Ithaca Gorges Smoked Porter

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Smoked
Ithaca, New York USA

In my three or so smoked porters I have noticed one thing. They usually taste pretty much the same as the last one. It’s like Iron Maiden though, every song may be the same, but it’s a damn good song. Rock on.

Bottle, best by January or February 2010, I forget which and am too lazy to get up again to get the bottle. Aroma of smoked malt, a touch of campfire even, and, wait, even some meats as it warms, loads of milk/semisweet chocolate. Flavor solidly roasted with a bit of the smoke, not as smoky overall as the aroma, but more distinctly campfiery. A creaminess persists that is so entwined with the milk chocolate that it’s hard to tell them apart, almost milkshake-like at times. Though it isn’t smoky for the style listed (just a bit over the border between the smoked porters we call smokeds and those we call porters), I have to call this one terribly underrated, though it seems recent ratings agree with me.

Pours very dark brown with minimal tan head. Nice roasted and smoked nose. Flavor is thick malts. Definite roasted and smoked aspect there. Consistent flavor profile. Smooth liquid feel with a slightly biting carbonation. A nice porter to drink. Definitely worth trying.

This is the smoothest smoked porter I’ve ever tasted. It has a subtle smoked almost ham smell - delicious. It’s dark , almost burgundy but not Cloudy.

Pours a fairly deep brown with red tint. There’s little head, but a small ring of off-white head lingers. Aroma of dark fruit and roasted nuts. Flavors of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt. The roasted flavor lingers (guess that’s the smoked part?). Very little bitterness. In fact, this is quite smooth and creamy. I’m very impressed. The flavor is fairly basic, but the smoothness and creaminess bring it to another level.

Dark dark brown, almost black. Head evaporates after 30 seconds. No light passes through. Nice light coffee smell, roasted malt. Hint of mild hop sweetness. Mild smoky aroma. Smoky accent to the roasted malt taste. Coffee is not heavy, but a nice mild touch. Malt is toasted, not burnt. Hints of alcohol come in. Crisp and quite good. Has a steamed top layer. Medium body. Dry but a little creamy. Leaves a roasted film on the tongue. Hightly drinkable. Smoky, not overly bitter.

Deep mahogany. Lathery off-white foam turns rocky as it sits. Refined aroma of smoky phenolics, unsweetened chocolate, and toffee-glazed fresh bread. Marginally airy. Lush, dense carbonation, but somewhat feisty. Smoky phenols bolster the initially airy body. Invigorating tandem of evergreen alcohol and cedar underlines the rich envelopment of smoke. Glimpse of soured plum acidity lessens the lush malt richness, but eventually succumbs to a tongue-blanketing bready malt sweep. Tangy interplay of jerky and medicinal sassafras buoys the thicker malts. Finishes gorgeously understated as the alcohol lends a cool dryness on the exhale, but still replete with semi-sweet chocolate which counters the dry edge of roast amid lingering notes of smoked bacon. Despite the misleading name (this is more akin to an ordinary smoked ale, given its lack of roastiness and prominent fruity esters), along with the heavy airiness and fruitiness, a few minor adjusments could really turn this into something lovely. Thanks, IPFreely.

courtesy of tpd975. pours copper with beige head. Aroma of light smoke, malt caramel with plenty of chocolate. Taste, smoke, malts, chocolate, dark fruits with a light vanialla touch and some tobacco. Smoke is present but not overwhelming.