THE DARK SIDE OF BEER: LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT STOUTS & PORTERS SO YOU CAN INDULGE YOUR INNER HIPSTER OR TORTURED SOUL

As a teenager who grew up with too many feelings, you bet your ASS as soon as I could buy myself a beer it was a Stout. Not only are Stouts delicious AF if you like bitter and astringent tastes like coffee, but they certainly lend you an air of mystery. But what are Stouts, exactly? And what are Porters, for that matter? And what makes a Stout different from a Porter? Gah, it’s all so confusing!

Allow me to take a second to clear that up, Thurstqueens, and explain everything you need to know about these categories of beers, their differences, and what you can pair them with. Let’s get cracking.

Stout vs. Porter - how are they different?

Stouts and Porters have many overlapping characteristics. They are both dark and relatively full-bodied beers. Historically, the Porter predates the stout, and was initially a beer brewed for Londoners to enjoy after a long day at work. They got their dark coloring from the grains being roasted over an open flame.

Porters were popular beers at the time, and often clocked in at 6% alcohol - which was considered pretty high back then. But customers wanted something a bit on the stronger side, and that’s when the Stout Porter - an amped up, higher alcohol version of the Porter was invented.

The main differences were the Stout Porters were darker beers, higher in alcohol, and fuller-bodied than their original counterparts. As time progressed, Stouts branched off into a category of their own.

The key component that sets these two beers apart is flavor. Porters tend to have chocolatey flavors and are dark brown. Stouts have a more astringent bitterness, and look almost black in the glass.

What can I pair Stouts and Porters with?

My favorite Stout and Porter pairings always involve dessert. These beers are absolutely crazy good when paired with chocolate cakes of all kinds, and are delicious with a scoop of ice cream.

For folks who fancy savory pairings, pay attention to the strong flavors behind these beers. It’s really important to pair Stouts and Porters with foods that have a similar “bite,” so the beer doesn’t overwhelm your food pairing. Think any type of blue cheese or gorgonzola, and consider pairing your darker beers with red meat in particular.

FUN SUBTYPES OF STOUTS AND PORTERS

There are a lot of different subtypes of Stouts and Porters that are sweeter, lighter bodied, and lower alcohol — so that rule about Stouts being more bitter is more of a general rule, not a hard and fast one. If you want to check out some interesting variations on Stouts and Porters, keep reading!

THE MILK STOUT

If you’re lactose intolerant - you probably want to keep away from this one, if not read on! Milk Stouts are smooth and creamy thanks to an addition of lactose sugar during the brewing process. The lactose adds a subtle sweetness to the brew, amping up those chocolatey flavors. I find these beers lighter and more approachable compared to other types of Stouts.

THE DRY IRISH STOUT

Where are my Guinness fans at? These dry, almost astringent beers get those coffee-like flavors from unsalted dark roast barley. Dry Irish Stouts have a surprisingly lower ABV than some of the other stouts out there, and can be carbonated with nitrogen to make them smooth.

THE IMPERIAL STOUT

Sometimes bigger really is better. If you love your booze, consider hitting up an Imperial Stout. These big bois have an ABV level often above 8% and with their sweetness can really sneak up on you. Imperial Stouts are loaded with espresso and dark chocolate flavors.

THE ENGLISH PORTER

IPA fans and hopheads alike will probably really vibe well with the English Porter. The English Porter is about as old school as Porter gets, and is close to the original Porters that were being poured in London Pubs. Some Porters are reddish in color and others are dark black, but they have a distinctive malty flavor that balances out those more herbal hoppy qualities.

THE BALTIC PORTER

Baltic Porters are amped up Porters. These beers are extremely dark and almost like a Stout. Instead of chocolatey flavors, expect to get loads of anise and licorice aromas with these intense and astringent brews.

IMPERIAL PORTERS

Like Imperial Stouts, Imperial Porters are the big bad zaddys of Porters. Imperial Porters are high in alcohol, clocking in at around 7-9% ABV, and have loads of dark licorice and Molasses flavors as well. The term, “Imperial” simply means that the beer is going to be big AF, in flavor and alcohol. So any time you see the word “Imperial,” in front of a subcategory of beer, expect big things.

PICK OF THE WEEK: TRACK 7 NUCKIN’ FUTZ IMPERIAL PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CREAM PORTER

Is drinking this deliciously decadent, peanut buttery, chocolatey beer probably a bad idea? Yes. Are you going to have a lot of fun while doing it? Um… YES.

Track 7’s Peanut Butter Porter is… well… it lives up to its name. It’s crazy! The idea of putting chocolate and peanut butter in a porter is INSANE, but it’s deliciously bent. The brew has an addition of smoked malt, chocolate, and peanut butter in addition to good old lactose sugar for added creaminess. Basically - it’s dessert you can drink, and with a 7.3%ABV, go easy because it can definitely sneak up on you.

Track 7 is a Sacramento based brewery that’s quietly churning out delicious, quality beer. This Brewery specializes in really balanced and well-crafted IPAs as well, which is pretty special considering a lot of West Coast IPAs are really hopped. If you haven’t given the beers from Track 7 a shot, their Peanut Butter Porter is a fun - albeit decadent - place to start.