The craft beer revolution made it possible to drink countless types of beer. Although the movement’s innovation is admirable, it is challenging to identify between different beers, especially those with similar qualities. Most people are aware that porters and stouts are dark, rich, and aromatic, but few are aware of their distinctions.
Stouts use unmalted, roasted barley rather than malted barley, unroasted barley, distinguishing them from porters. Most stouts contain more alcohol and have higher IBU levels than porters. Stouts and porters are both dry hopped, although porters have more hops than stouts. Since stout beer descended from porter beer, its appearance and flavor are similar to those of porter. But unlike porters, stouts use roasted barley to produce deeper tastes and coffee essences.
Malted Barley vs. Unmalted Barley
Grain steeping, germination, and drying are all steps in making malt. During the brewing process, malted barley produces more fermentable starches. Comparing malted and unmalted barley for brewing is similar to instant and whole oats for cooking; instant oats are already partially broken down and cook up quickly, whereas whole oats take longer to break down.
Porter vs. Stout
Porter is a dark beer brewed in London in the early 1700s. The name is derived from the street and river porters known for drinking it. Porter is usually darker than other types of beer but not as black as a stout. It also has a malty taste with hints of chocolate or coffee.
Stout is usually darker than other types of beer but not as black as a porter. It also has a malty taste with hints of chocolate or coffee. Stouts came after as stronger, fuller-bodied versions of porters, aka “stout porters.” When a pub offered both a stout and a porter, stout was always the stronger beer. Porters and stouts share dark malts, which give them their classic black, or near-black, color.
The difference between porter and stout is that porter is darker than stout. Stout is also heavier and has more alcohol than porter. Some say stout has a more “roasted” taste than porter.
What is Stout Beer?
Dark brown to black in appearance, stout beer has roasted flavor characteristics of coffee and dark chocolate. The distinctive color and flavor of stout beers are derived from unmalted roasted barley. Dry hopping stouts and pellet or liquid extract bittering hops help brewers keep the hop aroma to a minimum. Stout beers are so dark that it is difficult to tell how clear they are. However, most stout varieties are opaque, but they have a cold haze at low temperatures.
Stout is a dark ale made with hops, roasted barley, yeast, and water. It is a robust porter, and the beer was initially referred to as a stout porter. Stout has a deep and full roasted flavor, with a thick, creamy mouthfeel. Though the exact origin of stout is disputed (the first usage of the word appeared in the 1600s),
Types of Stout Beer
1. Irish stout: Irish stouts are dry-roasted stouts that typically have a dark, black color and a complex malt. Irish stouts have intense, creamy flavors and a thick mouthfeel.
2. Imperial stout: Imperial stouts are rich and malty, with a sweet malt aroma and low to medium carbonation. They are one of the more flavorful and bolder types of stout, with notes of tartness and sweetness. American imperial stouts are hoppy with a burnt coffee flavor, and Russian imperial stout tends to be more syrupy with chocolate or molasses-like sweetness.
3. Milk stout: Milk stout gets its name from the lactose, or milk sugar, added to the beer during brewing. Lactose is an unfermentable sugar, so it adds sweetness and body to the finished stout. Milk stouts are usually darker in color, with lower alcohol content and sweeter flavor than other types of stout.
4. Oatmeal stout: Oatmeal stout is a sweet stout that gets its name from the oats used in brewing. Oats add a creamy, smooth texture to the beer. Oatmeal stouts are usually dark in color, with flavors of chocolate and coffee.
5. Chocolate stout: Chocolate stout is a type of sweet stout that gets its name from the chocolate used in brewing. Chocolate stouts are usually dark in color, with flavors of chocolate and coffee.
What is Porter Beer?
Dark malts and malted barley give porter beer its distinctive brown to black color, which leaves a chocolate flavor on the palate. All porters (from the Baltic variety) are dry-hopped and made with top-fermenting ale yeast. Porters are made out of malted barley and are often brewed through top-fermentation with ale yeast, which means the fermentation occurs near the top of the tank.
Porters were initially hopped brown ales brewed with brown malt, but brewers continued to refine their process as the drink increased in popularity (as malt taxes increased and laws on beer production became stricter). The porter was born of the brown ale (which was born of “Entire”) when brewers began to age the beer a bit longer. This style grew in popularity among the market porters of Covent Garden and gained the name “porters” because of this.
Types of Porter Beer
1. Brown Porter or English porters: are dark brown to black, with a chocolate flavor and a light body. English porters are usually made with top-fermenting ale yeast.
2. American porter: American porters are dark brown to black, with a chocolate flavor and a medium to full body. American porters are usually made with bottom-fermenting lager yeast.
3. Baltic porter: Baltic porters are dark brown to black, with a chocolate flavor and a medium to full body. Baltic porters are usually made with bottom-fermenting lager yeast.
4. Smokey porter: Smokey porters are dark brown to black, with a chocolate flavor and a light to medium body. Smokey porters are usually made with bottom-fermenting lager yeast.
5. Imperial porter: Imperial porters are dark brown to black, with a chocolate flavor and a full body. Imperial porters are usually made with top-fermenting ale yeast.
Conclusion
Porter and stout are both dark beers with distinct flavors. Porter is typically less bitter than stout and has a chocolate or coffee-like flavor, while stout is often described as being more bitter with roasted malt or coffee-like flavor. Porter is dark brown or black, while stout usually appears pitch black. Stout may also have a thick head when poured, while porter usually does not. Regarding alcohol content, porter generally has an alcohol content that ranges from 4-6%, while stout typically has an alcohol content that is higher, ranging from 6-8%. Whether you prefer porter or stout comes down to personal preference. Cheers!