We’re pleased to announce the 12 oz. bottle release of Publican Porter. Defined as an imperial London porter, Publican Porter contains only traditional brewing ingredients. Though many beers from the Imperial Series showcased non-traditional brewing ingredients, Joe wanted to make this beer a tribute to the fact that the porter style was once the most widely consumed beer in the world.
The original artwork for Publican Porter was done by our long time label artist and friend, Fritz Hortsman, one of four artist’s used for this series. Each beer had a personalized hang tag that included facts about the beer and where it fit in with the rest of the series. All of these cards included a narrative from Joe about why he felt compelled to create each beer, and were all individually numbered and signed by him. Joe’s narrative for Publican Porter stated:
This beer was inspired largely by its historical value and is
development as a beer style. As much as I have gathered, porter was becoming a recognized beer style around the 1700’s. It is said to be an evolved product of brown ales being produced in London during that time. I also understand that the dried brown and roasted malts of that era contributed to its dark color. Among my portfolio of beers I craft for SBC, I had not brewed a true porter until this imperial version. I
named it the Publican Porter after the owners of “public houses” which were licensed to sell ale to common “port men” of the time. I have read several different versions about porter and where its name came from. Imagining a port side tavern and a publican mixing stale and mild beer together for the port men and calling it “porter” will always be how I pictured the birth of porter. That’s the concept I bounced off of Fritz, and he furnished a most appropriate masterpiece for the label work. While brewing this beer, I imagined a rich hearty drink fit for a meal, much like the earlier porters that sustained our forefathers. Rejoice with porter and bask in its rich flavor. Savor its historical integrity.
