Deschutes Brewing Black Butte Porter
Deschutes Black Butte Porter is a 5.5% ABV, 30 IBU American porter in a 6-pack of 12oz cans — the first beer Deschutes ever brewed and still its flagship. Founded in Bend, Oregon in 1988 and named for the Deschutes River, the brewery named this porter for Black Butte, the Central Oregon landmark. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 5.5%
- IBU: 30
- Size: 6-pack of 12oz
- Style: American porter — the brewery's original flagship, first brewed 1988
- Malts: Dark Chocolate, Wheat, Crystal 75, Premium 2-Row, Carapils
- Hops: Cascade, Tettnang
- Origin: Bend, Oregon, USA
The Beer Deschutes Started With
When Gary Fish opened the Deschutes Brewery & Public House in Bend in 1988, Black Butte Porter was the beer on the board — and nearly four decades on it remains the brewery's flagship, a byword for the balanced American porter. Its secret is restraint: enough roast for real chocolate-and-coffee character, enough hop bitterness up front to keep it dry, and a creamy body that never turns heavy. Dark-beer drinkers can compare it across our craft beer and beer collections, or visit the Deschutes vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Dark chocolate, coffee and toasted grain. Palate: Rich chocolate and coffee with a creamy, luscious mouthfeel and toffee-bread-crust layers underneath. Finish: Roasted and clean, drying to a chocolate aftertaste with the slight hop bitterness balancing the roast.
How to Enjoy
Serve cool in a pint or stemmed glass — not ice-cold, so the chocolate and coffee open up — alongside grilled meats, sharp cheddar or a chocolate dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Butte Porter a stout? No — it is an American porter, the style Deschutes helped define in the US: rich and roasty like a stout, but with a lighter, creamier body and a drier finish.
How strong is Black Butte Porter? The current brewery specification is 5.5% ABV and 30 IBU — sessionable for a dark beer, despite its rich flavour.
What is Black Butte? A volcanic landmark in Central Oregon, near the brewery's home in Bend — the porter has carried its name since 1988.
The original Bend porter — order Deschutes Black Butte Porter online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.