Founders Porter - Founders Brewing Company

IsaacmanTX

3.65/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This a fairley pretty black (not quite a dark black), with good lacing for a 4oz taster. I very much enjoyed the chocolate foresmell/foretaste with a light vanilla/coffee bean taste. The hops are a little overpowering though. I would have expected a more balanced flavor, even with the prominent hop smells. Not a beer I would order after tasting, but decent none the less.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:55:15 | More by IsaacmanTX

BhamBeerLover

4.53/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very heavy chocolate smell and taste which is true to this beer's style. Seemed overcarbonated for a porter though which detracted from this beer's great taste and smell. Would recommend to anyone who was looking for a good porter of the chocolate persuasion. Fine beer from a pretty good brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:38:25 | More by BhamBeerLover

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours an opaque black body with a nice 2" light brown head with good retention and lacing. Beauty.

S - Has a delicious roasted coffee aroma. Some vanilla and chocolate notes.

T- Roasted chocolate malt, dark chocolate, coffee bean aftertaste. Quite delicious and rich.

M- Low carbonation, medium heavy body. Robust and creamy.

An excellent interpretation of the style. Overall excellent brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 23:36:49 | More by gcamparone

mikeg67

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. Pours black with long lasting, beige head. Aroma is of bready, toasted malt, chocolate and hints of dark fruit. Body is medium and creamy. Taste is toasted malt, dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee and citrusy hops. Finish is long and bitter. Great porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 15:32:44 | More by mikeg67

KYGunner

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I felt like I poured this properly but got three inches of thick, bubbly head that sounded like a bowl of Rice Krispies. The popping of bubbles lasted for nearly five minutes as the head dissappated slowly. The color is BLACK. No ruby hue like I would expect. It smelled of rich cocoa and hints of chocolate but had a bit of a chalky scent. The taste was warm and slightly alcohol tinged. Nice roasted nut or malt flavor but a bit harsher than a lot of Porters. Nothing makes me think this is a Porter and everything tells me it's a stout put in the wrong bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 20:35:08 | More by KYGunner

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

4.03/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “BOTTLED” date is “05/29/12.”

Appearance: Poured into a tulip glass. The color is opaque black; no light passed through when I held it to a light. A lousy pour produced a finger of tan head, which dissipated quickly to leave a very thin lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: Lots o’ chocolate. Black licorice, chocolate-covered cherries, plum. The roasted malt and espresso emerges slowly as the beer warms. It also has an oak-like smokiness and brandy-like booziness.

Taste: The chocolate from the smell takes a backseat to roasted malts, reminiscent of straight black coffee. The dark chocolate is still there providing balance. There is a hint of black licorice and maybe plum, too. I still get a little smokiness and brandy.

Drinkability: It is a pretty solid brew; tasty and thick. It does not set itself apart but it is good drinking.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 18:28:13 | More by TheQuietMan22

waldoiverson

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

12 oz into nonic

A: dark brown, slight ruby tone, silky looking brown foam with great lacing

S: chocolate, cola, toasted nuts and dark cherry

T: sweet, licorice, unsweetened cocoa, hint of smoke and char

M: medium body, nice carbonated bite, dry finish

O: this is exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 01:08:34 | More by waldoiverson

yesyouam

New York

4.9/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Founders Porter is an opaque, brown-black beer with a brown sugar-colored froth that stays put. It has an aroma of roasty malts, caramel or brown sugar and zesty hops. Wow. It has a very American smell. It's pretty full bodied and soft. It vanishes from the mouth quickly and leaves the tongue a bit scratchy. It has flavors of dark malt, roastiness and maybe chocolate. A sort of lemon peel bitterness and some sort of grass or hay and spice seem to come from the hops. It's balanced perfectly. It's bold and delicious. This shows everyone what a porter is all about.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 17:40:37 | More by yesyouam

baos

Indiana

4.48/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pint glass with 3 finger head over a dark dark body...
With quite a few porter's I find myself tasting Elmer's hooves. A super malt glue flavor sticking to the roof of my mouth. But with Founder's Porter I am not foundered by excessive maltiness. They balance this one nicely with an almost creamy mouth-feel and nice dry hop finish to even out the monster malt profile. A great beer. Founder's is on of my favorite breweries. A great brew. Get a pot of beans with some cornbread and sit your ass down by a Autumn fire and drink the shit outta this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 02:12:59 | More by baos

JustinAniello

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours pitch black with a one finger head, which dissipates to a minimal, but sticky, lacing. Almost no cap to speak of.

S - Nicely roasted malt gives an aroma of heavy dark chocolate and coffee, with a hint of sweetness.

T - Sweet on the tip of the tongue, chocolate just showing through. Turns to black coffee with a nice bitterness that lasts into the aftertaste. Almost a little smokiness, like a roasted espresso bean.

