International Stout Day: Know This Legendary Beer
Image Credit: Stout beer, Image Source: Unsplash

International Stout Day is observed on the first Thursday of each November. This year, it falls on November 3rd. It's all about enjoying this historical beer style, tasting notes, and events on this day dedicated to commemorating the craft beer revolution. International Stout Day has evolved rapidly into a treasured event of delectable commemoration honouring the identifiable, rich, and intricate style and the brewers who produce it for the general public. It is not just observed in breweries, taverns, and restaurants. Internet and social media go gaga over it using the hashtag #StoutDay.

This celebrated day was created by Erin Peters, often known as The Beer Goddess. This beer writer came up with it in Southern California in 2011. It quickly swept the entire world. Stout beer is versatile, allowing the patron to let loose and enjoy this dark, malty, and just a little alcoholic beverage. It justifies its name, i.e., Stout, which means "strong". So, get ready to admire and relish everything about this rich, velvety, and hearty beer. But before that, let's get familiar with this legendary brew. 

Pouring craft beer, Image Source: Unsplash

Porter, the predecessor

Stouts are supposed to have evolved from porters. Early in the 1700s, porters, a dark ale enjoyed by London's working people, were invented. An eager market for this novel, the invigorating drink was given by street and river porters. Since the thirteenth century, the word "stout" has included the meaning 'strong'. It is used in this sense to designate intense brews like the Porter. Stout, as in stout Porter, was the strong, dark beer that London's brewers crafted. It is what we currently consider to be the standard stout-style beer.

Stouts' genesis

In the 1730s, stouts were first brewed. Brewers in the 1800s used the Russian Imperial Stout to please the Russian Czar. Imperial Porter was preceded by Imperial Stout. The term "Imperial" to describe a beer originated from The Caledonian Mercury Of February 1821. In Edinburgh, a coffee shop was promoting Edinburgh Ales, London Double Brown Stout, and Imperial Porter.

Guinness stout beer, Image Source: Unsplash

Since around 1780, Guinness has been brewing porters, and their Dry or Irish Stout is legendary. One of the smoother and sweeter stouts is oatmeal stout beer. After the 14th century, the meaning of the word "stout" altered from "proud" or "brave" to "strong." the evolution process gave birth to Oyster Stout and Chocolate Stout. In 1929, in New Zealand, oysters were used for the first time in the brewing of stout.

The term "stout" was originally used to describe beer in 1677. Brewers produced porters with a variety of strengths due to their enormous popularity. "Stout Porters" were the names given to the stronger brews. Whether or not stouts should be considered a distinct style from porters is still up for dispute. Strength is typically the only deciding element. After the First World War, "nourishing" and sweet "milk" stouts gained popularity in Great Britain, but except for small local markets like Glasgow's Sweetheart Stout, their appeal waned by the 20th century's conclusion.

From losing grounds to reviving with gusto

According to a survey by What's Brewing, only 29 UK and Channel Islands breweries were still producing stout in the mid-1980s, most of which were milk variants. Stout saw a resurgence in the 21st century. This beer is a dark, top-fermented brew that comes in various flavours, including dry, oatmeal, milk, and imperial. Stout beers have evolved over the past two centuries to include distinctive flavours like chocolate, coffee, and even oysters. 

Taste and flavours

A sip of stout, Image Source: Unsplash

It tastes of roasted malt and frequently includes liquorice, caramel, dark chocolate, and coffee notes. Stouts tend to be on the creamier and thicker side of beers, giving them a weighty, substantial feel. The one that is currently most popular is milk stout, which contains lactose, a sugar that is obtained from milk. Another widely used variety is dry or Irish Stout. There is also oatmeal stout, which contains up to 30% of oatmeal.

Say cheers to Stout!