British Porter is a dark, top-fermenting ale with roasted malt character — fuller-bodied and sweeter than Dry Stout, drier than Milk Stout. The hopIQ Score for British Porter evaluates each beer against the Porter reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: Prince of Denmark (Harvey's Brewery), 1859 Porter and London Porter (Fuller's Griffin Brewery).
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 104 beers from 68 breweries.
Top 5 of 50
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Colour
dark 28
A strong, black beer at 7.5% based on eighteenth-century recipes, with brown, amber and black malts mixed into pale ale malt. The nose brings coffee, chocolate, leather and liquorice, with treacle toffee and a distant smokiness; the palate…A strong, black beer at 7.5% based on eighteenth-century recipes, with brown, amber and black malts mixed into pale ale malt. The nose brings coffee, chocolate, leather and liquorice, with treacle toffee and a distant smokiness; the palate is full and creamy with ripe dark plums, caramel and spice, and the finish is dry, bittersweet and warming. The name refers to Shakespeare's Hamlet.
1859 Porter#437 worldwide
ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 28
Brewed to Henry Harvey's porter recipe of 1859 and conditioned in cask for four weeks before it leaves the cellars. Pale, crystal and black malts meet a generous charge of Fuggles and Goldings. Black and full-bodied, it smells of coffee,…Brewed to Henry Harvey's porter recipe of 1859 and conditioned in cask for four weeks before it leaves the cellars. Pale, crystal and black malts meet a generous charge of Fuggles and Goldings. Black and full-bodied, it smells of coffee, molasses and roast malt; the palate is dry and bitter with liquorice, a savoury note of soy and a restrained fruitiness. On draught in March and April.
London Porter#726 worldwide
ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 28
London Porter takes its name from the street porters who carried goods through eighteenth-century London. It is brewed from Pale Ale, light Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malt, with Fuggles as the only hop, and pours very dark. Brown malt…London Porter takes its name from the street porters who carried goods through eighteenth-century London. It is brewed from Pale Ale, light Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malt, with Fuggles as the only hop, and pours very dark. Brown malt lays down an earthy, slightly nutty base, while chocolate and roasted coffee rise from the darker grains. The body is creamy and smooth, the hops stay earthy and restrained, and the finish is soft and rounded.
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Cocoa Wonderland#844 worldwide
ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 28
A porter first, balanced and sturdy with a light roastiness and distinct touches of mocha and raisin. That foundation lets intense, luxurious cocoa and chocolate flavours stand out without overpowering the beer, present from the first…A porter first, balanced and sturdy with a light roastiness and distinct touches of mocha and raisin. That foundation lets intense, luxurious cocoa and chocolate flavours stand out without overpowering the beer, present from the first scent to the last drop. A go-to for many Thornbridge drinkers and a winner of a large number of accolades.
5
Plum Porter#875 worldwide
ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 35
Plum and other stone fruits run through this porter, and even the nose is sweet and fruity, while a delicate blend of classic hops keeps the fruit in check. It began in 2011 as a one-off seasonal and became a year-round fixture, a…Plum and other stone fruits run through this porter, and even the nose is sweet and fruity, while a delicate blend of classic hops keeps the fruit in check. It began in 2011 as a one-off seasonal and became a year-round fixture, a speciality porter at 4.9% ABV on cask and in bottle. SIBA and CAMRA judges have awarded it regional medals since 2023.
Ranks 6–10
6
Plum Porter#917 worldwide
Dark, sweet and full-bodied, with damson and blackcurrant in the background and plum in both flavour and aroma. Chocolate malt goes into the mash alongside English hops. The porter won Silver at the European Beer Challenge in 2026 and…Dark, sweet and full-bodied, with damson and blackcurrant in the background and plum in both flavour and aroma. Chocolate malt goes into the mash alongside English hops. The porter won Silver at the European Beer Challenge in 2026 and Bronze at the 2020 SIBA East awards. The brewery behind it was founded in 1996 beside the moated St. Peter's Hall in Suffolk.
7
Sweet, fruity nose, plum and other stone fruits throughout, a delicate blend of classic hops for balance, and a silky-smooth, creamy body from the nitro pour: this is Plum Porter at 4.9% ABV, from keg or nitro can. Cans are turned upside…Sweet, fruity nose, plum and other stone fruits throughout, a delicate blend of classic hops for balance, and a silky-smooth, creamy body from the nitro pour: this is Plum Porter at 4.9% ABV, from keg or nitro can. Cans are turned upside down twice before pouring to wake the nitrogen. The nitro version won Gold in Keg Speciality & Flavoured Beer at the 2026 SIBA Midlands & West awards.
8
A porter with coffee and vanilla that has been part of the range since the brewery's first days. Roasted coffee and mocha lead the aroma. The taste brings fresh espresso and dark chocolate, summed up on the product page as rich and…A porter with coffee and vanilla that has been part of the range since the brewery's first days. Roasted coffee and mocha lead the aroma. The taste brings fresh espresso and dark chocolate, summed up on the product page as rich and bittersweet. At 6.5% it is noticeably stronger than the beers of the year-round range, and the brewery calls it a favourite of its own team.
9
Tavy Porter is a dark porter at 5.2% and one of the oldest beers in the range: it dates from 2012, when the brewery still traded as Tavy Ales, and has kept that name. Roasted malt sets the tone, the flavour is bittersweet, and the beer…Tavy Porter is a dark porter at 5.2% and one of the oldest beers in the range: it dates from 2012, when the brewery still traded as Tavy Ales, and has kept that name. Roasted malt sets the tone, the flavour is bittersweet, and the beer ends on an intense chocolate note. It took overall silver at the SIBA South West competition in both 2013 and 2014 and bronze among the porters at CAMRA's Champion Winter Beer of Britain in 2017. It still comes back onto the taps in Plymouth.
10
Hints of coffee, cocoa and dried fruits run through this ruby porter, which recalls sticky malt loaf; it is rich and 4.7 % strong. It is brewed by the Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop's Castle, whose small tower brewery from the late 19th…Hints of coffee, cocoa and dried fruits run through this ruby porter, which recalls sticky malt loaf; it is rich and 4.7 % strong. It is brewed by the Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop's Castle, whose small tower brewery from the late 19th century still stands.
The taste landscape
Of the 50 top beers, 45 lean malt-forward and 3 lean hop-forward.