RateBeer
Highland Big Butte Smoked Porter 3.53 29

Highland Big Butte Smoked Porter

Percentile
89
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

Local Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
293.7/5.03.53/5.0Special7%88.4English pint, Stem glass
Commercial Description:
We are proud to present homebrewer Alex Buerckholtz’s smoked porter as best of show in the second annual Highland Cup. This beer will be entered into the 2009 GABF’s Pro-Am competition held in September and will only be sold in NC. This Robust Smoked Porter is brewed with a generous portion of German smoked malt and accented with earthy Fuggle hops. The result is an amazingly rich, complex porter with undertones of smokiness and roasted malts flavors. Enjoyable now or later, this beer can be cellared and will evolve over time.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 tronraner (1934), Seymour, Tennessee, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/516/20

Oct 3, 2009  
Bomber, shared by NachlamSie. Pours dark blackish brown, with lacy tan head. The aroma is milk chocolate, beef jerky, some creosote, chocolate, and a little bit of must. The flavor is a nice, overt smokiness, though not really that intense. Then there are solid porter elements: chocolate, ash, some earthy hops. The finish has a mild earthy bitterness to it and some lingering beech smoke. Not too shabby.

 brewski519 (426), Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/513/20
Dec 20, 2009  
22 oz bomber - Pours an opaque black with a decent tan head. Aroma of smoke, chocolate, figs and caramel. Flavor is rich chocolate, smoke, caramel malt, and hops. The alcohol does not present up front - hidden beneath great flavors of this porter. Bittering hops are present as well. Carbonation is just right on this porter. I liked this one quite a bit.


 Sonicdescent (381), Donora, Pennsylvania, USA
2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/102/55/102/56/20
Dec 19, 2009  
Look is disappointing. While the color is nice and black, there is very little head happening. Scent is slightly odd as well, a strong hop presence is felt while i sense no smoke. This unfortunately pans out in the taste. Some love this, but I prefer my porters and stouts to be less hoppy. Not much carbonation and too thin to support this.


 douglas88 (1658), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/58/104/517/20
Nov 30, 2009  
Bomber thanks to a trade with Brent. Pours a wonderful sight; dark opaque blackness with a medium light brown head. The aroma is light chocolates, dark fruit, light smoke and ash. The flavor is a strong and full porter; sweet chocolate, light bitter hops, dark fruit, dry ash and light smoke. The finish is smoky and roasted bitterness. Very nice. Not super smoky, but very good. Not as good as the Imperial Mocha, but damn good.


 joeneugs (346), Livermore, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/516/20
Nov 30, 2009  
Pours dark brown with a tan head. The aroma is sharp with smoke, char, and chocolate. The flavor is sweet with brown sugar, cocoa and a touch of smoky peat. Pretty light on the palate and sweet with subdued smoke and roast. Kind of like a smoked porter crossed with a scotch ale. Not surprising. A nice beer.


 DJMonarch (6878), Northwich, Cheshire, England
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/513/20
Nov 20, 2009  
Cask Stillage from the Jug at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting, Wynkoop Brewery 25/09/2009 Some smoked aroma. Black rich on the palate and smoky with a little dryness in a crisp and bitter malt finish.


 OldGrowth (1432), North Carolina, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/515/20
Nov 16, 2009  
pint @ Tyler’s Apex. Good aroma, sweet and smokey. Nice chocolate about it, with a bacon like smoke mixed in. Brownish black color, small head, little to no lace. Bitter, smoke, sweet flavor. nice balance actually. Medium body, creamy smooth mouthfeel, bitter smokey finish. Wow, pretty damn good, I’m so glad Tyler’s went with Highlands seasonal taps rather than everyday line up, no offence. Smelled good, tasted real good, had a really good mix of flavor, smoke/sweet/bitter. remained constant through out pint, Worth seeking out here.


 tjthresh (1779), Greenfield, Indiana, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Nov 11, 2009  
22 ounce bottle from JCB. Pours opaque dark brown...pretty much black... with a short lived tan head. When I see a smoked porter listed as a porter, and not a smoke beer, I get kind of disappointed. This beer is certainly "porter forward" with plenty of chocolaty malt and English hop character, but the earthy smoke adds a great depth to this beer that most beers just don’t have. Easy drinking body with a bit of a ashy dry finish. Tasty stuff.


 RCL (1486), Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/103/513/20
Nov 7, 2009  
Campfire smoke and chocolate in the aroma. Reminds me of smores without the marshmallow. Flavor is more caramel, smoke, and baker’s chocolate. Pretty nice.



We Want To Hear From You



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

Join Us »

View Page 1 2 3

Share Your Opinion!
Get started reviewing beers at RateBeer.com now.

First, choose your user name

About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC