Summit Brewing Co.
St. Paul, MN

They Say: "Porter was once the most popular beer in the British Empire. One taste of the dark, yet surprisingly light-bodied beer’s malty character and sweet finish will have you singing “God Save the Queen.”

We Say: Alright, so this beer wasn’t one that blew my mind, but it was good. It’s a nearly opaque reddish-black beer with an aroma of roasted malts and spicy hops. It tasted lightly roasted with a light chocolate sweetness and a bit of bitter hops. It finished light and clean. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this beer. I would drink it again. So why was I struggling to categorize my feelings about this beer? As I contemplated this, my wife walked by and gave it a taste. She’s not a dark beer drinker but she loved it. She said it looked dark but didn’t taste like a dark beer. Then it hit me. At the end of the day, porters aren’t about being big and bold and in your face. They were designed to be the perfect every-man’s beer. That’s what Summit has crafted here: the perfect every-man’s beer. Truly what a porter should be.

Photo by: Joe Szebeni - True Image Photography

Oso Brewing Co.
Plover, WI

They Say: "This complex Oatmeal porter is as black as coal that fueled locomotives for generations Made with judicious amounts of crystal and chocolate malt for a rich, smooth, creamy experience. Go ahead and jump on the night train. Enjoy!"

We Say: Night Train is a black, opaque colored porter with a thick tan head that left great lacing in my glass. The mouth feel was creamy and smooth. Both the aroma and taste were dominated by roasted coffee notes. There is a subtle floral aspect to the aroma as well. The beer finishes with a light bite of hops and a surprising dryness. It’s a big beer that doesn’t really seem so big. It’s what being a porter is all about.

Photo by: Joe Szebeni - True Image Photography

Founders Brewing Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

They Say: "Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter."

We Say: This one poured out Black as coal with a deep, dark caramel colored head. This one was so creamy, smoky and malty I was starting to wonder why it wasn’t just categorized as a stout. Okay, I am still wondering. Maybe they really subscribe to the notion that there is no stout, only porter. It’s a damn good beer with plenty of roasted malts and light toffee flavor. It’s balanced with just a tiny taste of hops. Delicious!

Photo by: Joe Szebeni - True Image Photography

Ale Asylum
Madison, WI

They Say: "Our porter is dark in color yet soft on the palate. English chocolate malts give it a complex, rich flavor wrapped in a silky smooth finish."

We Say: I tasted over a dozen different porters from all over the world in preparation for this article. This porter from a small brewery just west of here turned out to be my favorite of the bunch. Go figure. It has a satisfying, full body taste, yet its light in mouth feel with just the right amount of hops to balance its robust roasted flavor. If you’re looking for a great porter, don’t look any further. I did that for you.

Photo by: Joe Szebeni - True Image Photography