Sea Dog Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter

Brewed by Sea Dog Brewing (Shipyard Brewing Co.)
Style: Porter
Topsham, Maine USA

Pours a dark dark brown with a thick, fluffy, stable tan head. Smells of roasted malts, and light caramel, but sort of had a wierd metallic smell to it as well that took away from it a bit. Taste was pretty good though. Very roasty, with some burnt chocolate, caramel, wood, and smoky malts. Not a bad porter at all, and pretty impressive from the brewery. Pretty easy drinking, could use a little more body as its kind of light but i’d drink it again.

I absolutely did not expect anything from this beer considering the few cents I paid for it and thinking it was a contract brew for Trader Joe’s. I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually quite drinkable. Nice hazelnut aroma and taste which dominated throughout. Much more than I assumed this caliber of beer to possess. Body and mouthfeel were uninspiring, but, again, I’m not expecting too much for such an economical beer. Just enough malt presence to assert itself, although still a bit weak, and the choice of hops I did not care for as they seemed not work against the hazelnut character. Not bad and a bit uninspiring, but I’d say if you happen by a Trader Joe’s give it a try as it’s hazelnut presence is quite a bit more dominant than others I’ve tried.

bottle: the aroma is very hazelnut, it has a chocolate colour with a thick off white head that lingers. taste starts a liltle bitter but finishes nutty and very smooth. also a very happy palate on this one

This is a true enigma beer. Its got an unbelievable smell of the hazel nuts. But after the first sip an unpleasant bitter taste comes at first taste. Still if you have a weakness for hazelnuts, this porter will leave you happy

2006 x-mas gift from Amy. pours dark brown with a huge tan head that takes up 2/3 of the glass. the head settles down quickly and sticks around forever. aroma mostly frangelico and piney green hops. aroma doesnt blend to well. sweet hazelnut flavor with a hint of chocolate and spicy piney hops in the background. bitter spicy piney finish with a bit of chocolate and nuts. thin and fizzy. interesting beer...just not done very well.

12 oz bottle into an English Pint glass. Pours a mily dark brown to black color with a tan head. The aroma is incredibly sweet in the artificial hazlenut field with a bit of dark chocolate roastiness inside it. The flavor is better than expected. Starting in a sweet dark malt world, it brings out a fairly sweet hazlenut roasted sense before pushing into a lightly bittered hop and tiny coffeeish end. Kind of roasted/burnt aftertaste. Much better than expected, though I’m still not one for artificial flavoring.

Pours a clear, dark mahogany (more red than brown) with a khaki head that is thick but appears a little oily when it settles. Aroma of chocolaty breakfast cereals (like Cocoa Puffs and Cocoa Krispies) before a stronger roastiness pushes through. Flavor also finds a background of chocolate, but the fore is all burnt and nutty tasting. Could be hazelnut... hard to tell.

<font size=-4>Single 12 oz. bottle from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/><a href=http://www.traderjoes.com/index.html>Tr Joe’s, Orland Park, IL 60462</font>

Bottles. Billowy froth laden dark tan head. Aroma roasty malt. Flavor was akin to a brown nut ale more than a porter. Definitely full bodied mouth feel. Nice dry crisp roast hazelnut aftertaste. Very enjoyable. I’d drink it again.