Founders Porter | Founders Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Founders Brewing Company
Michigan, United States | website
Style: American Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No absence of hops gives Founders' robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect.
45 IBU
Added by BeerAdvocate on 02-11-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 1,565 | Ratings: 7,123
4.7/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance: Dark, dark, DARK. I don't think I've seen a darker beer. You expect a porter to be dark, but typically you can see some reddish hues and light at the edges - not so here. Evenly opaque from the middle all the way to the side of the glass.
Smell: Probably the weakest quality of the beer, Not bad, but not as aromatic as I would like. Definite coffee and chocolate, but subdued. It doesn't jump out of the glass and punch you in the nose.
Taste: Burnt bitterness from the roasted malts. Perfect balance of coffee and chocolate - neither overwhelms the other. There is some sweetness, but it's at the back-end - you have to stop and think about it to notice. Carmel starts to come through as it warms a bit. I don't detect any vanilla, which is fine with me. The most balanced porter I've had, and I've had a few.
Mouthfeel: Perfect. On the heavy side of medium-bodied, with the ideal amount of carbonation to cut through the stickiness. Slides down smooth and easy.
Drinkability: Way up there. I could (and have) easily consume a full six-pack over the course of a long evening. I know a lot of IPA fans think of this as a winter beer, or something that you have one bottle of before moving on to your regular session brew. For me this is as "sessionable" as anything out there. But I feel that way about any beer I like. You can't have too much until you know it's time to stop drinking anyway.
This is my undisputed #1 favorite beer, of any style. Makes the much praised Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald seem clumsy by comparison. Porters are my favorite type of beer anyway, and this beer is so far above all the others that it's in a class of it's own. If you like dark ales, and you can get this where you live, you NEED to buy a six-pack at the earliest opportunity. As near perfection as it's possible to be.
★ 1,874 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance: Dark, dark, DARK. I don't think I've seen a darker beer. You expect a porter to be dark, but typically you can see some reddish hues and light at the edges - not so here. Evenly opaque from the middle all the way to the side of the glass.
Smell: Probably the weakest quality of the beer, Not bad, but not as aromatic as I would like. Definite coffee and chocolate, but subdued. It doesn't jump out of the glass and punch you in the nose.
Taste: Burnt bitterness from the roasted malts. Perfect balance of coffee and chocolate - neither overwhelms the other. There is some sweetness, but it's at the back-end - you have to stop and think about it to notice. Carmel starts to come through as it warms a bit. I don't detect any vanilla, which is fine with me. The most balanced porter I've had, and I've had a few.
Mouthfeel: Perfect. On the heavy side of medium-bodied, with the ideal amount of carbonation to cut through the stickiness. Slides down smooth and easy.
Drinkability: Way up there. I could (and have) easily consume a full six-pack over the course of a long evening. I know a lot of IPA fans think of this as a winter beer, or something that you have one bottle of before moving on to your regular session brew. For me this is as "sessionable" as anything out there. But I feel that way about any beer I like. You can't have too much until you know it's time to stop drinking anyway.
This is my undisputed #1 favorite beer, of any style. Makes the much praised Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald seem clumsy by comparison. Porters are my favorite type of beer anyway, and this beer is so far above all the others that it's in a class of it's own. If you like dark ales, and you can get this where you live, you NEED to buy a six-pack at the earliest opportunity. As near perfection as it's possible to be.
★ 1,874 characters
3.35/5 rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
pours an opaque dark brown with spare fizzy tan head, spare lacing and soft to flat carbonation. which was weird because the taste had a bit of a soda like feel to it.nutty roasted coffee like smell with a taste much the same but has a bit of a harsh bitterness to it. medium to full body with a slick oily texture. finish is bitter with a bit of spicyness to it and average flavor duration. not really impressed.
★ 413 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
pours an opaque dark brown with spare fizzy tan head, spare lacing and soft to flat carbonation. which was weird because the taste had a bit of a soda like feel to it.nutty roasted coffee like smell with a taste much the same but has a bit of a harsh bitterness to it. medium to full body with a slick oily texture. finish is bitter with a bit of spicyness to it and average flavor duration. not really impressed.
