London Black
Anspach & Hobday
- From:
- Anspach & Hobday
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Porter
Ranked #18 - ABV:
- 4.4%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #13,865 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 8.64%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 07, 2026
- Added:
- Apr 22, 2023
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
London Black is our session strength Nitro Porter that takes inspiration form our flagship beer, The Porter. Creamy, smooth and truly sessionable.
What better way to create an effortlessly drinkable dark beer than to brew it with nitro. The resulting creaminess and smooth mouthfeel balance perfectly with the subtle roasted notes of coffee and chocolate.
The beer brings together the rich history and heritage of London Porters, with the modern techniques of brewing nitro beers. The result is a beer that is easy drinking, without sacrificing its character.
What better way to create an effortlessly drinkable dark beer than to brew it with nitro. The resulting creaminess and smooth mouthfeel balance perfectly with the subtle roasted notes of coffee and chocolate.
The beer brings together the rich history and heritage of London Porters, with the modern techniques of brewing nitro beers. The result is a beer that is easy drinking, without sacrificing its character.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Masa7235250 from Sweden
4.33/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Smoky, coffee and chocolate taste. Notes of sweet roasted malt, and nuts. Light-bodied. Not very sweet, and hints of roasted taste from malt. More smoky than roasted taste. Unexpectedly refreshing. Velvety creamy.
Mar 17, 2026
Rated by LukeGude from Iowa
4.32/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewery (Arch House)! Silky smooth and creamy. Like a fuller-bodied version of Guinness.
Jan 03, 2026
Reviewed by Spike from England
4.32/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
440ml can with nitro widget.
L: Black with one finger of rich, creamy mocha head that lasts to the end.
S: Coffee.
T: Chocolate, coffee, smoke. Toasty and gently bitter.
F: Medium body with a super soft mouthfeel and a dry finish.
O: Fantastic session strength porter. Perfect for an evening down the pub. Or even for bonfire night where the smoky flavour will complement the evening’s entertainment.
Tried alongside a can of Guinness Draught (also with a nitro widget) out of interest. The surge in the Guinness is better, giving a beautiful shimmer, a larger head and more extensive lacing. However, the taste, aroma and mouthfeel of the Guinness stout was way off. Bland, verging on nothing, compared to the London Black porter. Related but different beer styles, obviously, but the stout is supposed to be a roastier and bigger version of the porter… which it wasn’t. Not even close.
Nov 01, 2025L: Black with one finger of rich, creamy mocha head that lasts to the end.
S: Coffee.
T: Chocolate, coffee, smoke. Toasty and gently bitter.
F: Medium body with a super soft mouthfeel and a dry finish.
O: Fantastic session strength porter. Perfect for an evening down the pub. Or even for bonfire night where the smoky flavour will complement the evening’s entertainment.
Tried alongside a can of Guinness Draught (also with a nitro widget) out of interest. The surge in the Guinness is better, giving a beautiful shimmer, a larger head and more extensive lacing. However, the taste, aroma and mouthfeel of the Guinness stout was way off. Bland, verging on nothing, compared to the London Black porter. Related but different beer styles, obviously, but the stout is supposed to be a roastier and bigger version of the porter… which it wasn’t. Not even close.
Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden
4.54/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours jet black with creamy tan head.
Smell is roasted and bit fruity with notes of coffee, chocolate, hazelnuts and caramel.
Taste is crisp, roasted and fruity with notes of coffee, chocolate, hazelnuts and coffee liqueur with amoderate bitterness. Incredibly drinkable.
Mouthfeel is medium to full, smooth, creamy and well carbonated.
Overall, a terrific porter, rich and drinkable.
May 06, 2025Smell is roasted and bit fruity with notes of coffee, chocolate, hazelnuts and caramel.
Taste is crisp, roasted and fruity with notes of coffee, chocolate, hazelnuts and coffee liqueur with amoderate bitterness. Incredibly drinkable.
Mouthfeel is medium to full, smooth, creamy and well carbonated.
Overall, a terrific porter, rich and drinkable.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.66/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 3/2 2025. 44 cl can from The Beer Hive, Amagerbrogade, Kbh. S. Black can with the name of the beer and brewery in gold.
Pours opaque dark brown with a mid-sized, dense beige head. Stable. Setles as a 2,5 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Substantial lacing.
Aroma is medium intense with a sweet and roasted odor of dark malts mingling with earthy fumes. Dark roasted malts, caramel, toffee and borrow sugar. Leather. Touch of sour milk.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, smooth, silken, almost flat texture.
Flavor is medium intense with a medium strong sweetness followed and balanced. by a medium strong sourish bitterness. Aftertaste is sweetish with a tart undertone- Lingers for a while. Finish is semi-dry.
Silken, well-balanced and pleasant drink.
Feb 03, 2025Pours opaque dark brown with a mid-sized, dense beige head. Stable. Setles as a 2,5 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Substantial lacing.
Aroma is medium intense with a sweet and roasted odor of dark malts mingling with earthy fumes. Dark roasted malts, caramel, toffee and borrow sugar. Leather. Touch of sour milk.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, smooth, silken, almost flat texture.
Flavor is medium intense with a medium strong sweetness followed and balanced. by a medium strong sourish bitterness. Aftertaste is sweetish with a tart undertone- Lingers for a while. Finish is semi-dry.
Silken, well-balanced and pleasant drink.
Rated by Ghrymm from Canada (BC)
3.9/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at The Craft Beer Co., Covent Garden,London.
A nice all round English Porter.
Oct 22, 2024A nice all round English Porter.
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland
3.29/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
3.75, 7, 7 (3.25), 3 (2.75), 13
Jet black with a few bubbles on the glass & a half cm, cream, slightly off-white head. Roasted malts & coffee nose, pretty strong. The taste is similar, toned down a little but the coffee & roasted malts still dominate with a little toffee too. The body had a slightly creamy feel but a little thin.
Oct 09, 2024Jet black with a few bubbles on the glass & a half cm, cream, slightly off-white head. Roasted malts & coffee nose, pretty strong. The taste is similar, toned down a little but the coffee & roasted malts still dominate with a little toffee too. The body had a slightly creamy feel but a little thin.
Reviewed by Badonde from England
4.01/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Dark brown to black, with a tight ivory head. Coffee on the nose. On the tongue, blackberry and cherry to start, then molasses and more coffee, then a malty bitterness to finish. Decent mouthfeel but not as creamy as you might expect from a nitro. Balances bitter and sweet very nicely.
Sep 03, 2024
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil
3.77/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Deep black color with a thick thin beige head.
Aroma with notes of coffee and caramel.
Flavor with notes of dark chocolate, faint milk powder, dark fruits, cola and licorice. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness and chocolaty finish.
Medium body with nitro carbonation.
Decent Porter with good Moka and dark fruit notes.
Jun 04, 2024Aroma with notes of coffee and caramel.
Flavor with notes of dark chocolate, faint milk powder, dark fruits, cola and licorice. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness and chocolaty finish.
Medium body with nitro carbonation.
Decent Porter with good Moka and dark fruit notes.
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