Stone Smoked Porter

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
Escondido, California USA

From a 22 oz bottle purchased locally poured into a 0.5 L glass. Aroma is roasty chocolate with some peat coming through. Deep dark brown with ruby barely peeking through, almost black with a big rocky tan head. Dry, roasty dark chocolate flavor with the smoke in the background, not overpowering. Evenly balanced with hop bitterness making it smooth and easy drinking.

22 oz bottle. One of my favorite porters. smoked, chocolate. nice head!

Poured a deep black with a thick lasting tan head. Good lacing. Aroma is rough and seems to be confused by itself though it is no indication of the rest of the beers qualities. Once the beer enters the mouth a harmonious blend of chocolate, coffee, sweet toffee, figs, and smoke. I was expecting a smokier beer such as alaskan but was very impressed by the balance achieved in this beer. Mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy with a subtle bitterness that cuts through the sweetness.

Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Aromas of roasted malts, smoked peated malts,and some coffee.The taste of the peated malts hits you first, then the lovely roasted malts follows along with some coffee flavor peeking through as well. This brew has a wonderful smokey aftertaste as well. What a great Porter!

Bottle. Poured black with a creamy tan head that settled to a ring and left light lace. Hoppy aroma with a light smoked malt background. The flavor found chocolate, coffee, and a s decent smoke backing. Medium body and a coffee bitterness throughout.

As I pour most of the contents of my 220oz bomber into my awaiting glass, a deep earthen black-brown body greets my eyes while a soft tan head crowns and then fades into a thin film. Sticky lace mark her trail while a bouquet of smoke and wood waits for no one, rushing out to invite me in for a much closer encounter. Faint licorice, dates, chocolate and light notes of bitter espresso mingle amidst the smoke and wood. Mouth watering, I savor our first of many quaffs together which are surprisingly clean with a medium-bodied airiness. Wood and smoke pervades every beery pore, while subtle notes of soft milk chocolate, licorice, cream, and raisins keep her true to her porter roots. Faint bitter hops nips at her pleasantly dry finish. Each quaff is a rich bouquet of delicate smoked wood with nibs of chocolate, cream, and dark fruits passing through. Thankfully the smoke is not overwhelming, which would only serve to smother the beer and my palate. Instead, my Stone Smoked Porter has achieved a perfect balance of smoke and beer, in this case a porter. As she warms, more soft chocolate and coffee notes mingle amicably with the smoke and wood when suddenly, without warning, I find my glass empty.

A 22oz bottle of Smoked Porter sounds like a lot, but instead she is just the right amount. I could and did easily enjoy every single quaff of her smoky porter depths. I’m not sure how long she would age before the freshness of the smoke would start to subside, but maybe someday I’ll experiment and find out. In the meantime, I am going to enjoy as much fresh Stone Smoked Porter as I can possible fit in my fridge.

Pours to a high foamy head, dissolves well to leave a webby film. Slightly smoky aroma, but not too strong. Nice and dark. Don’t fast too much of the chocolate, almost more like a dark hazelnut, good malty mouthfeel. Not too much movement on the palate, but a decent finish. Good stuff.

Bottle.. Poured into a snifter. Light black in color that lets some light come through. Nice smoke, fire place aroma on the nose. Taste is roasted malts, chocolate and just a touch of smoke. None of the flavors dominate the others. Very well balanced. Nice creamy smooth texture. A little on the thin side. The commercial description describes this beer to the "T". Oveall a good example of a smoked porter.