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The Porter

Anspach & Hobday
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🌍 United Kingdom · Porter · One of 82 Porters in hopIQ

The original Anspach & Hobday flagship — stronger, bolder, full bodied, rich and more complex than London Black, with roasted-coffee aromas. The big sibling to London Black that inspired the nitro version. Anspach & Hobday's original statement about London's brewing heritage.

ABV
6.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
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

Full 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
coffee
roasted
chocolate
malty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best British Porters

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Porter

Appearance

Deep mahogany to black in the glass, with an opaque body that catches light only at the thinnest edges. A dense, creamy head forms readily and clings to the glass with persistent lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, giving the beer a composed, structured presence.

deep mahogany-blackopaque bodycreamy head retention

Aroma

The nose leads with roasted grain and coffee—neither burnt nor acrid, but rounded and inviting. Beneath lies a thread of dark chocolate and subtle dark fruit notes, with a gentle warmth that speaks to the 6.7% ABV. The overall profile is rich and layered without being overwhelming.

roasted graincoffee forwarddark chocolatedark fruit undertones

Taste

Entry is full-bodied and smooth, with roasted malt character dominating immediately. The mid-palate develops coffee and chocolate notes in equal measure, supported by a gentle, lingering bitterness that arrives late and remains restrained. The alcohol sits comfortably within the beer's structure, warming rather than burning.

roasted maltscoffee, chocolate blendmoderate bitternessfull body

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with roasted notes persisting alongside a subtle chocolate dryness. Bitterness fades gradually, leaving a pleasant, warming aftertaste.

long, roasted aftertastewarming finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of The 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 The 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, coffee, rich character as The 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 Kingdom beers →