Anchor Porter - Anchor Brewing Company

McNealc31

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Color is black, as it should be, with a very fluffy beige head. The aroma is an inviting mix of chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt. Sweet malt comes through first in the flavor, with plenty of coffee and chocolate. Dry, oak finish.

Smooth texture, phenomenal balance and flavor, and at only 5.6% ABV, it's not heavy handed. It's beautifully crafted brews like this that make me love porters so much!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:42:11 | More by McNealc31

TokyoCO

Colorado

4.61/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Found a bottle at a Tokyo supermarket, poured into a goblet.

A: Slightly lighter than coffee black, with light penetrance at the bottom of the glass. Large foamy head.

S: Dark malts, fruits, sweetness, slight burnt smoke smell.

T: Creamy sweetness, darker fruit tastes followed by wallop of coffee and dark chocolate bitterness that really lasts!

M: Creamy creamy creamy!

O: Great porter! Packs a ton of flavor into 5.5%. Sweet creaminess really blends well with the strong dark chocolate/coffee bitterness in the finish!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 01:14:28 | More by TokyoCO

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.61/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours such a deep brown that I have to call it black. There is one full finger of kahki colored head that clings to the glass for dear life. The foam fades normally, but the lacing is ridiculousness.

S: The nose is malt, caramel, brown sugar, raisin, and... aww shucks, I get some sour notes in here. A touch of soy, some dirt, and something that reminds me on an ESB.

T: The tastes follows the nose exactly. I get sweetness up front, a mix of all those flavors, and some sour/bitters on the back end.

M: Medium bodied beer. It's not too think. It coats the palate without overdoing it. Sweet, smooth and creamy in the finish.

O: Decent beer. It's got too much sour/off flavors for a porter. I know this is an industry standard, but I'm just not enjoying this beer. I'm happy to have tried it, but I won't be buying this again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:40:02 | More by trxxpaxxs

kojevergas

California

3.79/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I love the shape and feel of Anchor's bottles. Also dig their distinctive labels. Artful simplicity. I'm hoping this beer lives up to that maxim. Acquired at a local SoCal beer store; I don't recall the price. "2YP" on the back of the label. Naturally carbonated. 12 fl oz brown/black glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap ("Use Opener") served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are extremely high; I've heard a lot of great things about this beer.

Served cold, straight from a cooler, and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a five finger lovely khaki-tan head of good cream, good thickness, and great (~7+ minute) retention. Body colour is a solid nontransparent opaque black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Light uneven inconsistent lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. The head has a soft frothy consistency that's rather appealing. A spot-on appearance for a porter. Looking good and inviting so far.

Sm: Dry roasted malt, dark malts, hints of chocolate malt, cardboard, and brown sugar. Molasses, dry dark fruit - like emaciated cherry. The dryness of the aroma really holds back the muted plum and raisin. Caramel. Perhaps toffee. I like the roast, but it is rather muted and even a bit cardboard-y. It's a rather dry aroma. It's not subtle, just muted and timid. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable.

T: Fine roast. Dark plum and raisin. Vague light molasses. Dark malts, chocolate malt, a bit of biscuit malt perhaps. A bit bready. Good body. Not too sweet nor too bitter. Any hopping is very mild and probably generic floral in character. Caramel. I really dig the dark fruits - that's unique for a porter. But the rich dark malting and vibrant chocolate I expect from a good porter is missing here. I do like the roast - which is so often missing in porters. Overall, it's quite balanced. Fairly complex for a porter. Even a bit subtle. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. A bit of brown sugar comes through on the finish, which complements the plum nicely.

Mf: Nicely dry and coarse for a porter. They're so often too smooth and wet, but this porter is probably coarser and dryer than your typical oatmeal stout. Complements the flavour profile quite well. Ideal carbonation. Good full body. Great thickness. Nicely done.

Dr: A very drinkable porter with an excellent price point. This will be my go-to porter alongside Deschutes' Black Butte. I love the subtle dark fruit and the roastiness, but it's not without its flaws. Very well executed for a porter; amongst the best I've had. But far from perfect, or even world class territory. I'm confident there's a far better beer to be had in the style, but this one is lovely. Doesn't quite live up to its reputation, but it's very solid stuff. I'd definitely get this again.

Low B+

I'm confident beer biscuits made with this would be fantastic. This would be great in a stew as well.

I like it both cold and warm; it's interesting to see how the dark fruit opens up as it warms.