M - Medium body and light carbonation, good, but could be a little heavier. Goes down smoothly, not syrupy like many porters.

O - Definitely a good porter. Nice coffee and chocolate notes in both flavor and smell as you would expect, with a nice bitter hint. Could use a something more than just the basic porter qualities, but still one of the best I have had. Worth trying if you are a dark beer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 00:02:43 | More by JustinAniello

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Founders Porter

Appearance: Founders only year-round dark beer offering pours pitch-black with a massive three fingers of deep tan head. This foam cap quickly dissipates into a crust reminiscent of espresso crema. The beer is too dark to note any carbonation, but, as Founders beers are unfiltered, quite a bit of sediment is noted. The beer leaves very little lacing while sliding down the glass. It honestly looks more like a stout than a porter, but coming from one of the kings of stouts and given the questionable divide between the two styles, this is not surprising or negative. Like the bottle proclaims, this beer looks “dark, rich, and sexy”; but the same could be said for your average porter or stout.

Aroma: Thick, creamy waves of darkly roasted malts suggesting chocolate, coffee, and just the slightest hint of oatmeal waft over the drinker’s nose. Strangely, there is a bit of an alcohol/liquor profile, even at a modest 6.5% ABV, which, while not negative, is unexpected and somewhat off-putting in such a small beer (by craft standards). Not a lot outside the norm going on here, either; it just smells like a basic porter/stout.

Taste: Essentially follows the nose, but with more of an emphasis on the coffee than chocolate, which strays from the very balanced aroma. The chocolate is more of a supporting actor to the coffee, rather than fighting for the spotlight. No real hop profile is present, but this is a malt-focused beer, so the malt-focused bill does not hurt the beer. The aftertaste lingers on forever, it seems, with a slight hint towards dark fruits highlighted in Belgian tripels and quads. Simple and effective is clearly what Founders was going for with this beer. That simplicity is a bit disappointing considering their other more complex (but not year-round) dark offerings.

Mouthfeel: This is the attribute that sets this brew apart from other porters (and Founders other stouts). This is one of the only beers in which “watery” can be used positively. The smooth and velvety nature of the beer make it incredibly drinkable and refreshing, which is in stark contrast to the flavors at play here. Typically, dark beers are thick and syrupy and sometimes need to be chewed, but this one is lighter than air and goes down with no problems at all. There is a slight alcohol warming as the glass empties, but it is pleasant and restrained, if surprising. There is very little carbonation to speak of, but that only emphasizes the velvety quality of the drink. Founders managed to drag this one out of the mediocrity of normal porters with this amazing mouthfeel.

Overall: While this beer is quite average in every aspect (except mouthfeel), it almost appears as if Founders meant it to be that way. There is nothing surprising, but also nothing to really dislike. Its drinkability and low ABV make it a great example of a session porter (if such a thing exists). This is also a great introduction to porters and stouts and could be used as a rubric on which to grade all other stouts and porters. Simplicity is sexy, apparently. 15.5/20

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 04:24:54 | More by THANAT0PSIS

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Color is absolutely pitch black and opaque, the brown head is very small and leaves little lacing. Scents are of coffee, burnt toast, and a little dark fruits. The taste is mainly roasted malts, some dark cocoa, and a slight black coffee-like bitterness. Nice complexity and good balance. Very viscous and thick, the mouthfeel is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 23:40:15 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

MrBluto

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had this Porter a few times but thought I'd finally put in a review. Porters are my absolute favorite beer, and I have to say this one is right up there with the best...a very solid entry!

A - Pours a rich black with a medium head (about 1/4 inch) that dissipates somewhat quickly. A little lacing.

S - The aroma is light but there are slight hints of coffee and roasted malt.

T - I think this is where this Porter excels. The taste is wonderful and as a good Porter should be. Nice roasted malt flavors well balanced with the hops. Slightly sweet with a strong coffee flavor. Possibly a little chocolate. Subtle bitter yet clean finish. Well done!

M - Another strong category. Somewhat chewy, but not overly so. Perfectly matched with the flavors with extremely pleasant "micro bubbles".

Overall...great! A superb beer worth drinking again (and again).

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 00:18:16 | More by MrBluto

davey101

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled: 05/29/12. 12 oz bottle into a DFH signature glass.

A - Pours a dark brown body, almost bordering on black. Not as dark or thick as a stout as some light gets through the edges. One finger light mocha head with excellent lacing and retention.

S - The thing I thought of was...Founders Imperial Stout. It has an eerily similar nose, albeit a bit toned down. Rich and roasty malts which almost border on smoked, cocoa powder, and coffee beans. Excellent aroma.

T - Roasty and slightly smoky malts, milk chocolate, and espresso beans. There is a bit of a piney hop presence given the 45 IBU'S, but the beer is a few months old so its mostly just present in a light bitterness.

