Coffee Porter
Anchor Brewing Company
- From:
- Anchor Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
- ABV:
- 6.7%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4 | pDev: 5.75%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 45
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 15, 2025
- Added:
- May 27, 2017
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 15
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Our historic, art deco building on San Francisco's Potrero Hill was a coffee roastery before it was our brewery. We've joked for years that it takes a lot of coffee to make beer. Now, in collaboration with local roaster Four Barrel Coffee, we are doing just that-- literally.
We start in the brewhouse with our radically traditional recipe for Anchor Porter, which we've been brewing since 1972. We end up in the cellar, where we add Four Barrel Flash-Chilled Coffee-- developed with Anchor especially for this beer-- during secondary fermentation. The coffee used is brewed hot, then flash-chilled within 10 seconds. This proprietary method ensures the vital aromatics and key acids of a great cup of coffee are captured and preserved.
The result is a coffee porter of immense richness, intensity, boldness, and smoothness, with deep aromas and mouthfeel of fresh-roasted coffee melded with dark-roasted maltiness. Anchor Coffee Porter is a rich, smooth Porter with a roasty malt backbone, a bold coffee aroma and complex layers of chocolate, nuts and spices.
We start in the brewhouse with our radically traditional recipe for Anchor Porter, which we've been brewing since 1972. We end up in the cellar, where we add Four Barrel Flash-Chilled Coffee-- developed with Anchor especially for this beer-- during secondary fermentation. The coffee used is brewed hot, then flash-chilled within 10 seconds. This proprietary method ensures the vital aromatics and key acids of a great cup of coffee are captured and preserved.
The result is a coffee porter of immense richness, intensity, boldness, and smoothness, with deep aromas and mouthfeel of fresh-roasted coffee melded with dark-roasted maltiness. Anchor Coffee Porter is a rich, smooth Porter with a roasty malt backbone, a bold coffee aroma and complex layers of chocolate, nuts and spices.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cjgiant:
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia
3.93/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.93/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap:
A deep mahogany with an apparent clarity. Nice tan head I didn’t get a chance to see pour, but has a thin medium tan ring. I was able to resucitate this ring to medium thickness fairly easily. Some splotches of lacing
Nose has a combination of roasted malt, medium roasted coffee, and a fairly neutral bitterness, or a thin least one that gets disrupted by the other notes. I might be willing to go with a little berry note.
Taste opens with roasted malt, including a light charred aspect. This, combined with a more pine woody bitterness has me thinking classic American porter. The coffee isn’t too distinct to me in the taste, but I’m maybe noticing it a little later in the taste and as an aspect that might fill out the roasted profile more than altering it. It gets better and a tad smoother as it warms, as well, but the bitterness (from whichever component) is just a little on the grating side for me.
This does fit in with other Anchor beers, solid, American, pretty much to style. I would like a little less bitterness, and a little more obvious coffee, personally (the former might help the latter, even).
Jan 14, 2018A deep mahogany with an apparent clarity. Nice tan head I didn’t get a chance to see pour, but has a thin medium tan ring. I was able to resucitate this ring to medium thickness fairly easily. Some splotches of lacing
Nose has a combination of roasted malt, medium roasted coffee, and a fairly neutral bitterness, or a thin least one that gets disrupted by the other notes. I might be willing to go with a little berry note.
Taste opens with roasted malt, including a light charred aspect. This, combined with a more pine woody bitterness has me thinking classic American porter. The coffee isn’t too distinct to me in the taste, but I’m maybe noticing it a little later in the taste and as an aspect that might fill out the roasted profile more than altering it. It gets better and a tad smoother as it warms, as well, but the bitterness (from whichever component) is just a little on the grating side for me.
This does fit in with other Anchor beers, solid, American, pretty much to style. I would like a little less bitterness, and a little more obvious coffee, personally (the former might help the latter, even).
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.87/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown color. Big, beige head. Coffee and roasted malt in aroma. Moderate sweetness in taste with distinctive roasted bitterness afterward. Coffee flavor all the way through.
Jan 15, 2025
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.96/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a Mountain Rambler Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours dark brown with a frothy cocoa brown head that settles to a firm layer and laces nicely.
S: Roasty, a little char, earthy, coffee, faint dark chocolate, slight spicy herbal notes, dare I say a little banana kinda thing going on, and some toffee sweetness.
T: Roasted malt, slight char, fair coffee presence, herbal, earthy, a touch of spice, dark chocolate and vanilla hiding in there, faint dark fruit, and a little toffee sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly creamy.
O: This bottle accidentally got packed into a cellar box and hidden a way for a little over 2 years. Wasn't expecting much, given that it's only 6.7%, but it's actually survived pretty well. First couple sips felt a little thin, but as it warmed it somehow managed to develop a little creaminess. Very solid brew, probably even better fresh. I'll keep my eyes open for a fresh batch should they decide to brew it again.
Sep 12, 2019A: Pours dark brown with a frothy cocoa brown head that settles to a firm layer and laces nicely.
S: Roasty, a little char, earthy, coffee, faint dark chocolate, slight spicy herbal notes, dare I say a little banana kinda thing going on, and some toffee sweetness.
T: Roasted malt, slight char, fair coffee presence, herbal, earthy, a touch of spice, dark chocolate and vanilla hiding in there, faint dark fruit, and a little toffee sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly creamy.
