Page:A Practical Treatise on Brewing (4th ed.).djvu/263

Rh Porter was originally made in imitation of three descriptions of beer, much in use about the beginning of the last century. These different qualities were called pale, amber, and brown, and were mixed with each other in the pewter pots in such proportions as to please the different palates of the drinkers, who ordered one, two, or three threads, as they termed it, according to their respective tastes.

A brewer, however, of that day, to save the trouble of having to blend these three different qualities together, thought of brewing a beverage which should partake of the flavour of the whole when mixed, and in this he succeeded. The principal consumers were porters and other hard labourers, whence it got the name of porter, which it has retained from that time, and from its excellence has been celebrated all over the world as London porter.

It seems, therefore, to be a pity, should its new colour, although given by brewers solely to please the public, be the means of changing its original and respectable designation into one so discreditable as that of black strap.