Porter Appreciation Thread (2024)

When you do find it, drink it fresh because the maple fades in time.

 

Edmund Fitzgerald is readily available in Michigan. I just found a fresh six-pack at my local small town chain grocery store.

Founders Porter is usually in stock at the beer stores.

Both of these are fantastic. I'm muddling through trying to taste the differences between these two, along with Bell's Porter (easy to find) and Deschutes Black Butte Porter (takes some looking).

I have also recently found a pack of Greenbush Distorter Porter. It's the odd one out. It has a very unusual aroma, which I am trying to like, but can't quite appreciate yet. However, it's delightfully complex in the middle and great on the finish.

In my immediate market, I can also find cans of Lansing Brewing Company's Velvet Villain, a solid and consistent hoppy porter. It has its own somewhat quirky taste, still idiosyncratic but much more approachable than the Greenbush.

A local micro brew pub, Ozone's Brewhouse, has a porter called "Master of Shadows" which I've never quite gotten my taste buds around. As a newbie I'm hesitant to pan anything, but I'm starting to think maybe it's just not very good. I'll give it another try later this year.

 

Eredita - Athene Noctua, a nice rich and fuller bodied Baltic Porter

 

Edmund Fitzgerald - fruity
Founders Porter - chocolatey
Bell's Porter - smaller but still presents as creamy

… at least for me.

Since you are in Michigan, you can add Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout to your group since it fits right in ABV-wise.

 

Thanks for these hints.

I think some in-depth research is in order. Perhaps we should jointly apply for a grant.

 

Eddie Fitz. Cheers.

 

The last one of these I had was two weeks ago, outdoors on a 20 degree day, after ten miles of fat biking over perfectly groomed trails in a foot depth of snow.

I can still taste it. Roasty toasty goodness in the chill of a fading light.

And there are a few left in the basement.

Cheers.

 

I am enjoying a favorite Baltic Porter from Poland: Zywiec Baltic Porter. A little history about the brewery:

“Zywiec Brewery was established by Archduke Friedrich Habsburg in 1856 in the heart of Zywiec Valley, whose brewing traditions date back to the Middle Ages. The excellent quality of its products and its yearly production growth has greatly expanded the circle of Zywiec beer devotees. The Brewery launched export activities way back in 1913 when total exports of Zywiec beer accounted for 21.3 % of its overall output.”

Na Zdrowie

 

Winding down from a three mile hike by the river with Mrs. 243, listening to the evening songbirds on the patio. She’s making a korma for supper.


Founders Porter
Bottled 11/16/2023

Pours black with a 2 inch tan head settling to a half inch. Thick lacing. No color at edges.

A slight vinous odor with an alkaline note. Not fruity.

Taste is watery, with a delicate note of astringency, somewhat sour. No alcohol flavor. A pleasant old ale aftertaste.

Light, almost foamy mouthfeel. Dry on the finish.

I think this bottle sat longer than it should have. Almost three months at 60 degrees was too much shelf time.

Glad this is the last one from that 6 pack.

 

I agree, a great and underrated porter. I do wish they would go back to their previous label. That being said I feel same about founders breakfast stout.

 

I agree. The old labels were classics

 

That’s a beer I’ve wanted to try for years. Not many “whales” capture my interest, but that brew has always had my attention. Enjoy!

 

Perhaps further discuss this beer in the New Beer Weekend thread?

Cheers!

 

My wife and someof the outlaws went to Japan for a mini reunion, I got to stay home, my souvenir, Yoho Tokyo Black, an American Porter. I wasn't expecting much, but it was better than expected, who'da think it!

 

Side-by-side! Unpeated on the left, peated on the right.

Lupulin Sword Maiden Scotch BA Imperial Porter, 11% ABV. Pours thick and black with a one-finger light-brown head that left no lacing. Aroma is smoke, bourbon, maple syrup, and chocolate. Taste is scotch, maple syrup, chocolate, smoke, moderately sweet, slightly bitter, no burn. Decent mouthfeel, overall world class.

4.52/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5


Lupulin Sword Maiden Scotch BA Imperial Peated Porter, 10.8% ABV. Pours thick and black with a one-finger light-brown head that left no lacing. Aroma is smoke, bourbon, maple syrup, chocolate, and peat. Taste is scotch, maple syrup, chocolate, smoke, peat, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, no burn. Decent mouthfeel, overall world class.

4.46/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5


OK, I know I'm supposed to to say the peated version is better, but when it came right down to it, I preferred the smell of the unpeated. I don't hate the peat, it's just that it cloaks the smell of the other ingredients. Both are outstanding. I also rediscovered that I'm not a big fan of smoke. Without that I would have rated these even higher. Note that the two glasses are the same brand and model, but look how different they are due to being hand-blown. One is taller, the other is wider.

 

This thread makes me want a ...