hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Hairy Porter

Tap to rate

January's release opens Hydes' 2026 series of monthly casks themed on hairstyles. Smoky malt and roast lead this deep black porter, with roasted coffee and chocolate, then molasses, raisins, liquorice and dried fruit and a warming finish. Black malts and roasted barley build it, and at 5.2% ABV it is the strongest beer of the monthly range.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
smokyroastedchocolate
smoky
roasted
chocolate
coffee
malty
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with prominent smoky and roasted grain notes, building into roasted coffee and dark chocolate.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hairy Porter

◎ Appearance

Deep black body with minimal light transmission, characteristic of a well-crafted Porter. The head forms dense and tan, settling to a thin collar that clings to the glass with visible lacing. Carbonation is moderate, creating fine bubbles that rise steadily through the dark liquor.

deep blackdense tan headfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with prominent smoky and roasted grain notes, building into roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Beneath these dominant profiles lie subtle suggestions of molasses, liquorice, and dried stone fruit—raisin and prune—creating a complex, layered aromatic profile. The overall impression is rich and warming, with no sharp edges.

smoky roastcoffee and chocolatemolasses, liquoricedried fruit

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with roasted barley and black malt providing the foundation. Mid-palate develops chocolate, coffee, and a subtle liquorice character, followed by notes of molasses and raisins that add depth and slight sweetness. Bitterness remains restrained at 33 IBU, allowing the malt character to dominate without astringency. The 5.2% ABV provides a gentle warming sensation without alcohol burn.

smooth palateroasted malt dominantchocolate-coffee blendrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is warm and lingering, with roasted and slightly sweet malt notes persisting alongside a gentle cocoa dryness. The aftertaste remains clean, allowing the warming sensation to fade gradually.

warming finishroasted malt fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
80
Finish
72
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 Hairy Porter

More from Hydes Brewery

1863
1863
Amber Ale
3.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
A Cut Above
A Cut Above
Golden Ale
4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Copper Kettle
Copper Kettle
IPA
4.5%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Dark Ruby
Dark Ruby
Dark Mild
3.4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Dye Hard
Dye Hard
Best Bitter
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
First Frost
First Frost
Ordinary Bitter
3.8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Grand Central IPA
Grand Central IPA
IPA
4.2%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Hairway To Heaven
Hairway To Heaven
Amber Ale
4.3%·Noticeably 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 smoky, roasted, chocolate character as Hairy Porter 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 →