Lake Louie Tommys Porter | Lake Louie Brewery Company
Brewed by:
Lake Louie Brewery Company
Wisconsin, United States | website
Style: American Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.70%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 06-17-2002
Reviews: 76 | Ratings: 129
3.47/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours brown with a nice, fluffy well-retained head. Trailing lace sticks.
The smell is of dried fruit some roast, mild coffee. The dried fruit aspect gives a sour touch that I'm not fond of.
The taste is of coffee and chocolate with dried fruits, that, like the smell, give a sour touch. Fortunately the roast and coffee/chocolate comes through strong enough to keep the fruit aspect in the back, especially as it warms. I enjoyed the second bottle more than the first, and bumped up the score slightly.
It is pretty smooth, but there is a fizz that cuts into it initially.
I had two bottles, and the second was better. Wondering if the first was old or infected. Still the second bottle had a nice malty/mildly roasty character. I will try it again when I see it.
★ 770 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours brown with a nice, fluffy well-retained head. Trailing lace sticks.
The smell is of dried fruit some roast, mild coffee. The dried fruit aspect gives a sour touch that I'm not fond of.
The taste is of coffee and chocolate with dried fruits, that, like the smell, give a sour touch. Fortunately the roast and coffee/chocolate comes through strong enough to keep the fruit aspect in the back, especially as it warms. I enjoyed the second bottle more than the first, and bumped up the score slightly.
It is pretty smooth, but there is a fizz that cuts into it initially.
I had two bottles, and the second was better. Wondering if the first was old or infected. Still the second bottle had a nice malty/mildly roasty character. I will try it again when I see it.
★ 770 characters
3.74/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tommys Porter pours a brownish color with a small lacing head. There is a sharp malt flavor, with nice coffee flavors. The taste is the same, a nice sharp malt flavor with some coffee notes. Nice flavors, but a bit watery. Overall a nice porter with some coffee flavors.
★ 270 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tommys Porter pours a brownish color with a small lacing head. There is a sharp malt flavor, with nice coffee flavors. The taste is the same, a nice sharp malt flavor with some coffee notes. Nice flavors, but a bit watery. Overall a nice porter with some coffee flavors.
★ 270 characters
3.45/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle.
A: Dark brown, nearly black body with a finger of fine tan head. Ok retention, good lacing. Solid.
S: Lots of sweet chocolate malt and dark fruit. Big cherry presence. Interesting.
T: Molasses, raisin, chocolate, and root beer. Sweet, spicy, and a little syrupy on the finish. All right.
M: Lightly carbonated light-to-medium body. A bit on the spritzy side for a Porter.
O: Decent but forgettable.
Cheers!
★ 425 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle.
A: Dark brown, nearly black body with a finger of fine tan head. Ok retention, good lacing. Solid.
S: Lots of sweet chocolate malt and dark fruit. Big cherry presence. Interesting.
T: Molasses, raisin, chocolate, and root beer. Sweet, spicy, and a little syrupy on the finish. All right.
M: Lightly carbonated light-to-medium body. A bit on the spritzy side for a Porter.
O: Decent but forgettable.
Cheers!
★ 425 characters
4.35/5 rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This porter makes me think I got a bad bottle when I reviewed the milk stout, as the porter is quite nice.
At first glance, the beer appears black and opaque, but when held to the light, it shows that it is truly a translucent garnet. The foam is tannish, and while it receded quickly to a thin one eight inch ring, the beer is amply carbonated.
The primary aroma comes from what I presume to be a chocolate malt - sort of a Hershey's special dark smell.
The roastiness translates to taste as well. Initially, cocoa, and in the finish, coffee. The roast is never acrid or acid; there is a gentle sweetness that balances it. However, I would not call this a sweet beer.
The mouthfeel of this beers has complexity. It is simultaneously slightly slick, as one sometimes finds with certain adjunct grains like oatmeal, and slightly prickly from carbonation. The roastiness leaves a dry finish that falls short of astringent.
This is one of the best porters I've had in a while. It is nicely balanced and quite drinkable.
★ 1,024 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This porter makes me think I got a bad bottle when I reviewed the milk stout, as the porter is quite nice.
At first glance, the beer appears black and opaque, but when held to the light, it shows that it is truly a translucent garnet. The foam is tannish, and while it receded quickly to a thin one eight inch ring, the beer is amply carbonated.
The primary aroma comes from what I presume to be a chocolate malt - sort of a Hershey's special dark smell.
The roastiness translates to taste as well. Initially, cocoa, and in the finish, coffee. The roast is never acrid or acid; there is a gentle sweetness that balances it. However, I would not call this a sweet beer.
