
So, the beer itself. Right on the bottle, it says Dark, Rich & Sexy. There you have it, the review is done.
Oh, you want more information? Fine. Let's start with the visuals. When they say dark, they really mean black. Light seems unable to pass through this beer. In my book, that's a good thing. There is a towering dark tan head that slowly shrunk down to a manageable size and now seems content to just stick around through the whole drinking adventure.
What does it smell like? Well, in the previous review I said that porter smelled like a porter should. This one...even more so. You can smell a bit of chocolate, but the main smells are those wonderful roasted malts. I would enjoy a candle that smelled like this...or maybe cologne.
The taste is downright incredible. You taste the chocolate. You get a mouthful of rich, roasted malt. You get a healthy, balancing bite of hops. Make no mistake, this is a "big" beer. With the 6.5% a.b.v. and the huge flavor, you're not going to be downing bottle after bottle after bottle of this (OK, maybe a couple). This is absolutely a beer to be enjoyed slowly while sitting around with friends, contemplating the troubles of the world...or perhaps discussing the best way for Wile E. Coyote to finally catch that pesky roadrunner. If you can convince yourself to slowly savor this, pay attention to how it changes as it slowly warms up. When it starts cold, it's a very crisp porter, but as it warms, it really smooths out and ups the flavors a notch. This, kids, is why some beers are best served at cellar temperature (50-55ish) and not tooth shatteringly cold. Don't be afraid of beer that is merely cool, not cold.
However you look at it, Founders Porter is possibly the best porter out there today. At least it's the best I've had. Don't worry though, I won't give up trying more in search of something even better. Founders Porter gets a solid A in my book. Find it, try it and enjoy it. Cheers!
Thanks, Kevin. My mouth is now watering and they don't sell this in Arizona. Sheesh. On the positive side, I love your new blog. I will be checking in regularly.
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Glad I could help! You know, it just means you guys need to come up to New England for a visit!
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