BJCP 13C · Brown British Beer
English Porter
A dark brown, malty English ale with chocolate, caramel and gentle roast. Roastier than a brown ale and less dry and burnt than a stout.
English Porter by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.0 – 5.4%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 18 – 35 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 20 – 30 SRM39–59 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.040 – 1.052on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.008 – 1.014on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What English Porter is like
A dark brown ale of moderate strength, with roasted malt that gives chocolate and caramel without reaching burnt or strong coffee notes. Balanced, with medium bitterness, and easy to drink.
Appearance
Light brown to dark brown, often with ruby highlights, and clear when held up to the light. Cream to tan head with moderate retention.
Aroma
Gentle roast with chocolate, caramel, toffee, bread or nut. May have fruity esters and a touch of earthy or floral English hops.
Flavor
Malt with chocolate, caramel and bread, and moderate roast that shouldn't be harsh or burnt. Bitterness ranges from medium-low to medium and the finish can go from dry to slightly sweet.
Mouthfeel
Medium-light to medium body and moderate carbonation. Somewhat creamy texture, no astringency.
Where English Porter comes from
Porter was born in 18th-century London and was the beer of the city's workers; its name comes from the porters who carried goods. It nearly disappeared in the 20th century and came back with the revival of traditional beers, now as a beer of moderate strength.
Ingredients
English pale ale malt with brown, chocolate and crystal malts; black malt or roasted barley, if used, goes in small amounts. English hops such as Fuggle or Goldings and English yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew English Porter at home
Mash at 66-67 °C (151-153 °F) and ferment at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). Brown malt is what gives the most English Porter character; combine it with chocolate malt and keep black malt in a supporting role. If you taste coffee or ashy roast, you've drifted toward a stout.
Food pairing
Great with a meat stew, pork ribs or a not-too-sweet chocolate cake.
Glassware: nonic pint glass, the classic pub glass, made for long drinks.
Classic examples
- Fuller's London Porter
- Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter
Frequently asked questions
How strong is English Porter?
Between 4.0% and 5.4% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is English Porter?
It has 18 to 35 IBUs, a moderate bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is English Porter?
Brown to black: 20 to 30 SRM (39 to 59 EBC).
What food pairs well with English Porter?
Great with a meat stew, pork ribs or a not-too-sweet chocolate cake.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try British Brown Ale, Irish Stout and American Porter.
If you like English Porter, try these
Classification and statistics: official English Porter guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.