The mouthfeel of this beers has complexity. It is simultaneously slightly slick, as one sometimes finds with certain adjunct grains like oatmeal, and slightly prickly from carbonation. The roastiness leaves a dry finish that falls short of astringent.
This is one of the best porters I've had in a while. It is nicely balanced and quite drinkable.
★ 1,024 characters
3.44/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
poured 12oz bottle into a snifter.
A - Dark cola brown, with a 1.5 finger tan head. Leaves a collar around glass and there are blobs of lacing.
S - Some roasted malt that gives a coffee like scent, nuttiness, and a light sweet cola scent.
T - Straight forward roasted malts, with light chocolate, caramel, and cola sweetness. Not overly sweet, but there is no bitter component to the taste.
M - Light bodied for a porter and not as smooth as I would like. Decent carbonation.
O - Solid, easy drinking local porter. Nothing that stands out, but one I enjoy from time to time.
★ 581 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
poured 12oz bottle into a snifter.
A - Dark cola brown, with a 1.5 finger tan head. Leaves a collar around glass and there are blobs of lacing.
S - Some roasted malt that gives a coffee like scent, nuttiness, and a light sweet cola scent.
T - Straight forward roasted malts, with light chocolate, caramel, and cola sweetness. Not overly sweet, but there is no bitter component to the taste.
M - Light bodied for a porter and not as smooth as I would like. Decent carbonation.
O - Solid, easy drinking local porter. Nothing that stands out, but one I enjoy from time to time.
★ 581 characters
3.6/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from session notes.
A. Deep opaque brown in color with a two finger foam head that lasts for about a minute, fairly decent lacing.
S. Light amounts of toasted / roasted malt, chocolate, and a faint nuttiness that only appears once temperature warms up somewhat.
T. Mostly consists of straightforward roasted malts, but smaller amounts of the diluted baking chocolate are still around. Its really odd how the relative strengths of roasted malt and chocolate switch places between the aroma and the flavor.
M. Texture is surprisingly light and highly carbonated for a porter, to the point that it seems slightly mismatched to the flavor and aroma.
★ 659 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from session notes.
A. Deep opaque brown in color with a two finger foam head that lasts for about a minute, fairly decent lacing.
S. Light amounts of toasted / roasted malt, chocolate, and a faint nuttiness that only appears once temperature warms up somewhat.
T. Mostly consists of straightforward roasted malts, but smaller amounts of the diluted baking chocolate are still around. Its really odd how the relative strengths of roasted malt and chocolate switch places between the aroma and the flavor.
M. Texture is surprisingly light and highly carbonated for a porter, to the point that it seems slightly mismatched to the flavor and aroma.
★ 659 characters
3.15/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz. bottle served into a tulip glass
Pours a walnut brown color. The body looks pretty thin but also smooth. Barely one finger of khaki foam forms but it yields lots of lacing.
A very solid aroma on this porter. Coffee makes the strongest statement, but it is supplemented by some nutty aromas and a bit of cola brightness.
The palate sees similar flavors to the nose but they are sorta' weak. Chocolate shows up, but in the form of like 1% chocolate milk. Which is to say: insubstantial. Some coffee too, of course, as well as some nutty, bready flavors. It's smooth but unimpressive.
The mouthfeel is very nearly too thin. A thin body is fine. Pair that with a lack of carbonation and you're running into trouble. This porter makes out fine, but it certainly isn't a strength of the beer.
Overall, this is a pretty average porter. Nothing bad to say about it, but I feel like I can get a similar porter at nearly any old-guard brewpub in the land.
★ 958 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz. bottle served into a tulip glass
Pours a walnut brown color. The body looks pretty thin but also smooth. Barely one finger of khaki foam forms but it yields lots of lacing.
A very solid aroma on this porter. Coffee makes the strongest statement, but it is supplemented by some nutty aromas and a bit of cola brightness.
The palate sees similar flavors to the nose but they are sorta' weak. Chocolate shows up, but in the form of like 1% chocolate milk. Which is to say: insubstantial. Some coffee too, of course, as well as some nutty, bready flavors. It's smooth but unimpressive.
The mouthfeel is very nearly too thin. A thin body is fine. Pair that with a lack of carbonation and you're running into trouble. This porter makes out fine, but it certainly isn't a strength of the beer.
Overall, this is a pretty average porter. Nothing bad to say about it, but I feel like I can get a similar porter at nearly any old-guard brewpub in the land.
★ 958 characters
3.96/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A-Pours a dark cola color with ruby edges and two fingers light tan head.
S-Light vanilla and roasted malt and chocolate notes with some earthy hops.
T-Light roasted and dark chocolate notes with some vanilla, coffee, and a clean, light bitter finish.
M-Light bodied yet smooth and mouth-coating with low carbonation.
D-This a very drinkable beer and a great example of what I think of as an ideal porter.
