This Thursday, the 7th of November 2024, being the first Thursday in November, is International Stout Day 2024 (website), surprise surprise, to celebrate Stouts. Stouts appear to have developed from Porters (blog), a dark ale favoured by London market porters 300 years ago, though a blend of ales originally, before brewers started brewing Porters specifically. 'Stout' tended to be a term to describe stronger beers. Stout, as in Stout Porter, was a stronger dark brew that London's brewers developed, and what we think of today as a typical Stout style.
Technically, nowadays, Porters are brewed using dark malts, and are usually a very deep, very dark, red in colour if you put your glass up to the light, whereas Stouts are brewed using Roasted Barley and are black or very dark brown, notably brown in the colour of the head. Of course, I've drunk different brewers' Stouts, Porters, and strong Dark Milds, that taste as you would expect one of the other styles to taste, but, for me, I would define the Stout from the roasted barley taste, though no doubt many would disagree with me.
Whatever, enjoy a dark ale on Thursday, cheers!
Whatever, enjoy a dark ale on Thursday, cheers!
