This porter marks my first beer from South Dakota, brought back with my best friend on a recent trip to the Black Hills. It opens with sweet aromas of caramel, cold brewed coffee, roasted barley, a hint of vanilla, and milk chocolate. The palate begins silky with malted milk balls that pair up with coffee and a light dose of sweetness. Hops then thrust forward with mild bitterness, carrying an herbal/citric character that elevates the body enough to transition smoothly into a tart blackberry highlight to finish. The feel is thin at first, but as it develops it grows more wet and rich, almost semi-dry in closing. I quite like this porter, and I think they’ve done a good job crafting it. The range of flavor from sweet to bitter to tart is all in good balance. I would purchase this again, and I recommend picking this up if you’re ever in that neck of the woods.

6.0%

40 IBU

Spearfish, South Dakota

This robust porter was a gold medal winner at GABF in ‘02. Aromas are roasty with hints of chocolate and caramel malt and a mild grainy accent. The flavor profile begins with bittersweet chocolate, then dries out to expose a black malt character with hints of coffee. For the finish, hops touch lightly on orange peel, and a mild leafy hop character. The hop flavor is actually quite subdued, so I’m guessing it’s of British origin. This allows for a more minimal impact on the flavor of the malt, while providing just the right amount of bitterness. The chocolate/coffee tradeoff is perfect, and so is the balance of bitter and sweet. Mouth feel is medium-low in body, somewhat thin, perfectly carbonated, and creamy. This is a stunning example of a proper porter. I’d say it’s practically perfect, but they’re definitely playing it safe in keeping it simple. There’s always room for improvement, but I highly recommend it.

5.8%

? IBU

Cleveland, Ohio

This double stout is brewed with real vanilla and coffee beans provided by San Diego coffee roaster, Caffe Calabria. It pours with enticing aromas of warm french vanilla, roasted coffee beans, and dark roasted malt. This is an exceptional, unique beer which is neither too sweet nor too heavy.

The palate begins with a bold base of viscous malt, chocolate merges with orange and mint flavored hops that enter midway with a bright menthol accent, then slowly dries out into roasted coffee. Vanilla gets its opportunity to come forward on the finish to highlights the roasted espresso and chocolate malt, ending off with a dash of pine oil. The malt is dark roasted, but not quite burnt. There is an immaculate sense of balance between bittersweet chocolate, espresso, and vanilla bean. Malt comes out on top, but do a dance with hops and trade off in good rhythm. Alcohol imparts black berry flavors which combine with hop flavors for a very positive effect.

The body is a bit chewy, creamy smooth, and the alcohol gives a sort of slickness with slow warmth. Despite being 10% it drinks more like an 8% because the body is surprisingly light. Though the mouth feel falls a tad short, the flavor makes up for it. Like most complex beers, the flavor does actually improve as it warms so don’t be afraid to let that baby come down to room temperature. Highly recommended.

10.0%

? IBU

San Diego, California

This is a more robust, roasty, and slightly more aggressive version of a porter with a good bit of complexity. It’s also Deschutes flagship brew, meaning that they sell more of this offering than any other. Aromas are rich with roasted barley and chocolate. The palate also consists primarily of chocolate, with a dash of raw coffee beans, then a kiss of caramel sweetness on the back end. Things finish off with a nice roasty dryness combined with light sweetness. An earthy, herbal hop character with an orange twist leaves with a satisfying tart finish.

Mouth feel is super creamy and smooth, leveled out by rising carbonation. Drinkability is high, it isn’t too bitter or sweet and everything comes together perfectly. Black Butte is just an all around great porter, an exemplary rendition of the style. These guys know how to work their barley in a way other breweries just don’t get. Now this is a proper porter, ladies and gentleman. Recommended.

Malt: Pale, Carapils, Chocolate, Crystal, Wheat

Hops: Cascade, Bravo, Tettnang

5.2%

30 IBU

Bend, Oregon

This porter pours a hefty, long-lasting head. It displays clear aromas of chocolate, caramel, and pale malts. Following in tradition, there is a strong emphasis on malted chocolate milk held over a super creamy, light body. A surprising thinness, almost watered down feel is just too light to dig into. Sweetness is well-maintained by a mildly dry hop finish, which add moderate citric notes to liven up the palate a bit. However, it presents no frills, following a standard approach on palate, not missing the mark but certainly never pushing any boundaries. A solid porter is hard to come by, and this one is just one more to add to the ‘just okay’ pile. I don’t recommend it…there are better options out there, and I find very little that sets this apart from the others.

