Differences between an American Porter & an American Stout

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by gregggyf, Oct 27, 2013.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. gregggyf

    gregggyf Initiate (0) Sep 20, 2013 New York

    Good Afternoon,

    This is my first posting.

    Could someone please tell me what are the differences/similarities between an American Porter and an American Stout?

    Thank you very much.

    Greg
     
  2. nquigley16

    nquigley16 Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 Massachusetts

    Porters are generally a bit lighter in body and color. but in reality, there is no difference these days.
     
  3. maDUECEgunner

    maDUECEgunner Initiate (0) May 23, 2013 Minnesota

    Please use the search function. It's very useful.
     
  4. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    Labeling.
     
    waston, j47paco, BrettHead and 19 others like this.
  5. stingley

    stingley Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Interesting question... even if it has been covered numerous times, apparently.

    In my limited experience I like Guiness, Saranac Irish Stout, and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, but have been less impressed with porters I've tried, albeit there haven't been a lot, I'm not even particularly fond of my beloved Southern Tier's Porter, just not one of my favorite styles I guess.

    I can't even really say what the difference is... other than the one's I've liked are called stout and the one's I've liked a little less are called porter...

    Doesn't make a lot of sense, I know...........
     
    BoomKentucky and anfield86 like this.
  6. infuturity83

    infuturity83 Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 Massachusetts

    Bottom line: Brewer's intent
     
    dennis3951 likes this.
  7. FunkyMacGroovin

    FunkyMacGroovin Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 California

    One says "porter" on the label. The other does not.
     
    azorie, Dupage25 and brikelly like this.
  8. JuicesFlowing

    JuicesFlowing Initiate (0) Jul 5, 2009 Kansas

    I've had porters that are thicker than stouts and stouts that are thinner than porters. Who knows. I don't care anymore.
     
    Slowjamcdub, Jsteez and PsilohsaiBiN like this.
  9. infuturity83

    infuturity83 Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 Massachusetts

    As I said before, in principal, it all comes down to brewer's intent. Typically, though...it's all about mouthfeel. Stouts tend to be thicker and, for lack of a better term...."chewier" than porters in the american market
     
  10. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Use whichever word sounds better when inserted in the rest of the beer name.
     
  11. Ri0

    Ri0 Initiate (0) Jul 1, 2012 Wisconsin

    Porters give me a cola like flavor, while stouts are more chocolaty.
     
  12. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,815) Jun 18, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I find that they mean basically the same thing... but.

    Porters tend to be thinner/lighter/lower ABV than most stouts that I've had.
     
    mythaeus and hardy008 like this.
  13. gregggyf

    gregggyf Initiate (0) Sep 20, 2013 New York

    Thank you all very much for your helpful replies and links.

    Greg
     
    Henamonster and PABSTMASTER like this.
  14. MeBeerGood

    MeBeerGood Devotee (336) Jan 27, 2010 Massachusetts

    Good Day. And now back to the IPA threads. :grinning:
     
  15. miwestcoaster

    miwestcoaster Grand Pooh-Bah (3,817) Jan 19, 2013 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    From my limited experience, porters are, in general, < $ per ounce of beer but not always less flavorful/good compared to stouts.
     
  16. Benish

    Benish Pooh-Bah (2,422) Mar 13, 2013 Utah
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Exactly what I thought last night wen I drank two different porters.
     
    Ri0 and Dupage25 like this.
  17. Kal

    Kal Initiate (0) Aug 10, 2012 England

    Originally a stout was a strong version of a porter
    Nowadays there isn't one
    Try founders porter and you'd swear it was a stout
     
    Brenden likes this.
  18. tsauce2

    tsauce2 Savant (1,102) Oct 12, 2011 Indiana
    Trader

    No difference. It depends on what the brewery calls it. Greenbush Distorter Porter - "A stout-ish porter with a touch of porter-ish stout".
     
    BrettHead likes this.
  19. TheFlern

    TheFlern Initiate (0) May 9, 2009 Idaho

    I tend to prefer porters over stouts but I think that is just the individual beer that I am preferring rather than some tangible difference between the two labels. Stouts and porters are interchangeable labels basically.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.