Crack Open a Cold One: 3 Porter Beers Great for Cool Nights

After a day of work at the cabin and to help settle into a cool evening, pull out a sultry, full-bodied porter beer.

Bonus: it’s a perfect pairing with grilled meats, including a hearty steak. Porters also marry well with desserts, particularly if there’s chocolate involved. Similar to any of the imported porters or stouts – such as a Guinness from Dublin, Ireland – these domestic craft beers are heavy on malt and thick with hops. See also The Beer-clean Glass Here are three options for porters that are available nationwide and considered among the best in the industry.

Founders Brewing Co. Porter

Grand Rapids, Mich. Dark black in color, there’s mild bitterness throughout the beer, with caramel-malt notes and a velvety feel on the palate. The brewery likes to recommend this beer as a companion to s’mores, which makes perfect sense given the chocolate undertones. America’s classic campfire snack never tasted this good.

Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter

Bend, Ore. Smooth and full-bodied from the start to the finish, this porter is accented by notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Its richness doubles its pairing appeal – either with a chocolate dessert or barbequed meat. The porter is named for nearby Black Butte in Central Oregon, a volcanic marvel of nature where, at the end of the hike, there is an amazing 360-degree view of the valley.

Great Lakes Brewing Company Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Cleveland, Ohio Named after the famed shipwreck – there’s even a ship icon on the label – this bittersweet-style of porter boasts richly roasted barley flavors and those trademark chocolate and coffee notes. The Cleveland brewery even likes to promote this as a food match with oysters. See also The Perfect Beer Glass