John Sleeman Presents Fine Porter

Brewed by Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. (Sapporo)
Style: Porter
Guelph, Canada

Mine is labelled Porter 68 but appears in all respects to be the same as this "Fine Porter" business although it’s not particularly fine at all. Pours a decent enough brown color w/ a head of small to medium sized bubbles that leaves a good sheet of lace behind. Though the flavor and aroma don’t live up, this is really a good looking brew. Nose is slightly herbal, grassy and grainy but not really in a good way. Palate is a bit on the thin side w/ fizzy carbonation. Nice to see a good bit of bitterness here however it is just a bit metallic and not entirely pleasant. Though this is called porter, it tastes like a dark American lager due to the clean yeast profile (think Amber Bock). I’d be willing to put money on this using the same lager yeast as in Sleeman’s other brews.

(bottle 2004 edition, from a convenience store on Rue St. Paul in Montreal). Deep black with quickly fading light tan head. Nice lace on glass. Aroma of roast malt, slightly sweet. Flavor is roast malt, coffee. A bit of a chemical aftertaste. This may be some early skunking since it came in a clear bottle.

Sleeman Porter 68. Pours to a clear red hued brown body with little tan head. The head is nearly non-existent. The aroma is green coffee, and strangely, like heemer77 states, [uncooked] green beans. The flavor is a strong roasted coffee and roasted malt. Definitely porterish. Light chocolate and grass hops. The palate is watery and medium-light bodied. Despite the rating, this is drinkable.

I realized this was on the shelf after having already purchased the Sleeman IPA. Very dark brown with some ruby. Certainyl far form black. The head is lightly tan. The aroma is light roasted coffee with some green beans and chocolate. The taste has roasted coffe. There is also a tangy finish of chocolate. There is also a little bit of grass in here. A little thin in the body. This is ok, but I want more in a porter.

Bottled reads "Limited Edition 2004" , I found this in a small bottle shop/grocery near the Dieu du Ciel in Montreal. Large creamy head of off-white over a brown body with red highlights. Lots of caramel malt flavor and aroma but not really much depth or complexity. Drinkable, but just a bit below average.

A fine brew actually from a bad brewery. It’s a bit sweet, but it’s got some roast and hops that round things out a bit and make it acceptable. Actually, I’ve purchased 12-packs of this on numerous occasions, about the best that the Beer Store has to offer.

2004 (23/9/04) Vintage. Clear bottle. Poured a dark brown with a larger sized (4 finger) tan head. Aromas of light vanilla, light chocolate and some caramel. Tastes of chocolate, coffee and caramel. Some nutiness came out as I drank it. Has a somewhat of a sour finish to it (bordering on bitter but turns to a sourness). Thin and watery body. Some lacing left on the glass.

Reddish brown, off white head. Stinks like skunk and pickled okra. Too sour flavor. Actually tastes like wotered down decaffinated coffee. Stupid pretentious label, stupid clear bottle. Way below average. 2K4 vintage