Hello Beer Consumers, once again, the seasons have affected my palate. As the weather turns colder, my beer choice gets heavier. Maybe itâs a way for me to store up fat during the harsh storms of the north. Or maybe itâs the fact that I donât have to look at my gut underneath all those sweaters. Whatever the reason, I chose to look at some porters this time around. Just to refresh your memory, this is a classification of ale thatâs dark brown in color due to its use of chocolate malts. Heavy-bodied and chock full of hops, itâs about two steps from being as thick and heavy as a stout. I picked a few at random from my local deli, and I donât know if it was dumb luck or what, but the first three I picked were all really good. If any of you can find of a bad one, please, let us at Guyville know! Comparisons help develop the palate, and Iâm a firm believer that you canât appreciate the good without the bad. I wouldâve if I couldâve, but after having the three that I did I couldnât move from my couch - porters can get a bit heavy after awhile. Itâs a miracle Iâm manipulating the keyboard right now, in fact· the things I do for you people·.

Anchor Porter:

The Anchor brewery out of San Francisco to my mind is one of the most dependable quality beer brands around, and their Porter is no exception. It was full-bodied, a little sweet, but still mellow. Part of this was its slight bitterness being balanced by the hint of molasses. Luckily, Anchor is not an uncommon label to find, so look for it and enjoy.

Catamount Porter:

I didnât run into this label until I moved to New York, so Iâm not sure how far out of Vermont this is available. Unlucky for you. Although it was a bit sharper than I expected, I still found it mellow and balanced, moreso after it warms up a little as you finish. It ends clean and bittersweet, with just a bit of bitterness.

Red Hook Blackhook Porter:

This brand is based out of Seattle, so if I can get it as far down as North Carolina where I first ran into it, you shouldnât have any problem. Iâve really enjoyed the other Red Hook labels, like their ESB and Wheat Hook, so I figured Iâd give their porter a whirl. I wasnât disappointed. The taste of barley is at the forefront, but very nicely balanced and pleasantly rich, only slightly bitter with a solid mouthfeel. I could make a meal out of a few of these.