Malt aroma & flavor
Medium to medium-high. Malty sweetness, roast malt, cocoa and caramel should be in harmony with bitterness from dark malts.
British Origin Ale Styles
Robust Porter
Ale · Very dark brown to black
What to expect
Malt character: Medium to medium-high. Hop character: Very low to medium.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
30+
›
Pale / strawBlack
Very dark brown to black · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
5.1–6.6%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
25–40
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 5 · PDF page 14. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Very low to medium
Perceived bitterness
Medium to high
Body & mouthfeel
Medium to full
Clarity
Opaque
Color
Very dark brown to black
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters should be present and balanced with all other characters. Diacetyl should not be present.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.045-1.060 (11.2-14.7 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.008-1.016 (2.1-4.1 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 4.0%-5.2% (5.1%-6.6%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 25-40 • Color SRM (EBC) 30+ (60+ EBC)