Important Porter Beers

Porter is a dark beer characterized by its near-black color, and chocolate, bittersweet taste. Some breweries add berries, licorice, or caramel to the beer to add sweetness and variety. Here are some top choices for those that wish to try this flavorful beer.

1) Anchor Porter, Anchor Brewing Company. This beer pours nice and dark with a light coffee, almost molasses taste. The head remains thick. The taste lingers, and fades from roast into the light toffee flavor. Definitely a beer to sip slowly, and savor. Very creamy, but not heavy. Depending on preference, some say this porter is on the sweet side.

2) Breckenridge Vanilla Porter. This spicy-herb beer contains flavoring from real vanilla beans. The color is a deep, rich brown. The roasted nut flavor of the porter gives way to a hint of vanilla with each taste. Smooth, and not heavy.

3) Benchwarmer Porter, Cooperstown Brewing. This is a drier brew with a very smooth taste. It is 4% chocolate malt which lends to the coffee flavoring. Very filling.

4) Founders Porter, Founders Brewery. This is a very easy drink. It has a thin mouthfeel. The head fades quickly after the pour, with minimal lacing. The flavor is of roasted malt flavor, with some slight bitterness in the finish.

5) Black Butte Porter, Deschutes Brewery. True to its name, this beer is black. Chocolate flavored and hoppy, this sweet beer is very drinkable. Surprisingly light. Creamy mouthfeel.

6) Publican Porter, Short's Brewing Company. This porter is a bit on the sweet side, but very drinkable. Medium bodied and aromatic, this porter pours very dark, nearly black. Filled with hints of caramel and licorice.

7) Black Jack, Left Hand Brewing Co. This drink has a good mouthfeel, flavored with coca and espresso. Very light head. Moderately strong body. Good public porter.

8) Pipeline Porter, Kona Brewing Co. The addition of Kona coffee gives this brew a roasty aroma. It is a crisp beer with moderate carbonation. Good with desert, or just after dinner. If you don't care for coffee, don't try this one.

9) Edmund Fitzgerald, Great Lakes Brewing Co - One of the absolute best brews out there. There is a wonderful reddish tint to the pour, and a creamy, lacy head that sticks around. This porter is full of flavor with roasted malts, some smokiness, and a bitter finish. Very balanced, smooth and soothing to drink.

10) Baltika, Baltika Brewing Co. This is a very strong beer from Russia. The plum flavor makes one think of port wine while drinking. The head lasts. A sweet beer, this selection is excellent with red meats.

There are many, many more porters out there. Try them, and see what your own favorites are!