About This Beer
To Øl Dark & Easy Porter 44cl is a 4.7% dark porter from Danish craft brewery To Øl. The idea behind it is refreshingly straightforward: create a dark beer with genuine roasted character that doesn't need to be especially strong, sweet or heavy.
To Øl describes Dark & Easy as a porter for anyone who wants to “go darker without going heavier”. That distinction is important. Modern Stout & Porter can include everything from light sessionable dark beers to intensely sweet pastry stouts and powerful barrel-aged Imperial Stouts. Dark & Easy sits deliberately towards the more drinkable end of that spectrum.
At 4.7% ABV, the focus is firmly on malt rather than alcohol. Its brown-black appearance introduces a roasted profile featuring coffee, dark chocolate and dark bread, with more nuanced notes of nuts, liquorice, tobacco and orange peel adding complexity.
There is enough depth here for established porter drinkers, but the relatively restrained body and easy finish also make Dark & Easy an accessible introduction to dark beer. To Øl specifically positions it as a natural progression for people more accustomed to lager and session IPA.
For anyone exploring international craft beer, it's also a good example of how a modern brewery can approach a traditional dark beer style without turning it into something excessively strong or elaborate.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Brown-black with a dark, roasted appearance.
- Aroma: Malt-led and lightly roasted, with coffee, dark bread, nuts, liquorice and subtle orange peel.
- Taste: Roasted malt with coffee and dark chocolate, followed by notes of dark bread, nuts, liquorice and a subtle citrus edge.
- Mouthfeel: Smooth and balanced without the heaviness of a stronger stout or Imperial Porter.
- Finish: Easy-drinking and gently roasted, with lingering coffee, dark malt and balanced bitterness.
About the Brewery
To Øl is a Danish craft brewery whose origins date back to the mid-2000s, when founders Tore Gynther and Tobias Emil Jensen began brewing after discussing with their former teacher, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø of Mikkeller, why so much Danish beer lacked variety.
To Øl was formally established in 2010 and initially operated without its own production brewery, developing recipes in Denmark while brewing at different facilities. That approach allowed the brewery to experiment extensively with styles, ingredients and collaborations.
A major change came with the establishment of To Øl City in Svinninge, Denmark. The former food-production facility was transformed into the brewery's own production base, giving To Øl considerably greater control over brewing and development.
Dark & Easy represents the more restrained side of a brewery often associated with experimentation. Rather than relying on unusual adjuncts or extreme strength, this beer focuses on the fundamentals of a good porter: roasted malt character, balance and drinkability.
Food Pairings
Dark & Easy is particularly versatile with food because its roasted character is pronounced enough to complement strongly flavoured dishes without its 4.7% ABV overwhelming them.
Beef is an excellent starting point. Try it alongside a burger, roast beef or steak, where the roasted malt character complements the caramelisation and char on the meat.
Lamb and game also work particularly well. The beer's coffee, dark bread and subtle liquorice notes can stand alongside richer meats, while its relatively light body keeps the pairing from becoming too heavy.
For a meat-free option, try it with grilled mushrooms, lentil dishes or smoked and roasted vegetables. Mature Cheddar and other nutty, savoury cheeses can also complement the porter’s roasted malt profile.
Dark & Easy is best served cool rather than extremely cold. A serving temperature of approximately 12–14°C allows more of its coffee, dark chocolate, nutty and roasted characteristics to emerge.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy Dark & Easy, explore our Stout & Porter range for more classic porters, dry stouts, oatmeal stouts and richer dark beers.
For something completely different from To Øl or other independent European breweries, browse the wider Craft Beer & Craft Cider collection, including IPA, pale ale, lager, sour beer and Belgian styles.
Shop the best of craft beer Ireland and from around the world online with TheCru.ie or in our Dublin craft beer store, Carry Out Tyrrelstown in Dublin 15.