The Most Popular Dark Beer, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the dark beer you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 5, 2024 06:34
For those who appreciate the rich, complex flavors of dark beer, selecting the right one can often feel like a daunting task. With so many varieties on the market, from stouts to porters and everything in between, it can be hard to know where to start. A list that ranks dark beers based on popularity can serve as a helpful guide, offering insights and recommendations that can enhance your drinking experience.
Such a list is shaped by the votes of fellow enthusiasts, ensuring that the rankings reflect a wide range of tastes and preferences. By participating in the voting process, users can contribute to a broader community of dark beer lovers, helping to refine the list and ensure it remains current and comprehensive. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or new to the world of dark ales, this list can help you find top-rated options that might soon become your new favorites.
What Is the Most Popular Dark Beer?
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132votesThis Irish dry stout is the most popular dark beer worldwide. It's known for its dark color, creamy head, and rich roasted flavor.Guinness is a rich and creamy stout beer renowned for its distinct dark color and smooth velvety texture. It is one of the most iconic beers in the world, known for its exceptional balance of flavors. The unique combination of roasted malt, barley, and hops gives Guinness its unparalleled taste, with hints of coffee, chocolate, and a subtle bitterness. The creamy head adds a satisfying texture to each sip, making it a pleasure to drink from start to finish.
- Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.2%
- Color: Deep dark ruby red to black
- Calories: 125 per 12 fl oz (355 mL)
- International Bitterness Units (IBU): 45-60
- Original Gravity (OG): 1.048 - 1.052
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229votesStout is a dark beer made using roasted malt or roasted barley, which gives it its distinctive dark color and roasted flavor. It's one of the most popular dark beers in the world.Stout is a dark, full-bodied ale-style beer known for its rich flavor and creamy texture. It is characterized by its roasted malt and coffee-like taste, with notes of chocolate and caramel. Originally developed in the 18th century, stouts are a popular beer style around the world today.
- Color: Dark brown to black
- Alcohol Content: Varies, typically between 4% to 7% ABV (Alcohol by Volume)
- Ingredients: Water, malted barley, hops, yeast
- Original Gravity: 1.045 - 1.065
- Final Gravity: 1.010 - 1.022
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324votesPorter is a dark beer that originated in London in the early 18th century. It's a top-fermented ale that's made using brown malt, which gives it its dark color and roasted flavor.Porter is a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine known for its stunning photography, high-quality content, and unique editorial perspective. It showcases a blend of fashion editorials, in-depth interviews, and thought-provoking articles, making it a must-read for fashion enthusiasts and trendsetters alike.
- Launch Year: 2014
- Frequency: Bi-monthly
- Page Count: 200+ pages
- Distribution: International
- Photography Style: High fashion and artistic
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419votesBock is a strong, dark beer that originated in Germany. It's brewed using a special type of yeast that gives it its sweet, malty flavor.Bock is a strong and malty dark beer that originated in Germany. It is known for its rich, complex flavors and higher alcohol content. Bocks are typically full-bodied, with a range of flavors including toasted malt, caramel, toffee, chocolate, and dark fruit. The beer has a smooth, slightly sweet taste with a balanced bitterness. It is often enjoyed during the colder months and is considered a festive beer in Germany.
- Alcohol Content: Around 6-7% ABV, though variations exist.
- Color: Deep amber to dark brown, often with a reddish hue.
- IBU (International Bitterness Units): 20-30 IBU, providing a balanced bitterness.
- Malt: Munich and Vienna malts are commonly used, imparting a rich, malty flavor.
- Yeast: Bottom-fermenting lager yeast.
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514votesDunkel is a dark lager that originated in Bavaria, Germany. It's known for its dark color and malty, slightly sweet flavor.Dunkel is a Munich-style dark lager that originated in Bavaria, Germany. It has a rich and malty flavor with a smooth and balanced profile. Dunkel is known for its deep reddish-brown color and a moderate to high alcohol content, typically ranging from 4.5% to 6% ABV. It is often characterized by its toasty and caramel-like notes, while maintaining a clean and dry finish. This beer style pairs well with hearty German cuisine and is enjoyed by beer enthusiasts around the world.
