King Rufus has been part of the Helix Brewing lineup since November 2013, and it is the brewery’s answer to the porter style. Our notes listed it as an amber or red IPA at 6.5% ABV and 45 IBU, but the verified beer is different: it is an American porter at 6% ABV, and no IBU is published for it. The brewery describes it as a chocolate rye bomb with UK Fuggle and Willamette hops. Untappd drinkers rate it 3.74 out of 5 across 705 ratings.

The basics

• Brewery: Helix Brewing Co. (La Mesa, CA)
• Style: American Porter
• ABV: 6%
• IBU: Not published

What to expect

King Rufus Porter pours dark brown, nearly black in the glass, with a tan head. The rye malt gives it a spicy, slightly dry edge, and the chocolate character leads on both the nose and the palate, with a lighter roast note underneath. The Fuggle and Willamette hops stay in the background, adding an earthy, herbal balance rather than bitterness. The body is medium rather than heavy, which keeps it drinkable, and the finish is dry with a lingering cocoa note. It is a solid, straightforward porter that does not try to be a stout.

Our rating

5.9/10

Rated by Nick (5.9). Nick gave this one a 5.9, and we think the score is a fair read. King Rufus is a well-made porter that never quite rises above solid: the chocolate and rye are there, the balance is fine, but nothing about it stands out in a county full of excellent dark beers. It is a good taproom pour on a cool evening, especially if you want something dark without the weight of a stout, but it is not the beer we would send someone to Helix for.