Fuller's London Porter

Based on an overwhelming response on the style poll, the porters took it. It just goes to show you that your vote does count at Everything Brewed.

So since the origins of Porters are based around London, I thought a London Porter would be a great start for this series. So Fuller’s London Porter it is. Fuller’s is a brand of ales from Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, making this my first imported brew review. Here’s what they want you to know about their brew:

“5.4% ABV gives good alcohol warmth but it is the malt that leads the flavor. The roasted malt (Crystal, Chocolate and Brown) gives strong coffee flavors with some roasted chestnut.” The appearance is dark brown (almost black) in color with an off-white, foamy head.Took Gold and Silver Medals at the International Beer & Cider Competitions in 1999, 2000, and 2002.

Well, that is a very accurate visual description indeed. This is one dark beer with strong, but smooth flavors. If you like coffee and chocolate and if you like beer, then this is what you should be drinking. If you have ever had a stout and thought it had too much roasted flavor, you could say that this steps that down a notch or two. This is definitely a beer with a strong malt profile and just a hint (not even enough to call it balanced) of hops. Fuller’s website says they use Fuggle Hops, which is a variety used primarily for aroma, not flavor or bittering, so you will just detect a hint of hops aroma when you pour it in the glass, and no hop bitterness at all.

You can expect a thick, lingering after taste that, if paired with something to lite in flavor, could be overpowering.

I enjoyed this brew with some turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and sautéed spinach. The sweet glaze on the meatloaf blended well with the Porter, but the bite of the spinach (topped with shaved parmesan cheese) gave a nice roundness to the entire meal.

So Fuller’s London Porter comes in at a 5 out of 5 pints for its official Everything Brewed Rating. It has really held true to the origins of the porter style and set the bar high for the remainder of this series.

Thanks for checking out this week’s Brew Review. Thoughts, comments, and questions are, of course, welcome. And remember to enjoy your beer, but responsibly please. Also, don’t forget to check out www.fullers-ales.com for more information on this and other brews by Fuller’s.

Cheers,
Jason

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