Stouts & Porters

THE DARK SIDE

Dark beers to the uninitiated can be viewed as an acquired taste, or ones that takes some getting used to, but in fact, these beauties aren’t far removed from some of their pale, golden counterparts. Often the roasted malt being the main point of differenceand what gives it a dark colour. While dark ales, dark lager and even black IPAs fit under the dark beer moniker, stouts and porters are what the dark beer category is best known for. But what exactly is the difference between the two?

WORDS LUKAS RASCHILLA

PORTER

The term porter was named after the movers and carriers of London – and is strong and dark with a high alcohol content (usually 6% or higher ABV). Porters are dark brown to black in colour with roast, coffee-like notes coming from the highly kilned black malt. Porters come in a few variations, from the brown porter to the robust porter where everything is dialled up to the max with rich dark fruits and high alcohol, making it one to be sipped and savoured. English and American versions also exist as does the Baltic porter. The Baltic porter is one to keep an eye out for, having a high alcohol content (6.5-9.5% ABV) with a clean, creamy palate. English porters are moderate in strength, brown with restrained roast character and bitterness. Many have roasted flavours without burnt qualities and often have a chocolate-caramel malt finish. American porters are substantial, malty dark beers with complex dark malt character. They feature a lightly burnt malt character (and sometimes chocolate and/ or coffee flavours) with a touch of grainy, dark malt dryness in the finish. They can range from dry to medium sweet.

STOUT

The term stout in the eighteenth century England indicated simply that the beer was a strong one. Hence a ‘stout’ porter was of high alcohol and taste, rather than being of a different style. It would be difficult to mention the category without mentioning the famed Irish and perhaps considered the original stout, Guinness. In fact, it was only when Arthur Guinness took the style to his native Dublin did the local Liffey water and the use of roasted, unmalted barley (for economic reasons) created a new taste. The difference from the porter style was completed by dropping the term porter from ‘stout porter’ and simply call it ‘stout’. The rest is, of course, history but the dry, creamy, roast astringency from the barley is an essential part of the stout style.

Arthur Guinness’ style is now known as a dry Irish stout and is surprisingly drinkable, being light-bodied and fairly low in alcohol (4-4.5% ABV). There are many other deviations on stout, each with their own particular character. Milk stouts were very popular during the war years for their nutrients, milk sugar (lactose) sweetness, the rich proteins found in oats keeps the beer dry but fuller on the palate.

Nowadays, the two can be somewhat difficult to differentiate, with craft brewers now brewing porters that are stronger than most stouts, yet continue to call them porters. Brewers, however, seem to agree on the kind of malt that should be used to brew each type of beer. Porters use malted barley and stouts are primarily made from unmalted roasted barley, which is where the coffee flavour associated with stout comes from.

The bottom line is, once you can appreciate the category of these dark brews and a style you prefer, porters, stouts and dark ales are enjoyable, and will at times, seemingly overlap in taste, aroma, texture and alcohol percentage.

Welcome to the dark side of beer.

EXPLORE DRINKS TOP PICKS

4 PINES STOUT (NSW)

ABV 5.1%

Tasting Notes The 4 Pines Stout is an Irish style stout, almost black in colour and bearing a generous tan head. Aromas of coffee, chocolate and caramel are matched with a full-bodied mouthfeel, smooth finish and rounding bitterness.

BIG SHED BREWING GOLDEN STOUT TIME DESSERT STOUT (SA)

ABV 5.4%

Tasting Notes Golden Stout Time is made to invoke old memories and leave new ones. This is a hearty stout infused with toffee and honeycomb and light on hops, taking you back to childhood summers spent enjoying Golden Gaytime ice- creams. Despite its origins in the iconic summer treat, it is best enjoyed in the depths of winter.

BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS ROBUST PORTER (VIC)

ABV 5.2%

Tasting Notes Part of Bridge Road’s core range, and a Gold Medal winner at the Sydney Royal Beer and Cider show, and a Silver at the 2015 Craft Beer Awards, the Robust Porter has big chocolate, roasted and mocha notes that are key to the style. Using roasted barley and chocolate malt, this porter is big and bold, yet has a smooth roasty texture.

COOPERS BEST EXTRA STOUT (SA)

ABV 6.3%

Tasting Notes Coopers Best Extra Stout is ideal for those who love a hearty brew. Made with a robust blend of fruit and chocolate flavours and bitter hop notes, it’s everything a stout should be. This is an all malt brew that’s naturally conditioned in the bottle. It’s rich, dark texture comes from the use of specially roasted black malt.

QUIET DEEDS VANILLA PORTER (VIC)

ABV 6.2%

Tasting Notes This seasonal brew from Quiet Deeds is a robust and rich porter full of vanilla, chocolate and coffee characters on the palate with moderate bitterness balanced with a trace of smokiness on the finish.

GUINNESS DRAUGHT (IRELAND)

ABV 4.2%

Tasting Notes Sweet aroma with a coffee and malty nose. The perfect balance of bitter and sweet with a malt and roast character, followed by a smooth, creamy and balanced palate.

“PORTERS USE MALTED BARLEY AND STOUTS ARE PRIMARILY MADE FROM UNMALTED ROASTED BARLEY, WHICH IS WHERE THE COFFEE FLAVOUR ASSOCIATED WITH STOUT COMES FROM.”

HOLGATE TEMPTRESS CHOCOLATE PORTER (VIC)

ABV 6%

Tasting Notes This beer is the ideal winter warmer, infused with Dutch cocoa and whole vanilla beans. This already robust brew is a blend of seven malts, giving a complex palate of chocolate, coffee and caramel flavours, balanced by a hint of vanilla. Available Year Round.

BATCH BREWING ELSIE THE MILK STOUT (NSW)

ABV 4.4%

Tasting Notes Elsie is made by combining unfermentable lactose with a malt bill, so complex the brewers at Batch refer to it as their ‘kitchen sink beer’. The result is a beer that’s sweet and smooth and dark and roasty, with gentle touches of chocolate, coffee and cream. Served on nitrogen at the brewery and in 440ml cans, this stout has an incredibly thick and smooth texture. Available Year Round.