We just got Founder's here in town and i decided to pick up a six pack of the Porter (and IPA) last night since I've heard so much about them.
i had a bottle of the porter, and since I just recently tapped my porter, i figured i'd do a little side x side tasting.
Founders bottled 7/31/13 - high hop aroma of a citrusy, lemony quality, high roasted malt aroma with hints of espresso type coffee aromatics, no noticeable caramel and only moderate to light malt aromas - roast and hop dominate. the same continues into the flavor with a very present hop flavor of an american type, with a firm bitterness and borderline acrid roasted malt finish. medium body.
Mine - kegged 8/6/13 - faint earthy hop aroma, loads of toffee and caramel accompanied by rich malt. light roasted malt aroma. low to no hop flavor, mostly caramel and malty flavor, with enough bitterness to balance and keep the flavor from being sweet - slightly drying finish from the roasted malts. medium - medium light finish.
anyway, I loved the Founders, but it really tasted almost more like an American Stout than what I think of porter, particularly when placed next to mine, although mine could maybe, maybe be faulted for being closer to a brown porter I guess, since it is not aggressively hopped or bitter.
Has anyone else thought this of the Founders? really trying to dial in my recipe, albeit shooting more for something in the vein of Edmund Fitzgerald, which i think I have, just curious.