Etna Old Grind Porter

Brewed by Etna Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
Etna, California USA

Decent modest porter, that is just even keel. It does not aspire to be greater than it is, it just is. Typical aromas, with just a hint of sweet nuttiness, and a little bit more of a hop bite than I was expecting. Finish is slightly medicinal, with some alcohol coming through really strong and very roasted and dry.

Bottle provided by Steve in trade and served in my Stone IRS snifter:

Pours a moderate brown hue with a fizzy tan head and very good lace. The aroma has notes of piney hops, chocolate, walnut, hints of smoke and grapefruit esters. The taste starts more bitter than expected with a citric zest and coffee supporting act. Mild chocolate and burnt malt background leads to a mild astrengent finish. The feel is fizzy and thin, even more than most porters. Good and quaffable but I have had better.

22 oz bottle. Dark brown, very chocolate with strong malts. Thick head. Kind of mellow for a porter, but still good to drink. It is simply amazing how many brews there are of this quality on the market now. Five years ago we would rave about one this good, but the bar has been raised a lot higher. I think the best way to sum this one up is to say I would drink this anytime, anyplace, and enjoy it,, unless there is something better.

Nice dark brown color,small tan head that faded quickly leaving nothing behind.The aroma was roasty with a coffee and chocolate side.The flavor was better then my last brew from these guys but not much.malty coffee flavor with an emphasis on the coffee,pretty large and in charge on this brew.,roasty and mildly hopped with a mellow finish which is a surprise considering the beginning.I guess it’s not exactly my bag but i might be able to do one more further down the road.

Picked this up at the Liquor Barn in Redding California, shared the 22 oz bomber with Aurelius. Ruby red to dark brown pour with a thick, mocha colored head. Aroma is laces with bittersweet chocolate goodness. Flavor is very earthy with some clean dirt notes, a bit of day old coffee and a mild hoppy profile in the back end. Fades just a tad near the finish as it loses some of its luster and becomes a bit muttled, but still not a bad porter.

Huge hops in the aroma as well as the expected roastiness. Dark brown with a decent tan head. A lot of hops for what looks like a mellow dark brown porter. Mellow roasted chocolate flavors and more hops int he finish.

Tangy, chocolate and coffee, some creosote. Like a very dark brown, maybe a bit light flavored for a porter. Gets a little clingy in the finish after a while. Decent west coast porter, but it needs some work to become a great beer. Good bottle, decent label, clear dark ruby.

Pours a medium brown with considerable light passing through the body, much like a dark brown ale. This, coupled with the nitro-like head, doesn’t make this porter the most attractive thing to look at. The nose is your usual creamy roasted malts, heavy on the lactic qualities and not very deep. Flavor is a semi-spicy milk, vanilla bean and french roast coffee, with a burnt grain flavor showing up right before a slightly bitter finish. Nothing exceptional, but it doesn’t turn the stomach either.