The most misunderstood beer in the world. People look at it, see something the colour of midnight, and assume it’s going to taste like drinking a burnt chocolate cake. So they order a lager instead.
Those people are missing out. Let’s fix that.
What Is a Stout?
Stout is a dark ale brewed with roasted barley or heavily kilned malts, which give it its characteristic dark colour and flavour profile. Coffee. Dark chocolate. Toffee. A hint of dark fruit. Roasted bitterness that lingers pleasantly on the finish. Despite the dramatic appearance, many stouts are surprisingly light-bodied – particularly dry Irish stouts like Guinness, which is actually lower in calories than many mainstream lagers.
The Guinness Boom in Australia
Something fascinating happened in 2025. Guinness went viral – not just in Ireland or the UK, but in Australia, where sales jumped 47% overall and an extraordinary 70% among young women. Gen Z, supposedly the generation abandoning beer, fell hard for the ritual of the pour, the creamy texture, and the deeply satisfying flavour of a stout. The craft world took notice. If young Australians are reaching for Guinness, they’re already primed to explore local stouts, dark lagers, and porters.
Best Stouts to Try in Australia
- Guinness Draught – the gateway; creamy, roasty, dangerously drinkable
- Coopers Best Extra Stout – Australia’s great domestic stout; robust, full-flavoured, iconic
- Moo Brew Dark Ale – Tasmanian craft dark ale with real depth and sophistication
- Pirate Life Stout – bold, coffee-forward, not for the faint-hearted but glorious for the committed
The Takeaway
Dark beer is not heavy beer. It’s flavourful beer. Give a stout a proper chance and you might find yourself wondering why you waited so long.
Other Articles in this series:
- Lager – The Beer That Built Australia
- Pale Ale – How One Fremantle Brewery Changed Everything
- IPA – The Hop Head’s Handbook
- Wheat Beer – Cloudy, Soft, and Summer-Ready
- Stout – Dark Beer for Bright People
- Pilsner – Lager’s Sophisticated Upgrade
- Sour Beer – Tart, Wild, and Worth It
- Amber & Red Ale – The Best Beer You’re Not Drinking Yet
- Porter – The Original Dark Beer
- Session Beer – Great Taste, Easy Does It