Founders Porter recipe change?

I've not heard about a recipe change. Since it sounds like a radical difference from what you remember I'd suspect poor storage conditions for the beer somewhere along the distro process (assuming a fairly current date on the bottle). If Pennsylvania permits beer being returned to the retail seller I'd do that.

 

It has been a couple/few years since I drank a Founders Porter but that beer tasted good to me.

Have you drank a Founders Porter recently? If so, how did it taste to you?

Also, the dark malts in a Porter should theoretically provide provide anti-oxidative properties yielding good beer stability. I have a homebrewed Porter in my cellar over a year old and it is still drinking great.

Cheers!

Edit: I reviewed some reviews on BA and there were a couple of recent bad reviews. Below was post Oct. 27, 2025. Something amiss at the brewery?

"Nice looking 12 oz. bottle.
Label states Roasted Coffee Notes and
Graham Cracker Sweetness.
Pour into a glass and it foams up with a brown head that dissipates quickly.
Smells like used transmission fluid with a hint of chocolate.
When I taste it, the main thing I taste is some floral? hops and fresh lawnmower clippings.
Graham Crackers? Not even a hint.
I Am so glad that I only bought a single.
I could manage to drink the Founders Breakfast Stout, but this brew is undrinkable."

 

If your cutting beer with San Pelligrino than it’s your taste buds.

 

How old was the San Pelligrino?

 

Founders Porter vs Bell's Porter vs Anchor Porter vs Deschutes Black Butte Porter, I always thought it was a good rivalry to see what was the best mainstream widely available American craft beer Porter. I mean all 4 are excellent so I couldnt pick a winner off the top off my head but they all destroy Yuengling Porter. No disrespect there intended but it is what it is.

 

I had one earlier this year, maybe it was springtime, and it was as good as always.

 

Have you had a Founders Porter recently (e.g., the last few months)? If so, how did it taste?

Cheers!

P.S. I have always been a fan of Founders Porter but it has been a couple/few years since I had one.

 

I am wondering if 'something' has happened in the past few months (fall time). There are two reviews from the last six months which discuss this beer being quite bad (e.g., "undrinkable").

Cheers!

 

Those are pretty bad reports for this beer. I hope Founders didn't have a bad batch. It's unlikely that they did, but poor conditions during shipping or at the store could still be possible.

 

You've got me curious. I'm going to look at the location of those two reviewers and see if they match that of the OP.

 

That would be my hope but given those two bad reviews and this thread it sure seems like a possibility.

Yes, that could be the explanation but that requires three separate/disparate occurrences for this to be the reason. A bad batch(es) from the brewery would explain all three instances.

FWIW, I have no knowledge of how poor handling would yield "smells like used transmission fluid". That would be an interesting case study/chemical analysis.

Cheers!

 

One was Canada and the other was Texas.

The OP is from PA.

Cheers!

P.S. The off flavor from the Canadian fellow: "Something wrapped in plastic?....Raw Potatoes?"

 

Ontario, Texas, and the OP's location of Pennsylvania. It looks like nothing in common there except bad reviews of the beer.

 

Which provides some credence for the possibility of a brewery/batch issue?

Cheers!

 

It's been a few years since I have had it, but I always enjoyed it. I may have to look for it this weekend to see if it still holds up

 

I have never had a bad bottle of Founders porter. I might have to buy a single bottle to see how it is.

 

How did you leave Edmund Fitzgerald out of the conversation?