Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Today’s Stouts and Porters

Stoutly Going Where No Beer Has Gone Before

Porter

Porter was originally an English, specifically London, dark beer style that was the drink of the masses―probably named for the laborers who carried burdens and packages. Porters are red-brown to black in color, medium to medium-full bodied, and characterized by a flavor profile that can vary from very subtle dark malts to fully roasted, smoky flavors. Being a centuries-old style, there are differences of opinion with regard to what a “true” porter was actually like and there can be wide variations from one brewer’s interpretation to the next. Roasted malt should provide the flavoring character, rather than roasted barley as is used with stouts. Stronger, darker versions (“robust” porter) and lighter more delicate versions (“brown” porter) are equally valid manifestations of the style. The influence of hops can often be notable in the richer craft brewed examples of the style. Although porter was the drink of the masses in 1700s London, it fell out of favor, and is only now seeing a resurgence, with a few outstanding English examples in production. In the United States, it is enjoying new-found popularity among U.S. craft brewers and many fine U.S. examples are produced.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

93 Taddy Porter, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (England). 5% ABV (1/10)
Deep mahogany brown color. Mild baker’s chocolate and whole nut aromas follow through on a soft, supple entry to a dry light-to-medium body with subtle root vegetable and mild earth hop notes on the gentle, relaxed finish. A very traditional, old and new ale blended-style porter that is perfect for session or mild food.

93 Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (OH). 5.8% ABV (1/11)
Dark brown color. Bright chocolate, honeycomb and cherry butter aromas and flavors with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, rich coffee, pumpernickel, roasted nut and water chestnut-accented finish. Excellent balance, vitality and style.

93 Black Butte Porter, Deschutes Brewery (OR). 5.2% ABV (1/10)
Deep brown color. Pleasant chocolate-covered cherry and apple and nougat aromas have a nice layer of spice and follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium with creamy cappuccino notes and a tangy, bitter hops driven finish. A nicely balanced, hoppier style.

92 Old Growler Porter, Nethergate Brewery (England). 5.5% ABV (1/11)
Deep reddish brown color. Dark cocoa and roasted coffee bean aromas with a dry, supple medium body and a smooth, lightly roasted grain and nut wafer finish. Great purity, balance and sessionability; a paragon of porter.

92 Chelsea Moylan’s Porter, Moylan’s Brewing Co. (CA). 5.1% ABV (1/10)
Very dark brown color with a superfine, light tan mouse. Rich melted toffee and sweaty cheese aromas follow through on a supple, foamy entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with chocolate-covered raisin and salted nut notes. Finishes with an astringent citrus seltzer and dark nut toast-accented fade.

91 Point Reyes Porter, Marin Brewing Co. (CA). 6% ABV (1/10)
Dark brown color. Buttery chocolate-covered Rice Crispy bar aromas follow through on a soft, round entry to a balanced, dryish medium body with good depth and a mildly astringent baker’s chocolate, mocha and date notes. Finishes with a long, lingering citrus and cocoa fade. Very tasty.

91 Midnight Sun Porter, Williams Bros. Brewing Co. (Scotland). 5.6% ABV (1/09)
Opaque black brown color. Deeply spicy aromas of cocoa, herbal bark and fresh peat follow through on a rich, round entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with coriander and dried citrus notes prominent. Finishes with a long, cocoa spice fade with a mossy earthiness underneath. Very interesting; pair with wild pig or traditional Christmas pudding.

90 Old Grind Porter, Etna Brewing Co. (CA). 5.09% ABV (1/11)
Deep reddish mahogany color. Dark roasted coffee, chocolate yogurt, pine needle, dried orange blossom aromas with a chewy, dryish medium-to-full body and salty, lightly smoky roasted root vegetable, bean dip and earth-accented finish. A savory, food tuned porter that will be great with ham and gruyère on pumpernickel sandwiches.

90 Meantime London Porter, Meantime Brewing Company (England). 6.5% ABV (1/11)
Reddish mahogany color. Ground coffee, chocolate soufflè, dark raisin toast and faint caramelized carrot aromas with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a round, mocha, dusty starfruit and riverstone-accented finish. A very nice sipper or food beer. Try with chili con carne.

