200 years ago, aged porter was the most hip among the London
beer drinkers. Some porters could spend up to two years quietly maturing in
massive 3,250,000 litre oak vats, acquiring all kinds of interesting flavours
before being blended with younger beer at the alehouse.
Anywho, long story short, one vat couldn’t take the strain
and exploded with the resulting tsunami drowning eight people. Death by porter, way to go. True story,
unlike the brewer who fell into a porter vat where he eventually drowned. It
was a slow death as he had to get out to go to the toilet three times.
Present day Porters have morphed into a milder version of
stout, with less of the charry characters and more flavour diversity by varying
the dominance of hops or malts. This porterfection allows them to be enjoyed
before, during and after meals. Porters
will also taste better at room temp (as long as the room is between 8 – 12) and
an indulgent quantity will bring warmth that will keep you toasty all winter.
One suggested aperitif is the Fuller’s ‘London Porter’ 5.4%,
with its signature Fuller’s Ale flavour and hints of coffee, bread and porty
flavours. It’s got plenty of afterglow that
keeps you salivating for more.
Perfect during the meal, Emerson’s ‘London Porter’ 5%,
starts aggressively but finishes delicately. The coffee with slight char to
balance the sweet malts would complement any meaty stew or roast. The warmer,
the mellower it gets, letting chocolate and ginger ale flavours glow for a
plush porter.
For dessert, Renaissance ‘Elemental Porter’ 6% with creamy
cherry chocolate vanilla and wood undertones with not one dominating but
equally contribute to a balanced but mental flavour.
Ballast Point ‘Victory at Sea Imperial Porter’ 10% is the essence
of porter. Rich syrupy robust malts with
strong attitudes of coffee, vanilla and chocolate. Layers of different flavours as the bottle
empties and its temperature increases. A
very decadent nightcap and maybe another death by porter?
So, get out of your wet gumboots and into a warm porter.
Denis ale be back Cooper
