Half Pipe Porter
Full Sail Brewing Company

Half Pipe PorterHalf Pipe Porter
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Full Sail Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 13.08%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
25
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 03, 2006
Added:
Jan 09, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by steinlifter:
Photo of steinlifter
Reviewed by steinlifter from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This poured a clear deep amber, almost black, tan head, with decent retention, coffee and roasted malt aroma a whiff of floral hops as well, with a matching taste, although the flavor starts as a bit bitter, then mellows and sweetens. mouthfeel was full creamy, with a touch of chewiness, drinkability is fine on this one, good example of the style, interesting and delicious, I would have no problem with drinking another!
Apr 12, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of stephendr
Reviewed by stephendr from California

3.66/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Mocha murky appearance – decent tan head- nose coco, coffee, baking chocolate - taste coco, coffee, baking chocolate – soft creamy with a little bitter bite - aftertaste bitter/sweet taste lingering Mocha murky appearance – decent tan head- nose coco, coffee, baking chocolate - taste coco, coffee, baking chocolate – soft creamy with a little bitter bite - aftertaste bitter/sweet taste lingering
Aug 03, 2006
Photo of beerceller99
Reviewed by beerceller99 from Louisiana

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. bottle from earlier this year. Pours a dark, reddish brown color with a minimal tan head. Chocolatey, roasted malt smell. Medium bodied with a nice smooth mouthfeel, lightly carbonated. Has a rich, hearty roasted grain flavor with a mild chocolate sweetness. Yet another tasty Porter from Full Sail.
Dec 24, 2005
Photo of rowew
Reviewed by rowew from Colorado

4.32/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: 12 oz longneck bottle. Best by date clearly marked - I am drinking this well after the date (over a year), but the bottle has been well stored.

Appearance: Beautiful very dark brown with a nice thick off white head that fades to leave a thick lacing. A bit of sediment at the bottom - I assume this is the result of the bottles age.

Smell: Heavy roasted aroma, lots of chocolate, coffee, and a slight hint of roasted nuts.

Taste: A variety of roasted flavor. Again, lots of chocolate and coffee, and some nut flavors in there as well. Nice malt sweetness at the start, and just a hint of hops in the finish.

Overall impression: A bit of age has treated this bottle very well. I tried this beer fresh too and enjoyed it, but the flavors have blended very well, and the roasted taste has developed nicely. Very enjoyable.
Oct 25, 2005
Photo of beercollector
Reviewed by beercollector from Oregon

2.7/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
This beer is dark brown. It had a good foamy head that lasted fairly well.

It had a heavy malt smell and perhaps toffee or caramel.

It starts with a bitter flavor then malt and alcohol. It has a very dry mouthfeel and an acid after taste. As it warms up teh malt flavor and bitterness become more pronounced.
Apr 07, 2005
Photo of woemad
Reviewed by woemad from Washington

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle purchased at Huckleberry’s in Spokane for $1.09. I presume the name is some sort of technical term that comes up in wind surfing, Hood River’s specialty. Or perhaps it’s a reference for a partially toked bong. I must say that even though I’m not always impressed by Full Sail’s beers, I like the idea of an employee owned brewery – or any other employee owned business, for that matter.

Poured a very dark reddish brown color. Moderate sized tan head. It subsided quickly, but left a noticeable foamy ring floating atop the beer. Nice sheets of tan lace dripping down the sides of the glass.

Smell was of mildly dark chocolate and figs. There was also a slight vanilla note, way in the back. Not the best smelling porter, but not bad. I think I’d prefer it to be a little more bitter, though.

The taste was very similar to the smell. This isn’t a bad tasting porter at all. Just kind of lacking in the oomph department. I think this could use a little bit of amplification.

This seemed slightly too watery for a porter. Not to an unacceptable degree, but just enough to keep it from being a great porter.

This does go down easily. It would be an okay session porter. It’s not expensive at all, which is good, because I doubt I could justify drinking this at premium porter prices (how’s that for triple alliteration). This doesn’t place too many demands on the palate, so it’d probably work for the friend who’s scared of “those weird dark beers.” If you are looking for a great porter experience, I’d keep searching.
Mar 25, 2005
Photo of RedDiamond
Reviewed by RedDiamond from Oregon

2.41/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Half Pipe just doesn’t work for me. I’ve tried it by the six-pack, and most recently on draught at The Pilsner Room in Portland. My server poured me a pint of deep-ruby ale capped by a big-bubbled head trailing frayed lace. Initially, an odor of distant powdered chocolate rose to my senses. This soon grew watery and remote.

