Deschutes Black Butte 6Pk

Deschutes Black Butte Porter 6-Pack is a robust American porter brewed at 5.5% ABV, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. Widely recognized as the best-selling craft porter in the United States, Black Butte holds a 93 (Outstanding) score on BeerAdvocate across nearly 7,000 ratings — a testament to its remarkable consistency and depth.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Bend, Oregon, USA  |  Style: Robust Porter  |  Brewery: Deschutes Brewery

Production & Heritage

Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 in Bend, Oregon, and made a bold bet by launching with a porter as its flagship beer — a move that defied an era dominated by lighter craft styles. Black Butte's grain bill is built on a foundation of 2-row malt (75.8%) layered with wheat malt (10.1%), chocolate malt (6%), crystal malt 75L (5.1%), and carapils malt (3%), creating its signature roasted complexity and full body. Cascade and Tettnanger hops provide a balanced bitterness, with the American Cascade adding subtle citrus and the German Tettnanger contributing a refined, earthy spice that keeps the roast character in check.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted malt greets the nose first, followed by waves of dark chocolate and freshly brewed coffee. A faint breadiness lingers beneath, grounding the darker aromatics with a warm, toasted grain quality.

Taste: The entry is smooth and creamy, immediately presenting rich chocolate and coffee flavors that define the mid-palate. As the beer develops, brown bread and toasted grain emerge, adding a layered complexity. The bitterness is measured and supportive rather than aggressive, letting the malt profile remain the star.

Finish: Medium in length with a distinctly roasted quality that fades gradually into bittersweet chocolate. The mouthfeel stays creamy through the close, leaving a clean, dry impression that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Black Butte

Black Butte is at its best poured into a tulip glass or English pint at around 45–50°F, where its aromatics open up without losing structure. It drinks beautifully on its own but also brings serious depth to beer cocktails. A Black Velvet — half porter, half sparkling wine — lets Black Butte's creaminess create a surprisingly elegant combination. A Porter Flip, shaken with a whole egg, sugar, and nutmeg, showcases its chocolate and coffee notes in a rich, dessert-style drink. For something simpler, a Snakebite blended with hard cider plays the roast against tart apple for a refreshing contrast.

Best For

• Introducing a lager drinker to the dark beer category without overwhelming bitterness
• Pairing with a backyard barbecue or smoked meats cookout
• Stocking a home beer fridge with a reliable, year-round craft staple
• Sharing during fall and winter gatherings where richer flavors shine

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Black Butte taste like? Black Butte delivers a rich, layered profile dominated by dark chocolate and coffee, supported by roasted malt and brown bread notes, all wrapped in a creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel.

How does Black Butte compare to Sierra Nevada Porter? Both are benchmark American porters, but Black Butte tends to lean more heavily into chocolate and coffee creaminess, while Sierra Nevada Porter often presents a more hop-forward bitterness and slightly drier finish. Black Butte's wheat malt component contributes a noticeably smoother, silkier body.

Is Black Butte good for beginners? Black Butte is an excellent entry point into dark beers — its 5.5% ABV is approachable, and the creamy mouthfeel and chocolate-forward flavor profile are far more inviting than the bitter or acrid character some newcomers associate with dark styles.

Where is Black Butte made? Black Butte Porter is brewed by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, a city in the high desert of central Oregon that has become one of the most celebrated craft beer destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

What foods pair well with Black Butte? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complement the roasted malt beautifully. Chocolate brownies or flourless chocolate cake mirror the beer's cocoa character. Sharp cheddar creates a savory contrast against the malt sweetness. Grilled portobello mushrooms echo the earthy, dark tones. Mole-sauced dishes work particularly well, as the beer's chocolate and coffee notes align with the sauce's complexity.

What sizes does Black Butte come in? Black Butte Porter is commonly available in 6-packs of 12 oz bottles as well as individual 12 oz bottles and cans; seasonal availability may also include draft.

Is Black Butte worth the price? Black Butte positions squarely in the everyday craft beer value tier, delivering a level of complexity and polish that punches above many porters at a similar price point — its status as the nation's top-selling craft porter reflects that broad consensus.

Why Black Butte?

Few porters in the American craft landscape carry the pedigree of Black Butte. It was the beer Deschutes Brewery staked its entire identity on in 1988, a time when launching a small brewery behind a dark beer was a genuine gamble. That gamble paid off decisively — Black Butte became the best-selling craft porter in the United States, a title it has held through decades of shifting trends. With a BeerAdvocate score of 93 and a grain bill that balances five malts against two classic hop varieties, it remains one of the most reliably excellent and widely available porters brewed anywhere in the country.