★ 409 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A-Pours a dark cola color with ruby edges and two fingers light tan head.
S-Light vanilla and roasted malt and chocolate notes with some earthy hops.
T-Light roasted and dark chocolate notes with some vanilla, coffee, and a clean, light bitter finish.
M-Light bodied yet smooth and mouth-coating with low carbonation.
D-This a very drinkable beer and a great example of what I think of as an ideal porter.
★ 409 characters
3.19/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
A - Medium to dark brown colored body with a good inch of medium tan head. The head fades slowly into a frothy foam at about a quarter inch.
S - A bit of coffee with more roasty chocolate. It's not a strong or overwhelming aroma but the scents that are present are recognizable.
T - Rather bland in the taste category. There's a bit of roasted caramel malt but nothing much more to speak of.
M - Watery with a mild coarse feel in the ending all the way through to the finish. The coarseness can even be felt on my lips before the pull even gets started.
~ This is one of those sessionable porters. Not much complexity throughout but it does allow for ease in the drink-ability category. Especially if you're looking for something with a dark tone. While I wouldn't seek it out myself I would be able to kick back and relax around a warm campfire on a cool fall night with a four pack and make them all disappear. I think that says allot about a brew.
★ 955 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
A - Medium to dark brown colored body with a good inch of medium tan head. The head fades slowly into a frothy foam at about a quarter inch.
S - A bit of coffee with more roasty chocolate. It's not a strong or overwhelming aroma but the scents that are present are recognizable.
T - Rather bland in the taste category. There's a bit of roasted caramel malt but nothing much more to speak of.
M - Watery with a mild coarse feel in the ending all the way through to the finish. The coarseness can even be felt on my lips before the pull even gets started.
~ This is one of those sessionable porters. Not much complexity throughout but it does allow for ease in the drink-ability category. Especially if you're looking for something with a dark tone. While I wouldn't seek it out myself I would be able to kick back and relax around a warm campfire on a cool fall night with a four pack and make them all disappear. I think that says allot about a brew.
★ 955 characters
2.44/5 rDev -36.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Poured chilled into a standard pint glass, and allowed to warm up to about 45º then to 50º or so.
A=Dark brown color with hint of red; detected gray coloring during pour, as well as in the head, which was otherwise yellowish beige and creamy.
S=The smell was the best feature, but seemed like too great a hops presence...still, more like a "beer" smell than not.
T=First sip was disappointingly bad--not creamy, but almost skunky like a green-bottled beer. Reminded me more of a stout, with little malt flavoring. Did not improve with temperature increase...developed a bit, but still had an undesirable taste.
M=Watery, like a flat root beer with water added.
D=One of the worst in awhile. Each sip met with more disappointment and less desire to finish the beer...stopped at 2/3rd point to write the review.
Again, another bad Porter from Wisconsin...why can't our local brewmasters get this category right?
★ 917 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Poured chilled into a standard pint glass, and allowed to warm up to about 45º then to 50º or so.
A=Dark brown color with hint of red; detected gray coloring during pour, as well as in the head, which was otherwise yellowish beige and creamy.
S=The smell was the best feature, but seemed like too great a hops presence...still, more like a "beer" smell than not.
T=First sip was disappointingly bad--not creamy, but almost skunky like a green-bottled beer. Reminded me more of a stout, with little malt flavoring. Did not improve with temperature increase...developed a bit, but still had an undesirable taste.
M=Watery, like a flat root beer with water added.
D=One of the worst in awhile. Each sip met with more disappointment and less desire to finish the beer...stopped at 2/3rd point to write the review.
Again, another bad Porter from Wisconsin...why can't our local brewmasters get this category right?
★ 917 characters
3.7/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown color with a tan head that is lightly creamy and leaves some lace, but doesn't retain real well.
Lovely roasty smell with some chocolate and a whiff of coffee. A bit of milky sweetness as well.
Quite roasty with a bit of bittersweet chocolate and coffee. Touch of chocolate too.
Pretty smooth. The carbonation seems to be right on, bordering between velvety and prickly. About medium bodied.
A nice example of a porter and it drinks well. It's not in the upper echelon of porters, but still a solid choice.
★ 521 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown color with a tan head that is lightly creamy and leaves some lace, but doesn't retain real well.
Lovely roasty smell with some chocolate and a whiff of coffee. A bit of milky sweetness as well.
Quite roasty with a bit of bittersweet chocolate and coffee. Touch of chocolate too.
Pretty smooth. The carbonation seems to be right on, bordering between velvety and prickly. About medium bodied.
A nice example of a porter and it drinks well. It's not in the upper echelon of porters, but still a solid choice.
★ 521 characters
3.87/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A: decent looking beer. Dark nut brown. light fluffy head.
