Hale's Troll Porter | Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Brewed by:
Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Washington, United States
halesbrewery.com
Style: American Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by DrewBeechum on 06-13-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 75 | Reviews: 39
4.18/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 oz. bottle:
Pours dark brown/mahogany with a fluffy tan head that settles to a thin cover. Trailing lace sticks.
The smell is of chocolate, mildly roasted coffee, dark earthy notes.
The taste is of baker's chocolate, mildly roasted coffee, dark earthy notes (a slight sour touch). Anise in the finish. Alcohol well-integrated.
Sliky/creamy smooth. Alcohol slightly on the aggressive side, but it works. Robust.
This is an enjoyable, robust American Porter. Malt-forward but balanced. Nice touch of an anise character in the finish.
Purchased for under $5 at Safeway in Bremerton, WA.
593 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 oz. bottle:
Pours dark brown/mahogany with a fluffy tan head that settles to a thin cover. Trailing lace sticks.
The smell is of chocolate, mildly roasted coffee, dark earthy notes.
The taste is of baker's chocolate, mildly roasted coffee, dark earthy notes (a slight sour touch). Anise in the finish. Alcohol well-integrated.
Sliky/creamy smooth. Alcohol slightly on the aggressive side, but it works. Robust.
This is an enjoyable, robust American Porter. Malt-forward but balanced. Nice touch of an anise character in the finish.
Purchased for under $5 at Safeway in Bremerton, WA.
593 characters
4.58/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Enjoyed on tap at Hopvine Pub in Capitol Hil. Very smooth, does not feel/taste like 7.0 abv beer. Very deep color, nice head (not nitro). No bitterness at all, great for a cool fall evening!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Enjoyed on tap at Hopvine Pub in Capitol Hil. Very smooth, does not feel/taste like 7.0 abv beer. Very deep color, nice head (not nitro). No bitterness at all, great for a cool fall evening!
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4.07/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the Athenian, Pike Place, Seattle
A: Shoe polish brown with a nice tan one-finger head that lingered.
S: Chocolate, light coffee, cocoa, anise and caramel.
T: Lightly robust with a chocolate/caramel/cocoa charge that finishes with a lightly bitter coffee note. Sweet.
M: Medium with medium, creamy and charred carbonation.
O: What a cool homage to the Seattle Troll. Great label, too. Since we sat on the Troll's hand, it was fitting to quaff this tasty porter. You go, Hale's Ales.
505 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the Athenian, Pike Place, Seattle
A: Shoe polish brown with a nice tan one-finger head that lingered.
S: Chocolate, light coffee, cocoa, anise and caramel.
T: Lightly robust with a chocolate/caramel/cocoa charge that finishes with a lightly bitter coffee note. Sweet.
M: Medium with medium, creamy and charred carbonation.
O: What a cool homage to the Seattle Troll. Great label, too. Since we sat on the Troll's hand, it was fitting to quaff this tasty porter. You go, Hale's Ales.
505 characters
4.63/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I bought a bottle of Troll Porter in a bottle shop. Poured in to a pint glass.
Pours a black walnut color, somewhat translucent with a garnet red hue, caped with a bubbly tan head.
Smell is a roasted charcoal aroma with some candy-like dark chocolate and a fruity plum scent.
Taste is very good. A charcoal coffee flavor, chocolate and bit of black licorice flavor on the finish.
Mouthfeel full-bodied, viscous but minimally cloying and smooth.
Overall a very good porter. Better than the Deschutes Black Butte which is my porter measuring stick.
554 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I bought a bottle of Troll Porter in a bottle shop. Poured in to a pint glass.
Pours a black walnut color, somewhat translucent with a garnet red hue, caped with a bubbly tan head.
Smell is a roasted charcoal aroma with some candy-like dark chocolate and a fruity plum scent.
Taste is very good. A charcoal coffee flavor, chocolate and bit of black licorice flavor on the finish.
Mouthfeel full-bodied, viscous but minimally cloying and smooth.
Overall a very good porter. Better than the Deschutes Black Butte which is my porter measuring stick.
554 characters
3.84/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hale's Ales 'Troll Porter' @ 7.0% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $6
A-pour is cola brown from the bottle to a near black in the glass with a hint of ruby red peeking thru a medium size tan head leaving a streaky lace along the pint
S-weak smelling
T-crisp & clean tasting porter
MF-ok/decent carbonation , full body
Ov-ok/good beer , decent porter
prost LampertLand
379 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hale's Ales 'Troll Porter' @ 7.0% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $6
A-pour is cola brown from the bottle to a near black in the glass with a hint of ruby red peeking thru a medium size tan head leaving a streaky lace along the pint
S-weak smelling
T-crisp & clean tasting porter
MF-ok/decent carbonation , full body
Ov-ok/good beer , decent porter
prost LampertLand
379 characters
3.54/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.72/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.49/5 rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Amazing beer with amazing taste
31 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Amazing beer with amazing taste
31 characters
3.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I had this on-tap in an imperial pint glass at Elephant & Castle in Seattle.
