John Sleeman Presents Fine Porter

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

slight roasted malt, smokey aroma. body is VERY thin. Flavour is slightly roasty, and a bit fruity. Not a bad porter, a good beginners porter. Definitely made for the masses.

Sleeman Porter 68 is a very dark and dim red ale with a huge, frothy, waxy and dimpled off-white head that leaves great lacing. Looks supreme. There is a sharp metallic tone in the aroma; a whiff of freshly-dug earth and grain that resembles... wheat? It is medium bodied, a bit creamy and the finish is alkaline. It’s well bittered and there is a dark flavor from the malt. Not much roastiness, like instant coffee. The most pronounced thing is the long finish of bitter green shrubbery: juniper, arbor vitae, etc. There is a tiny crumble of chocolate cookie in there. The lacing and the aftertaste last all night.

12 oz. bottle Sleeman Porter 68: Deep red pour with a brown core and rather sticky lace. The nose is rather subtle, with some mild chocolate malts creating a nice mix of vanilla, light coffee and earth. Spritzy carbonation. The body doesn’t present a whole lot as it’s watery throughout. Some light notes of coffee and chocolate can be noted, but they are very light. This just "meh" in my book.

The bottle is one of the only things going for these Sleemans so far. This watery porter poured reddish-hued with a tiny off-white head. Honestly, I could hardly smell it. Got that metallic smell from the cream ale. Skunked? Tastes mainly like roasted malt. Mainly. Very light. If porters ever became mainstream "light" beers, this could be the flagship. Similar to the cream ale again in the sense that it started smooth then branched off into chalk world. Nothing worth trying.

Well I didn’t expect much from this one, and it didnt deliver much either. Probably drinkable for those who like some bitterness but can’t take the alcohol. F... close to waer, too. Reminds me of a watery Budwiser.

12 oz. "Sleeman Porter 68°" bottle. Pours brown that’s a bit light for a porter, but just within range. Kind of a sweet smell, with bits of chocolate and some fruit. Can’t say as I like the texture; it’s highly carbonated when this style demands fiewer bubbles for a cask feel. But there are well roasted coca malts, low astringency, just a hint of smoke, and somehow a trace of cherry pie. Total taste is actually pretty good, if it misses the chewiness of the porters I’m used to, and the presentation needs some work.

Nose of roasted malt, oatmeal, coffee, caramel and some alcohol. Pours espresso with ruby highlights. The decent cascade resolves into a mostly lasting rocky beige head that leaves good lace. The huge front is roasted followed by a warm spicy acidic middle. The finish is tangy and roasted. The medium body is dry and soft to lively.

Rated 6/3/06: Porter? no way not with this one. Pours a transparent dark amber with thin head and a decent amount of lacing. Looks more like a dunkel or amber ale. Aroma is faint and sweet, trying to locate some hops or malts and keep coming up short. Mouthfeel is too thin and watery for a porter, but it is clean and slightly smooth. Flavor is decent, a bit too sweet for my liking. Again the taste doesn’t resemble a porter, but it is enjoyable in small doses. Not a big fan of this offering from an otherwise solid brewer.