Black Butte Porter - Deschutes Brewery

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.29/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from nitro at beer kitchen in Kansas city. Pours a creamy deep black with uber creamy foamy head...sicky creamy lacing.
Nice roasted malty aromas..plain but good.
Taste is near perfect roasted malts and some ever so slight caramel or marshmallow. ..I mean barely there.
Aside from a Guinness, this is the creamiest smoothest most silky beer ever. Wow.
This is a fantastic porter....damn near stout like but just so good.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-08-2013 02:36:22 | More by DrinkSlurm

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

spoony

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 355 oz bottle (best buy July 16, 2013) into a snifter.

A-This is a great looking beer. A slightly aggressive pour produces two fat fingers of light-mocha colored foam. The head hangs around forever and leaves great lacing on the glass. The brew is virtually opaque and nearly black in color.

S-The smell is medium to dark roasted malts with a nice balance between sweet and bitter. I detect a whiff of coffee, which plays nicely with some dried dark fruit like dates and raisins.

T-The taste follows the smell, but with a little less authority. There is still a nice balance of mild, fruity sweetness and mild, coffee-like bitterness, but unlike many beers, the flavors actually decline in strength as the brew warms.

M-The feel is on the lighter side for the style with a pretty decent wave of fizzy carbonation up front.

O-As noted above, this is a great looking porter! Things go slightly downhill from there, but this is still a solid beer. The taste is a nicely balanced mixture of bitter and sweet malts, if a bit under-powered, and the flavors pair nicely with the lighter body. This would be a good session-type porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 04:21:50 | More by spoony

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

4.01/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a dimpled mug.

A - Pours a semi-opaque dark-brown, with a light tan two-finger rocky head. Few clumps of lacing. Good head retention.

S - The smell on this was so powerful, I could smell it without even raising the glass to my nose. Strong aroma of roastiness, chocolate malt, nuts, burnt charcoal, and tree bark. A great smelling beer.

T - Nice rich flavors of fire roasted grains, smoke/char, Milk Duds, and fresh dirt, balanced by a subtle bit of piney hop in the finish. Not terribly complex, but what's there is good.

M - At last; a flaw. Thin bodied to the point of being watery. Nice creaminess helps make up for it, and helps balance the graininess of the malt bill. Carbonation is low.

O - Everything comes together pretty well overall. A little torn here as I think that yes, this IS a solid American Porter. That said, it's also a little overhyped as I can certainly find many better examples of the style. I kept wanting it to be thicker and more complex. Certainly wouldn't turn it down if offered.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 04:33:13 | More by TempeBeerMan

Sark

Montana

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

22 oz bomber

Appearance- finger and a half head that is beige and creamy, dark brown but still partially transparent

Smell- chocolate n' coffee, toasted dark malt sweetness and nuts

Taste- chocolate malt up front with the roast side coming mid mouth and medium bitterness finish, hops give a tinge of personality when held on the tongue

Mouthfeel- full bodied, plenty of velvety smoothness but just a hint of watery feel

Overall- I've tasted porters of this quality for much higher prices, this was $3.99 from the grocery store and proves that high price doesn't equate to high taste

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 04:19:54 | More by Sark

Serick507

Minnesota

4.73/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Enjoyed from a bottle into a mug

A: Deep deep ruby/ amber, touch lighter than black, two fingers of a cream colored head, tons of tiny streaming bubbles, small amount of lacing

S: Dark roasted chocolate and coffee

T: Roasted malt, Coffee, chocolate, dark fruits, delicious and bold

M: light to medium, light carbonation

O: Great example of what a porter should be! Delicious beer, one of the best easily. Clean and done right. Not going to get much better than this.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 03:02:25 | More by Serick507

kristenspaintings

California

3.94/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very good dark beer. Has a nice soft porter taste that appeals to me because I usually don't like the bitter-hop flavor of most porters. It has a thicker mouthfeel too- also my preference.

Goes well with substantial, spicy food.. I drank this with a spicy Indian vindaloo and it held its own against the strong flavors of this dish.

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who likes darks.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 22:38:55 | More by kristenspaintings

05Harley

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Best by 05/2013
Estimated calories - 156/12oz

Purchased through LetsPour

Price - $6.50/22oz bomber

The name speakes the truth, this one initially pours black without the red edging one would expect from your typical porter. But that's just it, this isn't your typical porter. Deschutes bent a few of the rules here with color and body in particular. A creamy off white head with legs to boot fill the empty space. Towards the end a change in color from midnight black to a deep brown engulfs my glass.

