HARRY PORTER AND THE COMPLICATED COFFEE ORDER ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

6.5% from Toronto, Ontario 16 IBU

Another delicious riff on the Harry Porter brew. This porter features a small amount of Scotch Bonnet pepper, vanilla, cinnamon and Station Cold Brew coffee. The pour was an opaque black with glints of brown, with a mocha coloured head. The head settled into a cap leaving a ring around the glass. Aromas of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and roasted malts abound. The flavour follows with rich coffee, chocolate and vanilla, a little heat is noted at the end from the Scotch Bonnet peppers, along with some woody notes. The finish has a low bitterness and is quite smooth. The body is medium as is the carbonation. A beautiful brew!

EARL GREY PORTER ~ ROYAL CITY

Sampled on draught this brew poured a dark opaque mahogany with a small beige head. The aroma had lots of Earl Grey tea and the small of bergamot flowers. There were also aromas of caramel , tea, hints of chocolate and dark fruit. The taste too had lots of fragrant Earl Grey tea with roast caramel malts, and a little citrus. I do like Earl Grey, and liked this but would have liked the malts to be a little more pronounced. The tea and citrus rind stay with you in the aftertaste. The body was light-medium, the mouthfeel was a little thin and the carbonation was soft. I found this quite drinkable and the lightness made it refreshing in a way.

5% Guelph, Ontario   20 IBU

Photo courtesy of Royal City Brewing

BUSTED SLED ~ BIG RIG 

5.6% from Ottawa, Ontario 12 IBU

Busted Sled is a seasonal one off from Big Rig Brewery. It is a gingerbread porter. Sampled on draught the beer poured a translucent deep dark brown, with a small beige head which left some lacing . The nose was sweet and rich, containing notes of chocolate, spice, vanilla and subtle roasted malts. The porter itself was also quite sweet with flavours of marshmallow, chocolate, vanilla and hints of ginger. Less like gingerbread more like a sugar cookie. The beer was smooth, but lacked a little body. The carbonation was soft and the finish had a slight hop bitterness. Definitely an after dinner, dessert beer.

PORTER ~ FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

This porter for me was love at first sip! Sampled from a bottle, the porter poured an opaque very dark brown - nearly black. A lasting dark beige head, sat atop the beer, and left nice lacing as it receded. The nose contained notes of chocolate, as well as coffee, roasted malts, caramel, molasses and a slight herbal earthiness and smoke. The taste is rich and complex with layers of flavour. Notes of chocolate and coffee abound, with toasted malts, caramel malts, a touch of smoke and herbal leafy hops. The mouthfeel is full bodied and creamy smooth, with ‘just-enough’ carbonation. It is a beautiful example of the style, highly recommended.

6.5% Grand Rapids, Michigan  45 IBU

FULL CITY COFFEE PORTER ~ FORKED RIVER BREWING

Sampled on draught, this porter on nitro poured a deep opaque brown black with a generous creamy beige head. The head had good staying power, before settling into a cap and leaving light lacing. The nose had notes of chocolate, lots of roasted coffee (from First Crack Coffee Company), toasted bread, subtle malts, earthiness and a light nuttiness. Flavour had tons of espresso, with black coffee/hop bitterness. More subtle notes of caramel, molasses, dark toasted malts, chocolate and an earthiness were also to be found. The brew was abounding with flavour. The carbonation was gentle, the mouthfeel as creamy and the finish was dry with no lasting aftertaste. I very nice flavourful porter, enjoyed when the leaves were turning and their was a slight chill in the air.

