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BJCP Category 20AAmerican Porter and Stout
30 SRM (Extra Dark Porter)

Robust Porter

Substantial dark ale balancing rich caramel sweetness with assertive chocolate and dark roast.

Official BJCP Vital Statistics Range

Original Grav. (OG)1.0481.065
Final Grav. (FG)1.0121.016
Bitterness (IBU)2550
Color (SRM)2235
Alcohol (ABV)4.86.5%

Sensory Character & Tasting Notes

Dark milk chocolate and toasted cocoa nibs
Roasted caramel, toffee, and bready crust
Medium-full body with smooth, rounded bitterness
Mild earthy hop presence

Origin, Heritage & Craft Tradition

Born on the bustling docks and riverways of 18th-century London, Porter earned its name from the street and river porters who drank it as a daily nourishing beverage. Originally aged in gigantic wooden vats for months to develop a mild vinous tang, modern craft Robust Porters highlight clean roasted malts with a bolder hop presence and rounded caramel center.

Authentic Grain Bill & Mash Schedule

Mash Target
152°F for 60 Minutes
Single infusion mash for a balanced malt body and medium residual sweetness
Representative Grist Ratios:
Maris Otter English Pale Ale Malt
Rich biscuity malt foundation75%
Brown Malt
Authentic historic wood-toasted, nutty dryness10%
Crystal 60L or 80L
Toffee and caramel sweetness8%
Chocolate Malt
Warm chocolate and cocoa character5%
Black Patent Malt
Color depth and a hint of roast bite2%

Recommended Yeast Strains

SafAle S-04 (Fermentis)
Compare ↗
Attenuation: 75-82% • Flocculation: High
WLP002 English Ale (White Labs)
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Attenuation: 63-70% • Flocculation: Very High
WY1318 London Ale III (Wyeast)
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Attenuation: 71-75% • Flocculation: High

Water Profile & Salts

Moderate Calcium (~75 ppm) and balanced sulfate-to-chloride ratio (1:1). Add bicarbonate if mash pH dips below 5.2 to keep dark grains smooth.

Commercial Reference Benchmarks

Benchmark your homebrew against these commercial archetypes:

Fuller's London PorterAnchor PorterDeschutes Black Butte Porter
Brewing America Triple Scale Hydrometer & Glass Test Jar Set
Recommended Hardware Match

Brewing America Triple Scale Hydrometer & Glass Test Jar Set

NIST-Traceable Benchmark Specific Gravity KitAmerican-made, NIST-traceable triple scale hydrometer with heavy borosilicate test cylinder.

$34.95ASIN: B001X27L9WAmazon Verified
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Brew Day Precision Calculators for Robust Porter

All 8 Calculators

Dial in this recipe with authentic target gravities, bitterness, strike temperatures, and carbonation:

Related Styles in American Porter and Stout & Similar SRM

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