Porter Recommendations

I'll second Founders and Black Butte. Those are the 2 porters that I judge all other porters by.

 

Flying Dog Gonzo

 

Boulevard Bully! Porter, Sam Smith's Taddy Porter, and Anchor Porter are wonderful representatives of the style.

 

Yes let's not forgot about our overseas brethren. Samuel Smith's Famous Taddy Porter is as good as any, and it should be readily available.

 

Williamsburg BB Porter

 

Arcadia's London Porter, then Smuttynose's Robust Porter, then Bell's or Founders. If you want a real treat then take a step up to Arcadia's Shipwreck Porter, it's bourbon barrel aged.

 

I'll also throw Mayflower Porter out there. The distribution is limited, but if you're in MA or the New England area, its definitely a must try and maybe the best beer they make. And like others have said previously, Founders Porter is top notch.

 

Founder's Porter might be one of my favorites, but I also second the recommendations for Smuttynose Robust Porter and the Mayflower Porter. I also enjoyed Anchor Porter.

 

Sierra Nevada and Black Butte are great shelve porters. I also like Meantime, but kind of pricey IMO

 

Nogne-O - Porter & Alaskan - Baltic Porter are some of my favorites.

 

Left Hand Smoke Jumper!

 

I forgot about Arcadia London Porter. Great brew. I should do a side-by-side in the near future. It's funny because I considered porters to be one of my least favorite styles for a long time. To me they tasted like overly carbonated stouts or burnt watery lagers. Then I had my Founders porter and it ironically became one of my favorite beers, in the always accessible category at least. Baltic porters and Arcadia followed. Now I seek out porters. That's one of the best parts about craft beer, just when you think you have a developed opinion, it can be turned upside down by a great drink at the right time.

 

Smutty, Founders, and Anchor are all great and inexpensive

 

Oh, and can't forget Maui Coconut Porter

 

Revolution's Eugene porter is one of my favorite beers during winter. I second (third, tenth, whatever) trying Smuttynose Robust Porter and Founder's. I also really liked Slumbrew Porter Square Porter out of Massachusetts, but I brought this back from vacation and haven't seen it anywhere around Chicago.

 

Other than the more framiliar ones already mentioned, these are very memorable porters in my book:
Harviestoun: Old Engine Oil
Marshall Brewing: Big Jamoke

 

Couple of my favorites are HF Everett and Revolution Eugene

 

If you are ever in Colorado, Odell Cutthroat. I always like Stone Smoked Porter. There is really not much smoke taste. Not sure wher you live,but my local porter is Sweetwater Exodus, very solid.

 

Smuttynose Robust Porter & Deschutes Black Butte are exceptional! If your looking for a bigger Porter, I'd say Williamsburg Alewerks Bourbon Barrel Porter &/or Alaskan Smoked Porter. Either one of those are world class for what they are. Shit, even everyday Porters such as Anchor Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, and Fullers London Porter are world class imo.

 

If you like coffee, go for the Berkshire coffeehouse or Kona Pipeline...both fairly easy to get and for a low cost. Also, we just got a HUGE shipment of Black Butte XXIV Anniversary in Arizona a few weeks back (which I'm sure someone mentioned on top of regular BB), so try and get a bottle or two of this as well...it's wonderful.