Rock Art Double Smoked Porter

Brewed by Rock Art Brewery
Style: Smoked
Morrisville, Vermont USA

(Bottle). Definite caramel aroma, with detectable smoke. Deep dark reddish brown color, creamy light tan head. Flavor surely shades toward the smokey-meat, although a bit of standard porter bitterness makes itself known. If there’s chocolate, it’s of the dark bittersweet variety. Very lengthy smoked finish, subtly bitter.

22-oz bottle received via trade with 46er3498. Pours black with an average, rocky, light brown head, mostly lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (chocolate, nutty, toasted grain, caramel), light hops (herbs), average yeast (leather) with notes of smoke, charcoal, and wood. Medium bodied, oily texture, lively carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, moderate sweetness and bitterness, light acidity.

A cross-style between a baltic porter and a smoked. The smoked is there all right, and nicely done, better drunk with food. It is IBU 60 so it is hoppy and bitter, and the Baltic sourness is deeper background. A bomber best shared, but drinkable.

22 oz bottle, from BA beertruth. Pours a clear mahogany brown body with a tight bubbled foamy light beige head. Very good retention. It certainly has the nose of a Porter, but I’m really not getting a whole lot of Smoked. Just chocolate and roast with a bit of chalky dryness. The flavor has a little hint of smoke that comes out very late in the finish, but even at that it’s more of an ashy taste rather than campfire smokiness. There’s lots of roast and a fairly hefty bitterness from both the hops and the malt. Finishes with some lingering char and leafy green hops. Medium bodied with a mouth coating slightly syrupy texture. Moderate fizzy carbonation. Overall, this was drinkable for the most part, but the slightly harsh bitterness was getting to me by the end of the bottle. This probably shouldn’t be lumped in with the Smoked category at all.

This dark beer with a quickly dissipating tan head is not overly smokey. I actually expected more smoke flavour and was pleasantly surprised that the smoke is balanced with fine malt and hop flavours.

22oz bottle. Beautiful brown appearance. Very nice smoke aroma. Not overly smoked, it’s just right. Great malt presence. Chalky, toasty. Best Rock Art I’ve had so far...

Date: 05/03/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear dark brown, wispy beige head, streaks of drippy lace,
Aroma: smoked chocolate aroma with a touch of dark caramel sweetness,
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, lots of smoke character leaves with an earthy bitterness, caramel sweetness enrichens the chocolate, long bitter finish rises out of the smoke

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **4

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark reddish-brown body with a teeny, tiny beige head. Smell: Somewhat meaty-smelling aroma of smoked licorice, dark malts, and anywhere from two to four prunes. Taste: Overall meaty taste. Smokey, caramelly maltiness is mildly sweet. Dash of bitter herbs. Herbal bitterness. Bitterish, smokey finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: No, thank you. One day I’ll find that Rock Art beer that truly captures my heart. One day, friends!