{"title":"Norfolk Stout \u0026 Porter","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover stouts and porters brewed in Norfolk by independent breweries across the county – from smooth, easy-drinking dark beers to rich, roasted and full-bodied brews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDark beer can sometimes look more intimidating than it tastes. While some stouts and porters are undeniably big, rich beers, others are remarkably smooth and drinkable, combining roasted malt with flavours of chocolate, coffee, caramel, nuts and dark fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorfolk's independent brewers produce examples across that spectrum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does Norfolk Stout \u0026amp; Porter taste like?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe darker malts used to make these beers can introduce flavours quite different from those found in Pale Ale or IPA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect characteristics such as \u003cstrong\u003edark chocolate, cocoa, roasted coffee, caramel, toast and nuts\u003c\/strong\u003e, sometimes accompanied by dried or dark fruits, liquorice, vanilla or gentle smoke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat doesn't mean every stout or porter will taste strongly of coffee or chocolate. These flavours can occur naturally from the malts and the way they have been roasted, rather than because coffee or chocolate has actually been added to the beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome brewers do add ingredients such as coffee, cacao, vanilla or lactose to particular beers – but when they do, that's a deliberate additional element rather than what makes a beer a stout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between Stout and Porter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's one of those apparently simple beer questions without a completely simple answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePorter came first.\u003c\/strong\u003e The style developed in London during the 18th century as a dark, malt-driven beer. Stronger versions became known as \u003cstrong\u003eStout Porter\u003c\/strong\u003e, with \u003cem\u003estout\u003c\/em\u003e originally referring to the beer's strength rather than describing a completely separate style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver time, Stout developed an identity of its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday the distinction isn't absolute. Brewers use different combinations of malts and roasted grains and interpret the terms in different ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a general guide, \u003cstrong\u003ePorter can lean towards chocolate, caramel and toasted malt\u003c\/strong\u003e, while \u003cstrong\u003eStout frequently has a more pronounced roasted character\u003c\/strong\u003e, sometimes bringing coffee-like flavours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut there are plenty of exceptions – the individual beer matters more than the name alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre all stouts heavy and strong?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDefinitely not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColour doesn't tell you how strong or heavy a beer will be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dark stout can be surprisingly \u003cstrong\u003edry, smooth and refreshing\u003c\/strong\u003e, while some pale beers can contain considerably more alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou'll find sessionable stouts designed to be enjoyed by the pint alongside much richer beers intended for slower drinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo if you've avoided stout because you assume dark means heavy, it's worth trying a few different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a Milk Stout?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eMilk Stout\u003c\/strong\u003e, sometimes called a Sweet Stout, is traditionally made using lactose – a sugar derived from milk that brewing yeast doesn't readily ferment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe remaining sweetness can give the beer a \u003cstrong\u003erounder, smoother and creamier character\u003c\/strong\u003e, balancing the bitterness of roasted malts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMilk Stout therefore isn't necessarily telling you that milk has simply been poured into the beer; it describes a particular approach to creating sweetness and body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause lactose is a milk-derived ingredient, these beers won't normally be suitable for vegans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is an Imperial Stout?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eImperial Stout\u003c\/strong\u003e sits towards the other end of the scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are generally stronger, fuller-bodied beers with much more concentrated malt character. Expect flavours that can include dark chocolate, espresso, treacle, dried fruit and warming alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey're beers for sipping rather than necessarily drinking by the pint and can sometimes develop additional complexity with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDark malt and Norfolk brewing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorfolk's relationship with beer begins with the grain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe county is one of Britain's important \u003cstrong\u003emalting-barley growing regions\u003c\/strong\u003e, and malt provides the foundation upon which every beer is built.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStout and Porter demonstrate particularly dramatically what malt can do. By changing the grains and the degree to which they're roasted, brewers can move from the pale biscuit character of lighter beer towards \u003cstrong\u003etoast, caramel, chocolate and eventually intensely roasted flavours\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHops remain important for balance, but in many Stouts and Porters it is malt that gets the opportunity to take centre stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat food goes with Stout \u0026amp; Porter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDark beers can be exceptionally good with food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTry them with \u003cstrong\u003emature or blue cheese, smoked foods, slow-cooked meat and rich savoury dishes\u003c\/strong\u003e. Their roasted and chocolate characteristics can also make certain styles surprisingly successful alongside chocolate desserts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd for a cheeseboard, a Norfolk Stout or Porter can provide an interesting alternative to wine – particularly with a powerful Norfolk blue or mature hard cheese.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStout \u0026amp; Porter brewed in Norfolk\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Norfolk Stout \u0026amp; Porter collection brings together dark beers from independent breweries across the county, with the selection changing as breweries introduce seasonal recipes, special releases and new interpretations of these historic styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're looking for something smooth and easy-drinking or dark, rich and contemplative, there's considerably more variety within Stout and Porter than their appearance might suggest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore our current selection of Norfolk Stouts and Porters below.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/5870\/9434\/collections\/lynn-brewery-southgates-stout-lynn-brewery-9822234.jpg?v=1790088306","url":"https:\/\/norfolk-deli.co.uk\/collections\/norfolk-stout-porter.oembed","provider":"Norfolk Deli","version":"1.0","type":"link"}