M - Silky and smooth, well carbonated.

O - The imperial stout is a great beer, and this does come off as a lighter version of that beer. This is one of the of the best readily available shelf porters on the market!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 04:11:17 | More by davey101

tectactoe

Michigan

4.41/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a very deep, dark brown, appearing nearly pitch black if you're in a room that isn't well lit - a very tiny amount of light is allowed to pass through this one. The head is nice and tan, made of tiny bubbles with a fine definition and moderate retention.

The aroma is full of milky chocolates and roasted malts; it gives off a very nutty and woodsy smell as well, reminding me of roasting marshmallows over a campfire. Very robust, powerful, and commanding. Slight hints of char and smoked goodness wrap this one up. Between some of the sweet malts and smoky characters, this makes for one of the more complex and unique porter aromas out there.

The flavor follows the nose profile right along, super nutty and toasty from the get-go. A slight hint of coffee beans sits in the immediate background, along with a nice dose of creamy chocolates and cocoa powder. This one has a very low to moderate floral essence to it, imparting a tiny bit of extra bitterness midway through to balance out the sweetness - it works very well.

Other bitterness is mainly contributed from some of the darker malts, in the form of ashy, burnt wood and bittersweet cocoa. The beer ends with an obviously malt-heavy finish, leaning more towards the sweet chocolate and dry nuttiness side. Medium-heavy body - the mouth feel on this porter is one of the best ever. Silky, smooth, creamy, fluffy - carbonation is just right, letting the flavors pop without being astringent.

This porter is pretty amazing. The best one I've had to date. Even better than Eddy Fitz in my opinion (although that is some righteous shit, too). Great smell, amazing flavor profile, orgasmic mouth feel - and still only around 9-10$ for a sixer. You can't beat that.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2012 16:16:18 | More by tectactoe

RussBecker1

3.35/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a very dark brown almost completely opaque, but does give off a very rich chocolate hue. The head is small but there as it falls between either 1/2 to 1 finger tall. Nice color on the head with a burnt toffee, but the head dissipates quickly leaving the inky body behind. Very carbonated for a porter.

S-Nicely complex. The malts are the first thing that hit you followed by the roasting process. The malts are a but too smokey however as the note is pleasant to begin with, but there does not appear to be enough sweetness in the undertones to cut through. Coffee is strong as well with a bit of tangy molasses to round it out.

M-As mentioned before, the body is very carbonated which I felt took away from a number of the flavors. Certainly this is not a stout, but any sort of body would have been appreciated.

T-The first note that hits the palate are the malts, but as detailed in the nose the smoke proves to be too much. The roast hits the tip of the tongue and proceeds to flow throughout the palate. There are a number of sweet and savory undertones, mostly coffee and \maybe vanilla bean, but having the malts hit the palate first, they mask far too many of the undertones leaving something to be desired.

O-About average to me despite the popularity.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 15:20:25 | More by RussBecker1

tdm168

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - almost pitch black with a quarter of an inch of brown, soft, short-lived head

S - huge coffee aroma, some roasted malt

T - roasted malt, big coffee, some chocolate, faint hops, mildly bitter finish

M - medium to full bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a delicious beer. It's full flavored and almost full bodied. It's got its complexities and its subtleties. All around delicious. I'll definitely pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 08:32:54 | More by tdm168

andrewjraab

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - PITCH black and thick. A small creamy brownish head quickly disappeared and not much stick or lacing.

S - Caramel, coffee, chocolate. Also distant oaky smell as well.

T - Malty, sweet, chocolate tasting up front, followed by a nice touch of bitterness. Some lingering smokey / oaky flavor as an aftertaste.

O - This is phenomenal -silky smooth porter with an explosion of different flavors during every drink. So much going on with this brew. This brew is perfect to enjoy while watching a football game on a lazy Sunday.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 21:10:23 | More by andrewjraab

riversider76

New York

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours the darkest of browns with a thin tan head. Decent retention, and a nice lace. Nose is of dark chocolate, hints of roasted coffee, and dark fruit. Body is medium with light carbonation. Taste is a blend of coco, and roasted coffee. Some smokey notes, make this an excellent version of this style.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 19:50:34 | More by riversider76

57md

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Liberty Street in Allentown where the menu description reads simply "dark, rich and sexy." That's pretty accurate, but I will attempt to provide a few more details.

It's certainly dark - like semi-sweet chocolate with a half finger of head that does not stick around very long.

It's rich (in taste, at least). Surprisingly, the nose on this one is rather bland. The body, however, is thick and delicious. Those who erroneously refer to Draught Guinness as a "meal" in itself would probably think that this is a five-course dinner!

There are also solid roasty notes particularly on the finish. The roasted bitterness lasts long after each sip goes down.

It's sexy... well, it's certainly at least a touch smokey. I caught a faint note of smoke as I neared the bottom of the glass.

