Black Butte Porter - Deschutes Brewery

kevanb

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a Deschutes tulip.

The beer pours a nice deep brown, borderline black color, very opaque with a 2 finger bone colored head that has good retention and leaves some nice spots of lace behind. The aroma is of lightly roasted coffee, toasted grain and sweet dark malt with a bit of chocolate. Lots of rich grain on the tongue, soft cold pressed coffee behind it lends a bit of roasted character, bitter bakers chocolate is readily apparent with a slightly milky flavor at the finish. The body is on the lighter side, slightly high carbonation that provides some nice zip across the tongue, but still feels a bit thin and has a creamy finish that falls a bit bit short.

Verdict: A solid porter from Deschutes and certainly a benchmark for the style. While it's not overly complex, Deschutes packed a lot of flavor into a 5.20% beer. Definitely a great example of the style for regular drinking.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 03:58:52 | More by kevanb

Greywulfken

New York

4.24/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Best by 11/26/13

A: super-dark, nearly opaque brown with an ivory head - big-as-you-want-it - lotsa of chunky lace left behind

S: dark roasted malts, bitter hoppiness, suggestions of wet cold, burnt coffee grinds and wood chips

T: crisp-tasted roasted dark malts, complex, with interesting woody and earthy notes among the more expected cold espresso and bitter unsweetened cocoa

M: light, mellow, smooth, drying, very mellow bitterness - quite impressive

O: another no-brainer: a very compelling porter - light, crisp, bracing, toasty, and roasty - reminded me of an English porter, like Fuller's London Porter, blended with an American porter like Anchor or Founders. Strong coffee-ish finish, drying and extra-roasted. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 01:41:36 | More by Greywulfken

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is nearly jet black in color - traces of amber are visible near the edge of the glass when viewed from above. It poured with a thin tan head that quickly died down, leaving patches of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aroas of coffee are present in the nose along with notes of chocolate.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and also has hints of roasted malts along with a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer goes down very easy but also has some nice flavors. I would have no problem drinking this beer all night long.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 21:21:42 | More by metter98

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black butte porter pours a pitch black color with very small head. The. Aroma have a nice coffee and roasted malty smell. The tast has a bold roasted malt taste with hints of coffee , nice creamy taste. Very nice rich flavor. Overall a very nice full bodied porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 02:19:38 | More by vette2006c5r

dar482

New York

3.48/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

The color is a very dark brown, almost black with a light tan head.

The aroma has sweet roasted cocoa and chocolate, coffee roast. It has sweet caramel instead of super deep burnt roast.

The flavor is creamy and sweet with some brown sugar. There’s a hint of dark fruit, but not anything very obvious. A bit lacking in complexity.

The mouthfeel is actually a bit light medium. It could be fuller and rounder. At 5.2% ABV, it has a decent amount of flavor. Quite sessionable and somewhat tasty, but a bit disappointing for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 17:47:02 | More by dar482

Shumania

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle poured into a sam adams perfect pint glass

a: Dark brown, cola looking, with a nice fluffy head

s: amazing smell of chocolate and and balance between sweet and roasted malt/coffee

t: lots of chocolate, vanilla, then an unexpected hop kick at the end

m: creamy but goes down very easy

This is an excellent porter! I would love to do a side by side with my other favorite porters because this is up there with the best.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 00:10:26 | More by Shumania

jdhowe

California

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

doing something a little different tonight -- reviewing this alongside my homebrew porter, which I fully expect to do horridly, but it should be fun.

Both poured from 12oz bottles into pint glasses.

A: Pours a deep brown with 1/2 finger of mocha head that quickly disspates. Shows some light around the edges revealing a burgundy hue.

S: Deep roasty and smoky notes -- holy crap this is smoky! A hint of coffee, and an even smaller hint of fruitiness, but this thing is mostly a smoky monster.

T: Wow... smoky... I'm shocked at just how smoky this beer is. I didn't remember this much roast and smoke on it. Once the overwhelming smokiness subsides, there is a malt sweetness alongside flavors of fruit. After a few sips the smokiness subsides a bit and it tastes more balanced and finishes with a nice roastiness.

