Porter
Russian River Brewing Company
- From:
- Russian River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
Ranked #28 - ABV:
- 5.75%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,785 - Avg:
- 4.14 | pDev: 9.42%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 90
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 25, 2025
- Added:
- Jun 14, 2004
- Wants:
- 165
- Gots:
- 33
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
From our humble beginnings at our original location at Korbel Champagne Cellars in 1997, the first beer we ever brewed was Russian River Porter. For us it is a little nostalgic thinking back when it was just Vinnie (and occasionally Wentzel) brewing in one of the original buildings at Korbel, just a stone's throw away from the old brandy tower. We love this beer's chocolate, toffee, tobacco, and caramel notes long with its dry finish. Enjoy!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Lucnifter:
Rated by Lucnifter from California
3.97/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Jan 01, 2024
3.97/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Jan 01, 2024
More User Ratings:
Rated by smackdanie from Illinois
4.49/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Perfect coffee roast flavor, deep color, low abv. Love it!
Sep 20, 2025
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.21/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
RR's first brew and my 10th from RR and I never would have guessed a dark, dry porter was their first. But here we are.
RR's Porter is exceptional. While it Looks better than average, it Smells of well-roasted malts conveying chocolate to me. Tastes are as balanced as American Porters get; the malts rule here and hops are tertiary in the balance. Full-mouthed.
As for the excellent Overall Hugs, that goes for this being the first brew of one of my top 5 Belgian-inspired micros. And how this Porter perfectly pair with a very dry aged cheddar.
Jul 01, 2025RR's Porter is exceptional. While it Looks better than average, it Smells of well-roasted malts conveying chocolate to me. Tastes are as balanced as American Porters get; the malts rule here and hops are tertiary in the balance. Full-mouthed.
As for the excellent Overall Hugs, that goes for this being the first brew of one of my top 5 Belgian-inspired micros. And how this Porter perfectly pair with a very dry aged cheddar.
Reviewed by doulos31 from Delaware
3.76/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Can. Dark pour, frothy head, nice lacing. Aroma of cocoa and hints of coffee. Lots of roasted malts, some tinge of caramel and bread. Relatively dry. Not a lot of sweetness. Coffe and chalky cocoa with hints of milkiness. Decent.
Apr 18, 2025
Rated by eluvah from New York
4.46/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Silver Stamp in Las Vegas. Great aroma and flavor.
Aug 07, 2024
Reviewed by rand from California
4.43/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at O’Brien’s for tion weekend. Seemed appropriate to review the most traditional brew of them all.
Medium-light complexion, wispy head dissipated quickly. Nutty aromas, with notes of toasted cocoa and sweet bread.
Flavors are really reigned in, tight and singular but complex. Toasted oak, unsweetened cocoa, touch of brown sugar. Grainy, bready, with a quick finish.
Beer is the result of a lifetime of honing and fine-tuning the craft. Pretty much as good as a porter gets.
Feb 03, 2024Medium-light complexion, wispy head dissipated quickly. Nutty aromas, with notes of toasted cocoa and sweet bread.
Flavors are really reigned in, tight and singular but complex. Toasted oak, unsweetened cocoa, touch of brown sugar. Grainy, bready, with a quick finish.
Beer is the result of a lifetime of honing and fine-tuning the craft. Pretty much as good as a porter gets.
Rated by Dwarfrat from California
1.62/5 rDev -60.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
1.62/5 rDev -60.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
Took a sip.
Poured it out.
Very disappointed.
Jun 26, 2023Poured it out.
Very disappointed.
Reviewed by MaddDoGG5150 from California
4.19/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a deep, dark brown, almost black color. With an off-white foam head.
Aroma: roasted malts, chocolate, toffee. A little bit earthy.
Taste: Toffee and light dark chocolate. Some coffee, almost creamy cappuccino notes. A little bit of hoppy bitterness That lingers around in the finish, but lightly.
Overall: This is a very tasty brew. Will buy again.
Jun 08, 2023Aroma: roasted malts, chocolate, toffee. A little bit earthy.
Taste: Toffee and light dark chocolate. Some coffee, almost creamy cappuccino notes. A little bit of hoppy bitterness That lingers around in the finish, but lightly.
Overall: This is a very tasty brew. Will buy again.
Reviewed by Shiredave from New York
4.39/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This review is an invalid evaluation of the current Porter, though since I have not had a RR Porter in over 20 years it may very well apply. But somehow I kind of doubt it.
My RR Porter came in 1999 (2000?) from a small 3-4 seat bar at the Korbel Champagne Winery somewhere around Healdsburg CA ( think Bear Republic) and within a stones throw of the Russian River while taking a few days vacation after a week of work in Palo Alto.
Beginning to buzz from the wine tasting in the barn across the property, I had a pint ( IPA I think) and purchased several bottles to take home to NY. Simple labels, all still in my pals collection. The Porter and IPA were of course the standouts.
This Porter still sets the American style standard for me - full of chocolate malt and caramel flavors, smokey coffee notes, a solid west coast hop bite with that RR yeast signature that lives on today.
Medium bodied and rich in fresh grain flavor and deft hop additions that compliment the malt profile.
Exceptional if only in my dreams.
Jun 04, 2023My RR Porter came in 1999 (2000?) from a small 3-4 seat bar at the Korbel Champagne Winery somewhere around Healdsburg CA ( think Bear Republic) and within a stones throw of the Russian River while taking a few days vacation after a week of work in Palo Alto.
Beginning to buzz from the wine tasting in the barn across the property, I had a pint ( IPA I think) and purchased several bottles to take home to NY. Simple labels, all still in my pals collection. The Porter and IPA were of course the standouts.
This Porter still sets the American style standard for me - full of chocolate malt and caramel flavors, smokey coffee notes, a solid west coast hop bite with that RR yeast signature that lives on today.
Medium bodied and rich in fresh grain flavor and deft hop additions that compliment the malt profile.
Exceptional if only in my dreams.
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Hollingshead’s in Orange, CA.
Cole Porter? Honestly, that’s the only one I know because I’m buzzing. Choo Cho! Like Thomas with his first girl - he shoots! He scores! Pele on a good day! Hat trick hero! The Hand Of God Argentine guy! We win! Let’s win! Let’s go! Awoooooooo!
Feb 20, 2023Cole Porter? Honestly, that’s the only one I know because I’m buzzing. Choo Cho! Like Thomas with his first girl - he shoots! He scores! Pele on a good day! Hat trick hero! The Hand Of God Argentine guy! We win! Let’s win! Let’s go! Awoooooooo!
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