John Sleeman Presents Fine Porter

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

Has the appearance more of a brown ale than a porter, but that’s not such a big deal. At first it almost smells like some skunky bottle, but then it turns into a plasticy brown sugar aroma with some really sweet cola notes as well. Moderate thickness and texture, not too thin, not that thick... very light flavors: maple and vanilla, some gritty, earthy brown-ale malt flavors, finishing with an oversweet maple and candy-like sugar coating on the mouth. Can’t say I enjoyed this one that much.

Not as speacial as stamped all over the case and bottles. One of sleeman’s better beers. A dark colour, off-white head, brownisn even. The chocolate and coffee hints sem ed come through the most. An aroma was barely detectable. Not bad.

2004 bottle provided by and shared with clarkvv 4/31/05: Dark brown that shows ruby/amber highlights when held to light, with a tan head. Aroma: artificial cola, caramel, light nuts, and a hint of chocolate. Taste: light chocolate, malt extract, stale pale malt, molasses. Moderate carbonation, thin and watery body. This tastes very much like a pale lager with some darker malts thrown in the grain bill to darken the color, and add the hint of roast and chocolate to me.

Pours a dark amber that I found hard to see through. The tan head doesn’t seem to want to exist at all. You could probably pour this beer into a mug while standing on a rooftop and still get no action. Not even the barest lace to speak of a moment after I poured it. Smells nutty, some raspberry, some coffee. Ultimately, though, this smells like a Sleeman brew to me. This does not say much, in my books. Mouthfeel is crisp and a bit above light. Not bad. A bit more carbonated than I’m used to for a Porter. Tastes of chocolate, roasted malt, a bit of blackstrap molasses, with an understated bitter finish. I also find that a hidden nuttiness emerges as it warms. Definitely more nuanced than Sleeman usually is, but I still find it too watery and sweet. However, as it comes from Sleeman, I was impressed. This is not their average brew. It’s much better.

2004 bottle, aged 4 months! Shared with bucknaked on 4/31/2005. Pour is a dark, drab brown with some light auburn highlights. Initial beige-tan head is rapidly dissipating. Aroma of caramel, not terribly real, not a whole lot else goin on there either. Maybe some cola. Not too much badness in the nose, just a bit of musty dirt. A whiff of chocolate in there as well. Flavor is of hard American-like crystal malt, light, fleeting chocolate, rather dry and yet quite a watery body, though nothing terribly unspeakable. Some brief stale coffee notes, moderate carbonation. Bit of hazelnut. Somewhere in the general vicinity of average for an American porter. You could talk about how this "isnt that bad, and blah blah blah", but when it comes down to it, with all of the other fantastic porters out there, why would you ever drink this again?

Couleur brune foncé, absence de mousse. Dominé par les arôme de pain aux noix grillé allant subtilement vers le brûlé. La faible présence de houblon en arômes est plutôt anglaise mais est rapidement envahi par un aspect skunky. Texture plutôt mince, acceptable pour le style, présentant un breuvage axé vers le malt rôti. On manque le fruit en bouche qui aurait pu apporté un meilleur équilibre. La finale est sèche et plutôt rôti.

Bottle. Dark amber/ruby in colour. Aroma of light roast, chocolate malt and very poorly made coffee. The flavour had some chocolate and cold coffee but not enough to save this porter. Medium body and medium carbonation. FInishes with a mild bitterness. Not the best porter but a step in the right direction for Sleeman.

This beer kicks ass....as far as Sleeman brews go. Ruby brown with a thin creamy head. Very light roast and malt character to go with very light chocolate notes. Thin mouthfeel and quick finish - pretty bad porter, but a pretty great Sleeman beer.