M: Nice balance of carbonation with a medium body. Nothing at all offensive about this beer -- just highly drinkable.

O: A masterfully done porter. The smokiness is a little overwhelming at first, but once I got past that, I was really able to enjoy the interplay of the other aspects of this beer, which was very nice.

***
homebrew generic porter:

A: Pours a light brown with more red than expected. A finger of off-white caramel-toned head quickly dissipates. Bubbling in the head is larger/coarser than BBP. (2.5)

S: More fruity than roasty, but roast is there. Sweeter than BBP, and with none of the overwhelming smoke. There's also something else here that I can't pinpoint but it an off-smell. It smells almost artificial, like plastic, but it's not that or even quite like that. Nothing unappetizing really, but not the smell balance I wanted. (2.0)

T: Roasty with hints of coffee, followed by a fruitiness and a bit of a lingering bitterness. There's a hint of something off toward the back of the sip, but again I can't pinpoint what it is. (2.75)

M: Medium body well carbonated. Maybe just a little thin for its style and possibly slightly overcarbonated (more carbonated than BBP), but not in a way that detracts from enjoyment. (3.75)

O: Lots to learn, but I'm not unhappy with this for my first attempt at brewing a beer. It's drinkable, and even enjoyable, and that's a fine start. (2.5)

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 05:09:32 | More by jdhowe

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4.55/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

L: Dark brown/black with some reddish glints. Big creamy light mocha head with excellent lacing, some carbonation streaming up the side of the glass.

A: Rich roast coffee notes, burnt toast, notes of fruit, herbal and earthy hop notes. and some subtle estery yeastiness.

T/M: Subtle coffee bitterness upfront, same rich burnt caramel notes as in the nose, more dark fruits and earthy hop notes. Mouthfeel is robust and smooth, exceptionally so for the abv. Good amount of carbonation.

Overall, an incredible porter, rivaled by none in my area. Just like Obsidian Stout and The Abyss, it is about as delicious as their respective styles get. Deschutes may just be the best Stout and Porter producers in the world.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 21:33:44 | More by Siriusfisherman

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.91/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pint into a plastic beaker at Jack's in the cannery, San Fransisco. Plastic container because it was 3 Feb 2013 and Super Bowl day (the 49ers were later to blow the whole thing).

This was the third and final draught beer I had here: I hate plastic containers for beer drinking.

Dark isn't it, with a full tanned foaming head: almost looked good (despite the plastic cup).

Malts with a hop presence I wasn't expecting: nice blend in the nose and taste. Chocolate and coffee notes throughout, very pleasant.

Almost rich and creamy in texture, easy to drink and a beer I'd willingly have again (out of a glass though).

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2013 18:14:25 | More by BlackHaddock

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle from SeaOfShells (thanks man!). Best by 8/4/13. Served in a Microbrasserie Charlevoix goblet.

Pours a cola-like dark brown that leaks a little light around the edges. Two fingers of foamy pale tan head that fades to a thick halo and leaves small bits of lace. A small amount of sediment settles at the bottom of the glass.

Aromas of roasted malt and muted candied dates.

Smooth flavored layers of chocolate, faint dark fruits, lightly smoked earthyness and a hint of brown sugar.

Easy drinking, light body with supple carbonation. Semi bitter cocoa finish.

A lighter, slightly sweeter and less roasty porter. Silky smooth and it goes down easy. A nice porter that I believe one could session on if that's what you're in to.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 17:35:00 | More by ThickNStout

chinchill

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle dated Best by 8/18/13.

A: Very dark reddish-brown; nearly opaque, good clarity. Light pour gave a huge foamy tan head that died down very slowly, requiring multiple pours to empty the bottle.

S: Hints of coffee, dark fruits and chocolate over a nice roasted malt base. Subtle floral hops too.

T: Excellent sweet/bitter balance. Moderate complexity. Subtle hop presence; medium-high strength for the roasted malts. No burnt notes.

