Founders Porter

Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Black-opaque. Brown espresso head, nice lacing.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Chocolate, heavy roast. Some coffee aromas. Rich, silky, maybe a bit smoky? Dark and mysterious.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Baker's/dark chocolate. Bitter roast at finish. Sweet up-front, no hop.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Roasty bitterness lasts. Smoky, burnt toast, burnt coffee at finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Full, for the most part. Complex. Lots of roast going on; falls out quickly at finish.

OVERALL: 2/3: Roast flavors are overwhelming. Burnt toast, roasted dark coffee, baker's chocolate—this is a DARK beer.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Smoky, roasty, a good porter. Not quite as good as their breakfast stout, but that's a high bar—a solid, smoky porter.

Ben: Complex roasted flavors. I would pair this with smoked turkey, gouda or a nice smoked cheddar. Also makes a nice after-dinner beer.