The Beerspotter

Fullers London Porter

Where Spotted: Elephant & Castle, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Price: $6/imperial pint (20 oz. draft)

Tasting Notes: Dry espresso notes and bittersweet dark chocolate combine for a deep complexity you wouldn’t expect to find in a Canadian restaurant chain emulating a British pub in the American capital. The flavors are bold, but like most porters, Fullers is lighter on the tongue than a stout such as Guinness, making it a good choice well into autumn.

Pairing: Porters’ sweetness generally pairs with mild, warming flavors, so we recommend shepherd’s pie over, say, the “E&C Nachos.” But seeing as the restaurant keeps several Fullers beers on tap, we prefer it alongside a pint of the malty ESB.

The Soft Serve: You know that friend who clings to his fizzy yellow stuff and says he hates “dark beer”? London Porter is the opposite of everything he’s afraid of. If he still refuses to try it, pour one over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch his knees buckle.