Let's just say that it is one of the best porters out there.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2012 05:09:09 | More by 57md

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ba Review #221
Served On: 09/18/2012
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 6.5%
Date/ Code: 04/10/12

This was in a mixed case picked up at North York Beverage in York, PA - Around $45.00.

Look: The brew had a black color with tinges of ruby red along the edges. Very little transparency. Head was a mocha tan coating of foam. The color had Stout qualities.

Smell: The nose offered sweet notes of dark fruit and some roasted baking cocoa. Also some soft notes of toffee mixed with a little alcohol.

Taste: Upfront was a semi sweet dark chocolate with a quick coffee bitterness balanced with a lactose quality. The middle and finish was fairly clean with the bitterness and roasted malts fading into a fairly clean aftertaste. Mouth feel was rather light, but still fell with the style. As the brew warmed, the palate opened and the coffee and chocolate notes seemed to cancel out what little bitterness was present.

A solid Porter that practically defines the style. I don't feel it was quite as good as Anchor Porter though.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 00:34:25 | More by CraftBeerTastic

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- This beer pored out dark as motor oil and is dark as night except on the edges while held up to the light, which revealed a small amount of red. It poured out a small half finger head that looks creamy and has tinny little bubbles that dissipated rather quickly. Nice looking beer but wish the head was bigger and retained longer.

S- I can smell this beer from a few feet away. This one is really roasty and rich smelling. When the beer is swirled it releases a more creamy toffee smell that is soft on the nose. I get a slight black coffee smell followed by a real faint chocolate. Very nice smelling beer.

T- First thing I noticed is the nice dark malt flavor of the beer. Followed by a roastyness and a nice bitterness. I get a good amount of leftover flavor on my tongue that reminds me of a really dark coffee. There is a nice toffee note in the background to the roasted quality of this beer. Well done.

M- Nice medium bodied beer that is really smooth. Carbonation is right on for this one. It dries my mouth out on the finish. Makes me want to take another sip right away. The body of this beer is what reminds me of a porter. Tends to be thinner then a typical stout.

O- This is an excellent porter. I love the roasted quality along with how rich and smooth it is. I typically do not grab porters but this one will definitely be a regular in my fridge. Excellent beer!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 23:44:54 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.63/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought a bottle of this at the De Molen beer shop a while back and it ended up being badly infected. Scored it a 1.45. This one came from Premiere Gourmet in Buffalo.

From a bottle into a snifter
IBU: 45
Bottled on 29 May 2012
Label says it's "Dark, Rich and Sexy..."

APPEARANCE: A dark brown pour yields a small, medium looking, light tan head with decent retention. Head fades quickly to a splotchy wisp and bubbly ring. Opaque black body with medium carbonation evident. A swirly wisp and ring remain until the end leaving touches of lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Dark malts, dark chocolate, caramel, and light cream notes. Cocoa powder is there as well, combining nicely with the vanilla cream notes. Medium strength.

TASTE: Dark malts and caramel sweetness up front, with bitter floral hops at the swallow. Medium but lingering finish of dark chocolate, bitter coffee notes, piney hops and some roasted touches. Pretty flavorful and enjoyable for sure.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Pretty creamy smooth on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes a touch mouth-coating.

OVERALL: Very good porter. A little more boldness on the nose and some more weight one the palate would help perhaps, but this is a solid offering for the style. In any case, this was way better than the infected bottle. Recommended. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 15:22:22 | More by Jeffo

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Consumed 9/12/12

Appearance: Very dark brown, with some lighter brown clarity around the edges - pours with a minimal, tan head that fades quickly but leaves some decent lacing

Smell: So roasty - roasted malts everywhere - earthy coffee and chocolate malts, lightly burnt - caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, and mocha - dry, with some sweetness

Taste: As roasty as the aroma implies - burnt coffee, with burnt malts - dark chocolate, with some light molasses, toffee, and some nuts - earthy, with a touch of hops, and a hint of smoke - dry, with some malty sweetness - darker than the average porter

Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth, a little chewy, nicely carbonated

Overall: Founders can make a good dark beer? Who knew?

This is one of the best American Porters I've had. My only criticism is that this is really approaching stout territory. However, I'd still call it a porter. And it's a great one.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 05:11:55 | More by angrybabboon

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a deep brown color with a fast fading head on top. The head comes and goes just leaving a thin ring around the glass. The smell of the beer has a chocolatey roasted aroma with a very minimal hop aromas on the nose. The taste of the beer had a really nice deep and long lasting roasted flavor. There is a blend of chocolate in there too and even a hint of what I think tastes like roasted marshmallow. The mouthfeel is a moderate carbonation, but also has a creamy smooth body too. Overall this is really good, it's boarderline stout in my opinion but either way it's a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 23:49:23 | More by Knapp85