The nose is fairly rich in roasted malt and bakers chocolate which take center stage. An underlying sweetness is much more noticeable as the beer warms along with coffee grounds.

The flavor is well balanced between the sugar sweetness and roasted malt which makes this very drinkable. I can detect a bit of hop presence as it moves along as well as a touch of smoke. Alcohol is all but muted and allows the ingredients to shine.

The body has a lite creamy feel, low carbonation and is smooth from the start. A bitter tartness comes next followed by a dry feeling. I find the mouthfeel a surprise for 5.2%.

Overall a light and easy drinking porter that shows you don't need to have double digit alcohol numbers to be exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 17:53:18 | More by 05Harley

ClarkHimself

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Deschutes' brew-pub in Portland, OR. I actually ordered a Bomb Squad Porter on the engine, but was mistakenly given Black Butte instead. I fortunately didn't return it, as this was easily one of the best beer experiences of my time as a craft beer drinker.

Was served in a tall lager glass. Very dark, carmel color with a tan head that held for a minute or so before slinking to a thin cover. Smells of chocolate and hops, which was odd for what I was expecting from a porter. There's a faint hint of coffee as well. Taste is... just... wow. Delicious porter characteristics of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee-burntness. Then there is a bit of a hop snap that just ties everything together like no other porter I've ever had. Leaves a really nice, subtle sweetness that just makes me want to take another gulp. I couldn't get over how much I enjoyed the taste of this brew. Mouthfeel was really smooth, very easy drinking beer.

Deschutes Black Butte is easily the best porter I've ever had, and up there as one of the best beers I've ever tasted. Awesome.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 21:04:28 | More by ClarkHimself

trxxpaxxs

New York

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

Big thanks to quirkzoo for this one...

A: Pours out black with about a half finger of frothy khaki colored head. The foam settles a bit, but a lot of it sticks around for awhile. There is some great lacing left on the glass as it drinks.

S: The nose is pretty typical of a great porter. It smells of roasted malt and mild milk chocolate. I'd love to say I can pick up a touch of vanilla in there, but I'd be lying to myself. Either way, it smells nice.

T: It starts out sweet, but a bit watery and thin. But that doesn't last long. I get a nice malt base, medium roast, a bit of toasted bread, and some creamy milk chocolate. The finish is a great mix of sweet and bitter. Great flavors and transitions in here.

M: Medium bodied beer. Yes it's dark, but it's not over filling. This beer is silky smooth and extremely creamy. It coats the palate and slides off nicely. Mild roast and chocolate linger on the palate.

O: I really like this beer. The flavors are right in my wheelhouse. I'd buy this beer often, when I was in the mood for a porter. Super drinkable and super delicious.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 20:37:34 | More by trxxpaxxs

Damian

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Drank from a 12 fluid ounces bottle
Served in a pint glass
Best by: 04/29/13
Thanks to my friend Fclfcs for bringing this back from Oregon.

The beer poured a somewhat thin, mahogany color. A tight, creamy, two-finger, cocoa colored crown topped the liquid. Excellent retention. The head slowly dropped to a clingy, frothy cap. Drippy sheets of lacing coated the glass and lasted long after the beer was finished.

The aroma was semi-sweet and pleasant but not super complex. Strong milk chocolate notes. Good amount of vanilla. Hint of brown sugar. Coffee was quite apparent. Slightly smoky. The sweetness departed as the beer warmed and an intense roastiness took over.

The flavor profile was punchy and a bit rough around the edges. Boat loads of roasted malts on the front end. Espresso appeared in the center. Lots of smoke as well. The beer finished with intense, bitter roast and hop notes. The hops were very West Coast. Grapefruit and pine came through strong. A dry, ashiness lingered on my palate.

The liquid felt thinner bodied. Almost a touch watery. A soft, moderate effervescence lent the beer a pleasant creaminess however.

Black Butte is bold, brash and unrefined porter in that typical old school, Pacific Northwest sort of way. If you are into that kind of thing, definitely give this beer a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 06:15:35 | More by Damian

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

(Note: my scoring system goes only in whole numbers)

12oz bottle with best by date of 7/23/13, poured into Nonic and quaffed today, 2/19/13. Bottle courtesy of mgm54.

