Styles of Porter
The world was once dominated by pale ales. A clever brewer came up with a darker beer, that quickly became the beer of the 18th century English working man. Because it was popular among the porters who worked on the docks, the beer was aptly named Porter.
In the following decades the roasting of malts became increasingly easier. This opened the door to increase complexity and create new tastes. The beer was very popular for a long time, but after World War II it all but disappeared. Fortunately, the craft beer craze has made Porters as important as ever.
Not counting Stouts – which started as a Stout (strong) Porter, but became its own, related style – the traditional line exists of 3 main Porter types. These are Brown Porter, Robust Porter and Baltic Porter.
Brown Porter, also known as English Porter, is the eldest of the three. It originated in the early 18th century. Some historians think the style evolved from the combining of Pale, Mild and Stale ale. Others say it is simply an evolution of English ales. This type of Porter is the mildest; it has the lowest amount of alcohol, and barely has bitterness. The taste should be sweet and creamy and have some hint of caramel. The burnt or roasted character that is often associated with Porter is not present in this type.
Robust Porter is the stronger, more roasted version of the Brown Porter. It is aged for a longer time, resulting in a more complex beer. This type is much newer than its predecessor. It rose to fame with the craft beer craze. Because the ingredients are mostly from that continent, the style is also known as American Porter. That is why hops tend to be more present here, as well as a hint of chocolate and coffee.
Baltic Porter is aptly named after the European region. Porter was one of the first beers that was distributed internationally. But because the climate was different there, the normal beverage would not suffice. Naturally a bottom-fermented version was developed, that was stronger and more complex, to ensure the beer would still be drinkable after the long trip. In that light, it is related to the Imperial Porter, which has the same idea. It is generally the heaviest of the Porters, with a roasted character and hints of chocolate, coffee and sometimes even fruit.