Drank great from a conical pint glass. I'd recommend a nonic if available. That or a dimpled mug.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 01:40:47 | More by kojevergas

keith_wayne

Ohio

4.76/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured in a Lagunitas mason jar glass

A: Beer is black and had a chocolate brown head. About 2 to 3 finger (I poured fairly aggressive). Great lacing. All porters should look this good.

S; Molassas, sweet caramel malts, slight hints of dark fruits (plums and raisins)

T: Molasses, toffee, caramel malts and a little bready goodness. Excellent balance with some hops on the finish.

M: full bodied and drier that I would expect.

Overall a great beer. I enjoyed the first one by itself and the second with a chocolate/peanut butter/ wafer dessert. This paired very well with with the peanut butter. Take a bite of dessert and then a sip of the porter and WOW. This is a great beer. Great by itself and great with chocolate/peanut butter desserts.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 00:12:54 | More by keith_wayne

BB1313

Ohio

3.54/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours black with a nice fluffy kakhi head, sticky lacing and nice retention. The aromas are very nice. Lots of chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, oak. The flavors aren't as bold as the nose, but are good. Lots of caramel and chocolate malts in the flavors. Slightly roasty. There's subtle hints of black coffee. Nice bitterness, but balanced. Bittersweet. Mouthfeel is nice. It's medium-bodied with active carbonation; fluffy, creamy and smooth. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Easy drinking porter.

This is a very solid porter. It's been awhile since I've had it and I'm glad I revisited it. It falls short of some other porters out there, but the craftsmanship is solid here.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 18:51:49 | More by BB1313

GossageBrewery

Missouri

4.49/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured this 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This american style porter poured a dark brown almost black color, produce a tan head, creamy, nice retention and left a nice amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of dark malted grain, molasses and prunes. A foundation of dark roasted malted grain, chocolate, prunes, molasses and a citric herbal hop finish. Dry finish. Overall, one of the best porters i have sampled- outstanding!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 19:36:45 | More by GossageBrewery

AmitC

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

Over four fingers thick tan colored fluffy head with excellent retention. Super lacing on the sides. Never seen such a big head on a porter. Very much like a strong imperial Russian stout. Color is dark brown while pouring and pitch black inside the glass. Opaque. Almost shining.

Aroma is of strong hopped and charred burnt up malts. Strength is good to strong. A good amount of roasted malts. Nice and rich imperial and Baltic porter like notes. Slight coffee and strong roast.

Taste is of burnt up malts, strong coffee and hop presence. Very consistent and rich taste. Roast and charred flavors of malt are dominant. Finish is dry and semi-sweet. Medium bitterness.

Mouth feel is medium bodied with good thickness for a stout. Slight warmth. No astringency except for burnt up malts.

Exceptional porter.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 04:00:23 | More by AmitC

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Two tall and very cold glasses of this Porter in 'Players' on Pier 39 in San Fran, 5 Feb 2013.

Looked like a posh Guiness: black with ruby red edges, on top a good foaming head of tight tanned bubbles. No aroma or taste at first: far too cold.

As the beers warmed the dark chocolate notes began to assert themselves in the nose and mouth, the beer became richer and creamier, no need to freeze the arse off it.

Took me a while to drink each glass because of the waiting around for them to warm up, worth the wait though.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2013 13:34:12 | More by BlackHaddock

T100Mark

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Really cool 12 ounce bottle in a pint shaker glass.

Appearance - A black beer with a tan head. The initial head is big but dissipates fairly quickly. Not much lacing.

Smell - This beer has a big nose. Dark chocolate. Herbal. This beer is almost as much fun to smell as it is to drink.

Taste - Bread. Nutty. Chocolate. Slightly sweet.

Mouth - Bold. Fizzy. A touch bitter.

Overall - This is a big, bold, wonderful beer. Smooth. Malty, the way a good Porter should be. The balance between sweet and bitter is perfect. Anchor Brewing knocked this one out of the park.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 03:19:13 | More by T100Mark

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4.49/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark chestut color with some faint hints of a red hue around the edges where some light comes through. A nice 1" fluffy tan head that sticks around for awhile. Pretty good lacing grabs hold of the sides on the way down. The aroma to me makes this beer. Ton of stuff going on. Chocolate and carmel off the bat. Lots of dark fruit, strong raisen aroma and also a hint of plums. Very sweet and malty in the nose. Maybe a slight hint of toffee. Not a lot of hops in the nose. Complex aroma, best beer ive smelled in awhile. The taste doesnt disapoint either with a lot of the same qualities you get in the aroma. Lots of delicious maltiness, and dark fruits. Some roasted flavors and little bit of smokiness. Smooth. Slight hops at the end with a clean finish. Silky medium body. Some carbonation and tingling feeling. Very smooth and drinkable. Will definitely drink this delicious brew again.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:25:03 | More by Burkbom23

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Very dark. Almost black. Big ol' frothy head. Looks like a trusty porter.