Aroma: Really a very nice blend of roasted malts typical of porters/stouts. I get coffee, burnt toast, and caramel. Pleasing nose. (4)

Colour: Nearly jet black cola-coloured body with a nice 2cm tan head that dissipates within a minute. Looks nice and black when not in direct light, befitting the extinct volcano in Oregon that it's named after. Laces persist in spots, but for the most part it falls back into the beer quickly after swirling. Otherwise is a really good looking porter. (4)

Flavour: Huge roasted malt presence which I love about porters and stouts. A decent amount of black coffee (not quite a coffee stout though) up front with burnt sugar, burnt toast, roasted barley typical of the style. The back end is ever so slightly spicy with a strong hint of hop bitterness that complements the beer. Really nice, complex porter that beats most of the other porters I've had in terms of the style. (4)

Mouthfeel: Wow, its just as good as the flavour, quite possibly the best part of the beer. I get a medium body on the lighter side with an inordinate amount of creaminess. It's not quite as creamy like barrel-aged beers such as BCBS of course but for a standard porter, it's really nice and thick on the tongue. I really love it. Also, the carbonation is pretty average and the aftertaste- as mentioned, has some lingering spiciness at the end which brings more complexity to the flavor. Really good and may even set the standard for the porter style. (5)

Overall: After drinking this, I'm definitely stoked to drink some of the Black Butte XXIII I received in a trade a few months ago- saving it for when I get a Black Butte XXIV and maybe XXV for a vertical. This staple beer is a nicely complex porter with a creamy mouthfeel that I don't get in most of the local porters in WI. It reminds me of O'so Night Train Porter but ends up being creamier and bringing some more complexity in flavour. Definitely worth the while and if I can choose a representative porter to be a fridge staple, it would probably be this one. (5)

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 03:09:33 | More by Stevedore

Justin_Neff

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle dated "Best by 6/01/13" purchased and drank in Park City, Utah.

A: Pours very dark brown. Pillowy 3 finger tan head. Great lacing. Head sticks around for a long time.

S: strong coffee, some hop bitterness, roasted malts, and chocolate.

T: lots of roast. Good bitter balance to the sweet malts. Some cocoa. Lots of dark coffee.

M: medium body. Moderate carbonation. Wet, but not creamy.

O: I was waiting to be impressed by Deschutes, and this did it. Great flavor, loads of smell and looks fabulous. I dig it.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 23:20:05 | More by Justin_Neff

watsonmd

Georgia

4.49/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: nice dark pour, pilsner glass. Slight head, little lacing.

S: coffee, chocolate.

T: similar to nose. Slight medicinal flavor/ bitterness cherry flavor

M: carbonated, lighter feel than taste.

O: would drink again. Might consider aging if available in bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2013 02:11:43 | More by watsonmd

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.31/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours like a Porter should pour. Looks dark in color but lighter in body. Light stabs the outer edges of the beer but it is mostly quite black. Mild, darker head. Not much lace.

S-Smells like a Porter should smell. Chocolate and coffee with a hint of chalk and a quite whip-crack of grass hops. A bit lactic. Good mix of dark and milk chocolate. Quite standard.

T-Flavor is an improvement. The chocolate and coffee duo lure me in, then a big slap of pine and grass hop knock me out. I now see why this brew is highly regarded. Its a textbook Porter with a surprisingly hearty hop expression during the finish. I was very happy with the entire flavor.

M-Lighter bodied. Very drinkable. Bittersweet and sessionable. I blew through the bomber with precision and speed.

O/D-Damn right this is a good drink of ale! This is my second Deschutes experience and both were definitely successful. This Porter sets itself apart from most by its fine flavors, textbook execution and delectable hoppy flavor in concordance with its chocolate and roast base. Would love another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 04:39:37 | More by VelvetExtract

guityler83

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The finger of mocha colored head that formed when poured into a standard pint glass recessed quickly. Almost black in color ruby highlights come through when struck with a light. 37 SRM if i took a guess

S: Malt forward nose, roasty, earthy and a nutty characteristics come through.

