Black Butte Porter - Deschutes Brewery

TheycallmeTim

New York

3.88/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into an American pint glass.

A--Dark brown almost black body with some ruby highlights toward the bottom that ripen up when held to the light. Tan head is pretty huge for a porter, maybe two and a half fingers of foamy cream. Retention is great, and lacing is lasting.

S--Not much to me, even for a porter. A little bit of bitter roasted malt that doesn't quite get to coffee in the nose, but then it sort of peters out into vague subdued floral hops.

T--This stuff improves mightily in complexity once it's in the mouth, and especially once it warms. When it's a little too cold it's mostly just bitter coffee and dark chocolate with weird powdered milk undertone, but once it warms it opens up and not only reveals bigger chocolate malt roastiness with a deeper character, but also some teriyaki and cigar at the very back whose lingering I really enjoyed. Hops get bigger as it warms, too, with a more pronounced floral finish. A little like Anchor Porter in that way.

M&D--Mouthfeel was a little too dry and chalky for my liking (like eating charcoal), though the low carbonation was spot on, and made for a properly robust porter. Drinkability was fine as this a primo session beer in my opinion.

Reminded me of Anchor Porter, as you probably have guessed by now, as well as Great Lakes' Edmund Fitzgerald--kind of a cross between the two. One of the drier, though not necessarily more bitter, porters out there. Not really my thing--I'm more into Smuttynose robust porter's roastiness--but absolutey a well-crafted American take on the style. So glad I got the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2009 00:45:45 | More by TheycallmeTim

Scalzo

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-18-2013 04:20:53 | More by Scalzo

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

KyleMA

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

06-17-2013 23:59:15 | More by KyleMA

terence

California

3.5/5  rDev -16.7%

06-17-2013 12:31:59 | More by terence

flux702

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-16-2013 22:50:17 | More by flux702

ADTaber

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

06-16-2013 22:21:29 | More by ADTaber

pinnser

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-16-2013 18:20:08 | More by pinnser

smithj4

New York

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-15-2013 21:22:27 | More by smithj4

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

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-14-2013 17:30:13 | More by firstlighthiker

elglueckert

Montana

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-14-2013 02:06:01 | More by elglueckert

cosmonick

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-13-2013 22:29:02 | More by cosmonick

HopsXray

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

06-13-2013 08:59:27 | More by HopsXray

scotv

New York

3.5/5  rDev -16.7%

06-13-2013 01:25:55 | More by scotv

Jabartheljr

South Dakota

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-13-2013 00:38:30 | More by Jabartheljr

cowboy83

New York

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-12-2013 22:28:16 | More by cowboy83

jaxon53

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-12-2013 08:56:02 | More by jaxon53

Hdredfern

Texas

5/5  rDev +19%

06-12-2013 03:56:28 | More by Hdredfern

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

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-12-2013 00:23:46 | More by BeerForMuscle

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-11-2013 21:42:31 | More by dalepryor

menacho1

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-11-2013 21:32:09 | More by menacho1

ccoyle

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-11-2013 20:01:32 | More by ccoyle