M: Medium body, medium to medium-high carbonation; very smooth.

O: Nice porter, overall, if too foamy. Fairly complex aroma; very good flavor. Probably the best of the 4-5 porters I've had this week.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 05:56:00 | More by chinchill

ChrisKayler

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Glass: New Belgium Globe.

Appearance: Completely dark, thick tan head that lingered for well over 5 minutes. Lots of lacing.

Smell: bready, dark chocolate, slightly metallic.

Taste: bitter chocolate, ever so slightly smokey, milk chocolate on deep exhale.

Mouthfeel: very creamy, medium-light body, medium carbonation.

Overall: very tasty! Love the mouthfeel, and it truly is a beautiful beer. Glad I got to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 04:05:25 | More by ChrisKayler

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Deschutes Black Butte Porter has a thick, creamy, beige head and a dark brown (almost black) appearance, with ruby highlights under direct light. A thin lacing sheen is left behind. The aroma is of strong cocoa powder and underlying malt, and the flavor is of astringent, slightly sour malt, sweetness, dark chocolate, coffee notes, and some hefty bitterness to balance out the malt. Mouthfeel is medium, and Deschutes Black Butte Porter finishes semi-dry, refreshing, and easy drinking. Certainly, this is a wonderful beer, and I rate it most excellent. Wow!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 15:02:28 | More by RonaldTheriot

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Mixed and matched a six pack for Deschutes for 15 bucks.

A - Got a full inch of mocha head, more than I expected with a deep black body not too deep as there is a lot of amber hues to the base.
S - Some chalky dark fruit notes, a bit of cocoa, and a level of obvious roast.
T - Smooth, very smooth. The roasted flavors mix with the hops and sweeter malts really make this one tasty brew. I get some dried fruit flavors as well.
M - Light to medium in body, somewhat chewy.

Overall it lives up to the hype it's a very tasty porter with some interesting fruity tones. Not sure if I would get it again though...

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 00:19:38 | More by DrDemento456

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Deschutes Black Butte

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a CBS snifter. Served chilled, and left until room temp.

A) Dark brown, with a finger of tan head, which slowly settled to a dusting. A bit of spotty lacing.

S) Roasted coffee beans, a bit of chocolate, and a hint of dark fruit.

T) A nice roasty-toasty flavor, and although I didn't pick up much hops on the nose, it was there on the taste front. There are layers of flavor here. Finishes up with a little chocolate, and a good kick of bitterness.

M) A medium body with a pleasing creamy quality. Coats the mouth nicely. Semi-dry finish.

O) A fine example of a Porter. This wad rich and flavorful. Glad to recommend this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 19:18:47 | More by RoamingGnome

vfalstad

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: black, dark with a dark foam head of about a finger at pouring time

Smell: chocolatey, roasted coffee, the smell isn't too strong

Taste: mildly robust with a smoothness, roasted cacao, coffee, a twing of a bitter note towards the end as it sits on my palette, roasted taste as it lingers even more

Mouthfeel: smooth and coats the mouth with appealing flavors that linger.

Overall this hits a very high mark for porters. The smoothness of this porter prevents an assault of roasted flavor and is one of the qualities about this porter that makes it outstanding IMO.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 02:04:58 | More by vfalstad

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.99/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into a nonic pint. Best by 7/23/13.

A - Dark brown but not opaque, good clarity. Strong pour gives me a medium sized cap of vanilla head consisting of compact tiny bubbles. Left some streaks in my glass.

S - Smooth chocolate. Nice crystal malt takes the edge of roasty qualities. Biscuity which rounds off a solid aroma. Getting some floral hop aroma in the background.

T - Starts with solid earthy dark chocolate. Hints at some fruity hops in the middle leading to a balancing bitterness on the backend. Roasted malts mix well with its bitterness.

M - Medium body, medium to medium-light carbonation, touch of sweetness that dries out.

