The porter style originated in England as the popular preference of the porters who worked in the shipyards. The style, an ale, is commonly dated to the mid-to-early 1700s. Porter is often confused with stout, which is also an ale, because of its similarly dark appearance. But porters can range from brown to deep black, a result of the chocolate or smoked brown malts that are used in brewing. Hints of roast can be found in some porters, but generally, hoppiness is moderate. In the U.S. the porter style nearly vanished when, after Prohibition, light-bodied lagers grew popular. Homebrewers and small craft-beer makers are credited with reviving this traditional brew of the laboring classes. Today, for our Wednesday beer flight, we’re focusing on porters. Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Porter awaits.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Porter
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
5.2% ABV
Deschutes Brewery named its porter after a stratovolcano in the Deschutes National Forest near its brewery in Bend, Oregon. While there, grab a fresh pint of one of the loveliest porters in the country. The aroma bears a hint of nuttiness, followed by the unmistakable smells of rich yet soft milk chocolate. Black Butte Porter is slightly bitter in the first sip but mellows out with a chocolate and roasted finish. As creamy and chocolaty as it should be, this is the porter all other porters strive to be.
Crux PCT Porter
5.5% ABV
The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, covering more than 2,600 miles along the way. On average, it takes thru-hikers about five months to complete the trek. Most hikers start in the south, and by the time they make it into Oregon, they’ve built up a mighty powerful thirst. Enough PCT hikers stop in Bend, Oregon for a shower, a civilized meal and craft beer that Crux Fermentation Project decided to brew PCT Porter just for them and the organization that supports the hikers, Pacific Crest Trail Association. Kick off the hiking boots, pull one of these out of our cooler and enjoy this velvety, chocolate porter with a small bitter bite at the back.
Reuben’s Brews Robust Porter
5.9% ABV
When Reuben’s Brews opened in the summer of 2012, they had five beers on tap. Despite the August heat, one of those beers quickly found favor with the friends, neighbors, and craft beer enthusiasts who turned up for our public debut: Robust Porter. It’s remained in their lineup ever since and is now one of their five everyday favorites available year-round. In 2023, the judges at the Great American Beer Festival chose it as one of their favorites, awarding this beer a silver medal in the Robust Porter category. Reuben’s founder Adam Robbings developed his Robust Porter recipe using British malts particular to Windsor, about 25 miles west of London, where he grew up. Eight different grains are used to create this multiple award-winning beer, pouring a deep brown with a creamy tan head like it has some weight. Roast malts are the star in both aroma and flavor that’s nutty and slightly sweet with an espresso bitterness balanced by a touch of creamy vanilla, chocolate, and caramel sweetness, without being cloying or off putting.
ForeLand Caverns Robust Porter
6.5% ABV
Utilizing six different high-quality malts, including oats, ForeLand Beer’s Caverns has big flavors of rich chocolate, cold brew coffee, and biscuits.
Sig Robust Porter
7.7% ABV
This British-style robust porter is brewed with United Kingdom grown base and specialty malts and hops. The grain bill creates the layers of distinct flavors — not a one-dimensional malt flavor but instead a cacophony of roast maltiness full of bitter chocolate and coffee flavors.
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