★ 413 characters
4.5/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
One year old cellared bottle poured at cellar temp into a snifter.
Pours a hearty dark brown with no light passing through the glass. Thin creamy tan head of .5 cm foams up and fades gradually to a clingy edge layer and some islands.
Aroma is rich and malty with heavy roasted notes and some dark chocolate mixing on the nose.
First sip reveals a silky textured beer with mild spacious carbonation. Soft body but kind of thick give the beer some umph.
Flavor is as expected with rich roasted malt, some dark chocolate bar, a hint of molasses and no real hop presence. Alcohol is also hidden.
The beer is amazingly easy to drink and very enjoyable. I would like to be able to stock my everyday fridge with this beer, unfortunately it isnt available in CT. :(
★ 757 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
One year old cellared bottle poured at cellar temp into a snifter.
Pours a hearty dark brown with no light passing through the glass. Thin creamy tan head of .5 cm foams up and fades gradually to a clingy edge layer and some islands.
Aroma is rich and malty with heavy roasted notes and some dark chocolate mixing on the nose.
First sip reveals a silky textured beer with mild spacious carbonation. Soft body but kind of thick give the beer some umph.
Flavor is as expected with rich roasted malt, some dark chocolate bar, a hint of molasses and no real hop presence. Alcohol is also hidden.
The beer is amazingly easy to drink and very enjoyable. I would like to be able to stock my everyday fridge with this beer, unfortunately it isnt available in CT. :(
★ 757 characters
4.1/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
First time trying Founders porter, never been let down with a founders beer, so lets see how this one goes Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a 5 ounce sampler mug.
A- Pours s deep dark black with one fingers worth of mocha head that dissapated to a thin layer that stayed till the end.
S- Full of dark rich roasted malts with some coffee and sweet caramel tones. Smells good.
T- Roasted coffee with coffee like bitterness at the end. Very true to the style, nothing very unique here just classic porter flavors done very well.
M- Medium body, very creamy with the right amount of carbonation.
D- For its style i find it pretty drinkable, if i had another one i would drink it.
Overall this another great beer by founders, one of the better porters i have had, will for sure be picking this one up again.
★ 811 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
First time trying Founders porter, never been let down with a founders beer, so lets see how this one goes Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a 5 ounce sampler mug.
A- Pours s deep dark black with one fingers worth of mocha head that dissapated to a thin layer that stayed till the end.
S- Full of dark rich roasted malts with some coffee and sweet caramel tones. Smells good.
T- Roasted coffee with coffee like bitterness at the end. Very true to the style, nothing very unique here just classic porter flavors done very well.
M- Medium body, very creamy with the right amount of carbonation.
D- For its style i find it pretty drinkable, if i had another one i would drink it.
Overall this another great beer by founders, one of the better porters i have had, will for sure be picking this one up again.
★ 811 characters
4.32/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown a big brown head that reduces down to a still-substantial height with dimples dotting the foam. Aromas are predominately roasty with strong notes of dark chocolte truffles and tantalizing garnache. Big taste of sweetened cocoa up front, tons of expresso and roastiness on the midpalate. Finishes long on burnt sugar and a faint note of something like burnt fish (but maybe I'm just crazy). Leaves the mouth with a smoky taste minutes later. Body fills the mouth and saturate the senses. A wise choice for a luxurious digestive or a decadent nightcap.
★ 574 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown a big brown head that reduces down to a still-substantial height with dimples dotting the foam. Aromas are predominately roasty with strong notes of dark chocolte truffles and tantalizing garnache. Big taste of sweetened cocoa up front, tons of expresso and roastiness on the midpalate. Finishes long on burnt sugar and a faint note of something like burnt fish (but maybe I'm just crazy). Leaves the mouth with a smoky taste minutes later. Body fills the mouth and saturate the senses. A wise choice for a luxurious digestive or a decadent nightcap.
★ 574 characters
4.25/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to (busternuggz) for this!!
Look is phenomenal; dark, opaque, sexy, with a light mocha fingers worth of bubbly head.