Some coffee, earthy aromas, cocoa, spruce, and milk chocolate.

Dark chocolate, earthiness, juniper berries, espresso, pine, and dark roast bitterness. Little bit of that Anchor black licorice. Sweeter finish than I'm used to.

Creamy feel. Not much of the carbonation being delivered. A bit on the flat side.

A solid porter, for sure. Direct me to the next available six-pack.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 05:13:50 | More by thecheapies

Dwtucker90

Texas

4.98/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Deep Ellum Dreamcrusher snifter.

Look: gorgeous jet black pour. Beautiful brown head of about an inch.

Smell: dark fruits, lots of malt and sweetness. Interestingly smells kind of similar to the Rocheforts I've had. Plum, molasses, caramel notes all over the nose.

Taste: lots of bready mealtimes. Plenty of molasses, brown sugar and alcoholic sweetness.

Mouthfeel: not as carbonated as I'd like but very sticky dark notes left all over the mouth.

Overall: very delicious beer. One of the best porters I've ever had. Interesting that it reminds me so much of the Rocheforts. Try this one when you get a chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 04:50:58 | More by Dwtucker90

fx20736

New York

4.71/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a mug, served at room temp.

Bituminous brownish black with a thick cappuchino head. magnificent lacing.

aroma of coffee, chocolate, deeply toasted malt with maybe just a hint of roasted malt.

mouthfeel is weightless, beyond creamy.

taste: figs, coffee, a touch of dark chocolate, roastiness, a touch of smokiness, a well balanced bitterness on the fade.

notes: a world class top 10 beer, so creamy, so smooth, bursting with flavor. This beer has no flaws.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:54:02 | More by fx20736

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

3.91/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Anchor Brewing's 'Porter' @ 5.60% , served from a 6pack of 330 ml bottles purchased for $14

A-pour is a dark brown with a tan head which is quickly dissapating leaving a spotty lace along the pint glass

S-ripe dark cherries , gives off a certain boozyness to it

T-sweet delicious dark fruit porter , easy to drink , very easy to drink , session beer

MF-good carbonation , medium body , with a smooth crispness that is lingering on the palate

Ov-good beer , glad I got to try it and compare , the price is better than Deschutes 'Black Butte' the beer isn't

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:52:00 | More by LampertLand

jifigz

Pennsylvania

4.51/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

bottle poured into a pint glass.

The appearance of this brew is a deep and dark brown that appears black until it is held up to the sunlight through the window. The head was an off-white mocha tan and it lingered for a while. The aroma is of chocolate, cocoa, cola, and slight roasted burnt character. The flavor is slightly nutty and filled with bittersweet notes that are reminiscent of a very dark chocolate bar. A bitter flavor lingers on the palate or some time and begs you to sip it again. The initial flavor is dark and roasted but there is plenty of bitterness in there to keep it balanced. The MF is a medium bodied brew that is nearly perfect in every way.

This is easily one of the best American Porters available. It is hard to make beer much better than this.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 18:05:33 | More by jifigz

dar482

New York

3.56/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours out dark, much like most porters.
The taste has a decent amount malt and coffee, with some vanilla.
The finish is very clean and easy, but I wish it was a bit more complex with the flavor.

The body is relatively light and it is very easy to drink. If you really need a sessionable porter, go for it. It's good, but I want bigger flavors in porters usually.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 05:06:31 | More by dar482

chancy14

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured from a 12 oz bottle. (Side note: I love the label and the shape of the bottle. Very distinctive.) Pours a very dark brown that only shows a trace of deep red around the edges when held up to the light. The head is substantial and pretty bubbly.

Smell: Roasted malt for the most part with a little coffee, toffee, and chocolate. Pretty standard porter profile. The aroma doesn't jump out at you quite as much as some other porters' do, but it still smells pretty good.

Taste: Awesome. Starts with a deep, roasted maltiness, as the nose suggests, then the coffee, toffee, and chocolate take over at the end, leaving you with a sweet (but not too sweet) finish. Not much hoppiness here, but there's enough to keep everything balanced. Everything fits together really well.

