UPDATED: AUG 10, 2019 This is a backlog rating from late 2011 from a bottle, from notes. When I had this beer it was average to below average for the style and not something I wanted to have again or I just didn't get back to my notes because of my technology at the time. Words to describe this beer are roasted malts, chocolate, mild vanilla, thin but better than expected.

UPDATED: MAR 12, 2019 I missed this review from last winter season. Grabbed in the Winter '11 variety pack....which was my favorite of the sample. May be over-rating this based on reading other reviews (possibly rounding flavor and overall up to 8 instead of 7?). Found it drinkable though, well-balanced with decent chocolate malty/coffee flavor. I pretty much only buy MH now when their 12-pack seasonal varieties are on sale (about $12.99 here)...to sample out their new stuff...as they are pretty much economy beer for me. Will have to try this again next fall/winter to update the review.

Rated based on notes taken 4 Feb 2012 -- Drank while on weekend pass from OTS. Overall good beer.

UPDATED: AUG 12, 2014 Bottle: Dark brown with some ruby edges when held to the light; khaki foam settles quickly to a foamy collar on top. Aroma of moderate vanilla extract sweetness with a little woodsiness on the side. Roast, faint campfire char, & some bittersweet chocolate notes. Maybe a little coffee, too, but faint in comparison. More so just a dry roast. Taste has lots of sweet vanilla, but isn’t as cloyingly sweet as, say, Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift. Not as fake or extract-y as the aroma would indicate, either, which is a good surprise. Decent "vanilla bean" flavor, really. Good backing of roasted malt, moderate cocoa with some creamy, sweet undertones & a bit of charred coffee bean lingering in the finish. Thin, even for a porter; slick on the palate. Woody vanilla & cocoa dust finish. By no means a world-beater, but probably the best thing I’ve had from Magic Hat.

This bottled brew from a restaurant poured a small sized head of foamy fine to medium sized tan colored bubbles that were mostly lasting and left behind a no visible carbonation dark ruby red brown colored body and a fair lacing. The mild aroma was medicinal and dark malt. The mouth feel was weakly tingly at the start and at the finish. The flavor contained notes of mild hops and dark malt. A decent one but not one that I would consider drinking again.

Dark pour, 1 finger of tan head. chocolate, roasted malt , some vanilla, and slight coffee grounds in the aroma. Taste is more appealing- Dark chocolate, vanilla, slight chestnut, wood, roasted malt and a bit of brown sugar. slight smoke. Mouthfeel is a bit watery. If the tasting was blind I’d never know this was a Magic Hat beer.

Jungle Jim’s bottle from a mixed pack. Nice pour with a medium tan head that settles with nice lacing. Nice milk-chocolatey porter smell. Mouthfeel is lighter than expected but makes it really drinkable. Touch of cold coffee that adds a touch of bitterness. Nice.

Tap at Oblivion. Nose is light vanilla, sweet molasses, chocolate, and some roast. Somewhat weak on the nose despite all the different aromas. Dark brown body with a khaki head. This one was slightly thin on the palate. A touch too watery for what I expected. Not bad though. Flavors match the aroma but there is a nice helping of sweetness that made this a nice brew. Not too sweet but it was headed that way. A nice offering from Magic Hat...I just wish it wasn’t like water for texture.

Well this was surprisingly good, a nice smooth porter. The vanilla component was mild, mainly noticeable in the flavor. Overall it featured a dry roasted flavor with some mild chocolate and a full rounded semi-creamy mouthfeel.

Bottle as shown. Pours a very dark brown with medium beige head leaving sticky lacing. The aroma is roasted malt coffee and chocolate. Thin mouth feel with a very smoky flavor and roast with light dry finish. Very easy to drink a very good porter from Magic Hat.