-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
London Porter
Meantime Brewing Company Limited
- From:
- Meantime Brewing Company Limited
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Porter
Ranked #11 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #10,597 - Avg:
- 4 | pDev: 10.75%
- Reviews:
- 291
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 01, 2023
- Added:
- Aug 28, 2005
- Wants:
- 35
- Gots:
- 47
Porter was the great London beer style of the 18th and 19th centuries, when the city was revered as both the brewing capital and trading hub of the world. Named after the legions of porters in her docks, streets and markets who drank this powerful beer to slake their thirst, Meantime London Porter is a classic interpretation of this complex dark beer style.
Wonderful with mature cheese, beef, lamb, or as traditionally served, with oysters.
Wonderful with mature cheese, beef, lamb, or as traditionally served, with oysters.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tfinn:
Reviewed by tfinn from Oregon
4.47/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
wire-capped 750mL (1pt 9oz) with only a small release of positive pressure when uncorked.
poured lazily into the glass, with little to no head; almost still. I expect a rough trip and/or being stored too cold for too long would do this. some very small (petillant?) carbonation, I would prefer to see just a little more, if only to get the head up. color is dark brownish-orange, and fairly clear considering it's bottle conditioned and took a ride from the store in my car earlier this evening. (that's a flocculant yeast.)
scent is kind of dark and woody, almost like a damp forest in early fall. I get some roast barley notes, along with some faint sweet brown bread, hint of peaches, and perhaps some slight herbal notes. (coriander and kent goldings come to mind.)
flavors dance around between cocoa, coffee, and roast barley, riding on top of bittersweet treacle brownie. it's quite a pleasant ride, and points towards stouts, but doesn't quite get there. it's definitely a porter. the depth and complexity of the flavors really make this beer. I have never been on this kind of flavor ride with any other porter. I'm not sure how it could get any better, really.
mouthfeel starts with faint carbonation pinpricks which dissolves to creaminess which fights it out with bittering hops leaving a light cocoa/coffee flavor.
I'm honestly surprised this beer doesn't rate higher. it's got a surprising amount of depth that I wasn't expecting to find in the style, and I imagine an actual cask example of this would be absolutely incredible. this beer makes me want to culture their yeast and brew a porter with it.
it's not a one-trick pony beer, and retains its repeated drinkability.
I <3 you meantime. please send cask. thx.
Dec 29, 2006poured lazily into the glass, with little to no head; almost still. I expect a rough trip and/or being stored too cold for too long would do this. some very small (petillant?) carbonation, I would prefer to see just a little more, if only to get the head up. color is dark brownish-orange, and fairly clear considering it's bottle conditioned and took a ride from the store in my car earlier this evening. (that's a flocculant yeast.)
scent is kind of dark and woody, almost like a damp forest in early fall. I get some roast barley notes, along with some faint sweet brown bread, hint of peaches, and perhaps some slight herbal notes. (coriander and kent goldings come to mind.)
flavors dance around between cocoa, coffee, and roast barley, riding on top of bittersweet treacle brownie. it's quite a pleasant ride, and points towards stouts, but doesn't quite get there. it's definitely a porter. the depth and complexity of the flavors really make this beer. I have never been on this kind of flavor ride with any other porter. I'm not sure how it could get any better, really.
mouthfeel starts with faint carbonation pinpricks which dissolves to creaminess which fights it out with bittering hops leaving a light cocoa/coffee flavor.
I'm honestly surprised this beer doesn't rate higher. it's got a surprising amount of depth that I wasn't expecting to find in the style, and I imagine an actual cask example of this would be absolutely incredible. this beer makes me want to culture their yeast and brew a porter with it.
it's not a one-trick pony beer, and retains its repeated drinkability.
I <3 you meantime. please send cask. thx.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.53/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Rerate, 750 ml corked "champagne" bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.5%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Aroma of roast malts, cold coffee, woodwork and unsweetened cocoa. Moderately roasty and quite dry flavour, notes of mild cofee and dark chocolate, some woody hints too.