Mouthfeel: Not very heavy, but I wouldn't describe it as thin, either, the way some have. Then again, I'm not terribly picky on that score. Carbonation is pretty average.

Overall: This beer is right up there with Founders and (I think) better than Edmund Fitzgerald, but cheaper than either where I live. Definitely going to purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 21:25:39 | More by chancy14

DragonzBreath

Michigan

4.44/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Anchor Porter - Anchor Brewing Company
This one fell into a unsuspecting 6 pack, suggested by my beer Cicerone. What a treat.
The pour was dark and rich with a big tan head that coated the glass.
Deep dark coffee flavor with warm toffee to follow.
Crisp, clean rich malt with a perfect slight bite near the finish..
I Loved this porter.
Abv 5.60

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 01:10:20 | More by DragonzBreath

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A-Nice deep brown color with a one finger toffee colored head. Nice retention. Thick lacing that coats the whole side of the glass but dissipates into a fairly thick latticework.

S-Very strong notes of dark chocolate and toffee/coffee. I'm also sensing some fig in there, which is strange for a porter. The dark chocolate knocks you in the face (in a good way) at first but that fruity smell slowly comes in towards the end

T-Oaky and burnt dark chocolate with subtle notes of banana and figs with a slight malty finish

MF-Smooth with little carbonation and a crisp finish

O-One of the most unique porter's I've ever had. The burnt chocolate is balanced perfectly with the subtle notes of banana and fig. Probably in my top 5 porters of all time.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 20:45:50 | More by Jacurdy60

GoodOmens1986

Kentucky

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle into 20oz ppint glass:

A: Thick tan from a rough pour leaving substantial lacing. Deep brown with dark ruby edging.

S: Chockful of chocolate and caramel, a little roast.

T:Sweet upfront, chocolate and caramel. Then earthy hops and roast balance out the sweetness. Ending in gentle grain and roasty goodness.

M: Medium body, a lingering film on the tongue.

O: Great beer, not much to complain about. Glass ends too soon.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 23:54:47 | More by GoodOmens1986

kshizzle101

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass

A - Very dark brown with a tan head - 3inches and has a lot of hold to it.

S - chocolate, a little coffee, roasted malts, perhaps a little nuttiness

T - Deep chocolate notes, roasted malts and nuts. Definitely some slight hops on the after. very nice

M - medium bodied, a little stickiness to it. perfect carb

Overall - One of the best porters I have ever had. absolutely great taste! A must try!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:28:40 | More by kshizzle101

beerandcycling88

Washington

3.81/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

From notes

A Pours a dark brown topped off with a tan head.

S Lots of dark fruit with only a hint of coffee.

T Again lots of dark fruit almost like cherries dominates with a hint of some roast. Very sweet overall.

M Very smooth with good carbonation.

Overall a pretty good porter. Not my favorite of the style because of the sweetness and all of the fruit but still worth buying if you feel like having a porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:16:48 | More by beerandcycling88

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Single bottle from Premier Gourmet. Picked up a few to enjoy during the Super Bowl; saved one for after the game to review.

Poured into a small nonic. Dark chestnut brown with some ruby shining through the edges. About a half inch of tan head, which dissolves into a thick ring. A few rings of lacing near the top of the glass.

Nose is roasted malt, very sweet, coffee, banana, chocolate. A bit hard to detect, but its there.

Initially I found this porter to be far too sweet and syrupy, but after a few minutes of sipping and letting the brew warm to temperature, I got more out of it. Roasted malt, sweet sugar, caramel, coffee (mild), a bit of smoke and fruit. Finishes semi-sweet with a lingering hop/roast bitterness.

Light bodied, carbonation is somewhat brisk, creamy-silky mouthfeel.

While I wasn't blown away by this brew, it certainly is a tasty porter. Would get again if it were a regular offering in Ontario.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 22:15:38 | More by JohnnyBarman

ElSid

California

4.26/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The Beers of California

#61

Bottled Date: None

A: Liquid black char with a head of tan foam which leaves behind islands of bubbles on the glass.

S: Oven-fresh banana bread, burnt malt, smoke, sugar and brown leafy bitterness.

T: The toasted malt is the foundation here with moments of char, bananas foster, and brown sugar. The bitterness comes through mid-palate which is earthy and leafy ending with a faint alcohol warmth.

M: Smooth and medium bodied with a nice coating linger and pleasant carbonation which is light to moderate.

O: A solid Porter and a great representation of the style. Well distributed in California and great for frigid evenings to warm up the body.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 04:33:22 | More by ElSid