Pig Iron Porter
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

 

 

 

Clear, dark brown. Off white head with moderate retention. Roasted malt and chocolate aroma. Flavor follows aroma. Dry and moderate bitterness. Medium bodied. Served a little too chilled. Much better a little more warm.

A twenty-two ounce clear Pilsner glass arrived nearly full, after this serving was drawn from a tap. Here in the center city Philadelphia Iron Hill location, it arrived with a solid, yet very modest beige head, exactly the way draft beers are served in this city. Its color is almost black coffee brown, with a slight hint of mahogany. The aroma is mildly malty, but dry. That's the way it drinks. Some porters are a little maltier and too many are sweeter. This delivers the roasted barley very cleanly and lightly, without being too thin. The stratified glass lacing attests to the quality of this one. This is just the epitome of what a good porter should be. It's mildly hoppy for balance and nuances for the taste. It's light across the tongue, but not watery. The roasted barley is up front and tasty. If your porter is good enough that you don't need to add coffee, chocolate or any other flavor, just do it. This does.

Deep black color.
Aroma with notes of chocolate and lactose.
Flavor with notes of lactose, cocoa and creamy chocolate. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness. It feels lower than its 37 IBUs.
Light to medium body with appropriate carbonation.
Decent Porter full of chocolaty notes.

 

Fresh growler pour into a 16 oz nonic pint glass. Look is deep, dark brown, almost black. Khaki head pours thick and eventually falls to a ring. Some lacing in the glass, but falls out fairly quickly. Smell is roasted malt, some coffee and cocoa, perhaps a bit of earthy hops. Taste follows smell with roasted barley malt dominating, however there is a fairly sweet coffee and cream finish with a pleasant aftertaste. Feel is medium bodied with a prickly carbonation. Overall, this is a a flavorful and substantive porter. Getting it fresh from the brewery is a plus.

 

 

After Christmas trip to Bethlehem and Philly. 12/27/22

The downtown location of Iron Hill Brewery. Very fun... Window seats!

This a decent porter. Nothing special to note, just good and drinkable. A little light on the color and mouthfeel. Slight carbonation and roasty cocoa is the dominate flavor.

 

Poured from a hand pump at Iron Hill Exton. The lack of CO² makes this beer creamy and smooth like an English porter. The minimal head was a chocolate brown, and the roasted barley flavor really stands out.

I've never before had it on a hand pump and it may be a new go-to.

Drinks like your typical porter above avg but poles to some of the more solid porters on the market. Nog one to avoid, but not one that would become a go-to either.