The smell is perfect. Mild, roasted coffee, toffee, roasted, burnt malts with sultry dark chocolate and mild sweetness.
Taste is upfront dark roasted coffee. Some bitterness next, mostly from the coffee, and bittersweet chocolate...could be some very subtle hops.
The feel is a bit creamy, definitely smooth, but more medium bodied. I personally prefer a heavier feel to my porters, but do feel that this is a touch too thin.
Easy to put down, and immensity enjoyable the whole way through.
★ 619 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to (busternuggz) for this!!
Look is phenomenal; dark, opaque, sexy, with a light mocha fingers worth of bubbly head.
The smell is perfect. Mild, roasted coffee, toffee, roasted, burnt malts with sultry dark chocolate and mild sweetness.
Taste is upfront dark roasted coffee. Some bitterness next, mostly from the coffee, and bittersweet chocolate...could be some very subtle hops.
The feel is a bit creamy, definitely smooth, but more medium bodied. I personally prefer a heavier feel to my porters, but do feel that this is a touch too thin.
Easy to put down, and immensity enjoyable the whole way through.
★ 619 characters
4.22/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A bottle with my dad on his birthday.
A- a finger or so of khaki head from a steady pour. almost pitch black in color with a brown glow at the edges.
S- dark roasted coffee and bitter sweet chocolate. Touches of pumpernickle bread and brown sugar.
T- roasty and toasty with tons of coffee and bakers chocolate. Dark bread and burnt brown sugar.
M- a tick higher then medium in body with a light carb. Semi dry finish.
D- one hell of a porter for sure. Deep and roasty everything a porter should be.
★ 507 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A bottle with my dad on his birthday.
A- a finger or so of khaki head from a steady pour. almost pitch black in color with a brown glow at the edges.
S- dark roasted coffee and bitter sweet chocolate. Touches of pumpernickle bread and brown sugar.
T- roasty and toasty with tons of coffee and bakers chocolate. Dark bread and burnt brown sugar.
M- a tick higher then medium in body with a light carb. Semi dry finish.
D- one hell of a porter for sure. Deep and roasty everything a porter should be.
★ 507 characters
4.25/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz into SA Perfect Pint.
Special thanks to regspeir for this one
A- Pours a deep rich black, zero light can be seen through this one. One inch dark caramel head that dissipates slowly over the course of a couple minutes.
S- Roasted malts, vanilla, brown sugar, dark chocolate, bitter burnt coffee, raisins.
T- Roasted coffee (not nearly as bitter as the nose leads on) dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses and raisins.
M- Great carbonation, creamy but not heavy on the palate.
This thing was magical! Could imagine myself in front of a camp fire enjoying these all night. Slowly starting to understand what all the hype is with porters. Another shining example of how things should be! Great job Founders.
★ 709 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz into SA Perfect Pint.
Special thanks to regspeir for this one
A- Pours a deep rich black, zero light can be seen through this one. One inch dark caramel head that dissipates slowly over the course of a couple minutes.
S- Roasted malts, vanilla, brown sugar, dark chocolate, bitter burnt coffee, raisins.
T- Roasted coffee (not nearly as bitter as the nose leads on) dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses and raisins.
M- Great carbonation, creamy but not heavy on the palate.
This thing was magical! Could imagine myself in front of a camp fire enjoying these all night. Slowly starting to understand what all the hype is with porters. Another shining example of how things should be! Great job Founders.
★ 709 characters
4.38/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep dark near pitch black, letting in some minimal hints of light on the edges of the glass. Thin, yet dense creamy khaki head, leaving decent lacing. Scent is of cocoa, dark roasted malt, light touches of fruit and coffee. Taste brings a nice cocoa and milk chocolate taste along with the dark roasted malts. Light touches of nuts and a definite presence of hops add an ever so faint fruity and bitterness to it outside of the dark malts. Medium bodied yet smooth and creamy. The malts never cross into the overly charred or burnt side and coupled with the creamy yet not heavy mouthfeel makes this a wonderously drinkable beer.