5.5% from London, Ontario 32 IBU

OVER THE BORDER PORTER ~ BRIMSTONE BREWING X COMMUNITY BEER WORKS

Over the Border Porter is collaboration between Brimstone on the Ontario side and Community Beer Works from the New York side. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a dark cola colour with a small off white head. Brimstone brought their maple syrup and Community Beer Works contributed plumwood-smoked malts from New York Craft Malt. Both brewed simultaneously from their side of the border. The nose had lots of roasted toasty malts, molasses, hints of maple, burnt crust, with a touch of smoke. The flavour followed much as expected, lots of rich roasted malts. A touch of smoke and some maple sweetness complement the hops at the back end. Both the smoke and the maple were done in moderation – well done! The body was on the full side of medium, and the carbonation was moderate. A very delicious autumn offering, just in time for Thanksgiving.

5.5 % from Ridgeway, Ontario and Buffalo, New York

photo: Brimstone Instagram

CROSS BORDER CITRUS PORTER ~ MUSKOKA & ELLICOTTVILLE

Muskoka Brewery celebrates it’s 20 year anniversary this year, as part of their special year they have released more Moonlight Kettles than ever before and are working on four collaborations with other North American micro breweries. This porter is a collaboration with Ellicottville Brewing Company in New York State. Sampled on draft this beer poured an opaque dark brown with a thin slightly beige head. Dark malts, molasses, burnt toast and citrus and citra appear on the nose. The flavour is also very roasty – with notes of dark roasted malts, citrus, citra hops, chocolate, and herbs. The body is medium-light and the mouthfeel is slick. This wasn’t as porter-y as I thought it would be – almost reminiscent of a Black IPA. Surprisingly fresh and possibly sessionable for a dark brew. Overall a nice mélange of flavour, worth trying.

4.5% from Collingwood, Ontario 33 IBU

MUDDY YORK ~ PORTER

Sampled of draught this beer poured an opaque very dark brown with garnet highlights, and a generous creamy bone white head. The head left quickly but did leave some nice lacing. The nose has notes of nuts, smoke, roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. The flavour has quite a large chocolate presence, along with dark roasted malts, nuttiness, and slightly bitter coffee near the end. As the beer warms a slight dark fruit presence and malts make a greater appearance. The carbonation is on the softer side ad the body is in the fuller side of medium. A decent take on the style - worth trying. East Toronto represent!

4.7% from East York, Toronto IBU 21
Malts: 2 Row Pale, Wheat, Brown, Crystal 57L, Chocolate Wheat
Hops: Willamette

VANILLA JAVA PORTER ~ ATWATER

RED, WHITE & BREW ~ Vanilla Java Porter is Atwater’s bestseller. Sampled on draught, this porter poured a very dark brown with a thin tan head that dissipated very quickly. Roasted coffee and vanilla extract dominate the nose. My first impression of the taste was that I was drinking an ice cream float. I found this to be very sweet. The coffee flavour was not of strong brewed coffee, but more of a watery coffee with vanilla extract. The mouthfeel was watery and I was expecting much more of a hop presence at the finish. I was expecting much stronger flavours and complexity from this one. If you like a drinkable dessert this would be it. Pleasant enough but in small quantities.
Ingredients: Brewed 2 row malt, Cara-80, Coffee and Black malt and Magnum hops.

4.5% from Detroit, Michigan 12 IBU

ROASTED WALNUT BOURBON AGED PORTER ~ OAST HOUSE

When I walked into my local, the Bartender, ran over and told me I couldn’t order until I had tried this one. She remembered that I liked my porters and this was a new addition to the taps. Sampled on draught, this porter was one boozy treat! The beer poured very dark brown with a small off white head. There was tons of bourbon on the nose, along with roasted malts, subtle nuttiness, vanilla and coffee. The taste was incredibly full flavoured and rich. Chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit give way to a subtle nuttiness, barrel oakiness, and caramel sweetness mid sip. The malt backbone emerges into a hoppy finish followed by an aftertaste of bourbon. The bitterness is perfect in this porter and compliments the vanilla and bourbon notes. Thought this porter is already high in alcohol (7.2%) I think it tastes even boozier. The walnuts this porter was made with are all from the Niagara on the Lake region and were toasted in house.