T: All malt but not in a sweet way. Roasty, marble rye bread and woody flavors. As it warms up the become more prominent and complex

M: Huge chewy body

O: This was a great porter. The big body and huge malt flavor in this beer makes it a great for the cold WI winters.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:53:50 | More by guityler83

overnightstorms

Illinois

4.69/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a teku

A- dark deep brown almost black, lets some light in to reveal dark ruby. Big tan head, sticky lacing.

S- smokey, roasted coffee, autumn bonfire. Inviting. 

T- very flavorful and delicious. Smokey, malty, burnt coffee, slightly acidic, fresh toast. 

F- Sticky and lip smacking. Smooth as can be. Warm.

O- Awesome porter. Sippable and savory. Very homey and cozy. Also, love the label's artwork. 

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 06:16:11 | More by overnightstorms

joeseppy

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a opaque dark brown with a fluffy crown that quickly dissipates.

Aromas of chocolate, graham cracker and burnt marshmellow.

Tastes of creamy chocolate and hop flower. Smoke flavors stand out.

On the thin side and effervescent. Clean finish.

The balance on this is well-crafted. Solid easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 22:41:09 | More by joeseppy

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.26/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz into a Weyerbacher pint glass. Thanks for the extra krl2112!

A - Jet black with an off-white head that doesn't go away. Thick and creamy as it pours into the glass. Pretty perfect looking beer.

S - Not very pronounced, but roasted malts is the predominant smell here.

T - Roasted malts, smokiness, and coffee dominate this beer. It's got a bit of a burnt/salty aftertaste, but it works. The smoky/roasty flavor of this is fantastic. Near perfect porter.

M - Smooth and creamy with low carbonation. Medium bodied and goes down quickly.

If I could get this around me I'd drink it all the time. This is a near perfect porter that has a perfect roasty flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:01:25 | More by RoninTK3

PhoenixShredds

California

4.46/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Note: My original scathing review has been deleted as I clearly must have had an out-of-code bottle.

Poured into a Guinness Pub Pint glass.

A: Pours deep brown, near-black. Head is 1 finger and tan with some medium to large carbonation bubbles.
S: Roasted malts apparent here with scents reminding light toast, coffee and chocolate. A hint of hops aroma keeps it interesting.
T: This porter shines with those roasted overtones as it drinks similar (but better) than it smells. The toast and coffee flavor is supported by surprising brightness with just enough hoppy flavor, but all with pleasant drink-ability. Very little hop bitterness, but it blends in with the roasted malt to make an earthy but not heavy or overly dark drink.
M: Smoother than expected but with some sharpness to keep you awake. The appearance looks more carbonated than the porter drinks, as its a surprising easy drinker that doesn't overwhelm with carbonation.
O: This lovely porter is easy to drink in many settings. The roasted malt is the star with the toast and coffee overtones, but it is aided by the just-right blend of hops and carbonation to make a porter that leaves me wanting another.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 19:24:20 | More by PhoenixShredds

Seven

4.89/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Very dark in apearance. The Smell is a bold blend of Coffee, Malt and a little bit of licorice. The taste is very smooth and creamy, a mixture of the above mentioned. Medium carbonation with a slight feel of the Hops. I would have to conclude this is the best Porter I have had the privaledge to review. Most other Porters I have had, have not blended the whole flavor as well as Deschutes brewery has done. Very excellent Porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 19:08:31 | More by Seven

TheSSG

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a HUGE, dense, tan head with nice resiny lacing. The hop resin keeps a blob of head lingering on, sticking to the sides of the glass, leaving impressive lacing. Black. Toasted malt blends perfectly with floral hops to make an acidic coffee aroma. Flavor begins toasted with coffee-like acidity. Builds to a medium hop bitterness, then the finish blends toasted malt with these floral hops. This is a really nice balance of hop bitterness, floral hop flavor, and rich, toasted malt. As the finish lingers, it gets more like coffee as toasted notes further develop on top of the hops.

This was the Porter that showed me I could like porters.
I'd prefer a more toasted malt aroma, but hey.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 22:12:49 | More by TheSSG

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a 14 oz glass. One finger of head on a black body.
The smell is all roasted malt, which is great.
The taste is roasted malt, coffee and milk. It's deep and bold.
The texture is smooth with low carbonation and medium body.
It's a robust porter with great flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 05:02:59 | More by Fatehunter