226. Hill Farmstead Everett

This is the second beer from Hill Farmstead and another excellent choice. Pour is black with a solid tan head that leaves huge amounts of lacing on the glass, a beautiful beer. Lots of aroma including plenty of coffee, cocoa and roasted malts. Exactly what you would expect from a quality porter. 


Taste has everything and just does not stop. Robust coffee, chocolate, vanilla, flavors and mild amount of alcohol in a full bodied beer. Smooth going down and one of my favorite porters.


Anyone interested in a road trip to Vermont some Saturday?
Pros: Aroma, tons of flavor

Cons: Only available in Vermont

Alcohol Content: 7.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Hill Farmstead

Brewers Description: Everett (1908-1939) was our grandfather’s brother; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to him and his 13 siblings. In his honor, this Porter is crafted from American malted barley, English and German roasted malts, American hops, our ale yeast, and water from our well. It is unfiltered and naturally carbonated. Decadent in its depth, with a complex backbone of chocolate, coffee, and malty sweetness, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Everett.
Ingredients: Pale, Caramel, and Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley, Columbus hops; Ale Yeast, and our Well Water.
21º P

137. Sebago Brewing Midnight Porter

This is a very good example of an American porter. The beer pours an almost black color with tan head that sticks around. Aroma has lots of roasted malt and taste is what I would expect from a porter. Well balanced and easy to drink. Overall another quality offering from Sebago Brewing. 

Pros: Color, aroma

Cons: A little thin for a porter

Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 35.8
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Sebago Brewing

Brewers Description: A dark ale with ruby red hue and dry chocolate finish. Midnight Porter is a blend of Old World style and New World flavor. Our Porter is based on the traditional English style that was designed to be lighter than a stout and more drinkable at any time of day. It was popular among the laborers of the early 1800s and derives its name from this group of people. Caramel malts give this ale body and Black patent and chocolate malts provide its rich, chocolate-like flavor and ruby hue.

111. Magic Hat Ravell

I know I have made the comment before that porters are good Winter beers and this is no exception. Ravell is a beer that is only occasionally brewed by Magic Hat so I was happy to see it included in this year's Winter variety pack. Pours a very very dark brown with a thick head that lingers. Smell has lots of vanilla and spice, overall quite pleasant. Taste is not quite what I expected with a mix of vanilla, slight chocolate and some malts. Hops taste is minimal but still there in this very complex brew. Even with a slightly higher than normal ABV this beer is still easy to drink. 
Pros: Color, Aroma, Complex taste

Cons: Only available occasionally

Alcohol Content: 5.8% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 28
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Magic Hat

Brewers Description: An enormous play in one significant act, Ravell is a porter brewed with vanilla beans, once available whenever your William and father John deem it so. 

91. Samuel Adams Holiday Porter

Before I started this blog I did not drink many porters but I have to say I have enjoyed these dark and complex beers. This is certainly one of the better ones with lots of flavor, great almost black color and thick tan head with lots of lace on the glass. IBU rating is a fairly high 40 but you do not really taste the hops. Lots of malt, toffee and molasses flavors here. Easy to drink even with a decent amount of alcohol. A solid porter from Samuel Adams and a good addition to the winter variety pack. 

Pros: Color, complex flavor

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 5.8% ABV
Calories: 212
IBU (Bitterness): 40
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Samuel Adams

Brewers Description: A traditional, British style.  Robust and full bodied. Introduced as a member of the Winter Classics Variety Pack in 2004, Samuel Adams® Holiday Porter, with its rich malt complexity, has become a favorite among our winter seasonal brews. In total, four types of malted barley are used in the brewing process including a variety of German malt called Carafa®*. This specialty malt, along with a bit of flaked oats, gives our Holiday Porter its smooth, roasted malt character. Add generous portions of imported hops to the mix and one has a brew that is both robust and drinkable.

69. Atlantic Brewing Coal Porter

This is my third beer from Atlantic Brewing and the first that I would recommend. The other 2 are featured on my list of worst reviews but this is a quality porter. Complex flavor with some chocolate, coffee and lots of malt. Pours a great dark mahogany color with a slight head that stays with the beer and leaves a great lacing on the glass. Had this after dinner and was a great way to finish the evening. 

Pros: Color, complex flavors

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 6.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 

Brewers Website: Atlantic Brewing

Brewers Description: A superb porter, hearty & dark. This one is a staff favorite, made with pale, crystal, Munich, chocolate, and black malts. The darker malts give Coal its color and rich flavor. We use Target and Willamette hops to yield a very subtle hop flavor in this porter. 

We cellar this beer for close to six months before releasing it on the thirsty throngs of fans.