General Washington's Tavern Porter | Yards Brewing Co.




Brewed by:
Yards Brewing Co.
Pennsylvania, United States
yardsbrewing.com
Style: English Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Detailed in a letter from the General to his officers during the war, Washington’s recipe employed molasses to aid fermentation and give rich caramel notes to this robust, roasty ale. The recipe reflected his admiration for Philadelphia-style porters, especially those brewed by Robert Hare (whose original brewery stood just blocks from where ours is now). Our Tavern Porter, inspired by Washington’s, is dark, smooth, and complex with just a hint of dried fruit in the finish.
Added by SixpointJMH on 09-30-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 795 | Reviews: 295
Reviews by SonictheBeerhog:
More User Reviews:
5/5 rDev +30.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
My absolute favorite beer I've ever tried. This porter puts Guinness to absolute shame.
Look: IT pours a very dark brown with a rich head bubbling up- no "gizmo" required. Head is thick and a light brown color, not white. Lingers forever.
Smell: Smells like hints of coffee and chocolate and wonder. And a moderate alcohol smell.
Taste: This is where it really knocks it out of the park. VERY rich flavors. The coffee, coco, and the malt of the beer are perfectly bouqueted but offset enough to not be cloying. Pleasant aftertaste that lingers.
Feel: Thick and rich, in a good way. The carbonation is just right to avoid it feeling like oil, but no more.
Overall: Try this beer. This is another fantastic offering from my new favorite brewery.
751 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
My absolute favorite beer I've ever tried. This porter puts Guinness to absolute shame.
Look: IT pours a very dark brown with a rich head bubbling up- no "gizmo" required. Head is thick and a light brown color, not white. Lingers forever.
Smell: Smells like hints of coffee and chocolate and wonder. And a moderate alcohol smell.
Taste: This is where it really knocks it out of the park. VERY rich flavors. The coffee, coco, and the malt of the beer are perfectly bouqueted but offset enough to not be cloying. Pleasant aftertaste that lingers.
Feel: Thick and rich, in a good way. The carbonation is just right to avoid it feeling like oil, but no more.
Overall: Try this beer. This is another fantastic offering from my new favorite brewery.
751 characters
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown color with a modest khaki cream head that leaves a little splash of lacing.
Sweet and inviting aroma of chocolate and molasses. The malt profile is nutty, biscuity and lightly roasted.
Smooth and creamy with a medium body. Gentle carbonation and highly drinkable. Predominantly sweet and aligned with the aroma; chocolate, molasses, light roast, nutty and biscuity. There is some dryness in finish. Good balance as well, provided by a mild woody hops bitterness.
A delightful and flavorful no frills porter.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown color with a modest khaki cream head that leaves a little splash of lacing.
Sweet and inviting aroma of chocolate and molasses. The malt profile is nutty, biscuity and lightly roasted.
Smooth and creamy with a medium body. Gentle carbonation and highly drinkable. Predominantly sweet and aligned with the aroma; chocolate, molasses, light roast, nutty and biscuity. There is some dryness in finish. Good balance as well, provided by a mild woody hops bitterness.
A delightful and flavorful no frills porter.
527 characters
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Dark brown with a slight red hue. Virtually no head, maybe a millimeter of white.
S: Smells of dark coffee, rich cocoa, roasted pecans and walnuts, toffee
T: Tastes like it smells with a deep coffee flavor coming through in the beginning (with the help of the nose) and the after taste. Even a faint taste of butterscotch within the java flavor along with dark syrup notes
M: I was almost worried that my beer was flat because there was almost no head or lacing to the beer, but once you taste it you realize there is a carbonated bite to the porter that makes it refreshing and deep and flavorful. Still wish there was a little more fullness to this porter
O: Other porters I have had are either too strong in the coffee, chocolate and other complex flavors. This beer is very drinkable and has more simple flavors than many other porters. But, this beer still has a delicious balance of more simple ingredients that makes it very drinkable but still tasty
960 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Dark brown with a slight red hue. Virtually no head, maybe a millimeter of white.