S: light smokyness. Some dark choc and nuts.
T: mmm. yummy. Chocolate with a nice roasted nut character. Some nice grains on the end here. Seems slightly smokey. overall pretty tasty.
M: average porter feel I guess. It seems slightly thin.
D: good here. very smooth drinkable porter.
Thoughts: I like this beer, it has nice flavor and is a good example of the style. Maybe I am just used to "bigger" beers but this one seems a little thin. Usually I like my darker beers a little chewy, but thats just me.
★ 571 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A: decent looking beer. Dark nut brown. light fluffy head.
S: light smokyness. Some dark choc and nuts.
T: mmm. yummy. Chocolate with a nice roasted nut character. Some nice grains on the end here. Seems slightly smokey. overall pretty tasty.
M: average porter feel I guess. It seems slightly thin.
D: good here. very smooth drinkable porter.
Thoughts: I like this beer, it has nice flavor and is a good example of the style. Maybe I am just used to "bigger" beers but this one seems a little thin. Usually I like my darker beers a little chewy, but thats just me.
★ 571 characters
3.92/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Update: Levi sent me a new bottle, fresher, so I'm gonna do another quick update review.
A: This time it pours a large 2 finger creamy rich head that fades semi quickly, same murky dark brown color.
N: Sweet dark malts this time, loaded with roast and coffee. Essentially the same nose, but I also get a little brown sugar this time.
T: Taste is much different. This time lots of malts and porter flavors. A nice roasted barley, coffee, more dark malts, brown sugar, toasty malts, chewy malts slightly. A decent roasty dark malt flavor. Some chocolate malt, not too heavy on the chocolate though. A little bitterness with that, mostly from the roasty malt flavors but hints of hops.
M: Pretty light on the body, it's a little lighter than it's supposed to be, perhaps the only real flaw of the beer. Decent carbonation with that.
F: FInishes somewhat sweet with lingering brown sugar, some roasted malts, dark malt flavors, little coffee and slight chocolate.
Received as an extra thanks to levifunk.
A: Pours a light creamy 1 finger head that fades semi slowly, over essentially black colored beer. Light barely makes its way through at the very bottom of the glass where it thins a bit.
N: I could smell it from a mile away on the pour with tons of roast and coffee. Lots of porter like dark malts and creamy aromas, some slight chocolate - bakers chocolate, a rich slight earthy bitter roast, some creamy chocolate milk like, and touch of earthy spicy hop bitterness. Touch of fruity aromas too.
T: Lighter than I expected, and much different than I expected. Has quite a bit of a sour touch to it. Not sure if that is supposed to be there, or start of infection, but its tasty. No date on the bottle, only a brewers code. It has some more light roast and creamy porter flavors, but doesn't come on strong. Some dark malts and malty flavors, but mostly sour malty flavors, with a touch of sour fruit. It's lightly sweet with that sour contrast, and a little syrupy. Touch of coffee with the roast and some earthy bitterness mostly from roasted malts but touch of earthy hops as well.
M: Pretty light for the style, with slightly lower carbonation (also leads me to believe it was soured on purpose).
F: Still slightly sweet with a little sticky sweetness lingering. Some syrupy flavors too with a little lingering roast and coffee, touch of dark malty sweetness. The sour also stays around for a little bit, sour malts and touch of fruit. But no wild funk, barnyard or dry rustic flavors come at all, so seems like it was just a soured mash attempt. Really late on the taste it starts to get dry as well.
Not knowing what to expect I was a little surprised by this beer, but it is tasty. Perhaps there should be a new category called "American Soured Dark Ale" or something. This reminds me somewhat of New Glarus Old English Porter, not quite as good, but still tasty in its own way.
★ 2,901 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Update: Levi sent me a new bottle, fresher, so I'm gonna do another quick update review.
A: This time it pours a large 2 finger creamy rich head that fades semi quickly, same murky dark brown color.
N: Sweet dark malts this time, loaded with roast and coffee. Essentially the same nose, but I also get a little brown sugar this time.
T: Taste is much different. This time lots of malts and porter flavors. A nice roasted barley, coffee, more dark malts, brown sugar, toasty malts, chewy malts slightly. A decent roasty dark malt flavor. Some chocolate malt, not too heavy on the chocolate though. A little bitterness with that, mostly from the roasty malt flavors but hints of hops.
M: Pretty light on the body, it's a little lighter than it's supposed to be, perhaps the only real flaw of the beer. Decent carbonation with that.
F: FInishes somewhat sweet with lingering brown sugar, some roasted malts, dark malt flavors, little coffee and slight chocolate.
Received as an extra thanks to levifunk.
A: Pours a light creamy 1 finger head that fades semi slowly, over essentially black colored beer. Light barely makes its way through at the very bottom of the glass where it thins a bit.
