Cloudwater Nitro Porter vs London Black: Which Should You Drink?

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Cloudwater Nitro Porter

Cloudwater Brew Co

United Kingdom · Porter - English

hopIQ rank #2291

82%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

London Black

Anspach & Hobday

United Kingdom · Porter - English

HOPIQ TAKE

Cloudwater Nitro Porter if you want that cascading, creamy mouthfeel that makes you slow down, London Black if you want a leaner, more structured porter that drinks like it's got something to prove. Both sit at nearly identical ABV and bitterness, so this is really about texture versus intent. The nitro conditioning on Cloudwater transforms the experience—it's almost dessert-like in how it coats your palate. London Black skips that theatricality and leans into clean, defined flavors instead.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Cloudwater Nitro Porter when…

→You want a dessert-adjacent beer that feels more indulgent than its ABV suggests
→Nitrogen conditioning genuinely excites you (the pour, the head, the texture)
→You're in a reflective mood and want something smooth to settle into

Pick London Black when…

→You prefer clarity of flavor and want to taste the actual malt work
→You like your porters with spine and definition, not soft edges
→You're curious about what English porters taste like without technical enhancement

SIDE BY SIDE

	Cloudwater Nitro Porter	London Black
ABV	4.5%	4.4%
Bitterness	Lightly bitter	Lightly bitter
Colour	Dark	Dark
Style	Porter - English	Porter - English
Origin	United Kingdom	United Kingdom

WHAT IT TASTES OF

10 shared · 4 distinct

Both beers

roastedsmoothcreamysmooth-drinkingmaltydark fruitchocolatecoffeerichtoasty

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Cloudwater Nitro PorterLondon Black

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Cloudwater Nitro Porter

RoastedSmoothSmooth-drinking

The nitrogen hit you immediately—those tiny bubbles create this almost velvety sensation that makes 4.5% feel indulgent. Dark chocolate and roasted grain sit in the middle, but they're never harsh or overly dry. There's a subtle sweetness underneath, like cocoa powder mixed with a touch of molasses, and the finish is genuinely soft. It's the kind of beer that makes you want to nurse it slowly, letting each sip sit for a moment.

London Black

RoastedCreamyChocolate

London Black strips away the texture tricks and shows you what the malt bill actually tastes like. It's drier than Cloudwater, with a more pronounced roast character—proper coffee notes, black licorice in the background. The body feels more alert, more present, less coddled by nitrogen bubbles. There's genuine bitterness here too, though it stays within those 25 IBUs, more from the grain than the hops. It's a working porter, not a showpiece.

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