S: Smells of dark coffee, rich cocoa, roasted pecans and walnuts, toffee
T: Tastes like it smells with a deep coffee flavor coming through in the beginning (with the help of the nose) and the after taste. Even a faint taste of butterscotch within the java flavor along with dark syrup notes
M: I was almost worried that my beer was flat because there was almost no head or lacing to the beer, but once you taste it you realize there is a carbonated bite to the porter that makes it refreshing and deep and flavorful. Still wish there was a little more fullness to this porter
O: Other porters I have had are either too strong in the coffee, chocolate and other complex flavors. This beer is very drinkable and has more simple flavors than many other porters. But, this beer still has a delicious balance of more simple ingredients that makes it very drinkable but still tasty
960 characters
4.07/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a deep crimson with deep brownish tint with a thin light brown head that didnt stick around long,black strap molasses is big in the aroma along with bursting fruitiness,very effervescent.Molasses and bitter chocolate notes hit up front maybe a touch of orange finishing with light earthiness to keep things in check.My only complaint and its a small one is that it seems a bit thin but the alc% is hidden well and is quite drinkable.I bought it on Presidents day for the fact it was GW but it is a real fine beer what ever day you buy it.
545 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a deep crimson with deep brownish tint with a thin light brown head that didnt stick around long,black strap molasses is big in the aroma along with bursting fruitiness,very effervescent.Molasses and bitter chocolate notes hit up front maybe a touch of orange finishing with light earthiness to keep things in check.My only complaint and its a small one is that it seems a bit thin but the alc% is hidden well and is quite drinkable.I bought it on Presidents day for the fact it was GW but it is a real fine beer what ever day you buy it.
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4.07/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance Murky brown in color with a little carbonation and not much of a head.
Smell Man, what a nose. This is heavy duty chocolate cocoa here along with some molasses and brown sugar. Im sure theres more to it, but the cocoa is overwhelming.
Taste Much more balanced at the taste. The lightly-roasted malt comes out nicely along with a deeper chocolate and some winey characteristics. Theres a lot of fruit going on in this one. The red grapes especially kick things up a notch.
Mouthfeel Lightly carbonated and medium in the body. I thought the balance on this one was very unique and helped it pass through the cheeks with ease.
Drinkability This was much different than other examples of the style that I have tasted. I enjoyed it very much, but others looking for a heavier porter or something bitter or even a NW hop monster version should stay away.
Comments I received this gem as part of the Christmas Exchange put on my xlperro this year. I was fortunate enough to draw jcalbi, and this is just one of many terrific bottles that he sent my way. A big BA thanks for this Porter.
1,129 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance Murky brown in color with a little carbonation and not much of a head.
Smell Man, what a nose. This is heavy duty chocolate cocoa here along with some molasses and brown sugar. Im sure theres more to it, but the cocoa is overwhelming.
Taste Much more balanced at the taste. The lightly-roasted malt comes out nicely along with a deeper chocolate and some winey characteristics. Theres a lot of fruit going on in this one. The red grapes especially kick things up a notch.
Mouthfeel Lightly carbonated and medium in the body. I thought the balance on this one was very unique and helped it pass through the cheeks with ease.
Drinkability This was much different than other examples of the style that I have tasted. I enjoyed it very much, but others looking for a heavier porter or something bitter or even a NW hop monster version should stay away.
Comments I received this gem as part of the Christmas Exchange put on my xlperro this year. I was fortunate enough to draw jcalbi, and this is just one of many terrific bottles that he sent my way. A big BA thanks for this Porter.
1,129 characters
4.05/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.68/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance is a dark brown, nearly opaque, body with a small, beige head that retains well, and coats the glass with sheet and patch lace.
Aroma has the expected, dark roasted malts with hints of cocoa, but an interesting fruitiness of pear and apple aromas suggests that this is not your average porter.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy, with low to medium carbonation.