Appearance: rich dark brown hue with a finger of creamy tan foam. There's a very attractive lace left on the glass, too.
Smell: light roastiness with a simple malt character. Not bad, but not at all complex.
Taste: rich roasty flavor with elements of chocolate and toffee, but mostly a dry, slightly ashy black malt character. It actually appeals to me quite a lot.
Mouthfeel: medium body with a rough carbonation. Not super creamy but interesting enough.
Overall: this beer has its imperfections in aroma and texture, but the flavor is good and drinkability is high. I'm a fan.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I had this on-tap in an imperial pint glass at Elephant & Castle in Seattle.
Appearance: rich dark brown hue with a finger of creamy tan foam. There's a very attractive lace left on the glass, too.
Smell: light roastiness with a simple malt character. Not bad, but not at all complex.
Taste: rich roasty flavor with elements of chocolate and toffee, but mostly a dry, slightly ashy black malt character. It actually appeals to me quite a lot.
Mouthfeel: medium body with a rough carbonation. Not super creamy but interesting enough.
Overall: this beer has its imperfections in aroma and texture, but the flavor is good and drinkability is high. I'm a fan.
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4.69/5 rDev +21.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer is AMAZING. I can't wait for it to make it's reappearance on store shelves this fall. Dark and rich with caramel and molasses on the nose, incredible creamy mouth feel, and a finish that makes me want more. I found that there was a hint of, call me crazy, Christmas candy in the taste. This beer represents the fall and football for me.
346 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer is AMAZING. I can't wait for it to make it's reappearance on store shelves this fall. Dark and rich with caramel and molasses on the nose, incredible creamy mouth feel, and a finish that makes me want more. I found that there was a hint of, call me crazy, Christmas candy in the taste. This beer represents the fall and football for me.
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4.23/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On nitro-tap at Hare & Hounds in Poulsbo, WA. Color is deep dark red-brown, with creamy one finger head and persistent clinging lacing. Aroma is deep, dark roasted malt, sweetness, with floral hops, heady. Flavor is malt, a bit if coffee, a bit of sweet caramel, mildly bitter hops. Mouthfeel is medium thick and creamy. Overall this is an outstanding porter, which I really recommend on nitro-tap. A really memorable taste experience!
435 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On nitro-tap at Hare & Hounds in Poulsbo, WA. Color is deep dark red-brown, with creamy one finger head and persistent clinging lacing. Aroma is deep, dark roasted malt, sweetness, with floral hops, heady. Flavor is malt, a bit if coffee, a bit of sweet caramel, mildly bitter hops. Mouthfeel is medium thick and creamy. Overall this is an outstanding porter, which I really recommend on nitro-tap. A really memorable taste experience!
435 characters
3.65/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle served in pint glass. Beer pours muddy brown with a heavy and substantial head. Caramely porter aroma suggests sweetness and toastiness. But the nose does not prepare me for the massive viscous beast in the bottle. Big on coffee flavors from the roasted malt. Heavy, but also very neutral on the back of the tongue. I don't know if I should describe this as delicate or overpowering; it's like there's a really high volume of really mild flavors. One thing is for sure: it masks it's 6.6% ABV (per Hale's website) perfectly. The finish is off-dry and pretty well balanced for how tall the profile of this porter is. I don't get any particular citrus or other specific hop flavors, but there is a swarm of lace left on my glass. Resiny.
747 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle served in pint glass. Beer pours muddy brown with a heavy and substantial head. Caramely porter aroma suggests sweetness and toastiness. But the nose does not prepare me for the massive viscous beast in the bottle. Big on coffee flavors from the roasted malt. Heavy, but also very neutral on the back of the tongue. I don't know if I should describe this as delicate or overpowering; it's like there's a really high volume of really mild flavors. One thing is for sure: it masks it's 6.6% ABV (per Hale's website) perfectly. The finish is off-dry and pretty well balanced for how tall the profile of this porter is. I don't get any particular citrus or other specific hop flavors, but there is a swarm of lace left on my glass. Resiny.
747 characters
Hale's Troll Porter from Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Beer rating:
68% out of
100 with
75 ratings
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75