Black Butte Porter - Deschutes Brewery

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

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

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Nice and dark. Foam head is light and creamy, but a little thin.

S - Hints of chocolate and caramel.

T - Chocolate and malty. Not noticing the hops so much.

M - Creamy and smooth.

O - Not quite as flavorful, creamy, or hop intense as the Founders Porter. Still a very good porter and

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:05:58 | More by Bowers-Brew

IdrinkBeerinCollege

Oregon

4.91/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Easily my favorite beer of all time. Being an Oregonian, perhaps this factors into it, but that's besides the point.

Enjoyed in a big, thick-handled beer mug (if the handle wasn't thick, the power of the beer might very well break it)

Appearance: A very dark coffee-brown color, somewhat in between coffee and Guinness. Thick head (one and a half to two fingers) with a nice chocolatey and oily brown color.

Smell: Strong chocolate and coffee body, slightly malty, very sweet and extremely aromatic. Slightly bitter, sweet, and very bold.

Taste: Like the nectar from the teat of a god. Not as chocolatey as one might think, instead featuring a bold, dark, coffee taste that is slightly malty and comes on sweet, whilst finishing slightly bitter and coffee-like. Very hearty and thick, a great winter beer (or on a rainy day, so everyday here in Oregon!) to enjoy with a hearty meal.

Mouthfeel: Thick, slightly bitter, perfect amount of carbonation. Ends up leaving the mouth a bit dry but not too much so.

I implore you, drink up! Drink slowly though, because this guy sits in your gut and keeps you warm!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 09:09:13 | More by IdrinkBeerinCollege

WoodBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The porter from deschutes is decent. The beer poured a nearly opaque back with deep tinges of ruby. The head is ecru and about a half finger thick and is lacing nicely. The scent carries earth and peat. The taste has a very nice earth/peat with touches of caramel and toffee. The mouthfeel is medium in body with smooth carbonation. Overall, this a great easy drinking porter. A great sessional porter.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 00:56:30 | More by WoodBrew

JesseMurdock

Hawaii

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is one of my least favorite of Deschutes' offerings. This porter seems almost subdued. It has a nice creamy dark appearance and hits all the right notes--dark roasted malts, a hint of chocolate. I would have appreciated a little more bitterness to give it a fuller, richer taste. It is slightly too thin. I expect something that feels a little heavier in my mouth when drinking a porter or stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 22:13:40 | More by JesseMurdock

sennoma

American Samoa

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Rich, warm, toasty, delicious. Everything you want in a porter. Not sour the way some porters and stouts can be. Bitterness is balanced by toasty rather than sweet malt, great depth of flavour apparent after the initial "high note" of the hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 05:57:12 | More by sennoma

sweemzander

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

(A)- Pours an extremely dark brown/ burnt sienna color. Produced a nice cap of tan froth that stuck around awhile before dissipating. Even some lacing was left behind.

(S)- A nice mellow roasted and baked bread profile. Bits of raisin and a very subtle spiciness.

(T)- Very similar to the smell. A nice combination of mellow roastedness with raisin and a dry but subtlely sweet yeasty baked bread.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Fits the bill for the style quite well with a smooth and easy finish.

(O)- Overall, it really is a classic for the style. Have had this numerous times, just never got around to reviewing it, but now that this is now available near me its definitely welcomed.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 21:45:51 | More by sweemzander

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.16/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A- pours very dark brown with jus a bit if ruby hue creeping through, creamy light tan head that seems to retain forever, leaving a good amount of lace

S- subtle roasted chocolate malt, toasted bread and light floral hop

T- sweet chocolate notes with just a bit of smoky roasted character, a trace of vanilla and cocoa powder with a lightbherbal hop bittness, the finish is slightly sweet leaving a silky chocolate and roasted flavor on the palate

M- medium body with low carbonation, pure velvet on the mouthfeel leads to a nearly perfect silky finish

O- this is the perfect session porter, well balanced all around and nearly perfect mouthfeel, awesome chocolate notes.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 03:00:04 | More by Treyliff

jageraholic

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Love porters and been wanting to try this one for awhile. Finally got to thanks to Rizalini. Much appreciated!!

Appearance: fantastic! Shiny, black but still clear (no haziness). Semi rough pour into a tulip gives an inch of head, that fades down into steady 1/8 of an inch throughout the rest of the drinking time. Great lacing.

Smell: dark chocolate, roasted coffee, some bitterness and piney hops in the distance.

Taste: A lot like the smell. Bitter up front, then some chocolate and coffee comes in, roasted coffee, and a dry bitter hoppy finish.

Mouthfeel: light on the tongue, maybe a touch too much carbonation. This is the place the lower alcohol shows itself.

Overall: great porter. Not quite founders territory, but if I had this locally, It would be a regular. Would love to try this on Nitro. Think this would really step this beer up into a whole new realm.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 23:42:11 | More by jageraholic

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a bowtie glass)
Best by 7/8/13
A- This beer pours a jet black body with a faint glow at the base and a thin dark beige head that sticks to the glass with each sip.

