Stone Brewing Smoked Porter

Stone Smoked Porter, a year-round release from Stone Brewing, poured an almost inpenetrable dark brown, topped with a thick tan head that was surprisingly short on lacing.  The nose carried forward notes of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee with only a hint of smoke.

Stone Smoked Porter opened light and well carbonated for such a dark beer, with a pleasant amount of smoke, capturing the campfire taste without getting into meaty Rauch territory.  The subtle smoke quickly faded to a respectable coffee-like middle before trailing into a bakers chocolate fade.  Throughout, notes of fruits and herbs make brief appearances without managing to settle and there is little to no hop flavor to detect.