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Naval College Old Porter
Meantime Brewing Company Limited

Naval College Old PorterNaval College Old Porter
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From:
Meantime Brewing Company Limited
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Porter
ABV:
8%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.16 | pDev: 9.13%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
123
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 22, 2020
Added:
Jul 20, 2012
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  9
The London brewers were at the forefront of applying new scientific and technological advances to beer making. Consequently the manufacture of Porter changed considerably during its life. By the time the Old Brewery was built in 1836 Porter was a blend of 'stock' or 'stale' beer, matured in giant wooden tuns for up to two years, with young or 'mild' beer.

Meantime Hospital Porter (called Naval College Old Porter in the US) is made in the same fashion. 24 months oak aging in used Bruichladdich Octomore barrels has lent a woody, intensely peaty smokiness to our 'stock' Porter, which we have blended with a younger beer. This latter adds vitality to the brew. Hospital Porter one beer that is best not over-chilled, and, like the original Porters, will mature with age.

This beer has only been available on draught at the Old Brewery at the Old Royal Naval Hospital—until now. We have done our best to ensure that the beer would be recognizable to the retired sailors whom the original Royal Naval Hospital brewery was set up to supply.
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Ratings by JuanAlberto:
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Rated by JuanAlberto from Texas

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

Aug 10, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.06 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Dec 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.86 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

Dec 22, 2020
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2012 vintage; drank 6/6/14 @ Fischman's.

Aged for 24 months in Bruichladdich Octomore barrels (supposedly the heaviest peat in the world!) then mixed with fresh Meantime porter.

Ruddy brown/red mud color.

Cream head; decent lace. Scotch peat, mild caramel & rich oak nose. Nice!

Thick mouthfeel.

Root beer, ice cream, oak & smoke flavors; as it warms rich peat & milk chocolate notes emerge.

Complex & just about perfect.
May 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by CharlesK from Pennsylvania

Nov 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.43 by AlehouseVanHouten from Massachusetts

May 14, 2017
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The beer is dark brown and is opaque in color. It poured with a short light tan head that died down, leaving some lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of smoked peat from the Bruichladdich Octomore barrel aging are present in the nose; these become a bit stronger as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has flavors of cola and dark malts along with notes of smoked peat, the latter of which linger in to the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I liked how this beer had lots of flavors of smoked peat, but these weren't overpowering. I'm assuming that this was because it was also blended with some young beer.

Serving type: bottle
Jan 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by smithj4 from New York

Jan 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by cryptichead from Illinois

Nov 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.4 by Zazzi82 from Tennessee

Jul 20, 2016
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

4.42/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap in Greenville, SC.
Excellent in all respects. Rich, complex aroma and flavor. There's a multitude of dark fruit and subtle spice notes over a dark, bready malt base. There were 68 other beers and ciders on tap here yet I was dearly tempted to have a 2nd glass of this.
Jun 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.61 by toscanoigor from Brazil

Jun 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.97 by travelguy from Ohio

Apr 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by AdamSteve from Michigan

Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by steverx8 from England

Jan 27, 2016
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.13/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
330ml bottle - $5.75 at Tasty Beverage Company in Asheville, North Carolina.

Appearance: Pours a medium-dark brown body with a smallish, light ecru head.

Smell: A strong scent of booze-soaked raisins and toasted dark-minded breads with some light spice and muted, blended notes of cocoa and wood shavings.

Taste: As with the nose, a predominance of raisiny dark fruitiness and toasted pumpernickel with a stray sprinkling of sugar. Some lighter hints of chocolate powder, tobacco ashes and minerals. Relatively light bitterness. A little mild throughout and approaching the drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-low carbonation.

Overall: Had much higher hopes, but, ultimately, found it a bit bland.
Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.81 by Vylo from New Jersey

Dec 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.69 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Oct 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by kodt from Illinois

Oct 02, 2015
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a walnut brown with a thinner tannish colored head atop,a lighter porter in color.Deep brown sugar and caramel in the nose,the brown sugar element really sticks out,somehow it doesn't coming off cloying though.the feel is a little thinner than i was hoping for for a porter this size.Caramel and treacle flavors with a some raisin,the roast is there but subdued compared to American versions in my opinion,it doesn't seem as "big" as it is.I like it but maybe not as much as most,again I do like it.
Aug 16, 2015
Naval College Old Porter from Meantime Brewing Company Limited
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 123 ratings