The Ultimate Guide to The Porter Beer Style
The porter, a type of beer that stands out for its dark, rich colour and toasted malty flavour, has a proud and significant heritage spanning centuries. Originating in London, UK, this beer style has found favour across the globe, and Australia is no exception. Australian breweries have taken to brewing Porters with gusto, thereby producing a distinctly Aussie twist to this traditional beer style.
Read to the end to find a delicious smokey porter recipe!
Porter Beer Style History
The origins of porter go back to the 18th century in London, England. Derived from a blend of three different beers known as “Entire”, the Porter catapulted to popularity due to its robust character, affordable cost and longer shelf life. Notable brewmasters like Ralph Harwood made significant contributions in refining the style into the beer we love today. In Australia, the porter arrived with the first settlers and has grown in popularity ever since.
Brewing Process
The Porter beer style uses top fermentation, as is characteristic of ales. This brewing process heavily influences the taste, texture, and appearance of the beer, contributing to its distinct bold flavours, full-bodied texture, and dark hue.
Key Ingredients
The unique taste of porter beer hinges on its key ingredients. The malt types frequently used include brown malt and chocolate malt, which give the beer its recognisable dark hue and chocolatey taste. The other constituents, hops, yeast, and water all combine to create the porter’s distinctive, complex taste. Occasionally, breweries might add a touch of innovation by introducing elements like coffee or locally sourced ingredients.
Global Influence
The porter’s journey from the shores of the UK to becoming a beloved beverage across the globe is a story of taste winning over hearts. The porter has been embraced worldwide, each geographic region imparting its unique twist to the classic. Variations like the Baltic Porter in Eastern Europe or the Robust Porter in the United States have modified the original version. Down under in Australia, breweries have embraced this beer style, creating their versions that beautifully incorporate local ingredients.
Types of Porter Beer Style
‘Traditional’ Porter: Characteristics and Taste
The traditional porter features a dark brown colour with flavours of coffee, chocolate, and toasted malt. The beer has a medium body with a thin head and usually shows an ABV ranging from 4.5 to 5.5%.
‘Robust’ Porter: Characteristics and Taste
Coming from the United States, the robust porter is darker and fuller in body than its traditional counterpart. The flavours are more intense with a pronounced bitterness, and the ABV usually goes up to 5.6 to 6.5%.
‘Baltic’ Porter: Characteristics and Taste
Coming from harsh winter climates, the Baltic Porter is essentially a high-alcohol version of the porter. Brewed with a cold fermentation, this beer variety features a strong, sweet, and complex character, with an ABV crossing the 7% mark.
Notable Australian Porter Examples
The porter beer style has found solid ground in Australia, with many breweries creating their own versions. Here are a few to try:
- Holgate Brewhouse’s Temptress Chocolate Porter boasts a luscious mix of cocoa and vanilla with a rich malty body.
- Little Creatures‘ Dreadnought Foreign Extra Porter offers a mix of roasted and preserved fruity sweetness, kept in check with bitter hops.
- “Granite Porter” from Granite Belt Brewery is another standout, loved for its dark toast flavour sprinkled with hints of dried fruit.
Conclusion
The Porter beer style has a rich legacy that dates back centuries, a testament to its enduring appeal. Its distinctive bold flavours, robust character, and the endless variations it offers make it a firm favourite for beer enthusiasts. Australia’s breweries too have done justice to this historic beer style, introducing unique elements that create a delicious balance between tradition and innovation. We encourage you to explore, sip, and savour the magic of porter beer. And do share your experiences with us!
Smokey Porter Stout Recipe
This robust and smoky American Porter combines rich malt flavors with a subtle smokiness, creating a complex and satisfying brew.
Batch Size: 23 liters
Boil Time: 60 minutes
Method: Extract Brewing
Ingredients:
Fermentables:
- 2 kg Amber Dry Malt Extract
- 1 kg Amber Dry Malt Extract (late addition)
- 1 kg Dark Dry Malt Extract (late addition)
Steeping Grains:
- 250 g Chocolate Malt
- 250 g Smoked Malt
Hops:
- 50 g Columbus (15% AA) – Boil for 45 minutes
- 25 g Willamette (4.5% AA) – Boil for 15 minutes
Yeast:
- 2 packs of Mangrove Jack’s New World Strong Ale M42
Specifications:
- Original Gravity (OG): 1.067
- Final Gravity (FG): 1.013
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.0%
- International Bitterness Units (IBU): 79
- Standard Reference Method (SRM): 18
Brewing Instructions:
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Steeping: Heat 15 liters of water to approximately 70°C. Place the Chocolate Malt and Smoked Malt in a muslin bag and steep in the heated water for 20 minutes. Remove the grains and allow the liquid to drip back into the kettle without squeezing the bag.
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Boil: Bring the wort to a boil. Once boiling, add 2 kg of Amber Dry Malt Extract, stirring to dissolve completely.
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Hop Additions:
- At 15 minutes into the boil, add 50 g of Columbus hops.
- At 45 minutes into the boil, add 25 g of Willamette hops.
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Late Extract Addition: With 15 minutes remaining in the boil, add the remaining 1 kg of Amber Dry Malt Extract and 1 kg of Dark Dry Malt Extract, stirring to dissolve.
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Cooling: After the 60-minute boil, cool the wort rapidly to 20-22°C using an immersion chiller or ice bath.
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Fermentation: Transfer the cooled wort to a sanitized fermenter, topping up with water to reach a total volume of 23 liters. Aerate the wort thoroughly and pitch the yeast. Ferment at 18-22°C until the Final Gravity stabilizes at 1.013 in 10-13 days.
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Packaging: Once fermentation is complete, bottle or keg the beer, aiming for a carbonation level appropriate for the Porter style.
Enjoy brewing your Smokey Porter Stout!