★ 638 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep dark near pitch black, letting in some minimal hints of light on the edges of the glass. Thin, yet dense creamy khaki head, leaving decent lacing. Scent is of cocoa, dark roasted malt, light touches of fruit and coffee. Taste brings a nice cocoa and milk chocolate taste along with the dark roasted malts. Light touches of nuts and a definite presence of hops add an ever so faint fruity and bitterness to it outside of the dark malts. Medium bodied yet smooth and creamy. The malts never cross into the overly charred or burnt side and coupled with the creamy yet not heavy mouthfeel makes this a wonderously drinkable beer.
★ 638 characters
4.2/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.
A - Pours a pitch black color that has pretty good clarity, but definitely has some large floating yeast particulate throughout. A thin finger of brown foam lingers briefly and falls to a near uniform skim coat across the surface of the beer. Nice spiderwebs of lacing left down the glass.
S - Lots of dark, roasty aromas with some dark fruitiness, yeasty esters. Not especially complex, but what is there smells pretty good.
T - Roasty flavors, burnt toast, coffee, lightly sweet on the fringes. Bitterness seems to come more from the burnt characters rather than from hops. Light green hop flavors. Overall impression is that of intensely dark roasted and burnt character. One of the better tasting porters I've had.
M - Thinnish medium body...just about right for a porter with a medium carbonation level to go with it. Carbonation is somewhat creamy, but lively enough to tingle the tongue. No complaints here.
D - Not sure why I've waited so long to try this one...I've always heard good things, but somehow this one escaped me until now. Very glad to finally crack one. Very good example of the porter style - for me, I think I enjoy the Sierra Nevada Porter but this one is very close. I can definitely see myself buying this one again.
★ 1,304 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.
A - Pours a pitch black color that has pretty good clarity, but definitely has some large floating yeast particulate throughout. A thin finger of brown foam lingers briefly and falls to a near uniform skim coat across the surface of the beer. Nice spiderwebs of lacing left down the glass.
S - Lots of dark, roasty aromas with some dark fruitiness, yeasty esters. Not especially complex, but what is there smells pretty good.
T - Roasty flavors, burnt toast, coffee, lightly sweet on the fringes. Bitterness seems to come more from the burnt characters rather than from hops. Light green hop flavors. Overall impression is that of intensely dark roasted and burnt character. One of the better tasting porters I've had.
M - Thinnish medium body...just about right for a porter with a medium carbonation level to go with it. Carbonation is somewhat creamy, but lively enough to tingle the tongue. No complaints here.
D - Not sure why I've waited so long to try this one...I've always heard good things, but somehow this one escaped me until now. Very glad to finally crack one. Very good example of the porter style - for me, I think I enjoy the Sierra Nevada Porter but this one is very close. I can definitely see myself buying this one again.
★ 1,304 characters
4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark hard to tell its exact.color in the light. A very tan head fades to a nice layer. Tremendous tan lacing coats the glass on the way down. The smell is malty with a nice roast that stands behind it. Great chocolate notes in there at the end that work well. Tasting at first there is a smooth cocoa flavor finishes roasty and warm. Malt shines through ever flavor. This is smooth and creamy but not too heavy. Pretty drinkable. Founders never disappoints.
★ 463 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark hard to tell its exact.color in the light. A very tan head fades to a nice layer. Tremendous tan lacing coats the glass on the way down. The smell is malty with a nice roast that stands behind it. Great chocolate notes in there at the end that work well. Tasting at first there is a smooth cocoa flavor finishes roasty and warm. Malt shines through ever flavor. This is smooth and creamy but not too heavy. Pretty drinkable. Founders never disappoints.
★ 463 characters
3.63/5 rDev -14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Dark, no light is going to penetrate this brew. Somewhat boozey notes in the smell. Solid flavors of sweet chocolate, roasted malts. Mouthfeel is somewhat watery. I would drink a second one of there with pleasure.
★ 253 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Dark, no light is going to penetrate this brew. Somewhat boozey notes in the smell. Solid flavors of sweet chocolate, roasted malts. Mouthfeel is somewhat watery. I would drink a second one of there with pleasure.
