Newport Storm '05
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

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From:
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
 
Rhode Island, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
11.7%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 11.73%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
39
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 15, 2017
Added:
Dec 01, 2005
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
With the release of ’05, for the first time our brewery was able to boast that it created a fruit beer! But this fruit beer would be different than all the rest with a sexy mix of chocolate and raspberry. The flavor of the brew is very sweet from loads of malt, but faint hops are distinguishable on the tongue as well. The backbone screams “dessert” though, with almost 40 pounds of East African Cocoa added to compliment natural raspberry flavors!

38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by auxiliary:
Photo of auxiliary
Reviewed by auxiliary from Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had 2 of these bottles. One on Xmas, and the other on New Year's Eve.

A - It is a dark brown color. Little bit of head, but not much, almost bearly.

S - Has a malt smell to it and strong alcoholic smell.

T - Has a malt taste and some chocolate flavor to it. The alcohol hits you in thr backof the throat. At 11% ABV.

M - Has a heavy body and you can pick up the alcohol.

D - My 3 bottle of this special beer. It has been that I only drink this on holiday's. I couldn't drink a lot of this, but don't get me wrong it is good. The alcohol is over bearing.
Jan 01, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of Jwale73
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

3.51/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a mahogany hue with no head. Nose reveals brown sugar, a touch of soy sauce and some metallic notes. Taste consistent with nose. Mouthfeel is light-medium on body with a still carbonation. Obviously, the beer has oxidized a bit, given its age; however, it's actually wasn't bad. The cork remained intact, so there was little damage oxygen introduced as a result.
Jan 15, 2017
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.59/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a corked 750ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, raspberries, some chocolate and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a strong raspberry flavor up front that is quickly followed by a creamy milk chocolate flavor. The malt character isn’t as heart as you expect from this kind of beer but that prevents the beer from being too cloyingly sweet. The hops presence is extremely mild but that is expected with this kind of beer especially at 9-years-old. There’s a decent balance and unlike some of the beers in this series, there isn’t much hint of the high ABV. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp but there’s a hint of chalkiness to it, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, good kick, there isn’t much I can say as far as the style representation because it’s billed as a “fruit beer” by the brewery that is “different than all the rest” which it is, however given the strength of the beer it doesn’t seem close to either a barleywine or a big stout either, the flavor of the beer definitely shows me what they were going for with the “sexy mix of chocolate and raspberry” but, like most of the other beers in the series that I’ve aged, it doesn’t appear that age has done much for this beer.
Apr 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Sep 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jun 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Jason from Massachusetts

Jan 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by metalgdog from New York

Jan 07, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by sliverX from S. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.

Jan 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 15, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bierlerner from Oklahoma

Feb 05, 2012
Photo of ShogoKawada
Reviewed by ShogoKawada from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750ml into large tulip.

A- Significant pop on this one, followed by a dark brown base with a slowly building buttercream head. Very thick and beautiful in the glass. Settles to a 1cm float after a few.

S- Strong aromatic raspberries. Malt/toffee sweetness, but the berries dominate.

T- Berries come in, lots of raspberry seeds. Followed quickly by a big milk chocolate malt ball, this is like a dessert. A bit of age on this one.. a bit of sherry comes on but it fuses with the raspberry. Heck yes, this one's tasty.

M- Thick, more carbonation than I was expecting. This beer has aged nicely- a bit oxidized but it's not off-putting.

O- Really really stellar stuff. The older stuff is better than any of the newer stuff I've had. Hmm...
Aug 11, 2011
Photo of ikats
Reviewed by ikats from New York

3.69/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I generally shy away from reviewing beers that have been kept for too long (unfortunately, I am guilty of this way too often); however, this beer is very nice and deserves a note. It is definitely past its prime - some character is clearly gone, body has weakened, but it is still a pleasant drink.

The cork popped out with a nice sound. The beer is very dark with some ruby highlights. Almost no carbonation (so no head). Pleasant aroma - the first thing that pops into my mind is chocolate covered dark fruits. Reminds me of candy - maybe chocolate covered prunes (I like those). The taste is similar - chocolate and fruits - some raspberry, maybe sweet cherries. A touch of bitterness. Mouthfeel is pleasant - no carbonation means that it is fairly smooth. Alcohol is not apparent. Body is weakened - I'd say medium - it should be fuller.

All in all age has taken its toll, but I'm still enjoying it very much. I believe if I dig hard enough through my cellar I'll find a bottle of Newport Storm '06. Can't wait to try it.
Aug 09, 2011
Photo of wvsabbath
Reviewed by wvsabbath from West Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Serving type - 22oz bottle

Appearance - golden brown/ tan no head or much lacing.

Smell - Malts, dark fruits, one sugars . Not much smell

Taste - sweet malts and mild Carmel dominate the flavor. Not much balance or hops. Think it's too old

Mouthfeel - sweet malts coat mouth, alcohol covers palette and leaves a skunk aftertaste.