N: I could smell it from a mile away on the pour with tons of roast and coffee. Lots of porter like dark malts and creamy aromas, some slight chocolate - bakers chocolate, a rich slight earthy bitter roast, some creamy chocolate milk like, and touch of earthy spicy hop bitterness. Touch of fruity aromas too.
T: Lighter than I expected, and much different than I expected. Has quite a bit of a sour touch to it. Not sure if that is supposed to be there, or start of infection, but its tasty. No date on the bottle, only a brewers code. It has some more light roast and creamy porter flavors, but doesn't come on strong. Some dark malts and malty flavors, but mostly sour malty flavors, with a touch of sour fruit. It's lightly sweet with that sour contrast, and a little syrupy. Touch of coffee with the roast and some earthy bitterness mostly from roasted malts but touch of earthy hops as well.
M: Pretty light for the style, with slightly lower carbonation (also leads me to believe it was soured on purpose).
F: Still slightly sweet with a little sticky sweetness lingering. Some syrupy flavors too with a little lingering roast and coffee, touch of dark malty sweetness. The sour also stays around for a little bit, sour malts and touch of fruit. But no wild funk, barnyard or dry rustic flavors come at all, so seems like it was just a soured mash attempt. Really late on the taste it starts to get dry as well.
Not knowing what to expect I was a little surprised by this beer, but it is tasty. Perhaps there should be a new category called "American Soured Dark Ale" or something. This reminds me somewhat of New Glarus Old English Porter, not quite as good, but still tasty in its own way.
★ 2,901 characters
4.15/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle in Sam Adams glass
A: Pours with a one finger light tan head that disappears very quickly, barely any light comes through, just a little bit of ruby highlights.
S: A bit of chocolate malts as well as some roasted notes, hints of hops
T: Much more roasted on the tongue vs. the nose. A little bit of malt sweetness along with some graininess. A definite coffee taste along with some chocolate.
M: Crisp, a nice medium level of carbonation, maybe a little bit high for the style, but not at all inappropriate, slightly round on the tongue, close to perfect mouthfeel for a porter.
D: An easy drinker, an brown ale fan could easily appreciate this, yet this is not a simple beer. This is an excellent example of a porter, highly recommended.
★ 754 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle in Sam Adams glass
A: Pours with a one finger light tan head that disappears very quickly, barely any light comes through, just a little bit of ruby highlights.
S: A bit of chocolate malts as well as some roasted notes, hints of hops
T: Much more roasted on the tongue vs. the nose. A little bit of malt sweetness along with some graininess. A definite coffee taste along with some chocolate.
M: Crisp, a nice medium level of carbonation, maybe a little bit high for the style, but not at all inappropriate, slightly round on the tongue, close to perfect mouthfeel for a porter.
D: An easy drinker, an brown ale fan could easily appreciate this, yet this is not a simple beer. This is an excellent example of a porter, highly recommended.
★ 754 characters
2.84/5 rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. The fast pour left a really small head that disappeared right away. There was some carbonation, maybe too much for the style, throughout. This had some real nice lacing. The smell was my least favorite part. It was pretty much a straight alcohol smell. It was hard enough for me to smell repeatedly that it impeded the drinkability. Tastewise, there was a great smoky flavor right away that surprised me. After that initial taste though, the flavor just sort of fades away off of the tongue. There is a little bite of alcohol aftertaste, but not enough going on here to win me over. I thought between the smell and the lack of a real defining taste, that the drinkability on this was below average.
★ 744 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. The fast pour left a really small head that disappeared right away. There was some carbonation, maybe too much for the style, throughout. This had some real nice lacing. The smell was my least favorite part. It was pretty much a straight alcohol smell. It was hard enough for me to smell repeatedly that it impeded the drinkability. Tastewise, there was a great smoky flavor right away that surprised me. After that initial taste though, the flavor just sort of fades away off of the tongue. There is a little bite of alcohol aftertaste, but not enough going on here to win me over. I thought between the smell and the lack of a real defining taste, that the drinkability on this was below average.
★ 744 characters
4.22/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle into a pint glass
A - Pours a rich, dark black body that comes out quite thick. The head is off white and about a half finger thick before fading away to a lace after a couple of minutes. No carbonation is present and no light is permitted through the jet black body. A little nicer head and this would have been a real beauty.
S - Lots of dark roasted malts up front. Chocolate, caramel and cream notes bring a nice balance and seem to subdue any sort of over the top bitterness from the roasted malts. Overall a very solid smelling brew. Faint earthy notes are also present and have me looking forward to the first sip.
T - Initial taste isn't as full or complex as I was expecting based off the smell, but the beer is still relatively cold so I am going to let it warm for a bit before going further. As the beer warms the roasted malt body along with the chocolate, caramel and cream notes start to become more pronounced.
