Orfy

Recipes 

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geekbeer

Recipes 

Thanks for the shout out. :-)

While this might be true for specific examples, I would contend that there is definitely a modern distinction between stout and porter that is useful to the modern beer buyer. Historical examples seem worthless in this context.

In reality, most items on the shelf labeled "stout" are going to be heavier than most items labeled "porter" (both in mouthfeel and ABV), and most stouts are going to have a roasted character that most porters will lack.

Additionally, while you might be able to take a Porter from Brewery A and a Stout from Brewery B and reasonably contend that they are both actually porters, both stouts, that the stout is weaker than the porter, or that they violate the guidelines in other ways, it's a reasonable assumption to make that from a given brewery, their stouts will be weaker than their porters.

(One interesting exception here is Avery, whose standard Stout is weaker than their Porter, probably because they have giant stouts in their Demon line and don't feel the need to make a big stout available all the time.)

Anyway, saying there is no difference to someone that is asking because they want to know how to buy beer is just disingenuous. There are lots of differences that are useful in the modern age.

Orfy

Recipes 

I disagree. In the UK it really is a mixed bag.
You can taste stouts that taste the same has porters.

What you are saying about the Stout being strong than the porter is the historical context.

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geekbeer

Recipes 

Yes, it's a mixed bag everywhere. I maintain that generally, there are rules that brewers follow that make it possible to estimate the qualities of the finished beer.

Yes, you can find examples that don't fit the rule. That doesn't mean there isn't a rule.

Orfy

Recipes 

It's like trying to define what beer is a bitter and what is not.
Beers can't always neatly be put in a box.

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pdbreen

Recipes 

Some beers can: Beer-in-a-box

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Atomic Dog Brewery

On Deck: Tripel IPA, Espresso Stout
P: Am Wheat I, Dunkelweizen, Belgian Pale, Palisades Pale
S: SA Shiraz, Kolsch II, Amarillo IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Am Sour, Trio Blanca
K: Ginger Ale, Apfelwein x 2
T: Cascade Pale, Am Wheat II, Centennial IPA, Kolsch, Imperial Stout, Irish Stout, Apfelwein

e^(pi*i) + 1 = 0