hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Puppy's Breath

Tap to rate

Roasted malts bring the smell of chocolate and coffee to this 6.5% Porter. The name comes from the idea that a puppy's breath, shaped by an immature digestive system and its diet, can smell like coffee or chocolate, and the Tampa brewery, founded in 2009, says it reminds the team of loving companions as they drink and reflect.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
malty
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted grain character—dark chocolate and espresso predominate, with supporting notes of cocoa powder and subtle dark fruit undertones.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Puppy's Breath

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to nearly black, with a SRM of 28 placing it at the darker end of the Porter spectrum. The beer presents with modest clarity and a tan head that settles to a thin collar, leaving delicate lacing on the glass. Carbonation appears gentle, befitting the style's traditionally understated effervescence.

deep brownlow head retentionfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted grain character—dark chocolate and espresso predominate, with supporting notes of cocoa powder and subtle dark fruit undertones. The roasted malt base is clean and well-integrated, without any burnt or acrid quality. At 33 IBU, hop aromatics remain muted, allowing the malt-driven profile to command the foreground.

roasted graindark chocolateespressococoa

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and vollmundig, with chocolate and coffee flavors developing immediately across the mid-palate. The malt backbone is rich yet balanced, with subtle dark fruit character adding depth without competing with the dominant roasted notes. Bitterness is restrained at 33 IBU, offering structure without harshness; the finish remains dry and clean.

chocolate-forwardcoffeesmooth maltrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is dry and moderately persistent, with roasted malt lingering gently on the palate. No astringency or alcohol warmth intrudes, leaving an impression of refined simplicity.

dryroasted maltclean departure
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
75
Finish
74
Serve at 10–13°C

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

Pint glass

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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Puppy's Breath

More from Cigar City Brewing

Café Con Leche
Café Con Leche
Sweet Stout
6%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Cigar City Florida Man DIPA
Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale
Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
5.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
American IPA
7.5%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale
Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale
Brown Ale
5.4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Cigar City Oktoberfest
Cigar City Oktoberfest
Märzen
5.8%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Cosmic Crown
Cosmic Crown
Golden Ale
9%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Cubano-Style Espresso
Cubano-Style Espresso
Brown Ale
5.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

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, coffee character as Puppy's Breath will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

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