Porter
Porter beer originated in London, and has a history as rich as the malt aromas and flavors that characterize the style.
Porter beer originated in London, and has a history as rich as the malt aromas and flavors that characterize the style.
At its height from the mid-1700s to mid-1800s, porter production in England began to decline in the 1870s, and nearly ceased by the early 1940s. Though once on the verge of extinction, porter has had a tremendous influence on brewing and the type of beer consumed in many countries throughout the Old and New Worlds. In fact, porter eventually spawned the style known as Stout.
Whether you’ve not yet experienced beers with rich, dark roasty character, or you skipped various types of Porter beer and headed directly to the massive Imperial Stouts of the world, Porter deserves exploration. Classic English Porters, as well as their variants Baltic Porter and American Porter, are a great place to start.
At its height from the mid-1700s to mid-1800s, porter production in England began to decline in the 1870s, and nearly ceased by the early 1940s. Though once on the verge of extinction, porter has had a tremendous influence on brewing and the type of beer consumed in many countries throughout the Old and New Worlds. In fact, porter eventually spawned the style known as Stout.
Whether you’ve not yet experienced beers with rich, dark roasty character, or you skipped various types of Porter beer and headed directly to the massive Imperial Stouts of the world, Porter deserves exploration. Classic English Porters, as well as their variants Baltic Porter and American Porter, are a great place to start.
A. English Porter B. American Porter C. Baltic Porter
APPEARANCEColor: Dark-copper to dark brown (virtually black)Clarity: Generally clear, with some very dark versions opaqueHead: Off-white to tan and generally lasting AROMA AND TASTEMalts: Include caramel, chocolaty, toffee, toasty, nutty, coffee, dark fruit and mild to assertive roasty characterHops: Generally mild, although some American examples can be more assertiveYeast: Generally neutral, though moderate fruity esters may be presentMOUTH-FEELConsistency: Smooth, while more roasty versions may have some astringency Carbonation: Ranges across examples from delicate to pricklyBody: Medium to fullFinish: Long; dry in some versions