The Porter Report

With the nights getting longer, our beer preferences are turning darker and richer. Here's our guide to some of the best Porters and Stouts you can enjoy this season.

To find any of the beers in this article, check out their websites or your local supermarket/stockist.

Export Stout,The Kernel Brewery

Credit: The Kernel Brewery

STRENGTH: 7.5%

This is the strongest of the beers we’re reviewing today but that is partly what makes it so special. It was based on a 130 year-old recipe from a brewery in London and from the first sip you can see why they did this.

It has all the toasty and roasty notes of the best Stouts, alongside rich chocolatey, plum and raisin flavours. This beer is best enjoyed alongside a robust dark chocolate or some rich roast beef dish. It’s a strong beer but so nice in that rich and sweet way that strong Stouts are.

Imperial Stout, Samuel Smith's Brewery

Credit: Samuel Smith's Brewery

STRENGTH: 7%

This iconic brewery is the oldest in Yorkshire and this Imperial Stout is an example of the amazing quality of their products. Originally designed to survive the trip from the UK to Imperial Russia, this is a strong and dark beer and very different to its Irish Stout cousin.

When you drink it, first off the bat is its smooth taste, then you get a malty chocolatey flavour, alongside its roasted barley nose.

Porter, Anchor Brewing Co.

Credit: Anchor Brewing Co.

STRENGTH: 5.6%

Traditionally the Porter and Stout style beers are associated with Europe so when I saw this American Porter, I was naturally intrigued.

Luckily my curiosity was rewarded by a stunning beer. The use of multiple different hop varieties creates a complexity without bitterness, thus providing the drinker with a smooth and remarkable experience. I highly recommend this beer if you’re looking for a classic style from a new corner of the world and I certainly hope that more US breweries follow suit.

Quadrant Oatmeal Stout, East London Brewing Co.

Credit: East London Brewing Co.

STRENGTH: 5.5%

As the name suggests, this Stout provides a creamy and smooth mouth-feel. The flavour is a wonderful hit of rich dark fruits and hints of coffee and dark chocolate.

This is a middle-strength beer by Stout standards, but that doesn’t mean it delivers any less of a punch than its stronger cousins. If you want something smooth and elegant that packs a punch, this is the beer for you.

Monk's Stout, Dupont Brewery

Credit: Dupont Brewery

STRENGTH: 5.2%

Here we have a classic Stout from the classic brewing nation of Belgium. The Monk’s Stout has been produced since the 1950s and this version is a revival of that original recipe.

This beer’s characterised by a dry and bitter taste and the use of roasted malts also lend well-pronounced coffee and chocolate flavours. It’s a classic Belgian beer and I highly recommend this as a good introduction to the nation’s brewing heritage. It’s fermented in the bottle so pour with care, but it’s worth it.

Plum Porter, Titanic Brewery

Credit: Titanic Brewery

STRENGTH: 4.9%

If you want a beer that both embodies both the Autumn and Winter months, this is it. Just as perfect with an apple crumble as with a Christmas pudding.

At first sip you get a hit of rich plum, followed by a gentle bitterness which works really well with the more sour plum notes. It’s a wonderful beer and it’s not too strong by Porter standards so it fits nicely into the festive repertoire.

Guerilla Stout, Blue Monkey Brewery

Credit: Blue Monkey Brewery

STRENGTH: 4.9%

From the first sip you can see why this is a multi-award-winning beer. It’s a hearty beer, its pitch black appearance containing malty complexity which is balanced by a robust bitter taste. Alongside this, it’s got malty, chocolatey and coffee notes.

It’s a great all-rounder and a wonderful beer for people who want something a bit different whilst still retaining all the classic elements of a Stout that people know and love. Definitely worth checking out.

Portland Black Porter, Welbeck Abbey Brewery

Credit: Welbeck Abbey

STRENGTH: 4.5%

This is well-deserving of its 2020 Great Taste Award as not only does it contain all the best elements of the traditional Porter, but it also has vanilla notes which make it sing!

With its rich and velvety mouth-feel, it’s got an instant classic feeling. The subtle smokey, chocolate and iced coffee flavours lend to an all-round delicious beer. It definitely deserved its plaudit.

Raven Stout, Magpie Brewery

Credit: Magpie Brewery

STRENGTH: 4.4%

This vegan Stout is delicious with a richness and smoothness and is choc full of roasted malt flavours and a little bit of sweet smokiness to round off the flavour.

Whilst this isn’t the oldest brewery in the world, it celebrates its 15th birthday this year and it's going strong. With top-quality beers like this, we wish the brewery all the success for the next 15 years and beyond.

Black Pearl Stout, Milestone Brewery

Credit: Milestone Brewery

STRENGTH: 4.3%

This Irish Stout is made in the perhaps unlikely location of Cromwell in Nottinghamshire. However, that doesn’t mean it’s without any of the flavour and punch of its counterparts from the Irish mainland.

It’s a deep and mysterious Stout with a rich bitterness and a smooth taste. This is a great example of the Irish Stout family of beers and it’s perfect if you’re looking for a small business’ interpretation of a classic beer.

Dhu Stone, Hobsons Brewery

Credit: Hobsons Brewery

STRENGTH: 4.3%

This is a smooth, dark Stout from a brewery that's a stalwart in the industry. It's a classic smooth and dark Stout, but at 4.3% it's an easier drinker than some of its stronger counterparts. Alongside that smoothness, it has some delicious liquorice notes which make it an interesting brew.

It's a brilliant beer for drinking with a rich beef or mushroom dish, but as it is bottle conditioned, it needs careful pouring.

Dragonhead Stout, The Orkney Brewery

Credit: The Orkney Brewery

STRENGTH: 4.0%

This beer is dark and intense and really full-flavoured and was created in tribute to the Orkney Islands' former Viking inhabitants. It brims over with rich roast malt and roast barley flavours. Aroma-wise it has bitter chocolate, roast coffee and spicy dark fruits notes.

Dragonhead Stout would pair well with a rich chocolate or fruit puddings. It's a brilliant beer with a lot of complexity.