At 7.5 percent alcohol by volume, Speakeasy Brewery's Payback Porter is dark, sweet, and potent — good traits for anything, great traits in a beer. This is not to say Payback is cloying; rather, it begins with a fresh bitterness that quickly melts into one of the smoothest strong beers available, whether on tap or in 22-ounce bottles. For all you lager louts, Payback makes for an easy first step into darker brews. And once you're hooked, Payback is easy to get — it was formerly known as "Hunters Point Porter" in honor of the location of Speakeasy's brewery — and is now sold all over its hometown.

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