★ 253 characters
4.05/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark brown, almost black, with a nice, small, creamy head. Aroma of roasted dark and chocolate malts, with some chicory and a bit of a nutty character.
Palate is big on roasted malt up front, with notes of chocolate and mocha. A rich, nuttiness emerges mid-palate, and the roasted character becomes tempered by a good dose of hoppy bitterness.
Body is creamy and full, just thick enough to hold the robust flavor. This beer goes down pretty easily for being so strong and full of flavor. It's one of my first experiences with Founders' brews, and I'm looking forward to trying many more.
★ 602 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark brown, almost black, with a nice, small, creamy head. Aroma of roasted dark and chocolate malts, with some chicory and a bit of a nutty character.
Palate is big on roasted malt up front, with notes of chocolate and mocha. A rich, nuttiness emerges mid-palate, and the roasted character becomes tempered by a good dose of hoppy bitterness.
Body is creamy and full, just thick enough to hold the robust flavor. This beer goes down pretty easily for being so strong and full of flavor. It's one of my first experiences with Founders' brews, and I'm looking forward to trying many more.
★ 602 characters
4.15/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Dark, dark brown, bordering on black with a slight reddish tint and two-fingers of super foamy dirty white head. I'm a big fan of a nice head on craft beer and this definitely fits the bill.
Aroma: Dark chocolate, roasted malts and some coffee and caramel. Really rich, really tasty smelling.
Taste/Mouthfeel: Coffee up front with some chocolate lingering close behind. Coffee bitterness dominates the after-taste. This is a good beer, I think it represents the style very well. There's definitely a heavy roasted malt taste but also nice chocolately and coffee notes that remind me a bit of a stout. Mouthfeel is super creamy and medium bodied with nice carbonation.
Notes: Drinkability is pretty good but this is a relatively heavy, bitter, and flavorful beer. Therefore I'd probably stop at just one of these, but the one is really good.
★ 858 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Dark, dark brown, bordering on black with a slight reddish tint and two-fingers of super foamy dirty white head. I'm a big fan of a nice head on craft beer and this definitely fits the bill.
Aroma: Dark chocolate, roasted malts and some coffee and caramel. Really rich, really tasty smelling.
Taste/Mouthfeel: Coffee up front with some chocolate lingering close behind. Coffee bitterness dominates the after-taste. This is a good beer, I think it represents the style very well. There's definitely a heavy roasted malt taste but also nice chocolately and coffee notes that remind me a bit of a stout. Mouthfeel is super creamy and medium bodied with nice carbonation.
Notes: Drinkability is pretty good but this is a relatively heavy, bitter, and flavorful beer. Therefore I'd probably stop at just one of these, but the one is really good.
★ 858 characters
4.05/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance- Very dark and robust. Forms a nice creamy head that dissipates
Smell- Definite notes of the roasted and chocolate malts. Very inviting.
Taste- Has a bittering taste upfront that transitions to a very smooth aftertaste. Very light and creamy on the palate for the last 2/3 of a drink. Lots of chocolate malt notes in the taste. Very full favored yet with an easy after taste.
Mouthfeel- A little harsh and ever so slightly unbalanced. Probably the low point for me on this either wise outstanding porter.
Drinkability- Very good. You can easily drink two or three of these in one session.
Overall - Very good example of this style. Definitely a little more bittering then some examples of porter but I really like the overall experience. Another very good beer from the Founders folks.
★ 802 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance- Very dark and robust. Forms a nice creamy head that dissipates
Smell- Definite notes of the roasted and chocolate malts. Very inviting.
Taste- Has a bittering taste upfront that transitions to a very smooth aftertaste. Very light and creamy on the palate for the last 2/3 of a drink. Lots of chocolate malt notes in the taste. Very full favored yet with an easy after taste.
Mouthfeel- A little harsh and ever so slightly unbalanced. Probably the low point for me on this either wise outstanding porter.
Drinkability- Very good. You can easily drink two or three of these in one session.
Overall - Very good example of this style. Definitely a little more bittering then some examples of porter but I really like the overall experience. Another very good beer from the Founders folks.