Taste is unusual for a porter. Dark roasted malts are suggestive of mild chocolate and a hint of coffee, but there is no burnt bitterness. Pear and apple fruitiness play as prominent a role as the dark malt flavors. Finish has a hint of coffee, but it's not a burnt or bitter note. The 7% abv is not in evidence.
The hidden alcohol, and lack of bitterness combine with the fruity flavors to lend this a pleasant drinkability. Very offbeat for a porter, but this is said to be modeled after 18th century recipes. The Founding Fathers imbibed well, if this brew is a true indication of their favorites.
981 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance is a dark brown, nearly opaque, body with a small, beige head that retains well, and coats the glass with sheet and patch lace.
Aroma has the expected, dark roasted malts with hints of cocoa, but an interesting fruitiness of pear and apple aromas suggests that this is not your average porter.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy, with low to medium carbonation.
Taste is unusual for a porter. Dark roasted malts are suggestive of mild chocolate and a hint of coffee, but there is no burnt bitterness. Pear and apple fruitiness play as prominent a role as the dark malt flavors. Finish has a hint of coffee, but it's not a burnt or bitter note. The 7% abv is not in evidence.
The hidden alcohol, and lack of bitterness combine with the fruity flavors to lend this a pleasant drinkability. Very offbeat for a porter, but this is said to be modeled after 18th century recipes. The Founding Fathers imbibed well, if this brew is a true indication of their favorites.
981 characters
3.5/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle, lacking any freshness dating, Boo. Pours dark chocolaty amber, light for a porter. Tan head, with decent retention. leaves long stringy lacing. Nose is maple syrup. Medium bodied and fairly chewy. Malt sweetness upfront, more maple, caramel and some light coffee notes.Sweetness linger and leads to a dry and slightly bitter finish, with some chalkyness in the mouth. Eh, so so porter
401 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle, lacking any freshness dating, Boo. Pours dark chocolaty amber, light for a porter. Tan head, with decent retention. leaves long stringy lacing. Nose is maple syrup. Medium bodied and fairly chewy. Malt sweetness upfront, more maple, caramel and some light coffee notes.Sweetness linger and leads to a dry and slightly bitter finish, with some chalkyness in the mouth. Eh, so so porter
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3.35/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
poured dark with thick tan head. smelled of roasted hops and chocolate, fairly complex. thick body/heavy feel, again can really taste roasted hops with suble hints of the molasses. finished a bit dry. drinkability is the only downside to this satisfying porter
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
poured dark with thick tan head. smelled of roasted hops and chocolate, fairly complex. thick body/heavy feel, again can really taste roasted hops with suble hints of the molasses. finished a bit dry. drinkability is the only downside to this satisfying porter
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4.08/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz. bottle courtesy of AKSmokedPorter. Thanks, dude!
Poured a bold-looking deep and dark, dark brown, almost black in color with a nice-looking dark tan head that not only lasted but also managed a good ring of lace multiple times on the pint glass. Aromas are heavenly...all sorts of requisite porter scents: cocoa, dark & bitter chocolate, toasted malt, coffee beans fresh from the grinder. Flavor sees the same profile as the nose, but there's a sweet twang that I would attribute to the molasses. Not as big as I'd expected, but still flavorful. Ends with a dry and bitter chocolate-red wine flavor. A little on the thin side but still drinkable.
655 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz. bottle courtesy of AKSmokedPorter. Thanks, dude!
Poured a bold-looking deep and dark, dark brown, almost black in color with a nice-looking dark tan head that not only lasted but also managed a good ring of lace multiple times on the pint glass. Aromas are heavenly...all sorts of requisite porter scents: cocoa, dark & bitter chocolate, toasted malt, coffee beans fresh from the grinder. Flavor sees the same profile as the nose, but there's a sweet twang that I would attribute to the molasses. Not as big as I'd expected, but still flavorful. Ends with a dry and bitter chocolate-red wine flavor. A little on the thin side but still drinkable.
655 characters
1.97/5 rDev -48.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
I got this as a single at Union Jack's on the Manatawny. I drank it in a pilsner glass. It looks like an attempt was made to put a date on the bottle, but it was mostly rubbed off when I bought it.
