Porters & Stouts

There’s very little distinction between a Porter and a Stout.

Porter is a dark, almost black, fruity-dry, top fermenting style. An ale, porter is brewed with a combination of roasted malt to impart flavour, colour and aroma. Stout is also a black, roast brew made by top fermentation.

Stout, not as sweet to the taste, features a rich, creamy head and is flavoured and coloured by barley.

Here are some of the most popular types of porters & stouts:

Porter

Porters are red-brown in colour, medium to medium-full bodied, and characterized by a flavour profile that can vary from very subtle dark malts to fully roasted, smoky flavours. Roasted malt should provide the flavouring character, rather than roasted barley as is used with stouts. Stronger, darker versions and lighter, more delicate versions are equally valid manifestations of the style. The influence of hops can often be notable in the richer craft-brewed examples of the style.

Flavoured Porter

Flavouring traditional beer styles is a particular feature of the ever-creative domestic craft-brewing scene. Flavourings used in porters are typically dark berry fruits and coffee.

Dry Stout

Dry stout is closely associated with Ireland in general, and Guinness in particular. These brews tend to be rich and dark with a definitive bitter note, and a drying palate feel.

Flavoured Stout

Flavoured stouts are stouts, be they sweeter or drier, that have been flavoured in some way.

Russian Imperial Stout

Imperial stout is an extra strong version of stout that was originally brewed by the British to withstand the rigors of export to Russia and the Baltic states. This style is dense, opaque black and strong in alcohol (6 to 7 %), with a note of sweetness. Burnt cocoa and dried fruit flavours are typical.

Oatmeal Stout

This brew is a variation of sweet stout that has a small proportion of oats used in place of roasted malt. This has the effect of enhancing body and mouth-feel. They tend to be highly flavourful, with a velvety texture and sometimes a hint of sweetness.

Sweet Stout

Sweet stouts, sometimes known as milk or cream stouts, have a distinctive sweetness to the palate and often show chocolate and caramel flavours. These beers obtain their characters from the chocolate malts and lactic (milk) sugars used in the brewing process.