The taste threw me for a loop. At first it was awkward, but with a redeeming finish of smooth, creamy chocolate. But as the pint warmed, the taste grew convoluted and drab. It soon became downright unpalatable with a gritty, fibrous mouthfeel and painful ending. My experience with bottled Half Pipe was no better.

Thankfully available January thru March only.
Mar 24, 2005
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
03/12/05- Purchased at Safeway in Guerneville, CA

Presentation- 12 oz bottle with a consume by date on the back label. Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- Black in color, nice dirty white 1/2 head and above average lacing.

Smell- Dark dark dark! Lots of roasted characteristics.

Taste- This beer has mucho going on. Tons of burnt and toasted malts and nuts, a tad bit of coffee and chocolate and a good bit of smoked action.

Mouthfeel- A tad creamy and a tad overcarbonated for me.

Drinkability- I'm not usually one for smoky beers, but this one, as like AK Smoked Porter or Stone, isn't that bad. I'm still learning to aquire the taste for smoky beers. Try this one if you want a blast of different tastes all at once.
Mar 15, 2005
Photo of fretlessman71
Reviewed by fretlessman71 from Colorado

2.98/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Pertinent Preliminary Comments: I’ve had this once before; remember liking it and not much else. Coming from Oregon, it has quite a reputation to live up to.

APPEARANCE: Black with root beer highlights when held to the light. Tawny semi-rocky head doesn’t last too long; a good swirl and it’s right back.

AROMA: Chocolate and coffee grounds; nice roasted character. Good balance.

FLAVOR: Hmmm… an equal mix of malt and band-aids (guide calls this “phenolic”). Bitter on the tip of the tongue in a not-so-pleasing way, and sour towards the back – none of this was indicated in the aroma. Band-aid flavor tends to mellow as the beer warms. Watery chocolate milk comes through as well. Cold instant coffee also rises to the surface. Hops have yet to show themselves. I wonder if this got infected…

MOUTHFEEL: Just right. Perfect weight; not too carbonated, not too oily.

DRINKABILITY: Not great – I was pretty turned off by the sourness/acidity.

OVERALL COMMENTS: Seems like this is one missed brewing step away from a really good beer. There’s a quality in this that reminds me of the first homebrew I ever made (a porter, surprisingly enough), and I forgot to sanitize the bucket before I poured my wort into it. Can’t imagine that a company like Full Sail would have problems like that, but stranger things have happened.
Mar 11, 2005
Photo of freed
Reviewed by freed from Oregon

3.29/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice dense brown with a medium capping of foam that has some duration. There is even a nice bit of lacing on the glass.

The aroma is somewhat off. Astringent and malt chaff. Dry, kind of smokey, and not good.

The taste is decent though, medium body like a porter ought to have, though finishes a bit thick in the malt body. Some of the astringent comes through and maybe they were trying to get the most out of their mash.

Drinks pretty well and has a lighter body that makes it easy enough, but its got some rough edges that could really be fixed.
Feb 07, 2005
Photo of kbub6f
Reviewed by kbub6f from New York

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A small, thick, light tan head leaves spotty lacing. The dark brown (almost black) beer gives off red highlights. Smoky coffee and chocolate in the nose. A light, tangy, sweet chocolate front; a full, fruity cocoa middle; a fruity, bitter finish with some alcohol evident. The aftertaste is a touch smoky and inky. This is just a very tasty, light porter. Nice.
Oct 28, 2004
Photo of CRJMellor
Reviewed by CRJMellor from Arkansas

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark rd with brown current running through it. Decent 1 finger head develops on the pour and leaves spooty lace on the glassware.
Aroma coffee, burnt brown sugar, chocolate and diacetyl note.
Flavor is semi-sweet chocolate malt balanced with a roated coffee shift and some minor pine cone hop bittering on the finish.
Mouthfeel is somewhat sticky and sweet to start then thins out to a basic ale.
Drinkability is fairly high. Much more reminiscent of a brown ale than a porter to me, much more roasted and coffee notes needed to bring into a world class porter for me.

Thanks to Skyhand for the sample.
Apr 24, 2004
Photo of BeerAngel
Reviewed by BeerAngel from Texas

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark brown with highlights of a golden amber and sits beneath a nice fluffy light tan head that resembles that of a rootbeer float. The dominating aroma is burnt chocolate with a light hoppy blend along with a little medicinal smell. The taste is more of the burnt chocolate bitterness with light roasted malts and just the right amount of hops and lingering bitterness on the tail. This is a light to medium bodied beer with a the finish landing right in the middle of sweet and dry.