★ 802 characters
4.84/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. bottle dated 2/22/10 poured into a snifter
A- Black with a huge tan head.
S- Chocolate, roasted coffee, roasted malts, and a hint of caramel and hops.
T- Rich, complex, and balanced. A great blend of roasted coffee and chocolate with a great malt backbone, and had a nice bitter bit in the finish.
M- Thick, creamy, and silky smooth.
D- This is a great beer, one of the best I have had. With how big the taste is I would really only have one as a dessert, I could not drink more than one in a sitting. I got this in a Founders variety pack with Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard, and Red's Rye PA, and this is the best out of the four.
★ 643 characters
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. bottle dated 2/22/10 poured into a snifter
A- Black with a huge tan head.
S- Chocolate, roasted coffee, roasted malts, and a hint of caramel and hops.
T- Rich, complex, and balanced. A great blend of roasted coffee and chocolate with a great malt backbone, and had a nice bitter bit in the finish.
M- Thick, creamy, and silky smooth.
D- This is a great beer, one of the best I have had. With how big the taste is I would really only have one as a dessert, I could not drink more than one in a sitting. I got this in a Founders variety pack with Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard, and Red's Rye PA, and this is the best out of the four.
★ 643 characters
4.67/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
First review, figured I'd start with something I like generally (porter) but a brewery I had never had before.
The color is near perfect, in the pour and head. The growlers from Bierkraft are counter pressure filled; the head on the first pour was three quarters of an inch and coated the sides of the glass nicely as it settled.
Initially, it smelled like when you open a fresh tin of nesquick or hershey's (the powder kind) and there's that dry smell of slightly bitter chocolate dust. It did not hold a distinctive aroma with drinking, but disappeared or faded into the background of the taste.
The tast is very good, I mean, it taste's how I expected (or hoped!) it would taste. I did thinks it was a little one-demensional.
This porter is slightly watery in mouthfee, but with a little attention to 'chewing' the flavors released nicely. While I'm loathe to say 'it tasted like chocolate' the aftertaste is distinctly that sourtaste that I always associate with a very high quality piece of dark chocolate. I have to imagine pairing this with a nice chipotle chocolate treat would be amazing for a dessert but I have to say this was light enough for a porter that I could see pouring four or five over the course of an afternoon bbq and enjoying each.
***
I poured a second glass of this and let it sit for a while, the rise in temperature completely changed the mouth feel and flavor. This beer became more complex in flavor, with a creamy texture.
★ 1,461 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
First review, figured I'd start with something I like generally (porter) but a brewery I had never had before.
The color is near perfect, in the pour and head. The growlers from Bierkraft are counter pressure filled; the head on the first pour was three quarters of an inch and coated the sides of the glass nicely as it settled.
Initially, it smelled like when you open a fresh tin of nesquick or hershey's (the powder kind) and there's that dry smell of slightly bitter chocolate dust. It did not hold a distinctive aroma with drinking, but disappeared or faded into the background of the taste.
The tast is very good, I mean, it taste's how I expected (or hoped!) it would taste. I did thinks it was a little one-demensional.
This porter is slightly watery in mouthfee, but with a little attention to 'chewing' the flavors released nicely. While I'm loathe to say 'it tasted like chocolate' the aftertaste is distinctly that sourtaste that I always associate with a very high quality piece of dark chocolate. I have to imagine pairing this with a nice chipotle chocolate treat would be amazing for a dessert but I have to say this was light enough for a porter that I could see pouring four or five over the course of an afternoon bbq and enjoying each.
***
I poured a second glass of this and let it sit for a while, the rise in temperature completely changed the mouth feel and flavor. This beer became more complex in flavor, with a creamy texture.
★ 1,461 characters
4.43/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Founders Porter
12 oz brown bottle
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass
Pours a deep and dark brown, borderline black in appearance. Some areas are opaque while the very bottom of the glass showcases some nice ruby highlights.
Pleasant aroma with chocolate and coffee notes.
