Nov 7, 2012

Anchor Brewing Porter

It appears as though I was in an Anchor Brewing mood lately. It also appears as though I really am inconsistent with posting reviews as the brewery’s Porter has been a beer that I’ve had many times over, but one that never saw any love here. First brewed in 1972, the beer has been the epitome of what an American porter should live up to. It wasn’t the first porter I recall having, but it was damn near one of the first and it remains a favorite of mine to this day.

Brewed with blend of roasted malts (2-Row Pale, Caramel, Black & Chocolate) and hopped with Northern Brewer hops, the 5.6% ABV beer delivers the goods with a well-rounded presence of lightly roasted malt and cocoa that’s balanced wonderfully by a moderate amount of hop bitterness. The beer is easy drinking and more than appropriate any time of year, especially now that the days are getting colder and shorter.

Appearance

Anchor Porter pours with a massive, light tan head (the result of a not-so-gentle pour on my part) that rests atop the dark brown liquid.

Aroma

Dark roast coffee, dark malts, a hint of chocolate and a touch of cocoa all come together smoothly in this earthy and inviting nose.

Taste

Just like the brewery’s Brekle’s Brown I had the other day, this porter has a great earthy quality. Dark malt, coffee and a light amount of cocoa dominate the palate as a low level of hop bitterness forms late and lingers gently in the semi-dry finish. The full-bodied brew drinks smoothly with no hint of alcohol to be found.

Overall

It may not be the best porter available today, but Anchor Brewing’s historic brew created the mold for all other American porters to follow. The fact that it is still produced to such a high quality to this day (after 40 years in existence) is a testament to its staying power and overall character. I’ve stocked up on it for the Fall season. You should too.

Rating: 4.25/5

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