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel Malts

Hops: Centennial, Golding

6.2%

25 IBU

Atlanta, Georgia

I am reviewing this particular porter mostly because its brewed here where I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. The aroma hints at vanilla with a pleasant grainy bread character over chocolate. The palate slides in smooth with chocolate malt and a dash of cocoa over lightly burnt toast. Hops bring in a particularly orange citric flavor and a mild bitterness. It’s medium-light in body and easily sessionable. The emphasis on a dark, almost smoked roast is more of a stout approach. It isn’t a disappointment, but it fails to impress me.

6.24%

? IBU

Little Rock, Arkansas

This porter is creamy and malt based, focusing on milk chocolate. Like any proper porter, roasted barley is the emphasis with very minimal hop interference. Malt character is slightly nutty, with hints of toffee. Hops add a mild grassy, minty character…sort of a chocolate mint twist. The body comes across frothy and milky smooth. Overall, I find this a pretty straight-forward porter that stays true to guidelines. Not the most outstanding style choice in my experience, but well worth the try. Recommended.

5.6%

? IBU

Kalamazoo, Michigan

This is really an imperial porter if there actually were such a category. Deschutes takes their amazing porter recipe, ages the beer, adds dates and figs, and artisinal dark chocolate nibs for layers of rich chocolate. The aroma is heavy with fig, vanilla, dark chocolate, brown sugar, and toast in such an outstanding way. The palate opens up silky and fruity with date and fig paired with a sour cherry accent. Chocolate and cocoa begin their layering process in a crescendo of deep, rich character. After it’s reached its final depth it dries out heavily for a bitter finish. Hops play a citric role, though they seem to stay clear when emphasis is given to malt, so there’s an interesting balance happening. It’s very roasty in a burnt toast sort of way, and is most certainly chocolate based. Finer notes of anise, light bourbon, acrid coffee, molasses, and other dark fruits lie in the underbelly. Despite the high alcohol, it drinks quite easily.

Deschutes really know how to work with malt, and hops are never forgotten in this semi-bitter, semi-sweet chocolate roasted brew. I enjoyed the fruity spin on this hybrid double. It has Russian Imperial qualities, but still remains a porter at heart. I think it takes some consideration and pondering, but the complexity is by no means off the charts. Another solid beer from a solid brewery. Get it while it’s around this fall. Recommended.

11.0%

60 IBU

Bend, Oregon

This English style porter opens up with a nice chocolate aroma. In flavor, hops jump in quickly, making for a combinatory chocolate and pine mix. It tastes like cola, with hints of licorice, and some dark fruit. A sweet, lightly smokey roasted barley malt is dominant, with a touch of hop bitterness to balance. Malt comes across a bit nutty and buttery. The feel comes across quite soft and light, while not quite creamy (perhaps due to understated carbonation). It finishes with a somewhat tangy, acidic sourness.

Overall, this is an interesting porter that you’ll find is different from the American porters you’re probably used to. The feel is different and some English twang spins the malt flavors from roasty, to smoky, to sweet, and then tangy. However, the feel is really lacking and the body is just not where it should be. Not recommended.

Malts: Pale 2-row, Crystal, Chocolate, Munich, Wheat

Hops: Magnum, US Goldings

6.4%

35 IBU

Longmont, Colorado

“New World Porter.” The name is perfect for this dry-hopped porter. A good amount of piney hop oils attack the tongue right off the bat. Then it mellows out for the finish where the dark roasted barley comes in. The malt is of a bitter coffee roast base with a sweet caramel accent. The successful way the dark malt merges with pine hops, the creamy though viscous feel, and a decent drinkability make for an overall well made beer. Not too thick, not too thin, just right.

This is a shift from tradition, but they really pull it off. It’s my go-to porter. My taste typically leans toward hoppy, so I appreciate this well hopped porter. Nicely done. Recommended

6.7%

? IBU

Boulder, Colorado