7.2 % from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

PHOTO : OAST HOUSE INSTAGRAM

ELEPHANT MONSOON ~ BEAU’S

Elephant Monsoon is Beer #4 in Beau’s Fe’brew’ary. It is #63 in their ‘Wild Oats’ series and is a Peanut butter and grape jelly porter. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a deep brown with a small beige head and some scattered lacing. The nose has chocolaty malts, grassy hops, some berry notes, very faint peanuts and coffee. I was expecting a punch of flavour, but this porter drinks more like brown ale to me, as the finish is very mild and lacks the finish I expect from a porter. The beer is full of roasted chocolaty malts, subtle nut and sweet grape in the middle and grassy hops for mild bitterness. The PB and J are very subtle; I tasted some peanut butter mid sip and then the finish had a ‘Welch’s” grape jelly like sweetness and taste. The porter is medium bodies and has a creamy mouthfeel. I found this easy to drink and quite pleasant but was hoping for more of a flavour smack.

6.7 % from Vankleek Hills, Ontario 30 IBU

PITCHFORK PORTER ~ NIAGARA OAST HOUSE

Sampled on Draught, this porter poured a opaque dark brown, with coppery highlights and a medium sized creamy beige head. Caramel, coffee, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and slightly burned toast were all on the nose. The hops were very light in both aroma and taste. The beer tasted, as one would expect from the nose, with a very mild dry bitterness at the end, blended with roasted malts. The body was average to thin, but was quite flavourful. A straight forward modest porter. Would have this again.

5.3% from Niagara, Ontario

GUY ON A BUFFALO ~ BLOCK 3

Guy on a Buffalo is an oddly named coffee porter from Block 3. Sampled from a bottle, the beer had a dark pour with a cap of off white head. The nose was robust and contained notes of chocolate, roasted malts and coffee. Taste was exactly as was expected based on the nose. The coffee the beer is brewed with is from Eco Café in St. Jacob’s Ontario. The coffee and the subtle sweetness are nicely balanced. The body was medium and the finish had a nice coffee bitterness to it. Quite a nice coffee porter. Photo from: Block 3
6.5 % from St. Jacob’s, Ontario 28 IBU
Malts: Maris Otter, Crystal 110, Carafoam, Chocolate, Carafa Special 1, Roasted Barley
Hops: Magnum

BELGIAN BLOOD ORANGE PORTER ~ NORTHWINDS  & BRIMSTONE

This brew is collaboration between Northwinds Brewery and Brimstone Brewery, both with fine products of their own. Sampled on draught, the brew poured almost black, and let little light through it. It had a short-lived small off white head. Belgian yeasts, chocolate, orange and grapefruit and pine hops were all on the nose. The flavour was almost liqueur like. It reminded me of a Murphy’s Dark Chocolate orange that I have found in my stocking at Christmas time. The beer started with sweet orange followed by dark chocolate, roasted malts and sweet Belgian yeasts. It finished with a hop combination of bitter grapefruit and resiny pine. Nicely balanced, and very tasty! Bravo!

6% Collingwood, Ontario

HARRY PORTER ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Sampled on draught on nitro. This porter poured an opaque very dark brown, with deep ruby hues and had a beige head that lasted several minutes and left good lacing. As the head died down, it left some lacing around the glass. The nose had coffee, roasted malts, burnt caramel, hints of chocolate and earthy-woodsy hops. The taste is much like a traditional porter, with roasted malts, coffee, hints of chocolate, burnt sugar, and dried fruit with a pleasant amount of bittering earthy hops and a little sweetness on the finish. I found this brew medium bodied, moderately carbonated, and very satisfactorily flavourful.