O - Nice looking brew that holds a cap though its entirety. Well rounded, complex aroma. Good maltiness that had some hop flavors that were a little out of place but craftly balanced. Body is right on and is very drinkable. Solid brew, only the one criticism with outlandish.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:40:43 | More by Jparker37

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I poured this black beaut-y at about 55 degrees F into a standard pint and she poured such a lovely dark brown to black with a full one finger creamy khaki head that lasts as a thick ring and thin cap and leaves leopard skin lacing on the glass. SEXY!

I'm not even going to read what those folks on BA are saying. The first guy on there mentions strong citrus. LOL

Sorry, I don't smell any citrus but what I do smell is roasted and chocolate malts with hints of vanilla, a bready yeast and some hop acidity. It's freaking brilliant! As a matter of fact, I take that back, after sounding like an ass in lambasting the citrus comment, one could make out that hop acidity as that! I'm a turd.

I taste heaven in a glass. Toasted chocolate malts and vanilla dance with a very mild wood smoke flavor and bready yeastness and finish finally with a mild and earthy dry hop taste that begs your elbow to again bend and bring that glass to your lips, your tongue and drink in this black beauty.

Now let me talk about how sweet her body is! She is a medium to full bodied beer thinner than some but with creamy sweet hips making her much easier to drink than some that would kill you with candy and she has kept a bit of the dry sense of English humor as an homage. I'm in love. Playful yet not bubbly, what else could you want in a dark lady like her?

I had to excuse myself for a minute there and have a cigarette. Overall, I would recommend her to everyone, but would be totally jealous and want to keep her for my own as she is a world class beauty! Solid and dependable. I have missed my Black Butte-y!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:43:51 | More by WissBrauSean

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

it took me some convincing from the locals and several itinerant beer drinkers around Bend to finally give this a go - took me drinking the stuff 2 or 3 times before I really caught on to how good a porter this is

A: very dark brown liquid with burgundy highlights.... somewhat spongy off-white foam, sticks to the glass fairly well, keeps a medium-thick collar

S: mostly the deep roast of the chocolate malt matched with a mineral water quality... mild citrus peel pungency in hops, swimming in a sea of vaguely-herbal (or old licorice?), molasses-y malt

T: all about the dark-malty richness.... subtle, clean bitterness, dark grape esters, complex interplay of dark-roasted flavors imparted from the chocolate and crystal (and also from the yeast, if they're in fact using the yeast I've read they use - Ringwood)

M: threat of molasses-y viscosity - it does seem to have a swell mid-sip... in the end, the silky-sweet malt body is just about perfectly supple, clean, and smooth.... perhaps a passing feeling of graininess on the edges, but I'd imagine that's attributable to the hop and roast bitterness... has substance and drinkability in tandem

O: sadly, I didn't have another one - seems like there was more to discover.... pretty solid recipe and execution.... until next time....

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 23:09:22 | More by Bouleboubier

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.21/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Dark black, one finger of mocha head retained for a while

S- Chocolate, roasted malts, little floral hops

T- Dark earthy chocolate, hints of fruit, espresso, roasted malts in the back, little bitterness

M- Medium bodied, mild carbonation, very creamy

O- Very easy drinking porter, lots of flavor but simple, good balance

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 04:48:57 | More by Kmat10

JohnG190

New York

4.56/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22 oz. bomber into pint glass. Served at 50 degrees.

Appearance - dark brown with off-white head that dissipates quickly. Nice lacing.

Aroma - dark malt, chocolate, and hoppy bitterness.

Taste - great balance between malt and hops. A well crafted brew.

Mouthfeel - medium body with lively carbonation.

Overall - a great porter, I will seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:31:14 | More by JohnG190

raynmoon

California

4.34/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The Zombie Dust of Porters. Super easy drinking, very balanced with the cocoa and the hops. Not too strong at 5.2% abv. What else could you ask for?

Deschutes has really nailed it with the dark beers. Obsidian Stout and Black Butte Porter are my go-to's for darker. Sometimes Anchor Porter or Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 04:22:52 | More by raynmoon

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle

A - Dark black-brown with a small tan head.

S - Roasted, smokey malt. Light milk chocolate, toasted bread, and coffee.

