Beer Review: Yuengling Porter

I've had this on the docket for almost a year now. But between work and laziness I haven't gotten around to writing...well anything. But it's time to change that (as if I haven't said that more than a few times). For those on the West Coast or outside America entirely, the Yuengling Brewery is a bit different than most of the others that I've talked about before. For starters they're the oldest brewery in operation here in America. For another, they are, by and large, a macro brewer with fairly limited offerings and a large market that spans much of the country. But what they do offer is often a cut above anything offered by other macro breweries, and indicative of the old world quality that I'm so fond of.


Appearance: Very dark though some light does pass through it, leaving a faint oily hue of brown and deep red. Head is off white with nice, small tightly packed bubbles that sadly dissipate quickly, leaving only a few traces of lacing and a nice ring around the glass itself.

Courtesy of Whoisbrew.com

Nose: For a porter the hops are rather prevalent in the nose, along with the typical smells of roasted malt and toffee. Not noticeable alcohol here, as is typical for porters.

Taste: Some mild citrus hoppiness that is accompanied by a light sweetness from the roasted malt. A hint of toffee, as indicated by the nose and just a touch of brewers chocolate. The flavors all balance each other well and while the malt sweetness is dominate, it's not overpowering leaving a subtle blend on the tongue and roof of the mouth. Alcohol isn't found here either.

Mouth Feel: Moderate body with low carbonation. The bitterness of the hops is mild and washes away quickly, though the malt flavor tends to linger along with a smooth, almost milky, feeling along the roof of the mouth. It's almost as if someone made chocolate milk with heavy whipping cream. No noticeable alcohol here either.

Drinkablity: For a porter it's pretty high. I could easily see myself going through a 12 pack or more in a long evening, though the beer is just as suitable for a glass or two if one isn't into heavy drinking. The low alcohol, mild subtleness of flavor, and smooth mouth feel all make for a wonderful drinking experience.

Overall a fine beer for nearly any occasion and one I would highly recommend as a starter for those who want to try dark beer. If only I didn't have to drive to another state to get it.