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Postman's Knock

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Postman's Knock was developed in 2007 as a stronger bottled relative of the brewery's mild and is named after a local postman and novelist. Maris Otter, dark crystal, pale chocolate and wheat malts with Fuggles and Goldings hops give a deep mahogany porter. Caramel, vanilla and spiced fruit show on the nose; the palate brings treacle, roast malt and coffee before a velvety chocolate finish. Bitterness is moderate. It is bottle-conditioned and sold as a winter seasonal.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Bronze · 2020
CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain (regional, West Midlands)
Porters
★Bronze — CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain (regional, West Midlands) (Porters)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatevanillacoffee
chocolate
vanilla
coffee
caramel
roasted
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with caramel and vanilla notes, layered with subtle spice and dried fruit character.
also:spicy,dark fruit
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Postman's Knock

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany hue with substantial opacity, reflecting the dark crystal and chocolate malts in the grist. The head forms with good density and displays fine lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is restrained, appropriate for a bottle-conditioned winter seasonal that emphasizes body over effervescence.

deep mahoganyopaquefine lacinglow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with caramel and vanilla notes, layered with subtle spice and dried fruit character. Roasted malt and coffee undertones emerge beneath, while Fuggles and Goldings hops contribute a gentle, earthy restraint without aggressive herbal or citrus top notes.

caramelvanillaroasted maltcoffeespiced fruit

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malt-driven, with treacle and roasted grain dominating the mid-palate. Coffee and chocolate assertions build through the center, underpinned by a moderate 33 IBU bitterness that settles without sharpness. The texture is notably velvety, with wheat malt contributing to the rounded mouthfeel.

treacleroast maltcoffeemoderate bitternessvelvety

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and sustained, closing with dark chocolate and a whisper of coffee that lingers without astringency. Bitterness fades gracefully, leaving a warming aftertaste appropriate to the 4.8% ABV.

dark chocolatecoffeewarmingsmooth fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
77
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Postman's Knock

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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 chocolate, vanilla, coffee character as Postman's Knock will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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