90 Bad Elmer’s Porter, Upland Brewing (IN). 5% ABV (1/11)
Deep brown color. Rich chocolate cream cookie and mocha aromas with a round, supple, dryish medium body and a long dark roasted nut, burnt toast and delicate grassy earth-accented finish. Very nicely styled.

88 Porter, Narragansett Brewing Company (RI). 7% ABV (1/11)
Opaque brown with a lacy taupe head. Aggressively vegetal hop aromas reminiscent of sautèed radicchio, white asparagus and bean dip with a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a very smooth, dark chocolate mousse, dark raisin toast and grapefruit soufflé-accented finish. Intriguingly hoppy and different.

88 Old-Style Porter, St. Peter’s Brewery (England). 5.1% ABV (1/11)
Deep brown color. Aromas of chocolate and honey-drizzled cherry and pear with a supple, dryish medium body and a toasted grain, nut, chocolate coffee bean and earth-accented finish. A dry, highly sessionable porter.

88 Mr. George’s Ruby Porter, Batemans (England). 5% ABV (1/10)
Enticing aromas of caramelized and chocolate-covered pears and nuts follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with graceful balanced flavors and a earthy, grassy hop and toasted baguette-accented fade. A delicious session porter or table companion.

87 Walker’s Reserve Porter, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (CA). 5.9% ABV (1/10)
Mahogany brown. Mild roasted nut and coffee aroma have an odd rubber band note and follow through on a supple entry to a dry light-to-medium body with pleasing roasted grain and root vegetable notes. Finishes with a crisp, nut and baked citrus-accented fade.

87 Ten Pin Porter, Ska Brewing Co. (CO). 6% ABV (1/11)
Brown color. Aromas of chocolate, succotash and crackers with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, vegetal, baked citrus and earthy hop driven finish. A nicely balanced, hop-forward porter.

87 Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.8% ABV (1/11)
Deep reddish brown with a fine tan mousse. Rich inviting aromas of dark chocolate -drizzled dried cherries and apricots and molasses with a supple, frothy medium-to-full body and a smooth, dark toast and roasted nut finish. Very tasty and appetizing.

87 Mission Point Porter, North Peak Brewing Co. (MI). 5.4% ABV (1/09)
Deep mahogany brown color with a reddish tint. Chocolate soufflé and toasted nut aromas follow through on a very crisp entry to a frothy medium body with notes of molasses and malt vinegar. Finishes with a tangy, angular, dried citrus and unsweetened chocolate fade. Almost lager-like in its vibrancy; should match nicely with grilled meats.

87 McGuire’s Porter, McGuire’s Irish Pub & Brewery (FL). 5.7% ABV (1/11)
Reddish brown color. Rich baked and dried tropical fruit and toffee aromas with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a smooth, creamy milk chocolate-mocha mousse finish. A nice quaffer.

86 Oatmeal Porter, Carolina Brewery (NC). 5.6% ABV (1/10)
Brown amber color. Chocolate-covered citrus and nut aromas have a whiff of porridge and follow through on a round entry to a dryish medium body with the emphasis on cocoa and dark roasted nut notes. Finishes with a tangy, dried citrus-accented fade.

85 Poplar Porter, Northwoods Brewing Corp. LLC (WI). 4.5% ABV (1/11)
Deep reddish brown color. Melted chocolate and leafy green vegetal hop aromas, with a soft, breezy, dryish light-to-medium body and lightly burnt toast, nut, jicama and wafer notes with a pleasant mildly astringent finish. A nice, lighter and rather U.K. session-styled porter.

85 Old Leghumper Porter, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. (OH). 6.7% ABV (1/10)
Rich melted toffee aromas follow through on a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with chocolate-covered espresso bean and dried fruit notes. Finishes with a tangy, grilled citrus and toasted nut fade. Nice.

84 Stegmaier Porter, The Lion Brewery (PA). 5.2% ABV (1/10)
Dark brown black almost opaque color. Dense aromas of chocolate fondue and toffeed nuts follow through on a round entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with espresso bean and tart citrus peel notes. Finishes with a crisp, tangy earthly hop laced finish. A very nice food beer to serve with grilled meats.

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