything else) but it doesn't leave you wanting more.
Not much to recommend in this beer except that it would make a good session beer. With a light body it's not very filling, low carbonation and a light, inoffensive taste it'll take a lot to really notice this beer.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
The porter pours a deep dark mahogany brown bordering on black but there's almost no carbonation. Even with a vigorous finish to the pour there was at best a thin collar of bubbles that instantly disappeared.
The nose was pleasant with a good dark caramel aroma mixed with a toasted note. Only a little sweetness in the smell.
Flavor was pretty run-of-the-mill for a porter with a few caramel notes, a strong focus on roasted, coffee-like flavors and note much else. No hopping that you'd notice and very little sweetness either.
Mouthfeel was disappointing. The porter was thin - as if they'd taken a standard porter and watered it down a bit. Light bodied, no residual sugars to leave a coating on the palate and very little carbonation to add any sparkle. The finish is a roasted grain bitterness (light, like everything else) but it doesn't leave you wanting more.
Not much to recommend in this beer except that it would make a good session beer. With a light body it's not very filling, low carbonation and a light, inoffensive taste it'll take a lot to really notice this beer.
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2.95/5 rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A = Dark and coppery held to light. Head dissipates quickly, leaving lacing down the side of the glass.
S= Toasty malts but not burnt.
T = Coffee, malts, aftertaste is a little bitter.
M = Lot of carbonation and thin. Leaves an astringent feel.
D = Not bad, I will revisit it periodically more because it's a local brewery than for any other factor. There doesn't seem to be a lot of complexity.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A = Dark and coppery held to light. Head dissipates quickly, leaving lacing down the side of the glass.
S= Toasty malts but not burnt.
T = Coffee, malts, aftertaste is a little bitter.
M = Lot of carbonation and thin. Leaves an astringent feel.
D = Not bad, I will revisit it periodically more because it's a local brewery than for any other factor. There doesn't seem to be a lot of complexity.
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2.97/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
3/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured this 12 oz into a Duvel glass. Best by 9/06 notched. Opaque black body with 1/2 inch head that faded to a dime sized island.
Smelled of coffee grounds.
Tasted bittersweet, like French iced coffee. I love coffee, I love beer. I do not love beer that tastes only of coffee.
Mouth-filling texture, yet not rich. Thin/watery quality. Esay to drink but not one I will likely drink again.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured this 12 oz into a Duvel glass. Best by 9/06 notched. Opaque black body with 1/2 inch head that faded to a dime sized island.
Smelled of coffee grounds.
Tasted bittersweet, like French iced coffee. I love coffee, I love beer. I do not love beer that tastes only of coffee.
Mouth-filling texture, yet not rich. Thin/watery quality. Esay to drink but not one I will likely drink again.
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3/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I thought this beer was just sort of so-so. I feel like this could've been a really highly rated beer 10-15 years ago, but the explosion in the variety of beer that beer geek-dom has now been exposed to (myself included) has relegated this one to the ho-hum category.
It pours a little thin and light for a porter. Head is OK, but quickly fades to a scummy coating. Aroma is pretty minimal, but offers some hints of chocolate and dark roastiness. Flavor is light and drinkable, but offers pretty subtle flavors and some dark roasty character that is reminiscent to me of a wood-burning fireplace or an ashtray. Not bad, just not super-exciting.
There's nothing wrong with this beer; I thought it was OK, it's just that if it's in the top of its class (porters) it is just barely so.
I got my bottle of this beer from a 2-month subscription to the microbrew of the month club.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I thought this beer was just sort of so-so. I feel like this could've been a really highly rated beer 10-15 years ago, but the explosion in the variety of beer that beer geek-dom has now been exposed to (myself included) has relegated this one to the ho-hum category.
It pours a little thin and light for a porter. Head is OK, but quickly fades to a scummy coating. Aroma is pretty minimal, but offers some hints of chocolate and dark roastiness. Flavor is light and drinkable, but offers pretty subtle flavors and some dark roasty character that is reminiscent to me of a wood-burning fireplace or an ashtray. Not bad, just not super-exciting.
There's nothing wrong with this beer; I thought it was OK, it's just that if it's in the top of its class (porters) it is just barely so.
I got my bottle of this beer from a 2-month subscription to the microbrew of the month club.
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3.1/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
P: 12 fl oz bottle in to a globe glass
A: SRM is dark/rosewood brown. Semi-opaque. Head is light tan, 6 in, dissipates to 1 cm. Excessive carbonation (gusher), once beer poured carbonation is medium/heavy. Medium/light lacing.
S: Roast malt, light toffee. Slightly metallic scent. Light hop additions.
T: Malt forward with medium roast malt. Slight roasted bitterness, light hops. Aftertaste is malt and light char.
M: Medium body. MF is slightly dry and bitter, with a little creaminess from the carbonation.
O: A little disappointed that this one gushed all over the place immediately after opening. (Note, open ALL beers over a sink just in case) Otherwise, smell was right on point with a classic english porter. Taste was a little bitter and notes of wood char came through a little more than I think a classic english porter should but I still liked it. I would not seek this beer again, but if offered I would not turn it down.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
P: 12 fl oz bottle in to a globe glass
A: SRM is dark/rosewood brown. Semi-opaque. Head is light tan, 6 in, dissipates to 1 cm. Excessive carbonation (gusher), once beer poured carbonation is medium/heavy. Medium/light lacing.
S: Roast malt, light toffee. Slightly metallic scent. Light hop additions.
T: Malt forward with medium roast malt. Slight roasted bitterness, light hops. Aftertaste is malt and light char.
M: Medium body. MF is slightly dry and bitter, with a little creaminess from the carbonation.
O: A little disappointed that this one gushed all over the place immediately after opening. (Note, open ALL beers over a sink just in case) Otherwise, smell was right on point with a classic english porter. Taste was a little bitter and notes of wood char came through a little more than I think a classic english porter should but I still liked it. I would not seek this beer again, but if offered I would not turn it down.
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Dark Star Porter from Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's
3.63
out of 5
based on 223 ratings.