M - Full bodied brew with the right amount of carbonation. Entering the mouth lots of dark roasted malts hit the tongue. A faint amount of carbonation cleanses the palate and gets the mouth ready for the chocolate, cream and caramel finish. Very smooth and easy drinking porter.
D - Pretty solid porter. The malt backbone that is not overbearingly bitter makes this beer one that could be drank quite frequently.
★ 1,363 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle into a pint glass
A - Pours a rich, dark black body that comes out quite thick. The head is off white and about a half finger thick before fading away to a lace after a couple of minutes. No carbonation is present and no light is permitted through the jet black body. A little nicer head and this would have been a real beauty.
S - Lots of dark roasted malts up front. Chocolate, caramel and cream notes bring a nice balance and seem to subdue any sort of over the top bitterness from the roasted malts. Overall a very solid smelling brew. Faint earthy notes are also present and have me looking forward to the first sip.
T - Initial taste isn't as full or complex as I was expecting based off the smell, but the beer is still relatively cold so I am going to let it warm for a bit before going further. As the beer warms the roasted malt body along with the chocolate, caramel and cream notes start to become more pronounced.
M - Full bodied brew with the right amount of carbonation. Entering the mouth lots of dark roasted malts hit the tongue. A faint amount of carbonation cleanses the palate and gets the mouth ready for the chocolate, cream and caramel finish. Very smooth and easy drinking porter.
D - Pretty solid porter. The malt backbone that is not overbearingly bitter makes this beer one that could be drank quite frequently.
★ 1,363 characters
4.24/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into my pint glass the head is freakin enormus. It's a rich caramel brown and after settling down it leaves a nice bit of lace on my glass. The beer is dark chocolate brown almost black. The aroma is fantastic. It smells like a glass of iced coffee.it has a sweet aroma as well with a hint of earthy malt that literally makes me smile. The flavor is very nice. Burnt chocolate malt, coffee and a mild hop bite. It has a full body that has plenty of carbonation and richness that really shines after warming a bit. This is a great example of what a porter should be. Another great WI beer that makes me proud.
★ 615 characters
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into my pint glass the head is freakin enormus. It's a rich caramel brown and after settling down it leaves a nice bit of lace on my glass. The beer is dark chocolate brown almost black. The aroma is fantastic. It smells like a glass of iced coffee.it has a sweet aroma as well with a hint of earthy malt that literally makes me smile. The flavor is very nice. Burnt chocolate malt, coffee and a mild hop bite. It has a full body that has plenty of carbonation and richness that really shines after warming a bit. This is a great example of what a porter should be. Another great WI beer that makes me proud.
★ 615 characters
4.1/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Recently snagged on a trip up to Wisco. Pours into my glass a very dark brown with a half inch of light tan bubbly head on top with spotty lacing. Fairly opaque. Aromas start with smooth roasted chocolate and black malts along with a bit of a lactic undertone as well. Semi-sweet with a kiss of coffee. Caramel swirl. Nice.
First sip brings smooth semi-sweet roasted, toasty malts upfront with dark chocolate notes. Coffee bitterness moves in along with some caramel accents. A touch of lactic cream in the middle, it finishes with a nice bitterness and great mix of flavors. Solid brew.
Mouthfeel is smooth and on the medium to lighter side for body. Good carbonation and quite easy to drink. I'm a big fan of porters and this one is quite enjoyable. I will never have a problem grabbing a six pack when I am in Wisconsin.
★ 825 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Recently snagged on a trip up to Wisco. Pours into my glass a very dark brown with a half inch of light tan bubbly head on top with spotty lacing. Fairly opaque. Aromas start with smooth roasted chocolate and black malts along with a bit of a lactic undertone as well. Semi-sweet with a kiss of coffee. Caramel swirl. Nice.
First sip brings smooth semi-sweet roasted, toasty malts upfront with dark chocolate notes. Coffee bitterness moves in along with some caramel accents. A touch of lactic cream in the middle, it finishes with a nice bitterness and great mix of flavors. Solid brew.
Mouthfeel is smooth and on the medium to lighter side for body. Good carbonation and quite easy to drink. I'm a big fan of porters and this one is quite enjoyable. I will never have a problem grabbing a six pack when I am in Wisconsin.
★ 825 characters
3.07/5 rDev -20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
I picked this up with a Warped Speed and greatly prefer the complexity of that beer to this one.
A- Spot on for a porter - could actually pass for a stout except that the head is not as brown.
S- smell is delightful! Sweet butterscotch maple.
