Ramapo Valley Suffern Station Porter

In short: An oxidized cardboard flavoured dark ale. Bad bottle
How: Bottle 12oz. Age unknown. Consumed 6 months after purchase but I suspect this is old stock
The look: Dark redish-mahogany body topped by a large beige head
In long: Cardboard on the nose. This is oxidised. Over the top carbonation, burnt cardboard and ferrous notes is pretty much all I got from this bottle. By trying very hard I detected some chocolate. I bought the bottle in a little beer store in Princeton and drank it six months later but by the taste of it I suspect this bottle had been sitting on the shelves of this little quiet store for a very long time. Looks like Princeton University in not a drunk partygoers hang-out. Who would have thought.

Pitch black coloured body with a thinnish off-white head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee, nuts, chocolate and a light grapeyness. Medium-bodied; Strong roasty maltiness up front with a large amount of sweetness and a short nuttiness which fades off fast. Overall, a decent beer - not enough flavour and body to be really good. Very nice to try though...since its a small production. I sampled this 12 ounce bottle purchased at Oliver’s Beverage in Albany, New York on 26-December-2005.

bottle. has a lovely ruby brown color with a two inch fluffy head. aroma is dry, smells like burnt malt, coffee and chocolate. taste is rich with a medium palate. nice toasty malt flavor with some dark chocolate. it contains a somewhat lactic quality that makes the beer reminiscent of chocolate milk. nice and dry very english styled, it’s laking that touch of hop bite on the end that i wish it had.

I do like a good porter! And this one has quite a lot going on in it. It looks like a porter and pretty much smells like one (although this one has a more muted aroma than many). The flavor is rich malts with coffee and chocolate and in the mouth the feel is very creamy and smooth. The beginning of the glass is mostly sweet malt but the middle brings some tartness giving a nice balance. Lots of roasted flavors can be found and even some maple. This is a really good porter with plenty of character.

Pour is a dark black with a small tan head. Aroma is very roasty and malty. Some chocolates show up. Flavor is very sweet chocolate with some coffee. Probably not as overwhelming as some porters in the flavor department but still has its qualities.

Bottle purchased at Oliver’s Beverage in Albany, NY. Not sure of the age of this. Aroma is earthy, dirty, dusty, with some hints of sweet chocolate working their way in a little later. Mildly transparent dark mahogany color with a small, quickly dissipating tan head. Not much lacing. Somewhat sweet chocolate to start, turning a bit more acidic with a bit of sourness in the middle. Finishes with lots of roastiness and a fair amount of coffee flavoring. Very oily mouthfeel. Really coats the mouth nicely. Definitely a different porter than what I am used to, but this is tasty nonetheless.

12 oz bottle via trade with Lou18. Although the label says to enjoy within 120 days, there is no date to gauge that by. Clear deep brown pour with a tiny wisp of a head. Big coffee aroma as soon as I popped the cap! Nose settles in a bit after it has a chance to breathe, with bitter chocolate and roasty malts commingling with the coffee aromas. Some sweet maple syrup notes are present, as well as a vinous aroma. Flavor follows suit, with a touch of smokiness and light bitterness. Body is smooth and lightly oily. Finish is dry, and relatively clean, some roasted flavors hanging around. Really an interesting porter! Thanks Lou!

A pleasant little brew, this poured chestnut brown with a creamy beige head. Aroma was moderately sweet, coffee, vanilla, milk chocolate. Nice oiliness to the mouth, coating the tastebuds. The flavor held the sweetness and the coffee/chocolate and evidenced a bit of hops bitterness.