The porter style is broad and covers a range of beers light brown to very dark brown/black in color. It originated in England as working class beer (appreciated, of course, literally by porters) and is believed to be the precursor to stouts. Porters range in malt, alcohol, and hop strength from mild to moderately strong. The earlier English versions were mild and highly drinkable, while the later "robust" versions can feature strong bodies, alcohol levels, and hop content. Generally, porters tend to be less burnt or roasted in flavor than porters, although the distinction between porters and stouts can be gray. Higher alcohol strength porters (7% ABV and higher) are specifically classified as Imperial Porters.