6.2%  from Etobicoke, Ontario    18 IBU

2013 Gold Medal - Canadian Brewing Awards.

YULETIDE CHERRY PORTER ~ BARLEY DAYS BREWERY

Sampled on draught, this porter poured deep ruby-brown/black with a sizeable off white head. The head soon dissipated and left a ring. The nose contained toasted malts, a touch of chocolate and cherry. The cherries smelled real, not artificial or like cough syrup (Ontario cherries were used and the beer in unfiltered). The taste is quite sweet, with notes of caramel coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, and cherry of course. The cherry lend a fruity sweetness but also a hint of tartness as well. The finish is semi-dry with lingering sweet with no discernable bitterness. The body is on the thinner side and the carbonation is light. This was a pleasant enough beer, the flavours worked well together but I was expecting something a little less subtle and more robust.

5.5% from Picton, Ontario

ONE PING ONLY ~ BEAU’S

One Ping Only is a Baltic Porter, and is No. 56 of Beau’s Wild Oats series. Baltic Porters began in the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) and also Finland, Russia and Poland in the seventeen hundreds. The English porters that had been introduced and the Russian Imperial Stouts with dark malts and a higher alcohol influenced it. This type of beer was mainly forgotten until the fall of the iron curtain in the late 1980’s when craft brewers found the style and reintroduced it.
Sampled on draught the beer poured almost black with mahogany hues with a beige head and nice lacing. The nose contained chocolate, caramel, dark malts, dried fruit and coffee. Taste was also rich in roasted malts (it is made with nine different ones), chocolate, coffee, molasses, dried fruit and caramel. The booziness was pleasantly warming.
7.8% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario 30 IBU

Name Sake: reference to “The Hunt for Red October” movie
Hops: Marynka, WGV (all organic)
Malts: Munich, caraaroma, caramunich, carafa, pale ale, pilsner, rye, smoked barley, oats (all organic)
Yeast: German ale & German lager

CHOCOLATE ORANGE PORTER ~ TRAFALGAR

Chocolate Orange Porter is seasonally available during the winter months.  Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured a dark cola colour.  It has very little to no carbonation.  There was lots of sweet orange peel in the middle with a chocolaty aftertaste, after the malts.  The orange intensified as the beer warmed.    The orange peel favour slightly artificial, and sweet.  The beer tasted like a watery version of a “Terry’s Chocolate Orange.”  I was expecting something richer with greater body.  A little disappointed with this one.

5% from Oakville, Ontario

CUCKOO FOR COCOA HUSKS ~ WELLINGTON

This Chocolate Porter is a Welly Re-Boot. Originally made as a Welly one-off they have revisited and remade this delicious Christmassy beverage. Sampled on draught, the beer poured almost black with a tinge of red, with a tan head, that left some lacing. Nose contained lots of chocolate, roasted malts, coffee with hints of berries buried in the background. Roasted malts and dark chocolate (cocoa nibs were added directly to the mash) first dominated the flavour, with a subtle sweetness and perhaps even a soupçon of vanilla. The acidity adds a liqueur like quality to the brew. Finish has a gentle bitterness. Nicely balanced, very quaffable! Label created by cartoonist Jay Stevens.

6% from Guelph, Ontario

BRICKS & MORTAR COFFEE PORTER ~  LEFT FIELD BREWERY

Bricks and Mortar is a seasonal offering from Left Field. It is a collaboration with their neighbours Pilot Coffee Roasters. The name is a tribute to the area and the building the brewery is in. The brewery is located on the edge of what once was a large pit, where much of the clay for early Toronto Houses was sourced. The brewery buildings original use was part of the brick factory. 
Sampled on draught at the brewery, the beer poured a dark brown with a beige head, which left beautiful lacing. The aroma contained lots of dark coffee with roasted malts and a very subtle fruitiness. Whole freshly roasted Guatemala Gesha coffee beans are added near the end of the conditioning process using cold extraction to flavour. The taste has a bit of sweetness with coffee, roasted malts and subtle chocolate notes. There is a light fruit acidity and a little coffee bitterness found on the palette too. It is smooth and creamy with moderate carbonation and medium body. A nice winter sipper.

6% from Toronto, Ontario 40 IBU

photo courtesy of Left Field Brewing