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Great Northern
Summit Brewing Company
- From:
- Summit Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
Ranked #269 - ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #19,154 - Avg:
- 3.82 | pDev: 10.99%
- Reviews:
- 317
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 31, 2023
- Added:
- Mar 04, 2002
- Wants:
- 17
- Gots:
- 86
Originally named after the London market workers who popularized this brew, we dubbed our Porter with a nod toward the majestic railway stretching from St. Paul to Seattle. Roasted malts offer up coffee notes and lead to a slightly sweet, chocolatey finish. All aboard!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by deadbody:
Reviewed by deadbody from Minnesota
3.35/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
From a bottle poured into a new Glarus pint glass. Poured a good dark brown with a light caramel head. Good head, stayed up for a bit, left minimal lacing.
Smell was pretty good, smelled like a good porter, dark and malty. Taste was so-so, not much malt body to it, not much hops, just not much there. Very thin mouthfeel, very disappointed.
Fairly drinkable, I would say it compares very favorably to Guiness, and in that case is what the brewers wanted. Summit doesn't try to go for the super big bold flavors, but to be a good solid gateway beer from the macros to the micros. Not a bad beer, just not as big as I would have liked.
Jan 12, 2011Smell was pretty good, smelled like a good porter, dark and malty. Taste was so-so, not much malt body to it, not much hops, just not much there. Very thin mouthfeel, very disappointed.
Fairly drinkable, I would say it compares very favorably to Guiness, and in that case is what the brewers wanted. Summit doesn't try to go for the super big bold flavors, but to be a good solid gateway beer from the macros to the micros. Not a bad beer, just not as big as I would have liked.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.26/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.26/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can enjoy by 3/11/23 into a nonic Summit pint glass.
L: Pours black w a dark ruby base, a 2" pock-marked fluffy khaki head w VG retention, no visible carbo, moderate skeletal lacing.
S: Chocolate, cocoa, char, dark roasted caramelized malts, chocolate chip cookie dough.
T: Sweet dark milk chocolate, char, darkly roasted caramelized malts, a hint of dark fruits, bitter dark bakers chocolate, coffee, a gentle bitter linger w bitter chocolate in the aftertaste. Well balanced.
F: Semi-juicy, med to med-light bodied w a mildly sweet center and a med-length drying finish w a light linger.
O: A wonderful tasting American Porter based around chocolate and toasted malts. I have enjoyed this beer for well over 20 years. Quite easy drinking and excellent in its style.
Oct 22, 2021L: Pours black w a dark ruby base, a 2" pock-marked fluffy khaki head w VG retention, no visible carbo, moderate skeletal lacing.
S: Chocolate, cocoa, char, dark roasted caramelized malts, chocolate chip cookie dough.
T: Sweet dark milk chocolate, char, darkly roasted caramelized malts, a hint of dark fruits, bitter dark bakers chocolate, coffee, a gentle bitter linger w bitter chocolate in the aftertaste. Well balanced.
F: Semi-juicy, med to med-light bodied w a mildly sweet center and a med-length drying finish w a light linger.
O: A wonderful tasting American Porter based around chocolate and toasted malts. I have enjoyed this beer for well over 20 years. Quite easy drinking and excellent in its style.
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
3.5/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a black color with a giant, clinging tan head that leaves a rim. SRM of 23. (4.00)
Aroma: Moderate aromas of full, bittersweet Belgian cocoa. A strong, but airy roastiness comes through that give sit a slight plastic/metal aroma. Also some sulfur, sort of like feces. Smells dry. (3.25)
Flavor: Nothing overwhelming on the tongue. Extremely balanced. There is some nice Belgian/European chocolate notes that is balanced by an airy roastiness that was present in the aroma. It has a funny plastic/metallic twist to the roast and almost reminds me of the smell of an airplane or airplane bathroom. The roasty notes are smokey, slightly bitter, with then an airy and dry finish like a porter. Mostly light chocolate flavors here. (3.50)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation, but it fits well with the dry-roastiness to protect some of the flavor. Drinks balanced, dry, and clean. Leaves a slight airy smokiness on the palate. (3.75)
Compared to Great Lakes' Edmund Fitzgerald 3/29/20: Pours a similar color with a stronger head. More mellow and rich chocolate flavor. Less pastry/strudel & milk sweetness. Similar bitterness and body. Overall, I slightly prefer the Edmund Fitzgerald due to the complexity and malt flavor.
Compared to Bells Porter 2/11/21: Similar appearance. Stronger airy roast aromas. Less chocolate and deep flavors. More plastic/metallic roast flavors. Stronger carbonation, and more dry.
Compared to Bent Paddle's Black Ale 2/16/21: Pours a similar color with a milder and lighter head. More mild and airy aromas. More airy roast and sulfur/plastic. Less chocolate and malts.
