Anchor Porter - Anchor Brewing Company

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this beer in January in a convenience store cooler in Mississippi while there on a trip. I thought it was fantastic, but I didn't write any reviews down, thinking I'd redo it when I bought it again. But I have looked high and low for this beer and cannot find it anywhere. I've been told twice that it was discontinued, but the Anchor website still lists it as year round. If anyone knows where to find it in NoVA, please let me know. I'm going to homebrew it and want to be able to test it against the original.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 01:30:45 | More by IchLiebeBier

itrainedcold

Louisiana

4.9/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is currently my favorite beer. I use to drink Guinness for my dark beer pleasure but this has such a nicer taste. Guinness is more milder than Anchor porter. Sierra Nevada porter has more of a bite and isn't as smooth as Anchor. It has a dark robust flavor and bitterness. A great beer for anyone who enjoys the darker malt side.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 06:41:46 | More by itrainedcold

KajII

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]

The pour was a deep dark murky black with an average (1-2 finger) medium beige frothy head that reduced down to a thin scattered film with a large collar, and produced some fair spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a roasted bread malt, mild resin hops and an earthy yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, toffee, dark fruit (figs) and a whiff of smoke.

The taste was lightly sweet with a bold malty roastiness and hints of toffee and chocolate in the beginning, becoming much bitterer with a large coffee presence, a mild fruitiness and had a hoppy smoky finish. The flavor hung on for a nice long time proceeding the swallow, with a bitter roasty smoky taste left behind to linger on the taste buds for a while longer.

Mouthfeel was just a tad under medium in body with a dry, oily texture and a surprisingly fizzy carbonation.

Overall this was a very tasty and satisfying brew with a smooth roasty bitterness, which was offset nicely by a mild sweet fruitiness. Simply said this is a well balanced and enjoyable brew...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 16:05:16 | More by KajII

tviz33

New York

4.44/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured in to a nonic pint glass.

A- Pours a dark dark dark brown body with about two fingers of fluffy tan head.

S- The first thing I noticed is the booziness. Luckily, a bunch of other things make the alcohol a lot less distracting such as dark fruits, caramel, chocolate, and molasses.

T- The taste follows the nose quite well. This doesn't taste like your typical porter, but I see that as a positive. Rich flavors that remind me of a Belgian quad really shine: dark fruits, a little spice, and even some charred flavors. A slight bitterness accompanies the overall sweet profile. This is damn good.

M- This creamy but has enough carbonation tickle to balance it. I wish it was just a bit thicker, but you can't have it all.

O- This is a terrific brew and ranks among the top of my porter list.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 17:11:21 | More by tviz33

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-dark brown color with a decent tan head and good lacing

S-chocolate, malt, molasses, hint of coffee, vanilla

T-dark roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, earthy, vanilla, decent bitter finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smothers and creamy

O-a nice solid porter with good flavors and balance

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:01:31 | More by MDDMD

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

J_Dub

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Black with a thick tan head. Plenty of lacing.

S- Roasted coffee. Malts with some sweetness. Smokey undertones as well.

T- Absolutely beautiful balance of coffee, malt, some hops, smoke and a little sweetness even. It's hard to describe how well all these flavors play off of one another. I don't know how Anchor can bring such a fabulous balance to this brew. This is the gold standard for how other porters should taste.

M- Smooth and rich with little carbonation.

Anchor Porter is far and away the best porter I've had. The complex layers of flavors that follow a wonderful pour and smell make this the absolute go-to porter. I love many different porters but if this brew is available any other porter should take a back seat. If you don't like this porter then you must not like the style because this is what all porters dream of becoming.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 14:51:07 | More by J_Dub

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