Overall - drain pour. It's too old I'm sure to give it justice.
Jul 14, 2011
Photo of joepais
Reviewed by joepais from Maine

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to Stan for sharing this bottle at our weekly get together. I was my first brew from the great state of Rode Island so I had to review it. I poured it into a snifter and I got a slight brown head but with the age of the bottle it was better than I expected. The color of the brew was dark brown to black. Aroma wise I got some chocolate and raspberries' with a slight caramel. The flavor was the same as the nose. Considering the age on the bottle I got no off flavors or smell so I thought It was alright to post something on it. I don't think any more age on this would change it much. The mouthfeel was a bit thin but take that with a grain of salt because of the age So drink them if you got them.
Jan 22, 2011
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

4.12/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2008 Biergotter Tasting - Day 4. I got this one from TheManiacalOne back a while ago. Thanks!
There was a big pop when the cork came out. The beer was a dark brown toffee colour, a bit murky, with a beige cap that rose fast and fell quickly to a very thin collar and skim of fine bubbles. The remaining foam stuck around for a long while and there was a little bit of spotty lacing. The aroma was very rich, quite fruity with notes of prunes and raisin skins, figs, toffee, tootsie rolls, vanilla and a hint of sherry. Moderate bitterness with caramel sweetness and more toffee, milk and dark chocolate, prunes and plums, plus some alcohol and cherries in the finish. There was a bit of oxidation and sherry notes, but this added to the complexity rather than detracting from the flavour. Low carbonation with fine, well integrated bubbles. Medium to full bodied with some warmth. This one really held up well. It was an easy drinking big beer and nicely balanced.
Dec 28, 2008
Photo of grub
Reviewed by grub from Canada (ON)

4.12/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2008 Biergotter Tasting, Day 4: Leftovers. DrJay contributed this one. thanks jay!

750ml corked blue bottle. sampled nov 30/08.

pours deep brown with very good clarity. a think layer of very fine tan bubbles forms, dropping very fast to a small ring around the glass. no lace.

taste is good. loads of fruit, mostly dark. date, red grape, fig, plum, raisin. big vanilla too. alcohol. some dark chocolate. white bread. medium-low bitterness level. drinks almost like a port, but with less residual sweetness.

mouthfeel is good. very low, almost non-existent carbonation. medium-large body. the low carbonation level seems to work for it though.

drinkability is good. nice balance. big fruity depth. i wasn't really impressed with the '06, but this one was quite nice. good stuff.
Dec 27, 2008
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review from Inaugural Issue of Beeradvocate Magazine.

This highly underrated brewery from Rhode Island puts out some pretty crazy beers. So, we've been sitting on this one for roughly a year now. Every yearly edition they put out is different, and very limited. Their sixth installment, the '05, is brewed with East African cocoa and is a mere 11.7 percent. Ouch!

We popped the cork out of the stunning, cobalt colored, wine-style bottle, and the beer spoke to us and said, "Let me breathe." Not only did we let it breathe, we made sure the serving temperature was ideal, at around 45°F. Light carbonation equals little to no head. Understandable. Big aromas of cocoa powder and pungent raspberries, alcohol fl ares with dark berry fruitiness. Full, slightly syrupy body, with raspberry cordial fl avors layered with a caramel-like malt and brown sugar sweetness, and a dark baker's chocolate flavor from the cocoa. Vague wood in the middle. Hops have mellowed out, yet there is a mild bitterness within. Finishes strong with sweet brown sugar, raspberry tartness, dry cocoa powder and a warming alcohol. The fl avors have really benefi ted after a year of cellaring, and we can see this edition aging very well over many years, as long as the evil Dr. Oxidation stays away.
Jul 23, 2008
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle courtesy of jjpm74: Poured a deep dirty brown color ale with a tiny head with minimal retention and no lacing. Aroma of deep caramel and toffee malt with some raspberry notes also noticeable. Taste is dominated by some sweet malt with some hint of raspberry and blackberry. Body is full and carbonation is very low but no alcohol was noticeable. Very well done and I observe some resemblance with Kuhnhenn Raspberry eisbock even though they are two very different beers.
Jan 02, 2008
Photo of IntriqKen
Reviewed by IntriqKen from California

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark amber...almost black...with practically zero carbonation...bubbles are in there but they are very hard to find.

Aroma is immediately chocolate...chocolate, then more chocolate then a wisp of raspberries.

Taste is ...oh, yeah....chocolate...no wait...CHOCOLATE.
Chocolate then a faint raspberry but enough to let you know it's there, followed with a light touch of hops bittering and some alcohol. It doesn't taste like 11+% but you still can taste the alcohol especially as you swallow.

Mouthfeel is thin for as rich as the flavors are plus the lack of carbonation doesn't help the feel. Aftertaste is mostly the raspberry and alcohol.
Aug 29, 2007
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

4.26/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This comes in a cool blue corked bottle:

Pours a rather mirky brown with a tan head that vanishes after a short while.

The smell is of chocolate/cocoa with subtle hints of raspberry fruitiness. Slight warming alcohol comes through, reminding me of a hot toddy.

The taste is of rich cocoa. Sweet, but not cloying. A spicy earthiness keeps the sweetness at an appropriate level. Subtle raspberry fruitiness is in the mix. It has a long finish with a balanced cocoa sweetness.

Medium-bodied and creamy. Alcohol is very well-covered. A nice desert beer. Tasty - very well-done!
Jul 02, 2007
Newport Storm '05 from Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 39 ratings