Original rating: 750 ml "champagne" bottle, RBESG 2005, Grand Tasting. Dark brown colour. Aroma of roast malts, oak and spices. Surprisingly moderate roasty flavour.
Jun 30, 2022Original rating: 750 ml "champagne" bottle, RBESG 2005, Grand Tasting. Dark brown colour. Aroma of roast malts, oak and spices. Surprisingly moderate roasty flavour.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.06/5 rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.06/5 rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can't remember if corpulent or bonerhog brought this to corpulent's birthday jam in September 2016. Unlike the others around the golf course, this one was at the hotel before the Primus show.
Pours brown, a lighter brown than your average American porter, although I guess half of those tend to be imperial porters that really blur the already razor thin distinction between a porter and stout, but I digress. Dark red towards the edge, tan head 1/3". Aroma was also a little different, less roast, more akin to brown ale brown malt feels. Thought there was a chance it was going to be one of those 19th century slightly sour porters, but no.
The taste went into scotch ale territory, had an earthier, peaty aspect to it, way more bitterness than this malt bill should be handling. What is that, pipe tobacco? Lower carbonation brings on caramel creek where some acorns fall into the watershed through the forest.
A little bit taken back the scores are so high. Shoulder shrug.
Jun 19, 2020Pours brown, a lighter brown than your average American porter, although I guess half of those tend to be imperial porters that really blur the already razor thin distinction between a porter and stout, but I digress. Dark red towards the edge, tan head 1/3". Aroma was also a little different, less roast, more akin to brown ale brown malt feels. Thought there was a chance it was going to be one of those 19th century slightly sour porters, but no.
The taste went into scotch ale territory, had an earthier, peaty aspect to it, way more bitterness than this malt bill should be handling. What is that, pipe tobacco? Lower carbonation brings on caramel creek where some acorns fall into the watershed through the forest.
A little bit taken back the scores are so high. Shoulder shrug.
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
2.83/5 rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.83/5 rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
L- Black. 2Cm cream head, looks like it'll hold forever.
S- Leather saddles, the kind the hot bird you fantasised about as a tennager has just effortlessly straddled off.
T- Smokey, peaty. Not huge into black beer, but here we are...
F- Crisp, it's balanced too
O- Too porter/'black' for me, too intense on that dimension. Too mega 'heavy roasty/toasty'.
Aug 28, 2018S- Leather saddles, the kind the hot bird you fantasised about as a tennager has just effortlessly straddled off.
T- Smokey, peaty. Not huge into black beer, but here we are...
F- Crisp, it's balanced too
O- Too porter/'black' for me, too intense on that dimension. Too mega 'heavy roasty/toasty'.
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed in Roger Protz' CAMRA classic "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!" .
Also on the list of "1001 Beers To Drink Before You Die," stay tuned for my review and next tasting.
Meantime represents to me the "Sam Adams" of British craft brewing... really great marketing (see their deal with the mid-level department store that specializes in groceries.) And yet, Meantime also has a love of beer and is still experimenting.
Apr 28, 2016Also on the list of "1001 Beers To Drink Before You Die," stay tuned for my review and next tasting.
Meantime represents to me the "Sam Adams" of British craft brewing... really great marketing (see their deal with the mid-level department store that specializes in groceries.) And yet, Meantime also has a love of beer and is still experimenting.
Rated by Trentt2 from Alaska
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Delicious. But nothing extraordinary. I'd totally have it again
Feb 29, 2016Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.84/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours black with medium foamy head. Aroma of roast grains, chocolate. Taste is sharp, whiskey barrel, dark chocolate, espresso. Mouthfeel is just right, smooth and velvety. Lingering dark chocolate on the palate. Nice!
Jan 19, 2016Reviewed by tkdchampxi from New Jersey
4.08/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is an exceptional example of the style. Aged 4 years, it still had an exceptional head with a full, thick mouthfeel that was both smooth and creamy. Lots of rost character with hints of coffee and chocolate
Jan 12, 2016
London Porter from Meantime Brewing Company Limited
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
464 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!