T- the beer falls down here. Drier than expected, I usually anticipate more sweetness in a porter - it's stout-ly sans the body of a stout. Then again, I'm lately drinking Belgian Strong Darks, and maybe I'm just missing the sweetness of those. It still tastes flat - no alcohol to speak of in the taste, to be expected.
MF- Flat but smooth.
D- Drinkability is okay. I'm not gonna sink any of them.
I feel like it's unfair for me to review this without reviewing the Warped (which I liked much better), but I drank them all already.
★ 781 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
I picked this up with a Warped Speed and greatly prefer the complexity of that beer to this one.
A- Spot on for a porter - could actually pass for a stout except that the head is not as brown.
S- smell is delightful! Sweet butterscotch maple.
T- the beer falls down here. Drier than expected, I usually anticipate more sweetness in a porter - it's stout-ly sans the body of a stout. Then again, I'm lately drinking Belgian Strong Darks, and maybe I'm just missing the sweetness of those. It still tastes flat - no alcohol to speak of in the taste, to be expected.
MF- Flat but smooth.
D- Drinkability is okay. I'm not gonna sink any of them.
I feel like it's unfair for me to review this without reviewing the Warped (which I liked much better), but I drank them all already.
★ 781 characters
4.13/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bottle into a DFH signature glass
A: Dark brown with a coca-cola rim when held up to the light. Pours with a massive, frothy, creamy coffee colored head that dies down a little but never fades completely. There is some minimal lacing
S: Mostly roasted malts, with a hint of coffee and an earthy tree-bark quality.
T: Totally different from the smell. Fairly complex especially when it warms. I get great hints of coffee, chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, and caramel. The roasty malt forms the backbone and tends to be the flavor that lingers in the aftertaste.
M: Really a standout porter. Not to thin. Has a nice creamy quality that gives makes it go down smoothly. Carbonation is perfectly dialed in and gives a very subtle tingle on the tongue.
D: The smooth quality and lower ABV make this an extremely drinkable beer especially on a cooler night.
★ 869 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bottle into a DFH signature glass
A: Dark brown with a coca-cola rim when held up to the light. Pours with a massive, frothy, creamy coffee colored head that dies down a little but never fades completely. There is some minimal lacing
S: Mostly roasted malts, with a hint of coffee and an earthy tree-bark quality.
T: Totally different from the smell. Fairly complex especially when it warms. I get great hints of coffee, chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, and caramel. The roasty malt forms the backbone and tends to be the flavor that lingers in the aftertaste.
M: Really a standout porter. Not to thin. Has a nice creamy quality that gives makes it go down smoothly. Carbonation is perfectly dialed in and gives a very subtle tingle on the tongue.
D: The smooth quality and lower ABV make this an extremely drinkable beer especially on a cooler night.
★ 869 characters
3.85/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
i'm pretty sure that nflmvp threw this in as an extra in our annual DLD trade. thanks steve!
12oz bottle. sampled july 4/09.
pours dark brown with a very thin dense dark tan head. the head quickly retreats to a ring around the glass and leaves a few spots of lace.
aroma is nice. black coffee. bit of dark and milk chocolate. light alcohol. rye bread. bit of biscuit. bit of anise. earthy.
taste is good. medium bitterness level, mostly as coffee and chocolate. dark and a bit of milk chocolate. bit of caramel. wheat bread and biscuit. light alcohol. earthy. bit of fruity character.
mouthfeel is good. medium body. medium carbonation level.
drinkability is good. nice balance. a decent porter.
★ 701 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
i'm pretty sure that nflmvp threw this in as an extra in our annual DLD trade. thanks steve!
12oz bottle. sampled july 4/09.
pours dark brown with a very thin dense dark tan head. the head quickly retreats to a ring around the glass and leaves a few spots of lace.
aroma is nice. black coffee. bit of dark and milk chocolate. light alcohol. rye bread. bit of biscuit. bit of anise. earthy.
taste is good. medium bitterness level, mostly as coffee and chocolate. dark and a bit of milk chocolate. bit of caramel. wheat bread and biscuit. light alcohol. earthy. bit of fruity character.
mouthfeel is good. medium body. medium carbonation level.
drinkability is good. nice balance. a decent porter.
★ 701 characters
3.97/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a nearly opaque black color. The head is a mere quarter inch in height, and recedes into minimal lacing within seconds. The aroma is of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a noticeable hop presence. It is a rather plentiful aroma that has nothing out of the ordinary about it, but is simply what one would expect of an American Porter. The taste is along the same line. The is more roasted malt, and dark chocolate than in the aroma with the hops nearly undetectable. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with appropriately low carbonation, and a velvety texture. Overall, this is a good porter that I could happily session.
