Information AboutPorter (beer) |
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In 1802, a writer named John Feltham wrote a version of the history of porter that has been repeated hundreds of times since. Unfortunately very little of Feltham's story is backed up by contemporary evidence. Feltham claimed that in 18th Century London a popular Beverage called "three threads" was made consisting of a third of a pint each of Ale , Beer and ''twopenny'' (the strongest beer, costing Tuppence a quart). About 1730, Feltham said, a brewer called Harwood made a single beer called ''Entire'' which recreated the flavour of "three threads", and which became known as "porter". It took its name from its popularity with the thousands of street and river porters (NOT market porters) of London, who drank it to refresh themselves as they carried goods and parcels off and on ships in the Thames and around the streets of England's capital. Porter is actually mentioned as early as 1721, but no writer before Feltham says it was made to replicate "three threads". Instead it seems to be a more-aged development of the brown beers already being made in London. It was the first beer that could be made on any big scale, and the London porter brewers, such as Whitbread, Truman, Parsons and Thrale, became rich and famous. In Ireland, especially Dublin, the drink was known as "plain porter" or just "plain". This is the drink referred to in the famous refrain of . Stout grew into its own recognized style but there is still much debate today on whether this division is appropriate. Usually the deciding factor in whether a particular ale is a porter or a stout is strength. After the invention of malted barley roasted until black, also known as patent malt, in 1817, to impart dark color, which also gives a distinct burnt taste to the beer, Irish brewers dropped the use of brown malt, using patent malt and pale malt only, while English brewers continued using some brown malt, giving a difference in style between English and irish porters and stouts.. Stouts sometimes also use roast barley, unmalted barley roasted black, that can impart a flavor of coffee. During the First World War in Britain, shortages of grain led to restrictions on the production of strong beer. This allowed Irish brewers such as Guinness to fill the market need and gain market dominance, a position that they continue to enjoy to this day. A version known as Baltic porter, is brewed in Finland , Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania , Poland and Russia . It has a higher Alcohol content than ordinary porters. Baltic porter was introduced from Britain in the 18th century as a top-fermenting (ie ale-style) beer; influenced by regional styles when it began to be produced locally, it is now mostly brewed as a lager-style bottom-fermenting beer. Many Baltic porters were also influenced by ''' Russian Imperial Stout '''. Porter]] The Microbrew revival of the past twenty years has led to somewhat of a resurgence in the popularity of the style, with many new varieties available around the world. The style is particularly prominent and popular in the United States . Notable Porters
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