In the 1700's brewer Ralph Harwood in London came up with a beer that mimicked the flavor of a blended beer that was popular at the time. The hard working London porters favored this beer and it soon became known as Porter beer. Porter beer became the most popular style in London pubs then quickly became as popular in Ireland as in England. Modern British porters are dark, full bodied ales showing more roasted character than brown ales, but less than stouts. Most porters aren't black but have reddish-brown highlights with less aggressive espresso roast bite and a smoother, chocolatier flavor than a stout. As with the British style beers, bitterness is nicely balanced against malt flavor and sweetness, with the yeast strain adding fruit aromatics. At less than 5 percent, porters are not nearly as fearsome as they appear, and they are particularly seductive on chilly evenings, especially when they use smoked malts! Chuckanut Smoke Porter carries the roasted malt and smoky flavor with grace and a clean smooth finish.