Graham Cracker Porter, Denver Beer Co., Denver

Style: American Porter

ABV: 5.6 percent

Serving Type: 12-ounce can

Malty? Hoppy? Roasted malts

Reviewed: November 2014

Since Denver Beer Co. opened its doors on Platte Street in 2011, co-owners Charlie Berger and Patrick Crawford have done their best to rarely brew the same beer twice. We appreciate that kind of commitment to experimentation, which has produced a number of gems in the brewery’s three-year existence. (Wondering what might be on tap also adds a bit of excitement to each trip.)

(Read more beer reviews from 5280 editors)

Still, the beer Berger and Crawford have perhaps brewed more than any other—their flagship Graham Cracker Porter—remains one of our favorites. So this summer when the brewery announced it would begin canning its porter, as well as its Incredible Pedal IPA, and distributing them to liquor stores along the Front Range, well, we were excited. The beer, which picked up a bronze medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival, has a bit of a sweet flavor to it at first—vanilla, perhaps. Eventually, the dark roasted malts take over, adding hints of bittersweet chocolate. If you’re looking for a solid, drinkable porter, look no further.

Would we buy it again? Yes. We don’t see a ton of American porters in cans, which makes it all that much easier to pack for a trip to the mountains and enjoy after a day on the slopes.

(Check out 5280’s comprehensive guide to Colorado’s craft beer scene)