1/18/22: Pours similar. Milder aromas. More airy roast. Less chocolate.
Overall: This one has gone a bit downhill for me. Sometimes it has a weird plastic/metallic aroma/flavor that reminds me of how an airplane or balloon smells. On the aroma it comes across like sulfur or feces which isn't pleasant, but at least it corrects on the flavor. Dryer and cleaner than some others I've had. Respectably clean, tame, and drinkable. A decent porter that is trending downwards. (Final Rating: 3.50)
Feb 17, 2021Aroma: Moderate aromas of full, bittersweet Belgian cocoa. A strong, but airy roastiness comes through that give sit a slight plastic/metal aroma. Also some sulfur, sort of like feces. Smells dry. (3.25)
Flavor: Nothing overwhelming on the tongue. Extremely balanced. There is some nice Belgian/European chocolate notes that is balanced by an airy roastiness that was present in the aroma. It has a funny plastic/metallic twist to the roast and almost reminds me of the smell of an airplane or airplane bathroom. The roasty notes are smokey, slightly bitter, with then an airy and dry finish like a porter. Mostly light chocolate flavors here. (3.50)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation, but it fits well with the dry-roastiness to protect some of the flavor. Drinks balanced, dry, and clean. Leaves a slight airy smokiness on the palate. (3.75)
Compared to Great Lakes' Edmund Fitzgerald 3/29/20: Pours a similar color with a stronger head. More mellow and rich chocolate flavor. Less pastry/strudel & milk sweetness. Similar bitterness and body. Overall, I slightly prefer the Edmund Fitzgerald due to the complexity and malt flavor.
Compared to Bells Porter 2/11/21: Similar appearance. Stronger airy roast aromas. Less chocolate and deep flavors. More plastic/metallic roast flavors. Stronger carbonation, and more dry.
Compared to Bent Paddle's Black Ale 2/16/21: Pours a similar color with a milder and lighter head. More mild and airy aromas. More airy roast and sulfur/plastic. Less chocolate and malts.
1/18/22: Pours similar. Milder aromas. More airy roast. Less chocolate.
Overall: This one has gone a bit downhill for me. Sometimes it has a weird plastic/metallic aroma/flavor that reminds me of how an airplane or balloon smells. On the aroma it comes across like sulfur or feces which isn't pleasant, but at least it corrects on the flavor. Dryer and cleaner than some others I've had. Respectably clean, tame, and drinkable. A decent porter that is trending downwards. (Final Rating: 3.50)
Reviewed by hbeimers from Illinois
4.08/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Loads of roasted malt flavors in here. Almost no bitterness and a heavy dose of coffee and chocolate. Slightly sweet finish and plenty of bubbles. Tasty.
Jan 03, 2021Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts
4.26/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz can, sample from the brewery.
This is a beautiful beer and an amazing example of what a Porter is. Just toasty enough with no harshness, a kiss of sweetness within the we'll established maltiness. Good dose of hop character to balance it all out. Tasty from start to finish!
Oct 10, 2020This is a beautiful beer and an amazing example of what a Porter is. Just toasty enough with no harshness, a kiss of sweetness within the we'll established maltiness. Good dose of hop character to balance it all out. Tasty from start to finish!
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas
3.98/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a 12oz bottle. Black color with tan head. Smells of roasted malt, chocolate, and vanilla. Light body. Roasted malt and chocolate flavors with a bitter finish. Great all around.
Oct 05, 2019Reviewed by marcobrau from Illinois
3.8/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dark brown with a good head. Lace is left behind as the head falls to a collar of foam. Aroma of cocoa. Fairly light bodied with chocolate flavors and fairly assertive hop bitterness. A bit thin with a quick finish that ends end hop bitterness a bit of dark chocolate...dry cocoa flavors with even a hint of tartness. Pretty damn tasty.
Sep 10, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.7/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Brown liquid.
Tan head; nice lace.
Cream, coffee & chocolate nose.
Thin mouthfeel.
Oats & muted coffee flavor; hop finish.
Decent; nice nose though.
Apr 01, 2019Tan head; nice lace.
Cream, coffee & chocolate nose.
Thin mouthfeel.
Oats & muted coffee flavor; hop finish.
Decent; nice nose though.
Rated by GaryT2 from Minnesota
4.5/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It tastes the same as Deuchartes to me.
Nov 19, 2018Rated by deleted_user_1239096
4.48/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.48/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Malty, chocolaty and delicious!
Oct 19, 2018Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota
3.83/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Summit Great Northern Porter, 5.6% ABV. Pours black, with a one finger tan head. Nose is vanilla and slight chocolate, taste is chocolate, with a slight bitter close. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent.
Jun 08, 2018
Great Northern from Summit Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
670 ratings
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