Founders Porter

Evening everyone!  Earlier today, Kerry and I went to a dine-in movie theater for the first time (we saw that new Twilight movie).  The experience was definitely unique.  We bought our tickets on Fandango's website, where you actually get to choose which seats you want to buy tickets for (you can see which seats are available and taken, so you can try to find the most comfortable and spacious seats).  For a matinee, the tickets were $6 each, plus a Fandango "convenience charge."  When you get to the theater and find your seat, there's a menu (fairly extensive for a movie theater) you can order food from.  We got mozzarella sticks, thai chicken fingers, and 2 unsweetened iced teas, which ran us around $30.  It didn't help that the unsweetened iced teas were $4.50 each!  We should have just got tap water!

The only part of the experience I really didn't enjoy was getting our food in the dark, which made it difficult to see, and therefore, share.  I guess if we want to eat our dinner in the light next time, we should go to a regular restaurant before the movie!  Now onto the beer!

 Tonight I am drinking Founders Brewing Company's Porter.  Founders is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is on my list of must-visit breweries!  They have a taproom with all their regulars and current seasonal offerings, as well as taproom only specials.  Just looking at their website, last week they had on tap Pale Ale, Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard, Red's Rye PA, Porter, Oatmeal Stout on nitro, Solid Gold, Cascade Victory Brown, Ruby Crystal Ale, Breakfast Stout, Cerise, Backwoods Bastard, Bolt Cutter, and Boilermaker.  Wow!  They also have an awesome deli menu you can wash down with your beer.

Porter

Founders Brewing Company  

6.5% ABV

45 IBUs 

Best by:  Not sure, but it was bottled on 10/10/12

In my glass, Founders Porter pours a beautiful, silk black with a finger width tan head.  The aroma hit me with chocolate first, then a roasted malt/coffee aroma as the beer warmed up.  This beer smells great.  The flavors in this beer are even better than the aromas.  I get flavors of chocolate upfront, followed by a slightly bitter aftertaste.  There's a little bit of coffee flavor in there too.  Founders Porter starts smooth, then medium carbonation hits you.  At times, it can feel a little bit thin, but it doesn't detract from the flavor.

Overall:  This is a great porter that I would highly recommend.  I would love to taste this side by side with other great American Porters, such as those brewed by Great Lakes Brewing, Anchor, Sierra Nevada and Deschutes.

Have you had Founders Porter?  What did you think?  Let me know in the comments!