• 15. PORTER

    15A. Robust Porter

    Aroma:

    Roast malt or grain aroma, often coffee-like or chocolate-like, should be evident. Hop aroma moderate to low. Fruity esters, and diacetyl, are moderate to none.

    Appearance:

    Dark brown to black color, may be garnet-like. Clarity may be difficult to discern in such a dark beer. Head retention should be moderate to good.

    Flavor:

    Malt flavor usually features coffee-like or chocolate-like roasty dryness. Overall flavor may finish from medium sweet to dry, depending on grist composition, hop bittering level, and attenuation. May have a sharp character from dark roasted grains. Hop flavor varies widely. Diacetyl moderate to none.

    Mouthfeel:

    Medium to medium-full bodied. Low to moderate carbonation.

    Overall Impression:

    A substantial dark ale with complex roasty malt, hop and fermentation characteristics.

    History:

    Originating in England, Porter developed as a blend of beers or gyles known as "Entire." A precursor to stout. Said to have been favored by porters and other physical laborers.

    Comments:

    Although a rather variable style, it may be distinguished from closely-related Stout as lacking the Stout’s roasted barley character.

    Ingredients:

    May contain several malts, prominently dark roasted malts and grains, which often include black malt. Hops are used for bittering, flavor and/or aroma. Water must have significant carbonate hardness. Ale yeast is most common.

    Vital Statistics:

    OG: 1.050- 1.065

    IBUs: 25-45 FG: 1.012-1.016

    SRM: 30+ ABV: 4.8-6.0%

    Commercial Examples:

    Sierra Nevada Porter, Anchor Porter, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.

    15B. Brown Porter

    Aroma:

    Malt aroma with mild roastiness should be evident. Hop aroma may be moderate to low. Esters and diacetyl may be moderate to none.

    Appearance:

    Medium brown to dark brown in color. Clarity and head retention should be fair to good.

    Flavor:

    Malt flavor will include mild to moderate roastiness. Hop flavor low to none. Hop bittering will vary the balance from slightly malty to slightly bitter. Diacetyl, and sourness or sharpness from dark grains, should be low to none.

    Mouthfeel:

    Medium-light to medium bodied. Low to moderate carbonation.

    Overall Impression:

    A fairly substantial dark ale with some roasty characteristics.

    History:

    Originating in England, porter evolved from a blend of beers or gyles known as "Entire." A precursor to stout. Said to have been favored by porters and other physical laborers.

    Comments:

    Softer flavors, lower gravities, and usually less alcohol than robust porter. More substance and roast than brown ale. Some versions are fermented with lager yeast. Balance tends toward malt more than hops.

    Ingredients:

    May contain several malts, including dark roasted malts and grains. Hops are used chiefly for bitterness. Water should have significant carbonate hardness. Ale yeast, or occasionally lager yeast, is used.

    Vital Statistics:

    OG: 1.040-1.050

    IBUs: 20-30 FG: 1.008-1.014

    SRM: 20-35 ABV: 3.8-5.2%

    Commercial Examples:

    Samuel Smith Taddy Porter, Bateman Salem Porter, Shepherd Neame Original Porter, Yuengling Porter, Fuller's London Porter.