PORTER

A liquor brewed from malt, part of which has been more highly dried than that used for ale. It is hopped in the same way as ale; and its deep colour is finally given to it either by burned sugar, which usually goes under the name of colouring, or more legitimately by roasted or parched malt. Porter was first brewed in 1722. The malt liquor previously drunk consisted of three kinds — ale, beer, and " twopenny; " and a mixture of either of these kinds was a favourite beverage xmder the name of " half-and-half; " or a mixture was drunk called "three threads," consisting of equal portions of each of the above kinds of liquor, for a draught of which the publican had to go to three different casks. About 1722, Harwood, a London brewer, commenced brewing a malt liquor, which was intended, to unite the flavours of ale and beer, or ale, beer, and " twopenny; " and having succeeded, he called his liquor "entire," or " entire butt; " a name intended to intimate that it was drawn from one cask or butt only. A mixture of ale or porter, drawn from different casks, is very coinmonly drunk in London at the present time. Harwood's liquor obtained the name of porter from its consumption by porters and labourers. From 1722 to 1761, the retail price of porter was 3of. per pot, when it was raised to;?M., at which it continued till 1799; it has never been higher than 6rf., nor during the present century lower than at the present time (September, 1841), when the price is 4rf. The following account of the fluctuations of the price per barrel since 1816 is from a private source: — In July, 1816, the price was reduced from 45*. to 40«., but in October was again advanced to 45*.; in January, 1817, a further advance was made to 50s.; and in December of the same year it reached 55s. In 1819, 1820, and 1822, the price was succe ively reduced from 5.5s. to 50s., 45s., and 40s. In January, 1824, it was advanced.to45s.; in November, 1825, to 50s.; but a few months afterwards it again fell to 45s. Since the abolition of the beer duties in 1830, the price has been 33s. per barrel. [s. 976]