Wow, what a delicious porter. I love the silky smoothness and sharp complexities of dark roasted malts, espresso bitterness and Hershey's syrup goodness.
This is one hell of a porter and clearly the best porter I've had since Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter in Buffalo a couple of months ago.
Founders has gotta be one of my favorite breweries out there. Every beer I've tried from them is awesome and this is yet another example.
★ 711 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Founders Porter
12 oz brown bottle
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass
Pours a deep and dark brown, borderline black in appearance. Some areas are opaque while the very bottom of the glass showcases some nice ruby highlights.
Pleasant aroma with chocolate and coffee notes.
Wow, what a delicious porter. I love the silky smoothness and sharp complexities of dark roasted malts, espresso bitterness and Hershey's syrup goodness.
This is one hell of a porter and clearly the best porter I've had since Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter in Buffalo a couple of months ago.
Founders has gotta be one of my favorite breweries out there. Every beer I've tried from them is awesome and this is yet another example.
★ 711 characters
4.13/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Aroma: Cocoa, coffee with a slight hint of almond.
Appearance: Pours black and thick. Maintained a 1/8 head through with a slight carmel/roasty coloring. Looked superb off the pour.
Flavor: Dark chocolate and cocoa again. Slightly roasted, but finishes clean and smooth.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall impression: A great, dark porter with great taste/smell and extremely drinkable. Makes for a good sipper but easily can be turned to a session beer, taste retains value one after the other.
Serving type: Bottle
★ 546 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Aroma: Cocoa, coffee with a slight hint of almond.
Appearance: Pours black and thick. Maintained a 1/8 head through with a slight carmel/roasty coloring. Looked superb off the pour.
Flavor: Dark chocolate and cocoa again. Slightly roasted, but finishes clean and smooth.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall impression: A great, dark porter with great taste/smell and extremely drinkable. Makes for a good sipper but easily can be turned to a session beer, taste retains value one after the other.
Serving type: Bottle
★ 546 characters
4.5/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Rich and thick, black in color with a one finger dark tan head.
Roasty malt with quite a bit of chocolate. Smells rich and robust.
Matches the nose quite well. Loads of roasty toasty malt goodness with a good amount of chocolate with coffee notes. A bit of bitterness in the form of cocoa nibs. Lingering roast and bittersweet chocolate in the aftertaste.
Full bodied and velvety mouthfeel. Very stout like. I've had imperial stouts with less body than this.
If Founders makes a bad beer, I have yet to find it. This has to be the benchmark for the style. Just awesome. Goes down really well and is extremely satisfying.
★ 624 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Rich and thick, black in color with a one finger dark tan head.
Roasty malt with quite a bit of chocolate. Smells rich and robust.
Matches the nose quite well. Loads of roasty toasty malt goodness with a good amount of chocolate with coffee notes. A bit of bitterness in the form of cocoa nibs. Lingering roast and bittersweet chocolate in the aftertaste.
Full bodied and velvety mouthfeel. Very stout like. I've had imperial stouts with less body than this.
If Founders makes a bad beer, I have yet to find it. This has to be the benchmark for the style. Just awesome. Goes down really well and is extremely satisfying.
★ 624 characters
4.1/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Aroma: Dry cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate notes up front. Roasted barley notes as the beer opens up. Mild earthy hop aromas. Clean yeast character.
Appearance: Chocolate brown with ruby edging. Thin and wispy tan head.
Flavor: Dark chocolate and cocoa again. Big roasty profile with dark, toasty supporting flavors. Balance is firmly bitter and roasty. A slight mineral quality to it. Finish is clean and dry.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. A slight dark grain astringency.
Overall impression: A dark, roasty porter. Very dry and has some stout-like features. The roastiness borders on one-dimensional but maybe some age would tone it down a bit. Nicely done.
★ 683 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Aroma: Dry cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate notes up front. Roasted barley notes as the beer opens up. Mild earthy hop aromas. Clean yeast character.
Appearance: Chocolate brown with ruby edging. Thin and wispy tan head.