★ 632 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a nearly opaque black color. The head is a mere quarter inch in height, and recedes into minimal lacing within seconds. The aroma is of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a noticeable hop presence. It is a rather plentiful aroma that has nothing out of the ordinary about it, but is simply what one would expect of an American Porter. The taste is along the same line. The is more roasted malt, and dark chocolate than in the aroma with the hops nearly undetectable. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with appropriately low carbonation, and a velvety texture. Overall, this is a good porter that I could happily session.
★ 632 characters
3.38/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, big thanks to grub for sharing.
Pours an opaque dark brown, very murky, thin tan head forms and settles down to a thin ring, some lace spots on the glass, looks okay. Smell is okay as well, a bit weird, plasticy, some roast and chocolate, caramel sweetness, brown sugar, a touch of raisin and dark fruit. Taste is similar, roast and chocolate up front, plastic, raisin, biscuit/toasty middle, a bit weak in the finish. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Not bad I suppose, but not very good and didn't really do anything for me. Thanks Russ!
★ 582 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, big thanks to grub for sharing.
Pours an opaque dark brown, very murky, thin tan head forms and settles down to a thin ring, some lace spots on the glass, looks okay. Smell is okay as well, a bit weird, plasticy, some roast and chocolate, caramel sweetness, brown sugar, a touch of raisin and dark fruit. Taste is similar, roast and chocolate up front, plastic, raisin, biscuit/toasty middle, a bit weak in the finish. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Not bad I suppose, but not very good and didn't really do anything for me. Thanks Russ!
★ 582 characters
3.78/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass creates a three finger thick, lightly browned, fluffy tan colored head. The beer is a nice dark chocolate brown color that shows a brilliantly clear ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma has a nice rich malt sweetness to it as well as a solid toasted dark grain character. The combination definitely reminds me of a fairly dark chocolate as well as toasted whole grain notes. There seems to be a touch of buttery diacetyl here which accentuates some of the sweetness, the combination of those two definitely provides a soft butterscotch aromatic note to the nose. The aroma is not half bad, I might prefer less diacetyl, but the amount here is fairly subtle and almost a positive thing.
Dry up front as it first hits my tongue, the beer is also somewhat lighter than the rich aroma might have suggested. Still the body of this beer is on the medium side for a quaffable porter and definitely has just enough heft to it without be too thick to be nicely drinkable. As the beer rolls across my tongue it picks up a nice, dark malt sweetness that transforms into a dusty cocoa note in the finish. Roast malt flavor contribute a drying coffee roast character as well as some whole grain, deeply toasted bread flavors. The diacetyl is less noticeable in the flavor, almost undetectable even to this diacetyl sensitive palate, it does contribute a subtle butterscotch note though. This has a very nice balance between soft malt sweetness and roast malt notes. At times it might pick up a touch of a sharp bitter burnt note, but this is kept to a minimum.
Not a bad beer, in fact it is even enjoyable. I was a bit skeptical after the Warped Speed I had from this brewery, but this is actually a pretty nice beer.
★ 1,756 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass creates a three finger thick, lightly browned, fluffy tan colored head. The beer is a nice dark chocolate brown color that shows a brilliantly clear ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma has a nice rich malt sweetness to it as well as a solid toasted dark grain character. The combination definitely reminds me of a fairly dark chocolate as well as toasted whole grain notes. There seems to be a touch of buttery diacetyl here which accentuates some of the sweetness, the combination of those two definitely provides a soft butterscotch aromatic note to the nose. The aroma is not half bad, I might prefer less diacetyl, but the amount here is fairly subtle and almost a positive thing.
Dry up front as it first hits my tongue, the beer is also somewhat lighter than the rich aroma might have suggested. Still the body of this beer is on the medium side for a quaffable porter and definitely has just enough heft to it without be too thick to be nicely drinkable. As the beer rolls across my tongue it picks up a nice, dark malt sweetness that transforms into a dusty cocoa note in the finish. Roast malt flavor contribute a drying coffee roast character as well as some whole grain, deeply toasted bread flavors. The diacetyl is less noticeable in the flavor, almost undetectable even to this diacetyl sensitive palate, it does contribute a subtle butterscotch note though. This has a very nice balance between soft malt sweetness and roast malt notes. At times it might pick up a touch of a sharp bitter burnt note, but this is kept to a minimum.
Not a bad beer, in fact it is even enjoyable. I was a bit skeptical after the Warped Speed I had from this brewery, but this is actually a pretty nice beer.
★ 1,756 characters
Lake Louie Tommys Porter from Lake Louie Brewery Company
3.85
out of 5
based on 129 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a brilliant deep brown with a minimal tan head. Aroma is roasty and chocolatey, with a touch of nutty malt. Floral hops are subtle.Flavor is slightly buttery, nutty, with a roasty, almost coffee-like bent. Carbonation is a touch high, but a very approachable porter.
★ 272 characters