OFallon Smoked Porter

Brewed by OFallon Brewery
Style: Smoked
OFallon, Missouri USA

Black cherry. Sizzling khaki head holds a tight ring. Invitingly aromatic notes of roasted wood, plums, licorice, burning pipe tobacco, and smoked pork. Silky body frames the fuzzy carbonation. Notably dry, airy, and snappy with roasted wood assertions, upfront. Substantial smoke character, but the malts are fairly depthless early on, due to the airiness. Malts slowly develop to display a multitude of crackery malt softness and tangy, hefty smoke which ease the overall robustness. Chalky dryness and smoky phenols further accentuate the staunch roast bite. Baker’s chocolate and husky, crumbled biscuit malt derivatives creep in late to offset the smoke, while also lending a velvety touch which aids the body. Finishes softer and continually nuanced with gritty char, sealed by an appealing blend of moist tobacco and lightly caramelized pork sweetness. Really welll done, and just shy of stellar.

Taster #5 out of 6, in an all night event to find the best smoke beer out there. 22z bottle. Opaque with brownish edges. Creamy tan head. Mild smoke nose. It has a meaty smokiness. Sweet and spicy smoke flavors. Sweet, medium malt note. Tangy finish. Smooth malt note throughout. Mild hop dryness. Mild smoke nose, prevalent smoke flavor.

Liquid smoke, wood and wood smoke in the aroma. Deep black with a firm, finger thick mocha head. Very malty with a lot of smoked BBQ pork flavor. Gives the impression of being oily do the meat flavors. Chocolate malt and woodsmoke flavors are present as well. Finish is mild and malty with the smoky flavors lingering well into the aftertaste.

Pours opaque, black with minimal tan head. Thick. Nose is roasty with hint of smoked jerky. Flavor has light caramel and malty chocolate. Bold mouthfeel. Mild bitter finish.

10.12.05 Bomber, must be a 2005 because the label mentions the 2004 GABF medal. Deep purplish mahogany brown. Small, fading light brown head. Aroma is lush and smoky, woodsmoke, campfire with sugary marshmallow melted over the stones. There’s also a more unusual note of caramelized red bell pepper and brine. Huh. Very dry mouthfeel actually begins its astringency while the beer is still on the palate; nevertheless, the stuff is soft and coating. Smoke and roast are both mild, or maybe I should say not overbearing. Clean notes of coffee and the smoked malt is impressive. There’s a lingering chocolate flavor that is magical with the smokiness, it’s like an unspicy mole sauce. Finally a smoked porter that’s not so afraid of its smoke it has to hide behind bitterness. Really well done and balanced.

Couleur brune parsemée d’une faible mousse beige pale. arômes immensément fumés, braise d’un feu de camp, bois d’hêtre. Caractéristiques fumées beaucoup plus restreintes en bouche, faible quantité de malt chocolaté, grains grillés et foin. Flaveurs modérément sucrées, finale faiblement amère et acide. Corps bien atténué, semi mince, texture légèrement aqueuse

In the 12 oz bottle from John’s Grocery. Pours a dark brown-black with a dark brown head. Smoked aroma is mixed with a coffee roast smell. Not an excessive amount of smoke. Flavor is rich and delicious. The smoke is not overdone. In fact, it greatly adds to the body of the porter. Very well done. UPDATE 12/2/5: Drawn out of the 30-barrel finishing tank for us by the brewer one day before bottling. INCREDIBLE when tasted this fresh!!! Smoke flavor is hardly tasted at this stage, but boy you sure do smell it! An awesome beer!

22oz bottle - Pours dark brown with ruby highlights and a fair tan creamy head. Aroma is a bit of smoked meat and some wood. Flavor is smoke, wood and bacon. The palate is medium bodied but slightly watery. This was o.k. but I didn’t find it nearly as flavorful as Alaskan Smoked Porter. Just seemed a little underwhelming.