S- The coffee roasted black malt has a nice flinty character but it is pretty clean in the finish.

T- The flinty dark roasted black malt cares through to the flavor with some carbonic acid flavor and a faint vinous quality in the finish. There is a slightly sweet finish with some deep roasted coffee malt lingering in the finish.

M- The beer has a medium-light mouthfeel and a scrubbing fizz in the finish with no alcohol heat.

O- The nice malt flavor is cut off by the fizzy carbonation and a thin body doesn’t enhance the nice malt flavor either.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 14:13:36 | More by rhoadsrage

Dwtucker90

Texas

4.89/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Enjoyed from a 12 ounce bottle poured into a Brooklyn Brewery Tulip glass.

Look: Pour very dark, deep brown and black pour. 1 inch head, medium brown.

Smell: Needs some time to warm up for the whole bouquet to come out. Lite alcohol. Dark roasted malts with a medium dark chocolate smell along with hints of coffee and dark fruit.

Taste: needs warming but tastes the same as it smells. Very balanced, lots of different smells cone out.

Mouthfeel: average carbonation. Finishes very well. Very slick and smooth without being thin.

Overall a really good balanced porter. One of the best.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 04:11:18 | More by Dwtucker90

leokbelo

Florida

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

Pours a deep black into a pint glass with an inch frothy head that's stays forever.
Sweet vanilla, chocolate and coffee on the nose. Malty and smooth on the palate with hints of coffee, figs and raisins.
Extremely drinkable. With the low ABV, it's a perfect session brew.
Hops are not on top, but give a crisp finish. Very tasty.
Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 01:07:17 | More by leokbelo

T100Mark

California

4.63/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A 12 ounce bottle in a shaker pint glass.

Appearance - As black as a beer can be. Thick, lumpy, off white head. Beautiful.

Smell - Semi-sweet chocolate. Burnt toast.

Taste - Malty. Chocolate cake. Kalamata olives. Walnuts. There's too much going on here to chronicle.

Mouth - Bold. A little oily.

Overall - This is one big, complex beer. I know the English Porters tend to be a little smoother but I really like the taste of this one!

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 04:58:20 | More by T100Mark

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into an Allagash chalice

A: Pours a dark, mahogany brown with a 1.5 finger head of tan foam which fades to a cap leaving a decent amount of spotty lacing.

S: Predominantly a malty chocolate aroma with some roasted scents to back it up. I also pick up a small dose of vanilla.

T: Mild, bittersweet chocolate dominates the flavor, with a slight, herbal hoppiness to balance the sweet malt. The finish is moderate in length and consists of dry chocolate and a light touch of smoke.

M: Smooth and creamy. Low carbonation provides a good amount of foam but remains very drinkable.

O: A straight-forward but well executed porter. Very easy to drink but still substantial.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 20:53:55 | More by WankelEngine

Auraan

Arizona

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

Poured a very dark brown or light black with a one finger, off-white head. Scents of roast malt, chocolate and black coffee. Flavors of rich roast malt, hints of black coffee and rich chocolate notes. Low carbonation and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel make it easy to drink, one of the smoothest drinking experiences I've had. Excellent porter. Well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 04:46:50 | More by Auraan

Khad

4.79/5  rDev +14%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The appearance is almost like a dark molasses just what you'd expect, perfect. There isn't a huge scent, however I think this to be a good thing for a porter. It clearly doesn't have the "rusty or metallic smell" and bitter coffee notes are not over bearing. Taste is excellent. Hard to believe a porter can be this smooth while still packing a fist full of flavor. Light coffee taste, no real chocolate that I picked up, definitely malt and barley but it all works in harmony with no bitterness which adds to a wonderfully light creamy mouthful.

What a truly remarkable beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 21:36:57 | More by Khad

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.76/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

The beer is dark brown with an inch of beige head. Excellent retention with ample lacing. The aroma offers roast, malt, chocolate, toffee, coffee. A hint of smoke and ash with a nice chocolate roast character. Dry finish with some hop bitterness. Malty with light brown sugar and biscuit flavor. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:42:47 | More by Huhzubendah

CapH

New York

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A- A beautiful dark, rosy brown that looks earthy. Head is nice light brown that leaves smooth, flowing lines on the glass.

S- Chocolatey, malty, roasty tones abound.

T- Roasted chocolate followed by a malt bitterness. Low hop presence but a balanced, easy drinking flavor.

M- Very light end of porter. Strong carbonation but flows down smoothly.

O- I'll admit, I've loved this beer for 12+ years. If I could only ever have 1 beer this would be it. Why? It isn't the "perfect" beer imho, I've had others that I feel are superior to the style and others that "knock my socks" more, but the perfect balance, smooth drinkability of this brew just makes be love it so. Not to mention that Bend, OR rocks!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 22:48:52 | More by CapH