Collection: Stouts and Porters

Stouts and porters are some of beer’s richest and most flavourful styles, combining roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee and smooth texture across everything from easy-drinking dark beer to powerful imperial stout. This collection focuses on expressive dark beer with balance, depth and character.

Stouts and porters are among the most historic and influential styles in brewing, built around roasted malt, dark grain character and layered complexity. Originating in Britain before evolving through Irish brewing and modern craft beer culture, these dark beer styles now cover everything from crisp dry stout and smooth porter to barrel-aged imperial stout and heavily adjunct-driven modern releases.

Porter emerged in London during the 18th century as one of the world’s first mass-produced beer styles, while stout originally developed as a stronger version of porter before eventually becoming a distinct category in its own right. Today the line between the two styles is often blurred, with breweries using both names across a wide range of dark beer interpretations.

Our stouts and porters range focuses on flavour-forward breweries producing everything from traditional dry stout and robust porter to pastry stout, Baltic porter and imperial stout from the UK, Europe and the US. Alongside classic examples, the collection also includes barrel-aged releases, coffee stout, oatmeal stout and modern dark beer brewed with cacao, vanilla and other adjuncts.

Expect flavours of espresso, dark chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, smoke and dried fruit alongside beers that range from smooth and sessionable to rich, warming and highly complex. Whether you prefer classic pub-style stout, silky porter or bold imperial stout designed for slow drinking and cellaring, stouts and porters remain some of the most rewarding styles in modern beer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are stouts and porters?

Stouts and porters are dark styles of beer known for roasted malt flavours, often featuring notes of chocolate, coffee, caramel and toasted bread.

What is the difference between a stout and a porter?

Stouts are typically more roasted, bolder and often slightly more bitter, while porters are usually smoother, softer and more chocolate and caramel-forward in flavour.

Which came first, stout or porter?

Porter came first, originating in London in the 1700s, and stout developed later as a stronger version of porter.

Why are stouts and porters dark?

They are brewed using darker, heavily roasted malts (and sometimes roasted barley), which give them their deep colour and rich flavour.

What does a stout taste like?

Stouts often taste rich and roasty with flavours of espresso, dark chocolate, cocoa and sometimes a slightly bitter finish.

What does a porter taste like?

Porters tend to be smoother and slightly sweeter than stouts, with flavours of milk chocolate, toffee, caramel and light roast.

Are stouts always stronger than porters?

Not always. Strength varies by brewery and style, although some stouts (like imperial stouts) are significantly stronger than most porters.

Are stouts and porters bitter?

They can be, but bitterness is usually balanced by malt sweetness. Stouts tend to have more roasted bitterness, while porters are generally softer.