I'm going to tell you a secret: a few years ago I knew very little about craft beers. Little more than what the waiters explained to you in the bars where we could drink this type of beer. But I quickly realized that there was a whole world to discover, and that it was fascinating.
Since then, having a good Porter at home on a Saturday afternoon, when it's cold as hell, has become a ritual that makes winter more bearable.
Here are five facts about the Porters that caught my attention at the time.
1. appeared 300 years ago in London. Yes, this beer is so British!. It originated in London pubs, where they mixed a light, light and cheap beer with a darker, thicker and more expensive one, to obtain a medium-bodied beer.
2. It is said that its name comes from the fame that beer originally achieved among the London working class, who performed various tasks of transporting loads or “ porter”.
3. is dark in color (from reddish brown to black) and has an intense flavor, with an alcohol content between 4.5 and 5.5%. If you close your eyes and concentrate, you will be able to appreciate that it smells like bread, chocolate and even... biscuits! You can also find these flavors in the mouth, apart from a light roasted flavor.
4. Porter beer arrived in Ireland in the 18th century and just a few years later Guinness was already producing it. One of its versions, the “extra stout”, is basically the Guinness we know today.
5. It's easy to confuse Porters with their little sisters, the Stout. A trick to tell them apart? The Porter are softer, in body and alcohol content. In addition, Porter beers stand out for their caramel notes, this differentiates them from the coffee notes that Stouts have.
I hope you like these curiosities as much as I do, and this weekend you take a Porter to receive the Winter Solstice. They are great accompanying a plate of sausages and cheese!
