Probably the best known beer brand in the UK is Guinness and it is the one beer than you can obtain in virtually every pub, club, off licence and supermarket. However it is a beer that has that “marmite†quality in that people tend to either really like it or intensely dislike it. It certainly has a very distinctive burnt, bitter taste that is not to everyone’s liking. It is a pity because Guinness is only one example of the family of dark beers known as stouts and porters.
These beers first started to be brewed in C18 London and by tradition they were popular with porters at the various London markets – hence the name porter. When stronger versions of porter were first brewed they became known as stout porters and eventually the name stout stuck. In Dublin, Arthur Guinness began brewing stout in 1759 on an industrial scale with much of his output being exported. These export stouts were stronger in alcohol and more heavily hopped to ensure that they travelled well. They became known as Foreign Extra stouts and developed a strong following, particularly in West Africa and the Caribbean. In England porters continued to be brewed and in recent years there has been a revival of interest in this style of beer which is sweeter and less bitter that the Irish stouts.
Back in the 1960’s one of the biggest selling brands of beer was Mackeson which was a sweet stout, sometimes known as a milk stout. This brand is still available but is increasingly hard to find. Other variations of the stout/porter family include Oatmeal stout (brewed with oatmeal and barley), Oyster stout (which was once brewed with the addition of oysters) and Imperial Stout which is a very strong brew (7% -13%) best sampled in small quantities at the end of a meal.
I am very fond of dark beers and have recently been around some of our local supermarkets and off licences trying out different types of stouts and porters. Here are a few of my recommendations which should appeal to Guinness lovers as well as those of you who are not necessarily fans of very bitter beers. These beers should be drunk at around 10°-12° C and go well with grilled meats and roasts. Expect to pay from £2 -£2.50 for a 500 ml bottle of craft beer.
Hepworth Conqueror Sussex Stout. (4.5%) 500 ml - Brewed in Horsham, West Sussex.
This beer has a liquorice aroma and is sweeter and less bitter than an Irish stout.
Fullers London Porter (5.4%) 500 ml - Brewed by Fullers in London
This beer was first brewed in 1996 but is based on an old recipe. It has a coffee aroma with chocolate, vanilla and coffee tastes coming through. This beer has won various awards and was one of CAMRA’s beers of the year in 2014.
Hopback Brewery Entire Stout (4.5%) 500 ml - Brewed in Salisbury
This is a bottle conditioned “real ale†and can also be found on draught. It has been produced since 2001 and has a smoky autumnal aroma. On tasting there are chocolate, coffee and caramel undertones.
Meantime London Stout (4.5%) 500 ml - Brewed in London since 2008
This beer contains no roast barley and is softer in flavour than many other stouts. This beer has tastes of coffee, caramel and vanilla. It might be the beer to convince someone who does not like Guinness that all stouts are not the same.
Meantime Chocolate Porter (6.5%) 330 ml - This is a Baltic style Porter with a full bodied taste. Chocolate is added at the maturation stage.
This is a complex beer well suited for drinking with cheese or it could go with a very rich beef casserole.
When shopping for beers do look out for products from local breweries and don’t be afraid to try something different for a change. I never cease to be amazed at the tremendous choice of beers available locally, yet so many people pile their trollies high with cases of bland, fizzy lagers.