-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Black Butte Porter
Deschutes Brewery
- From:
- Deschutes Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
Ranked #14 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,619 - Avg:
- 4.17 | pDev: 10.55%
- Reviews:
- 1,721
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 14, 2024
- Added:
- Aug 24, 2001
- Wants:
- 547
- Gots:
- 1,802
Bold reputation. Soft disposition. Surprising Balance. Behold an iconic and unexpectedly complex porter that’s more than meets the eye.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Anacross:
Rated by Anacross from Oregon
5/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Nov 08, 2014
5/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Nov 08, 2014
More User Ratings:
Rated by Thegentlemandrinker
4.24/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Deep dark color. Rich taste with nice not overbearing hoppy taste. Taste mostly of coffee with a slight chocolate flavor.
Feb 26, 2024Rated by Rwoodroffe
3.52/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.52/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Great dark color with a brown head. With is strong roasted earthy notes
Feb 11, 2024Reviewed by jgido759 from New Jersey
3.42/5 rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Draft poured into a shaker pint. Minimal head on a deep, dark color beer that disappeared rather quickly. Aroma is of dark chocolate. Taste follows nose, along with a slight coffee flavor with minimal bitterness. Overall, to me it is everything a porter should be.
Jan 14, 2024Reviewed by AlfromPA from Colorado
3.9/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
An outstanding porter; one certainly cannot fault it for lacking flavor. It has fine body, a very dark color, and wonderful aroma. However for my taste it is just too bitter. The bitterness quickly overwhelms the other flavors. This may just be a question of personal taste; others may find it not that bitter, or like the bitterness.
Jan 02, 2024Reviewed by HerrOneous from Ohio
3.88/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a 12-ounce bottle, pours a very dark brown with deep ruby highlights at the edge of the glass. Thick fizzy tan head simmering down to a thin glaze with slightly more pronounced ring. Smells of bread, coffee, and dark chocolate. First taste is burnt, bitter coffee backed by moderate hop bitterness. This is followed by a more balanced bittersweet chocolate then finishes more dry and roasty. Medium body with moderate carbonation. This is one of my favorites.
Dec 26, 2023Reviewed by klarcbarr3 from Michigan
4.19/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L= Black Butte is a black beaut! dark black body, with a one inch tan head that fades, carbonation is strong enough to continue to leave ample lacing. Textbook porter looks.
S= scent of smoke, earth, malt, bread, and faint hops. Pleasant and mild, with only the smoke having a substantial presence.
T= The taste is more robust than the smell. Here the smoke is balance nicely with malt, coffee notes, and hops. A salty aftertaste lingers. Delicious!
F= rides the cusp of watery and sticky beautifully, goes down nice and easy.
O= This is an elegant, well crafted porter without tricks or surprises. Descutes Black Butte may best my previous favorites by Founders and Great Lakes... time will tell. Recommended!
Dec 22, 2023S= scent of smoke, earth, malt, bread, and faint hops. Pleasant and mild, with only the smoke having a substantial presence.
T= The taste is more robust than the smell. Here the smoke is balance nicely with malt, coffee notes, and hops. A salty aftertaste lingers. Delicious!
F= rides the cusp of watery and sticky beautifully, goes down nice and easy.
O= This is an elegant, well crafted porter without tricks or surprises. Descutes Black Butte may best my previous favorites by Founders and Great Lakes... time will tell. Recommended!
Reviewed by ThommyBhoy from Pennsylvania
4.55/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.55/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I just put a keg of this on tap in my basement bar. I love this beer. While I am admittedly bias towards porters and stouts, I can absolutely understand why this is so highly rated. It is a fantastic example of American porter. What I like best is it is very drinkable. Full and satisfying without being so filling that you quit after one. Price is SO reasonable for a beer of this quality. I can definitely see this being a staple in my taps.
Dec 17, 2023Rated by MikeK1521
4.25/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A great beer for those cold dark Winter nights!
Nov 26, 2023Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada
2.75/5 rDev -34.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.75/5 rDev -34.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
While the dark complexion and rich roasted smell are outstanding, the taste is WAY too sweet for me. The feel is almost syrupy. I do not like sweet beers so perhaps my judgement is biased, but I would not buy another six pack of this beer again.
Nov 22, 2023Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.69/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.69/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L- Superficially black, but as often veeery dark ruby red when held to the light. Small patch of tan foam clearing - likely this hotel glass has been over-cleaned and is a gas-killer 3.5
S- Some roastiness, plus some minor richness. 3.75
T- Follows the smell. Quite deep charred roasty aspect; it certainly a punchy taste for an average ABV% non-hop-bomb black. Then there is a subtle background minor sweet note... that feels slightly out of place or artificial. Hope not, that was just sip#1. Sip#2, there is a quite bright hoppy-dry note into the finish. [5 mins later >] Now the beer has warmed a touch from hard-chilled, that sweet note blends into obscurity. 3.75
F- Feels well carbonated in the mouth. Don't overchill it, it opens up more from fridge cold. 3.75
O- Pleasant beer. I'd probably drink it again (if offered), tho not buy it at $$Singapore prices. 3.5
Bought from Beerforce, Singapore S$8.50. 330ml can 'PKG on 02/02/23' at base of can.
Oct 31, 2023S- Some roastiness, plus some minor richness. 3.75
T- Follows the smell. Quite deep charred roasty aspect; it certainly a punchy taste for an average ABV% non-hop-bomb black. Then there is a subtle background minor sweet note... that feels slightly out of place or artificial. Hope not, that was just sip#1. Sip#2, there is a quite bright hoppy-dry note into the finish. [5 mins later >] Now the beer has warmed a touch from hard-chilled, that sweet note blends into obscurity. 3.75
F- Feels well carbonated in the mouth. Don't overchill it, it opens up more from fridge cold. 3.75
O- Pleasant beer. I'd probably drink it again (if offered), tho not buy it at $$Singapore prices. 3.5
Bought from Beerforce, Singapore S$8.50. 330ml can 'PKG on 02/02/23' at base of can.
Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
6687 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!