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Sleeman Fine Porter (68*)
Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
- From:
- Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- English Porter
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 72
- Avg:
- 3.08 | pDev: 18.51%
- Reviews:
- 82
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 20, 2021
- Added:
- Oct 30, 2004
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 6
SCORE
72
Okay
72
Okay
The first in the John Sleeman Presents series, Sleeman Fine Porter is straight from page 68 of the family recipe book. The original Porters were the drink of the working class in 1700s England where they were seen to be more nutritious. Take a sip of history today and experience this brew just as George Sleeman presented it back in the 1800s.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by kevofficiel from Canada (QC)
3.53/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Sleeman Fine Porter from Sleeman Breweries
Look: Dark Ruby, with 1 finger of white and brown head.
Smell: Chocolate, hops, caramel.
Taste: Very light on the chocolate taste, the carbonation is very present. The hops are very present, some roasted malt also. Very basic as a porter.
Feel: Medium body, medium to high carbonation. Very easy drinking.
So overall would I recommend ? Honestly I don't know on this one. For a sleeman product very nice but as a Porter and for the price makes me very hard to recommend it. There is better porter for this price but as a sleeman product this is one of there top.
Jan 10, 2018Look: Dark Ruby, with 1 finger of white and brown head.
Smell: Chocolate, hops, caramel.
Taste: Very light on the chocolate taste, the carbonation is very present. The hops are very present, some roasted malt also. Very basic as a porter.
Feel: Medium body, medium to high carbonation. Very easy drinking.
So overall would I recommend ? Honestly I don't know on this one. For a sleeman product very nice but as a Porter and for the price makes me very hard to recommend it. There is better porter for this price but as a sleeman product this is one of there top.
Reviewed by ghisty from Canada (NB)
3.35/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
from a clear bottle, in with a 6 pack of assorted seasonals , pours ruby, surprisingly clear for the claimed style.
may have drank this too cold because it wasn't heady at all, and didnt have much nose at first.
once a bit settled, nose is rooty, almost chocolate a dark cherry , burnt almond, maybe hints of the malt come through.
taste is bright and malty, its like an almond and a cherry dipped in raw cocoa powder. surprisingly complex.
mouthfeel is a bit resiny. leaves a malty thickness. not bad mouthfeel but its a bit crisp for such a waxey finish.
overall id drink it again, it didnt seem all to impressive at first , its thin, and I expect a bit more gravity from a porter.
its like a darker fruitier brown,but with a red color, and a bitter finish. it's drinkable, and a complex one to review,
alot more going on there than it seems.
Nov 09, 2016may have drank this too cold because it wasn't heady at all, and didnt have much nose at first.
once a bit settled, nose is rooty, almost chocolate a dark cherry , burnt almond, maybe hints of the malt come through.
taste is bright and malty, its like an almond and a cherry dipped in raw cocoa powder. surprisingly complex.
mouthfeel is a bit resiny. leaves a malty thickness. not bad mouthfeel but its a bit crisp for such a waxey finish.
overall id drink it again, it didnt seem all to impressive at first , its thin, and I expect a bit more gravity from a porter.
its like a darker fruitier brown,but with a red color, and a bitter finish. it's drinkable, and a complex one to review,
alot more going on there than it seems.
Rated by papat444 from Canada (QC)
3.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Flashback #307
Aug 19, 2015
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.09/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
3.09/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
341 mL bottle taken from a Sleeman Selections pack picked up at the LCBO; served slightly chilled and poured into a mug. I've wanted to try this one for years, but not quite enough to buy 24 of the damn things.
Pours a deep reddish-brown colour, not quite opaque with 1.5 fingers of puffy, creamy, light beige-coloured head appearing at the surface. It wilts slowly over the next few minutes, depositing a veil of lacing around the glass and eventually settling into a dense, creamy cap. Looks great, but the aroma is nothing inspiring - kind of reminds me of the Honey Brown, except the malts have a more roasted character. Otherwise, it's a little nutty, with caramel/corn syrup making up the remainder of the bouquet.