Flavor: Dark chocolate and cocoa again. Big roasty profile with dark, toasty supporting flavors. Balance is firmly bitter and roasty. A slight mineral quality to it. Finish is clean and dry.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. A slight dark grain astringency.
Overall impression: A dark, roasty porter. Very dry and has some stout-like features. The roastiness borders on one-dimensional but maybe some age would tone it down a bit. Nicely done.
★ 683 characters
4.1/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pretty dark pour with a tan head. Aroma of coffee and chocolate malt. Flavor is of roasted malts and chocolate cafe coffee. The very balanced flavor leads to a potent palate -- initially creamy, which morphs into a lively, more interactive experience. It is very dark -- there is a minute hint of dark fruit against the dark chocolate coffee --, and its merit in being so is its exact balance. Smoky with some subtle hops. Very rich, very "sexy".
★ 446 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pretty dark pour with a tan head. Aroma of coffee and chocolate malt. Flavor is of roasted malts and chocolate cafe coffee. The very balanced flavor leads to a potent palate -- initially creamy, which morphs into a lively, more interactive experience. It is very dark -- there is a minute hint of dark fruit against the dark chocolate coffee --, and its merit in being so is its exact balance. Smoky with some subtle hops. Very rich, very "sexy".
★ 446 characters
4.17/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer poured out like motor oil, much darker and thicker than I expected from a porter, more stout-like in character. The color was pitch black, with very little khaki head on the beer. It was not flat, but definitely on the lower end of carbonation, as I was rough to stir up the beer and bring out some aroma. The nose was all burnt malt: coffee, chocolate, roasted barley; and a bit of caramel sweetness. The taste was roasty and bitter like espresso, but clean, without too much fruity esters or sweetness. The porter was dry, but with good body to keep this drinkable.
★ 577 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer poured out like motor oil, much darker and thicker than I expected from a porter, more stout-like in character. The color was pitch black, with very little khaki head on the beer. It was not flat, but definitely on the lower end of carbonation, as I was rough to stir up the beer and bring out some aroma. The nose was all burnt malt: coffee, chocolate, roasted barley; and a bit of caramel sweetness. The taste was roasty and bitter like espresso, but clean, without too much fruity esters or sweetness. The porter was dry, but with good body to keep this drinkable.
★ 577 characters
4.2/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler our from DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. Pours dark, dark mahogany with dark ruby highlights. The head is puny, and fairly short lived, going to a loose and bubbly thicker collar, very dark tan. :eaves fine and widely scattered fields of lacing. Dark chocolate infuses the nose, dusty and slightly chalky. Densely flavorful and aggressively styled porter. Plenty of dark chocolate, figs and other ripe dark fruits, woody/whiskey/smokey chords are also lightly hit. Big and brawn, full flavor porter, good stuff.
★ 513 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler our from DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. Pours dark, dark mahogany with dark ruby highlights. The head is puny, and fairly short lived, going to a loose and bubbly thicker collar, very dark tan. :eaves fine and widely scattered fields of lacing. Dark chocolate infuses the nose, dusty and slightly chalky. Densely flavorful and aggressively styled porter. Plenty of dark chocolate, figs and other ripe dark fruits, woody/whiskey/smokey chords are also lightly hit. Big and brawn, full flavor porter, good stuff.
★ 513 characters
Founders Porter from Founders Brewing Company
4.24
out of 5
based on 7,123 ratings.
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Appearance: It's dark, sinister, and a blackhole in a bottle well in this case a mug. The head is a dark beige about one inch thick and is also quite frothy. It is similar to looking at the top of an espresso.
Aroma: Lots of dark chocolate with notes of alcohol. Espresso beans, vanilla bean. Hops are roasted very dark almost burnt along with a the malts that give it a large grainy backbone.
Taste: As the first sip ventures across my palate I hear the beer gods singing, and monks chanting. From the malt end of the flavors this beer is wonderfully grainy with underlying touches of espresso and vanilla bean. The hop end of it all are so remarkably roasted so magnificently dark. In the midst of thease happenings is a borderline sinfully smooth mouthfeel.
Notes: This is an absolutely stunning American porter what a masterpiece. Cheers.
★ 845 characters