O: This bottle accidentally got packed into a cellar box and hidden a way for a little over 2 years. Wasn't expecting much, given that it's only 6.7%, but it's actually survived pretty well. First couple sips felt a little thin, but as it warmed it somehow managed to develop a little creaminess. Very solid brew, probably even better fresh. I'll keep my eyes open for a fresh batch should they decide to brew it again.
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan
4.37/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This pours a hearty black brown with a resplendent creamy cap of foam. Wonderful roasty aroma and smooth taste. What strikes me is how well it all comes together. Great mouthfeel, smooth sipper, delicious.
Jun 21, 2019
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
3.89/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) bottle into a conical pint glass; no production date, but coded 7DT = December 20, 2017.
A: Pours a nearly black color with walnut highlights leaving a two inch, fluffy, light brown head, limited retention, and moderate rings of somewhat soapy lacing.
S: Aromas of coffee/cappuccino, sarsaparilla, and molasses. An increasing mineral and chocolate note.
T: Sweet. Flavors mirror the nose, albeit with coffee and lactose very much out front. Cumin bitterness up front and persistent preventing the melange from becoming cloying.
M: Full bodied with excellent persistence of effervescence. Peppery tingling.
O: An enjoyable, coffee porter. Flavors nicely balanced with solid hoppy bitterness. A nice choice to complement Thanksgiving fare.
Nov 23, 2018A: Pours a nearly black color with walnut highlights leaving a two inch, fluffy, light brown head, limited retention, and moderate rings of somewhat soapy lacing.
S: Aromas of coffee/cappuccino, sarsaparilla, and molasses. An increasing mineral and chocolate note.
T: Sweet. Flavors mirror the nose, albeit with coffee and lactose very much out front. Cumin bitterness up front and persistent preventing the melange from becoming cloying.
M: Full bodied with excellent persistence of effervescence. Peppery tingling.
O: An enjoyable, coffee porter. Flavors nicely balanced with solid hoppy bitterness. A nice choice to complement Thanksgiving fare.
Reviewed by Lingenbrau from Oregon
3.89/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beautiful dark brown almost black body with garnet highlights. A thick,smooth, and foamy dark tan head leaves exceptional lacing.
Sweet, brown sugar, toasted bread and banana esters lead the aroma with a faint emphasis on coffee in the background. Not what I was expecting, but still very inviting.
Flavor follows with a very banana and yeast forward flavor dominance. Sugared toast leads into a mild coffee finish.
Smooth and creamy. Soft, balanced just favoring sweet. A mild carbonation makes this sky and easy to drink,but still manages to demand time taking on the role of a desert beer more than a morning wake-up.
A decent coffee Porter. I think I actually prefer the original Porter from Anchor to this, but it is an excellent idea if they dial it in a bit more. Cheers.
Oct 20, 2018Sweet, brown sugar, toasted bread and banana esters lead the aroma with a faint emphasis on coffee in the background. Not what I was expecting, but still very inviting.
Flavor follows with a very banana and yeast forward flavor dominance. Sugared toast leads into a mild coffee finish.
Smooth and creamy. Soft, balanced just favoring sweet. A mild carbonation makes this sky and easy to drink,but still manages to demand time taking on the role of a desert beer more than a morning wake-up.
A decent coffee Porter. I think I actually prefer the original Porter from Anchor to this, but it is an excellent idea if they dial it in a bit more. Cheers.
Reviewed by scottfrie from California
4.19/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a deep, rich, coffee brown with a couple inches of fluffy dark ruddy brown head that slowly collapsed into a thin wispy film. A network of patchy, sticky, lace was left down the glass.
S: Roast dominates both from the base porter and the coffee. Coffee is earthy and woody and mixes well with scents of chocolate and roast. Subtle kiss of sweetness.
T: Follows the nose with rich roasted notes of coffee, semi-sweet/semi-bitter chocolate, and an all-around creamy quality, with what tastes like lactose sugar. Finish a has an assertive yet pleasant bitterness that lingers into the aftertaste.
M: Medium body, creamy and rich mouthfeel, smooth soft carbonation. Pleasant creamy sugary sweetness balances the bitterness and the roast.
O: A nice take on the original. Coffee flavors work well in an otherwise world class porter.
Jul 23, 2018A: Pours a deep, rich, coffee brown with a couple inches of fluffy dark ruddy brown head that slowly collapsed into a thin wispy film. A network of patchy, sticky, lace was left down the glass.
S: Roast dominates both from the base porter and the coffee. Coffee is earthy and woody and mixes well with scents of chocolate and roast. Subtle kiss of sweetness.
T: Follows the nose with rich roasted notes of coffee, semi-sweet/semi-bitter chocolate, and an all-around creamy quality, with what tastes like lactose sugar. Finish a has an assertive yet pleasant bitterness that lingers into the aftertaste.
M: Medium body, creamy and rich mouthfeel, smooth soft carbonation. Pleasant creamy sugary sweetness balances the bitterness and the roast.
O: A nice take on the original. Coffee flavors work well in an otherwise world class porter.
Reviewed by M_C_Hampton from Georgia
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, dark brown with a large tan head that lingers leaving good lacing, clear
S: coffee, chocolate, bready malt, brown sugar
T: roasty malt, coffee, dark bitter chocolate
M: thinner but creamy
O: more muted flavors that are less aggressive than many more recent American porters
Jun 23, 2018S: coffee, chocolate, bready malt, brown sugar
T: roasty malt, coffee, dark bitter chocolate
M: thinner but creamy
O: more muted flavors that are less aggressive than many more recent American porters
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
god tasting coffee porter - had better - I like some of their other beers better
Jun 21, 2018
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