The Difference Between Stouts and Porters

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SummitSeries72, Nov 12, 2012.

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  1. SummitSeries72

    SummitSeries72 Zealot (540) Mar 17, 2011 New Jersey

    I don't realistically believe that we'll ever solve this here. A survey of the literature and blogs that attempt to differentiate between the the two reveals confusion and uncertainty mostly. I know that stouts are a subset of porters generally. My own feeling is that stouts are more full-bodied. I prefer them for that reason. While I like porters, I can't help but feel, when drinking them, that I wish I were drinking a stout. I find porters to be disappointing for that reason. Any thoughts?
     
    #1 SummitSeries72, Nov 12, 2012
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  2. J2L

    J2L Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2012 Ohio

    I've always felt like porters are not as dark, full, or roasty as stouts. It's like porters are dark, but stouts are black.
     
    #2 J2L, Nov 12, 2012
  3. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I generally feel the same way about porters vs stouts.

    That said, I suggest you check out...

    Ballast Point Victory at Sea
    Les Trois Mousquetaires Grand Cuvee Porter Baltique
    Smuttynose Baltic Porter

    Totally did not think "I'd rather be drinking a stout" with any of these.
    Body & mouthfeel are still a bit different from say an imperial stout, but I didn't care one bit.
     
    #3 fujindemon74, Nov 12, 2012
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  4. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,428) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    Isn't there an infamously long and hostile thread about this very topic on the old BA? I seem to recall reading this at one point.
     
    #4 Steimie, Nov 12, 2012
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  5. ClassicBrad

    ClassicBrad Zealot (683) Sep 29, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Stouts have a day.
    Porters do not.
     
    #5 ClassicBrad, Nov 12, 2012
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  6. nathanjohnson

    nathanjohnson Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2007 Vermont

    None.
     
    #6 nathanjohnson, Nov 12, 2012
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  7. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    A hostile thread about stouts vs porters?
    That's funny.
     
    #7 fujindemon74, Nov 12, 2012
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  8. match1112

    match1112 Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2011 Illinois


    has it been that long?
     
    #8 match1112, Nov 12, 2012
  9. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The major difference is if you're playing Scrabble®, in which case stout is worth 5 points, porter is 8 points [plus whatever squares you might be playing on].
     
    #9 jesskidden, Nov 12, 2012
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  10. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    No practical difference. Some American brewers now are using stout as a stronger version of a porter, but that's purely preferential and not historical.
     
    #10 Etan, Nov 12, 2012
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  11. SummitSeries72

    SummitSeries72 Zealot (540) Mar 17, 2011 New Jersey

    Interesting. I had Smuttynose Robust Porter this afternoon (which is very highly rated here at BA). I actually did a pretty interesting taste test for myself this afternoon. I started with Smuttynose, then had a Founder's Porter (also very highly rated). Finally, I had a Sierra Nevada Stout (you guessed it; also highly rated). I have to say that the stout was my favorite (as I imagined it would be). Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying I didn't like the porters. But I think I just like stouts better.
     
    #11 SummitSeries72, Nov 12, 2012
  12. wyatt13

    wyatt13 Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2011 Illinois

    In before shitshow.
     
    #12 wyatt13, Nov 12, 2012
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  13. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    The Smuttynose Robust Porter and Baltic Porter are different brews.
     
    #13 fujindemon74, Nov 12, 2012
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  14. Kinsman

    Kinsman Maven (1,457) Aug 26, 2009 Nevada

    Anyone that believes they could correctly tell the difference between your basic (i.e. non imperial, baltic, coffee etc...) stout vs. porter in a blind taste is only kidding themselves and is not a palate to be trusted.
     
    #14 Kinsman, Nov 12, 2012
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  15. SummitSeries72

    SummitSeries72 Zealot (540) Mar 17, 2011 New Jersey

    Which do you like better? I haven't seen Baltic Porter in my area.
     
    #15 SummitSeries72, Nov 12, 2012
  16. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    The Baltic Porter by a mile.
     
    #16 fujindemon74, Nov 12, 2012
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  17. jar72404

    jar72404 Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Florida

    There was an epic thread debating this a year or so ago, but I can't seem to find the link. Does anyone know if the old threads survived when the site was redesigned?
     
    #17 jar72404, Nov 12, 2012
  18. patrick802

    patrick802 Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2010 Vermont

    how about someone just look at the brewers association 2012 beer style guidelines. i think they describe each style and what qualifies them to be a style. i guess they could be wrong though
     
    #18 patrick802, Nov 12, 2012
  19. Dennoman

    Dennoman Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2011 Belgium

    #19 Dennoman, Nov 13, 2012
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  20. TheBoog013

    TheBoog013 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 California

    This is gonna get ugly again...
     
    #20 TheBoog013, Nov 13, 2012
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