Sierra Nevada Porter

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Chico, California USA

Sampled from bottle @ the BevMo Mission Valley Friday beer tasting. Beer was served WAY too cold. Poured a very dark brown with a light beige head, minuscule. Toasted malt with a very light hop bitterness. I’ll have to try this beer again when it’s not moments from freezing.

In my oh-so-humble opinion, the beauty of a perfectly balanced, expressive, rich, smooth porter oft gets overlooked amidst the towering legacy of Guinness and the indomitable stout. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy a good stout, ut in a world of very few dark beers, the porter deserves a place in your fridge.
I have many favorite porters, but for today, the ever sublime Sierra Nevada Porter is taking up shelf space in my fridge and sitting pretty in my glass right next to me. Pouring a viscous dark brown, a small yet tight head forms as the last drop drips out of the squat, 12 oz bottle. The head doesn’t fully disappear, instead a thin layer of rests on top of the porter, coating the sides of the glass in beautiful Brussels lace as I drink. Each sip reveals layers of toasted nuts, rich malty sweetness, a light lemony zest which could be attributed to the hops with a medium body and smooth palate, the Sierra Nevada Porter goes down easy, leaving a lingering dryness on the middle of the tongue. In the nose I definitely smell more of the lemon zest which is very subtle itself in the porter. The rich toasted nuts, hint of raisins and sweet burnt maltiness makes the Sierra Nevada Porter simply melt in my mouth - bliss.

Bottle with dinner. Pours dark brown with thick head.. Aroma of chocolate, flavor of caramel, chocolate and toffee. Smooth and drinkable. Good beer!

12oz bottle served in an English pint glass. Pours dark brown with a big beige head. Smells of dusty chocolate and caramel. Nice balanced flavor with notes of dark chocolate and coffee, light bitterness. Nice head retention. Smooth on the palate with a very slight carbonation sting. Very good porter.

Nice deep ruby color from the caramel malt lovely full body, rich chocolate flavor well balanced bitterness from both the hops and roasted malt. good retention and lacing on off white head. Very good example of a standard porter.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown with a big off white head, lots of lacing. Nose isn’t too strong, but has roasted malt, chocolate, coffee. Taste is less coffee, but still plenty of malt and chocolate. Finish is lightly bitter. Mouth is smooth and creamy.

A smooth and very drinkable porter. There’s not much to be critical of here; This beer is strong in all characteristics. Nevertheless, it’s lacking something that I can’t quite put my finger on. Soul? Maybe. In any event it’s good, hearty, satisfying. Recommended.

Bottle @ Bar Code in Athens, GA. Was not disappointed with this unique porter. You wouldn’t think the citrusy taste that is Sierra Nevada’s trademark would go well with chocolate, but in this drink it works. Malty character with a noticeably chocolatey finish. Nice mouthfeel, not too thin but not too thick. Pretty tasty brew.