Very basic porter flavour, but pretty tasty for a Sleeman product. Roasted malts, toasted nuts and a very slight chocolate note are detectable, followed by a caramel sweetness that gradually fades into a light, earthy bitterness in the finish. The bittersweet finish is a much-appreciated touch - the only reason I can see myself tolerating this one in larger quantities. On the lighter side of medium-bodied, with slightly more body than the other products from this brewery I have tried... still kind of watery for a porter, though, and much too fizzy. That's where my complaining stops, though - this is actually quite easy to drink, with a mild, agreeable flavour. Nothing wrong with that - not every beer needs to blow me away to be likeable.
Final Grade: 3.09, a C+. Sleeman Fine Porter isn't bad at all by macro standards - I could see myself potentially having a pint or two of this if it were on-tap at a bar without much in the way of craft options. It's also the best beer in this sampler pack by a considerable margin. That being said, anyone who has tried a quality craft/imported English porter will probably quickly forget about this brew, as it isn't an especially great example of the style. Possibly the best beer carrying the Sleeman name, although I'll need to try the Original Dark to confirm that, I suppose...
Dec 29, 2013Pours a deep reddish-brown colour, not quite opaque with 1.5 fingers of puffy, creamy, light beige-coloured head appearing at the surface. It wilts slowly over the next few minutes, depositing a veil of lacing around the glass and eventually settling into a dense, creamy cap. Looks great, but the aroma is nothing inspiring - kind of reminds me of the Honey Brown, except the malts have a more roasted character. Otherwise, it's a little nutty, with caramel/corn syrup making up the remainder of the bouquet.
Very basic porter flavour, but pretty tasty for a Sleeman product. Roasted malts, toasted nuts and a very slight chocolate note are detectable, followed by a caramel sweetness that gradually fades into a light, earthy bitterness in the finish. The bittersweet finish is a much-appreciated touch - the only reason I can see myself tolerating this one in larger quantities. On the lighter side of medium-bodied, with slightly more body than the other products from this brewery I have tried... still kind of watery for a porter, though, and much too fizzy. That's where my complaining stops, though - this is actually quite easy to drink, with a mild, agreeable flavour. Nothing wrong with that - not every beer needs to blow me away to be likeable.
Final Grade: 3.09, a C+. Sleeman Fine Porter isn't bad at all by macro standards - I could see myself potentially having a pint or two of this if it were on-tap at a bar without much in the way of craft options. It's also the best beer in this sampler pack by a considerable margin. That being said, anyone who has tried a quality craft/imported English porter will probably quickly forget about this brew, as it isn't an especially great example of the style. Possibly the best beer carrying the Sleeman name, although I'll need to try the Original Dark to confirm that, I suppose...
Reviewed by EnemyWithin from Canada (ON)
2.87/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.87/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Bottle in Unibroue glass on Sept 17, 2013
Appearance: 4.25
Dark black/ brown body with just slight transparency. 1-2' of brown white head.
Smell: 2.75
Very little aroma, improves somewhat with warming. Chocolate and roast malt primarily, with slight sweetness. Hops profile more European with faint mineral/earthy notes.
Taste: 2.75
Very mild flavor, comes across a bit watery. Very faint chocolate with background of nondescript ale. Touch of sweetness detectable. Bitterness is a bit surprising; it's very mild, but present. And definitely more than I would anticipate from a macro, which is nice.
Mouthfeel: 2.5
Thin, very watery. Minimal presence of hops.
Overall: 3
Not a great offering, but slightly more drinkable than other beers more Sleeman. The slight bitterness is pleasant surprise. Still despite being boring, its not offensive. I could see it having mass appeal.
Not recommend.
Sep 22, 2013Appearance: 4.25
Dark black/ brown body with just slight transparency. 1-2' of brown white head.
Smell: 2.75
Very little aroma, improves somewhat with warming. Chocolate and roast malt primarily, with slight sweetness. Hops profile more European with faint mineral/earthy notes.
Taste: 2.75
Very mild flavor, comes across a bit watery. Very faint chocolate with background of nondescript ale. Touch of sweetness detectable. Bitterness is a bit surprising; it's very mild, but present. And definitely more than I would anticipate from a macro, which is nice.
Mouthfeel: 2.5
Thin, very watery. Minimal presence of hops.
Overall: 3
Not a great offering, but slightly more drinkable than other beers more Sleeman. The slight bitterness is pleasant surprise. Still despite being boring, its not offensive. I could see it having mass appeal.
Not recommend.
Sleeman Fine Porter (68*) from Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
Beer rating:
72 out of
100 with
109 ratings
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