American Porter is the American craft engagement with a British-origin style that never went away in the US the way it did in Britain. Porter arrived in North America in the colonial period, was widely brewed through the 19th century, and — unlike in Britain, where the style was largely displaced by stout during the 20th century — survived in continuous American production, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. When American craft brewing took off in the 1980s and 1990s, Porter was already a familiar template, and American craft brewers extended the style in directions British brewers had not.
Currently leading the ranking: Dusk Til Dawn (Pizza Port Brewing Company), Robust Porter (Reuben's Brews) and Founders Porter (Founders Brewing Co.).
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 91 beers from 77 breweries.
Top 5 of 49
ABV
10.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Colour
dark 28
Dusk Til Dawn is the imperial coffee porter of Pizza Port's San Clemente brewpub, a nod to the graveyard shift and to late-night vampire films. It is brewed with hand-roasted coffee beans from a local roaster, and the coffee aroma rises as…Dusk Til Dawn is the imperial coffee porter of Pizza Port's San Clemente brewpub, a nod to the graveyard shift and to late-night vampire films. It is brewed with hand-roasted coffee beans from a local roaster, and the coffee aroma rises as soon as the beer is poured. Fresh-ground coffee leads, backed by dark chocolate, roasted grain and a light caramel sweetness from the malt. The body is full, and the high strength shows as warmth under a long, roasty finish.
Robust Porter#183 worldwide
ABV
5.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 32
A classic robust porter — roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a touch of coffee bitterness in the finish. Drinks lighter than its color suggests, making it dangerously sessionable for a beer this dark. Ranked on fit to the Porter reference, award history in style-judged competitions and community ratings.
Founders Porter#288 worldwide
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Colour
dark 28
Founders Porter is the brewery's year-round porter at 6.5 percent, brewed from seven malts including chocolate and Munich and hopped with Nugget, Willamette and Crystal. It pours near black with a creamy tan head. Roasted coffee and dark…Founders Porter is the brewery's year-round porter at 6.5 percent, brewed from seven malts including chocolate and Munich and hopped with Nugget, Willamette and Crystal. It pours near black with a creamy tan head. Roasted coffee and dark chocolate lead the aroma, joined by dried fruit and a sweet caramel note that recalls graham cracker. The body is medium and silky, bitterness stays low, and the finish is smooth with lingering cocoa.
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Black Butte Porter#610 worldwide
ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 28
Black Butte Porter is the beer the brewery traces its beginnings to, named after a volcanic peak in Central Oregon. Dark chocolate and crystal malts give notes of cocoa, coffee and a touch of toffee, while wheat lends a creamy, rounded…Black Butte Porter is the beer the brewery traces its beginnings to, named after a volcanic peak in Central Oregon. Dark chocolate and crystal malts give notes of cocoa, coffee and a touch of toffee, while wheat lends a creamy, rounded texture. Cascade and Tettnang keep the hops in the background with a slightly earthy, floral note. The body is medium and smooth, and the finish dries out with a gentle roast.
5
Edmund Fitzgerald#733 worldwide
ABV
6.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 28
Named for the ore freighter that sank in Lake Superior in November 1975 with crew members from Northeast Ohio aboard. The brewers call it an American take on porter, because the grist combines chocolate malt with roasted barley, over…Named for the ore freighter that sank in Lake Superior in November 1975 with crew members from Northeast Ohio aboard. The brewers call it an American take on porter, because the grist combines chocolate malt with roasted barley, over two-row and medium crystal, hopped with Apollo, Willamette and Cascade. It pours dark mahogany with garnet edges. Roast and black coffee lead the nose, bittersweet chocolate and a little toffee follow on the palate, and an earthy, herbal hop bite dries the finish.
Ranks 6–10
6
Porter#734 worldwide
Big Timber's acclaimed flagship porter — a deep, burnt-umber pour topped with a tan head. Rich coffee aroma and first taste give way to hints of chocolate and tobacco, finishing mildly sweet with the flavours lingering on the palate. One…Big Timber's acclaimed flagship porter — a deep, burnt-umber pour topped with a tan head. Rich coffee aroma and first taste give way to hints of chocolate and tobacco, finishing mildly sweet with the flavours lingering on the palate. One of the most-awarded beers in West Virginia.
7
Pluff Mud Porter#791 worldwide
Holy City's GABF gold-winning American porter, named for the Lowcountry's pungent marsh mud. It smells and drinks like a classic porter — gentle chocolate and soft roast over a medium body, with light caramel sweetness and a silky, clean…Holy City's GABF gold-winning American porter, named for the Lowcountry's pungent marsh mud. It smells and drinks like a classic porter — gentle chocolate and soft roast over a medium body, with light caramel sweetness and a silky, clean finish that stays refreshing even in the Charleston heat. A year-round mainstay and the beer that put the brewery on the map.
8
A 2012 GABF silver-medal robust porter. A big malty body brewed with cocoa nibs for deep dark-chocolate notes, layered with roast and a smooth, rich finish. A Charlotte staple that proves NoDa is more than just hops. Ranked on fit to the Porter reference, award history in style-judged competitions and community ratings.
9
Cocoa, roasted malt and earthy bitterness define this American porter, whose flavor starts in chocolate and roasted malts. Black, caramel, Pilsner and roast malts meet Chinook and Vanguard hops and ale yeast. 5.9% ABV. Silver at the Great…Cocoa, roasted malt and earthy bitterness define this American porter, whose flavor starts in chocolate and roasted malts. Black, caramel, Pilsner and roast malts meet Chinook and Vanguard hops and ale yeast. 5.9% ABV. Silver at the Great American Beer Festival in 2009. A Brewery Only release from Hershey, Pennsylvania.
10
Cutthroat Porter is smooth and robust, inspired by the classic London porters. Dark roasted malts give it a deep, rich color and flavor that hint at chocolate and coffee, at 5.0% ABV. Odell named it as a tribute to the Colorado state fish…Cutthroat Porter is smooth and robust, inspired by the classic London porters. Dark roasted malts give it a deep, rich color and flavor that hint at chocolate and coffee, at 5.0% ABV. Odell named it as a tribute to the Colorado state fish and wants the threatened population to grow. Odell has brewed in Fort Collins, Colorado, since 1989.
The taste landscape
Of the 49 top beers, 44 lean malt-forward and 2 lean hop-forward.