Porter tasting

Central Waters Mudpuppy Porter
Revolution Eugene Porter

Well maybe not decent nation wide distro, but you can get these two

 

Balast Point Victory at Sea

 

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald
Anchor Porter
Smuttynose Robust Porter
Sierra Nevada Porter
Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter

 

It really varies based on where you live. Because none of those are available here just 900 miles away.
New Belgium Portage Porter is a pretty solid offering that doesn't offend in any way. Probably makes it out there. Odell's Cutthroat Porter as well. I have been meaning to do a face-off with those two.

 

Had a Smuttynose Robust Porter the other day and was pleasantly surprised - holds a high rating here on BA. Nothing special but certainly lovely, balanced, and robust. I assume Smuttynose distributes outside of NE

 

Pretty much by definition of style, any "double porter" or "imperial porter" or "robust porter" is going to rate a little higher that a standard porter in rating sites.

 

Agree with others

Victory @ Sea
Edmund Fitzgerald

 

Fuller's London Porter
Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter

Not sure if Yard's makes it out your way, but their George Washington Porter is very tasty.

 

VAS, Eddie Fitz and FBS are all you'll need.

 

Never had the Smutty Baltic before, but I can say their Robust Porter is my favorite out of the five I listed.

 

Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Fuller London Porter
I really like Mayflower's Porter, but it's probably not distributed to IL.


But IMHO I think you're limiting yourself far too much because of a name... I don't want to start a fight in your thread, but here's some food for thought...
http://zythophile.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/so-what-is-the-difference-between-porter-and-stout/
http://www.beerconnoisseur.com/porter-versus-stout

 

If you're doing Victory at Sea I feel you must do Sixpoint's 4Beans. Sixpoint shows as "limited" distribution in IL so not sure if that means you can get it or not.

 

You might want to be careful including imperial porters, but if you do include those definitely add victory at sea, and if you still have any 4 beans.

 

Flag, Sierra Nevada (for the sweeter side of porter),Polygamy (if you can get it, and the nitro is awesome as well), Old Slug, and Black Butte are all very nice.
Sadly Flag is not as good as it used to be when in the big bottle with the sediment layer, but still nice.

 

Almost forgot since you are in the Illinois area and want to have a good one
Moody Tongue Chocolate Churro baltic IF you are throwing the baltics in there as well.
Loved it on tap!

 

Edmund Fitzgerald

 

Black butte porter