Pours a slightly hazy deep garnet with a brown tint. A two finger head of tan foam forms on top. The head eventually drops to a good coating and a ring, with great lacing on the glass.
Why is it that everything from Yards has the same off smell? Every damn one! It's an odd, cardboardy fruit type smell, not real pleasant. I can also pick out a citrus hop aroma in the back, and maybe a little chocolate as well.
It has the same off flavor all their beers have, too. It's a hot cardboard, band-aid taste that is in all of their beers. There is some chocolate and roasted flavor in there, but it is just overwhelmed by the cardboard. This could be hard to finish.
Mouthfeel is kind of smooth, semi-sweet, with a weird metallic finish.
This could be the last Yards beer I ever try. Almost every one I've had has the same damn off characteristics. Someone at Yards needs to completely dismantle the brewery and sterilize everything. They've got bugs in the works. If, for some reason, these are the flavors and smells they are seeking, they need a new recipe writer, or a new yeast, or something. Their stuff is just weird.
1,334 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
I got this as a single at Union Jack's on the Manatawny. I drank it in a pilsner glass. It looks like an attempt was made to put a date on the bottle, but it was mostly rubbed off when I bought it.
Pours a slightly hazy deep garnet with a brown tint. A two finger head of tan foam forms on top. The head eventually drops to a good coating and a ring, with great lacing on the glass.
Why is it that everything from Yards has the same off smell? Every damn one! It's an odd, cardboardy fruit type smell, not real pleasant. I can also pick out a citrus hop aroma in the back, and maybe a little chocolate as well.
It has the same off flavor all their beers have, too. It's a hot cardboard, band-aid taste that is in all of their beers. There is some chocolate and roasted flavor in there, but it is just overwhelmed by the cardboard. This could be hard to finish.
Mouthfeel is kind of smooth, semi-sweet, with a weird metallic finish.
This could be the last Yards beer I ever try. Almost every one I've had has the same damn off characteristics. Someone at Yards needs to completely dismantle the brewery and sterilize everything. They've got bugs in the works. If, for some reason, these are the flavors and smells they are seeking, they need a new recipe writer, or a new yeast, or something. Their stuff is just weird.
1,334 characters
4.25/5 rDev +11%
Pours a medium dark brown with huge tan head and chocolate aroma.
Taste is surprisingly sweet from the molasses. Almost as sweet as a milk stout. Notes of coffee on the palate but the sweet chocolate predominates. Drinks like a light milk stout. The finish is bitter dark chocolate. No wonder we won the war.
311 characters
Pours a medium dark brown with huge tan head and chocolate aroma.
Taste is surprisingly sweet from the molasses. Almost as sweet as a milk stout. Notes of coffee on the palate but the sweet chocolate predominates. Drinks like a light milk stout. The finish is bitter dark chocolate. No wonder we won the war.
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3.62/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Looks more like a dark ale than a porter. Thin-looking body, light showing through the liquid at the edges of the glass. Beige head doesn't really rise, but dissipates quickly. Aroma is toasted malt and cocoa, plus some hops shining through. Mouthfeel is full and round, leading to a quick initial roasted malt and cocoa flavor, but morphing almost immediately into bitter coffee and a cherry tang. Cherry flavor lingers, as does a tannic talc feel. With each successive sip, the cherry builds and adds a bit of raisin. The tangy flavor unfortunately overwhelms the malt profile.
579 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Looks more like a dark ale than a porter. Thin-looking body, light showing through the liquid at the edges of the glass. Beige head doesn't really rise, but dissipates quickly. Aroma is toasted malt and cocoa, plus some hops shining through. Mouthfeel is full and round, leading to a quick initial roasted malt and cocoa flavor, but morphing almost immediately into bitter coffee and a cherry tang. Cherry flavor lingers, as does a tannic talc feel. With each successive sip, the cherry builds and adds a bit of raisin. The tangy flavor unfortunately overwhelms the malt profile.
579 characters
General Washington's Tavern Porter from Yards Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
3.83 out of
5 with
795 ratings
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