Notes: A nice porter, but fairly mild. Subpar considering the brewery it comes from, but that's just because I popped the top with high expectations base on other offerings. Cheers!
Apr 21, 2004
Photo of ADR
Reviewed by ADR from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Blackish with red-chestnut highlights, nice shiny 1/2 inch head. Laces in complicated patches. Some chocolate to the aroma, light nutmeg. Body is just about dead-on medium, lightly carbonated, not quite creamy but mellow. Flavor has some bare smoke, a sense of a roasty malt quality, and a java-like bittering. What doesn't come through is a little more sweetness that I kind of expect in Brown Porters or that truly distinctive "that's' good" quality. Hops are shy of really noticeable but work well with the coffee impressions. Looks good, drinkable, a little unexiting...

Source: Liquid Solutions
Mar 26, 2004
Photo of beertaster13
Reviewed by beertaster13 from Washington

3.91/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
The Half Pipe Porter pours a very dark choclolate mocha brown with a foamy tan head that is massive then resides to a fizzle and leaves incredible frothy lacing as you drink. The smell was pretty dull for a porter, hint of roasted malts but not much, hops bring up the rear. The taste you could really feel the malts, little mocha aftertaste, carbonation a little to agressive. Feels very light and crisp in the mouth, but not a bad thing. I could drink alot of these, very quenching for a porter, more a summer porter than the duldrums of winter porter. Very good.
Mar 22, 2004
Photo of watermelonman
Reviewed by watermelonman from California

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
This is one unique porter. It's very approachable and thirst-quenching, even to those that typically drink crummy beer. It looks good and is light-bodied in the mouth. It smells more potent than it is, but that's easily my biggest complaint. The flavor is what one might expect, but the way it sits in the mouth and the way it goes down is most unexpected.

This is one of the most refreshing dark beers around.
Mar 05, 2004
Photo of HiroProtagonist
Reviewed by HiroProtagonist from Maryland

3.92/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Full Sail Half Pipe Porter was served from a 12 oz. bottle. In a pint glass, the beer was very dark and nearly black, with ruby-brown highlights peaking through the edges. A small brown head quickly disapated into a ring of foam that left decent lacing. The nose was good and rich, with nutty light roast coffee, milk chocolate, and cola notes. The taste started mildly nutty with a creamy coffee laced malt body, then became sharper and more intense as it hit the sides of the palate. It ended with a very satisfying bitter finish, where all of the flavor seems to cumulate in a tasty crescendo. The body was full and quite carbonated, which resulted in a firm and tingly mouthfeel. All in all a nicely robust and highly enjoyable porter.
Feb 24, 2004
Photo of jtfest
Reviewed by jtfest from Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
With a small tan/brown head that quickly disappears, it pours a deep brown with amber highlights -- not quite opaque in the glass. The aroma is of malt and moss. The taste is bigger than the smell, sweet with hints of molasses and a slightly bitter aftertaste. The mouthfeel is syrupy and smooth. I wouldn't drink a lot of them in a sitting, but it was an enjoyable porter.
Feb 17, 2004
Photo of Thrasher
Reviewed by Thrasher from Oregon

4.32/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark, dark brown with full light-tan head with somewhat large bubbles. Aroma of milk chocolate. It's one of the more drinkable Pacific Northwest porters since it doesn't rely so much on bitter hops to create the flavor profile. Lots of chocolate and coffee flavors, with a solid biscuity malt backbone. In the mouth it really has a chocolatey flavor, very enjoyable, and you almost don't want to swallow. Wonderfully creamy. Subdued finish entices the drinker to take another sip. A very tasty porter and one of my favs from Full Sail.
Jan 14, 2004
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 oz brown bottle with an “Enjoy By Date”.

Appearance: Spider-webbed lacing, great head retention and brandishing a nearly black hue.

Smell: Creamy malt, slight coffeeish and chocolate tones in the aroma.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Clean malty palate with a great range of roasted malt flavours; coffee, mild dark chocolate and a ghost like charcoal. Hop go a good job at balancing, roasted flavours linger within the semi-dry finish.

Notes: A very drinkable porter, easygoing and quite versatile with pairing trying to pair with different foods.
Jan 09, 2004
Half Pipe Porter from Full Sail Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 25 ratings