Distinguishing Stout from Porter

Stout vs Porter

Stout and Porter are two types of beer that have puzzled beer enthusiasts for decades, with no clear answer as to their differences. Both beers are dark in color and similar in taste, which leads many people to equate the two. However, some beer enthusiasts and connoisseurs argue that stout beer is slightly stronger and mightier than porter beer. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two.

Porter

Porter is a dark beer that has been produced for the last four centuries. It got its name because it was particularly popular among the porters on the Thames River and the streets of London. Porters were brewed using dark malts, which gave them their distinct color. Before porter arrived, beers in London were all freshly brewed. Porter became the first beer that was aged by the brewery that made it. Porter beers were hugely successful among the city’s porters because they were not only dark in color but also very strong compared to today’s beers. Porters were popular during WWI and WWII, but their popularity declined afterward. However, since the turn of the century, many companies have started making Porter beer again, with London Porter by Fuller being particularly successful. Nowadays, porter beers are available in various flavors such as bourbon, honey, pumpkin, vanilla, and chocolate.

Stout

The origin and development of Stout beers are closely connected with Porter beers. Porter beers were named because of their popularity among the porters of London’s river and streets. According to some experts, the stronger beers among these Porters came to be known as Stout beers, just as there are strong, thick, and stout porters among porters. This is debatable, as some claim that stout beers existed even before Porter beers. In any case, thick and strong porter beers came to be known as stout beers.

There are many types of stout beers available on the market, with the most popular ones being Irish stout, Imperial stout, Milk stout, chocolate stout, coffee stout, Oatmeal stout, etc.

Key Takeaways

• Both Porter and Stout are dark beers made from roasted malts, but Stouts are considered extra strong Porters with a higher alcohol content.
• Weaker beers were referred to as slender beers, while thicker and higher gravity porters were labeled as stouts.
• The two world wars and the economic recession in the 1930s led to a decline in strong beers, and the alcohol content of both stouts and porters decreased significantly.