Carolina Winter Porter

Brewed by Carolina Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Holly Springs, North Carolina USA

Date: 11/05/1999
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Duramn, NC, Winter

Appearance: dark brown, whispy tan head,
Aroma: slightly sweet roasted malt aroma,
Flavor: roasted flavor, touch of bitterness in the finish,
Overall: average
-------- /> Date: 03/15/2008
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting

Appearance: dark brown with ruby edges, fine tan head, drippy lace,
Aroma: dark chocolate aroma with a milky sweetness,
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, touch of dark caramel sweetness, lots of earthy bitterness bordering on astrengent,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

(Bottled 10/30/02): Dark brown bidy with small tan head. Aroma is moderately sweet, roasty, chocolate, fairly rich. Taste is mild sweet, roasty, some chocolate, light vinous. Medium body. Nice beer, wonder how much better it would be if fresh.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with Ty5592 (Mystery Swap v2.0). Bottle labeled bottled on 11/01/06. Poured a deeper brown color (with a red tint to it) and a large sized off white head. Aromas of cocoa, roast, caramel, and lightly smokey. Tastes of roast, chocolate, light caramel, and finished with a coffee bitterness. Body on the thinner side. Some lacing left on the glass.

From a bottle purchased at the brewery; I’d also sampled on draft at the brewry. Dark reddish borwn with a thin, relatively quickly disappearing head. The aroma is awesome ... like a fresh brewed cup of espresso. That java is definitely in the first sample of flavor, too, but mellows as you go. Nice little bitterness to it, too. Think this is an underrated gem. (#2836, 5/4/2007)

Another NC treat courtesy of Oldgrowth! Very dark brown/ruby color with a barely-there head. Smells pretty groovy... smoky chocolate with a little sweetness, reminiscent of maple syrup. Interesting taste... It seems far more bready and yeasty than most porters. Malt flavor is bone dry. No hoppiness at all. Not an outstanding beer, but a very nice and unique porter. Props!

2003 bottle sampled at Kuhnhenn Brewery, not sure where they got this. Pours a light greyish brown, but has some darker orange swirls in there. Light tan head that is small and disippating. Aroma has some roasted barley, burnt toffee, lots of hazelnuts and some dark chocolate. Flavor is much of the dry roast, light coffee and plenty of astringent nuttiness. Upon first few sips, wow, this stuff is way too dry, there is almost no sweetness whatsoever. As it warms, though, it gains a pinch of sweetness from some chocolate malt but the roasty/coffee/nuttiness really sticks and lasts through the finish creating a pleasant experience. Overall, it’s quite thin, a bit too carbonated, not well-balanced, but the flavor is decent on the finish and after. Interesting.

Thanks to Tom for sharing. Pours a brownish amber with a medium bubbly off white head. Aroma of chocolate, toastd malt, tobacco and light alcohol. Flavor was earthy, toasted malt, chocolate, tobacco and hop bitterness.

Bottle courtesy of OldGrowth. Bottled on 12/20/06. No ABV listed on this bottle. Deep, dark mahogany crimson mix. Faint light peers through this abyss. Foamy, frothy tan head. Sticky delicate lacing on the glass. Aroma is initially roasty and coffee-ish with soft hops and dark chocolate coming through as well. Taste is more roasted malts, thinned coffee, and baker’s chocolate. Lighter hops are present as well. Body is medium but thinner than hoped. Moderate carbonation on this. Finishes with a tad more bitterness, roasted malts, burnt caramel and coffee. Not bad at all!