T - Toasted burnt malt mixed with a mellow smoke/wood flavor. Sweetness is balanced by a light, earthy roasted bitterness. Hints of chocolate, whipped cream and coffee.

M - Smooth, a bit chalky, light-mild carbonation. A bit too thin overall. It's not watery, but there is something lacking here.

O - This is a pleasant, very easy drinking porter. Great balance. Nothing too special, but it would make a really good beer to session and drink with friends/family.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 03:37:45 | More by mooseo

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.29/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

I have had this beer before, and have always been impressed with it. I actually tell people this is the only beer this brewing company should make. It is one of their flagship beers, and one of their best to date. Some of their limited releases are good, but nothing to write home about. This one is just a good daily drinking beer that I will/have ordered time and time again. Pretty sure Sheryl just ordered a bottle this weekend. I am having a really busy day, but found some time this evening to break and drink. So… let's drink!

In the Glass: This beer is black as night, and has a nice thin tan head that just sits there for a few minutes. It's not thick, even though I poured this cold, and it is just sitting there begging to be consumed. Oh, big news for me. Well, I think it is big news. A few days ago, last week actually, I took and passed the certified beer server test. So… I am now a certified beer server! That is the first level of to becoming a cicerone, and is something that I really want to accomplish in my life. Not sure master cicerone is in the cards… only six of those in the world. But I am pretty sure, with enough training, can become a certified cicerone. Anyway, back to the beer.

Nose: There are a ton of malts up front, and then the finish is a burnt dark chocolate aroma that reminds me of dark candy bars I used to eat growing up. I never liked dark chocolate, but that has changed over the years. Of course, my dark chocolate wasn't in a glass back then! I remember eating candy bars while playing golf. Now I eat energy bars, but still. That is what this beer makes me think of. This beer will also be the beer of the week at Total Wine & More. (Did I tell you guys about the beer of the week we are running at Total Wine & More in Scottsdale?)

Flavor: Those same malts I was smelling hit the front of the palate, and becomes nice a creamy as it slides across my palate. I am going to let this heat up a little bit, but I am impressed with how creamy it is. Not thick… just creamy. I like that word. Creamy. On my second sip, I swished the second sip around for a few seconds, and while it became overly carbonated, it did open up some more chocolate flavors. I bet this, barrel aged, would do well. Do they age this? Hmm… they should!

Mouthfeel: Creamy. I bet you knew that was coming! This beer is, at first, thin and cold (drinking it cold) and as I begin to swallow, the beer really opens up and offers a nice creamy flavor that I didn't expect. The burp is nice, too. Do you like how, when I burp, I tell you what I am experiencing. Part of the package we offer here on 1001 Bottles!

Aftertaste: For a beer that is this affordable, I am impressed with the finish and the aftertaste. It doesn't late a long time, but what sticks around are those soft drying malts that I could smell the second I poured this bottle. You can sometimes find this on sale, too. Like at Total Wine & More. (Consider that a plug for one of the blog sponsors. I wonder if anyone at Total Wine even reads this blog…)

This is a good beer from a consistently good brewing company that I wasn't able to get back east. There are a few bottles from them on our list, including some BA beers and some that are not even ready to drink according to the label. Most beer isn't intended to be consumed fresh. Hey, buy it now… drink it in a year! OK, sign me up. Black Butte Porter is great, and because of this beer, I am going to plan a long weekend to Bend so we can see/drink this stuff at the source. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 22:41:36 | More by rickyleepotts

dc87

Washington

4.51/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A - Very dark amber colour with attractive, sizeable off-white head

S - Fantastic. Sweet, roasted malt smell, a mix of chocolate, coffee, toast

T - Starts with some smokey, chocolatey sweetness. A little bit of fruity raisin taste. Finishes with bitter, roasted tangy coffee flavour. A slight earthy hop in the background. Very satisfying.

M - Surprisingly thin. A small, perfect amount of carbonation.

O - An incredibly enjoyable porter, I will definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 05:51:24 | More by dc87