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Anchor Porter

Anchor Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Porter · One of 70 Porters in hopIQ

A classic American porter with dark chocolate, coffee and roasted grain. Full-bodied but smooth, with a dry finish. Revived by Anchor in 1974, helping to reintroduce dark craft beer to American drinkers.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Porter alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Substantial body.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Porter.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
coffee
malty
toasty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
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FEATURED IN

#7 of 50The Best American Porters

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Anchor Porter

Appearance

Deep, opaque black color with a rich dark brown hue when held to light, characteristic of the 40 SRM rating. A thick, creamy tan head forms and persists well, indicating excellent head retention. The beer displays excellent clarity despite its dark appearance, with fine carbonation evident throughout.

opaque blackcreamy tan headdeep brownwell-carbonated

Aroma

Inviting nose dominated by roasted malt and dark chocolate notes with a prominent coffee character that's neither harsh nor overly bitter. Subtle hints of dark fruit and earthy undertones complement the roasted grain foundation, while a light caramel sweetness rounds out the aromatic profile. The aroma is well-balanced and inviting without aggressive hop presence.

roasted maltdark chocolatecoffeecaramel sweetness

Taste

The palate opens with robust roasted and malty flavors that develop into rich dark chocolate and subtle coffee notes at the mid-palate. Full-bodied and smooth for its style, with balanced bitterness (38 IBU) that complements rather than dominates, allowing dark fruit and nutty undertones to emerge. The malt backbone is substantial yet refined, delivering complexity without heaviness.

roasted chocolatesmooth full-bodiedbalanced bitternessnutty complexity

Finish

A clean, dry finish that doesn't linger excessively, leaving behind pleasant echoes of roasted grain and subtle coffee. The aftertaste is refreshingly crisp without astringency, making this porter approachable despite its darker character.

drycleancrisp finish
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
85
Appearance
86
Finish
82
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Anchor Porter

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C. Too cold mutes the roasted complexity that makes a good porter worth drinking slowly.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within 6–12 months for best results. Baltic Porters can be aged longer.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Anchor Porter

About Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Porter?

Porters are dark ales with 4–6.5% ABV and IBU 18–35. Roasted malt brings chocolate, caramel and toffee — medium body with a clean finish.

Finding a similar Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, dry character as Anchor Porter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Porters in hopIQ

Explore all Porter beers in hopIQ →New to Porter? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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