Answers.Body: <p>There are a few theories out there, and their veracity, like that of most historical "facts", is hotly debated.</p>
  
  <p>One theory begins in 1722 when Ralph Harwood, a London brewer, created a beer called <em>Entire</em>.  For some time, working folk had been drinking a blend of beer, ale, and strong beer, which pubs would mix to balance out their stocks and maintain acceptable flavor.  </p>
  
  <p><em>Entire</em> was a pre-mixed version, brewed by Hardwood then sold and delivered to pubs.  Prior to this point, each pub had mixed their own.  In addition to economies of scale, Harwood's method allowed for aging of the finished product.  Historians theorize that the name <em>porter</em> came about because of the porters who worked at the markets and delivered the final product to the pubs.  A variation of this theory suggests that <em>porter</em> simply refers to the working class occupations of those who drank the concoction.</p>
  
  <p>Another theory suggests that <em>porter</em> comes from the Netherlands, where a beer called <em>poorter</em> was being made as early as the 1300s.  The Dutch were prolific traders, and cultural transfer could easily have occurred.  The term <em>poorter</em> originally concerned inhabitants of walled cities and may also have been related to social station.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-22T10:29:52.917Z
Answers.Text: Etymologies are best when hotly debated. ;-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chris Travers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-21T21:05:17.293Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-21T21:10:21.553Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-01-21T21:10:21.553Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: phoebus
Body: <p>Stouts are stout, Pale Ales use pale malt, but where did the name porter come from?</p>
  
Tags: <history><terminology><porter><varieties>
Title: Why is it called "porter"?
UserDisplayName: phoebus
ThreadText: # Why is it called "porter"?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-21)
  
  Stouts are stout, Pale Ales use pale malt, but where did the name porter come from?
  
  **Tags:** history, terminology, porter, varieties
  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2014-01-21. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
  
  There are a few theories out there, and their veracity, like that of most historical "facts", is hotly debated.
  
  One theory begins in 1722 when Ralph Harwood, a London brewer, created a beer called *Entire*. For some time, working folk had been drinking a blend of beer, ale, and strong beer, which pubs would mix to balance out their stocks and maintain acceptable flavor.
  
  *Entire* was a pre-mixed version, brewed by Hardwood then sold and delivered to pubs. Prior to this point, each pub had mixed their own. In addition to economies of scale, Harwood's method allowed for aging of the finished product. Historians theorize that the name *porter* came about because of the porters who worked at the markets and delivered the final product to the pubs. A variation of this theory suggests that *porter* simply refers to the working class occupations of those who drank the concoction.
  
  Another theory suggests that *porter* comes from the Netherlands, where a beer called *poorter* was being made as early as the 1300s. The Dutch were prolific traders, and cultural transfer could easily have occurred. The term *poorter* originally concerned inhabitants of walled cities and may also have been related to social station.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Etymologies are best when hotly debated. ;-)  
  
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