snipped some background from lowlanders webpage:
The first instance of ‘Porter beer’ in print was found in a series of letters to London in the 1720’s hence the British claim to have invented it. However, a beer known as ‘Poorter’ was being drunk as early as the 14th Century in the Netherlands. The brew was named after the poorters who spent their days toiling away in the docklands, hauling tradesmen’s loot from ships to city centres. The jet black tipple provided them with the calories and courage they needed to get through the day.
guess thats why they call it with a secon o ;)

I also dig all the dark beers, the more roasted malts the better