- Style: Munich-style dark lager
- Color: Deep reddish-brown
- Alcohol content: 4.5% to 6% ABV
- Flavor profile: Rich, malty, toasty, caramel-like
- Finish: Clean and dry
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615votesSchwarzbier is a German-style black lager that's known for its dark color and light body. It has a slightly sweet, malty flavor with a hint of roasted coffee.Schwarzbier is a dark lager beer known for its rich, smooth and roasted flavors. It originated in Germany and is often referred to as a black beer. The creator of Schwarzbier is Augustinian monks who brewed it in the 16th century.
- Color: Dark brown to black
- ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 4.4% - 5.4%
- IBU (International Bitterness Units): 22 - 32
- Malt: Roasted malt, Munich malt, Pilsner malt
- Hops: Noble hops
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74votesImperial Stout is a strong, dark beer that originated in England in the 18th century. It's brewed using a higher amount of malt and hops than regular stouts, which gives it its rich, full-bodied flavor.Imperial Stout is a strong and robust beer style that originated in England. It is known for its intense roasted malt flavors and high alcohol content. This beer style is characterized by its dark color, full body, and complex flavors that often include notes of chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, and molasses.
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8% - 12%
- International Bitterness Units (IBU): 50 - 90
- Color: Dark brown to black
- Malt Presence: Strong roasted malt flavors
- Hop Presence: Medium to high bitterness
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811votes
Dries Declercq · CC BY-SA 3.0Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Belgian brewersBelgian Strong Dark Ale is a dark, rich beer that's made using a combination of different malts and spices. It's known for its complex flavor profile, which includes notes of caramel, chocolate, and dark fruit.Belgian Strong Dark Ale is a rich and complex beer style originating from Belgium. It is known for its deep mahogany color, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a harmonious balance of malty sweetness and fruity esters. This ale often exhibits a wide range of flavors, including notes of caramel, chocolate, dark fruits, spices, and a touch of alcohol warmth.- Color: Deep mahogany
- Body: Full-bodied
- Sweetness: Malty sweetness
- Esters: Fruity esters
- Flavors: Caramel, chocolate, dark fruits, spices
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914votes
Jon Sullivan · Public domainOatmeal Stout is a dark beer that's made using a percentage of oats, which gives it its smooth, creamy texture. It's known for its rich, roasted flavor and is often served as a dessert beer.Oatmeal Stout is a popular dark beer known for its rich, smooth, and velvety texture. It is brewed with a significant amount of oats, which contribute to its unique characteristics. This stout style beer offers complex flavors with notes of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, and sometimes a hint of sweetness. Oatmeal Stout typically has a robust body and a moderate to high level of alcohol content, ranging from 4% to 7% ABV.- Style: Oatmeal Stout
- Color: Dark
- Body: Robust
- Texture: Smooth and velvety
- Flavors: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee
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1010votes
Milk Stout
Mackeson BreweryMilk Stout is a dark beer that's brewed using lactose, a type of sugar that's found in milk. This gives the beer its slightly sweet, creamy flavor and smooth texture.Milk Stout is a type of dark beer known for its smooth and creamy texture. It is brewed with lactose, a non-fermentable sugar derived from milk, which adds sweetness and body to the beer. The lactose also gives it a distinct silky mouthfeel. Milk Stout typically has a rich, dark color and flavors of chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt, with a slightly sweet finish.- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4-6%
- IBU (International Bitterness Units): 20-40
- Color: Dark brown to black
- Body: Full-bodied
- Malt: Roasted malt, chocolate malt
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Ranking factors for popular dark beer
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Flavor profileThe taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of the beer are essential factors. Consider the balance between bitterness and sweetness, as well as any presence of unique flavors, such as chocolate, coffee, caramel, or dark fruits.
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Alcohol contentConsider the alcohol by volume (ABV) of the beer, as this can influence its popularity among different audiences. Some people may prefer a stronger beer, while others may opt for something lighter.
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Brand reputationThe reputation of the brewery and its history can significantly impact the beer's popularity. Well-known breweries with a long history of producing high-quality dark beers are more likely to attract loyal fans.
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AvailabilityThe beer's distribution and availability in various locations and markets can influence its popularity. A widely distributed beer is more accessible to consumers and has a higher chance of being well-regarded.
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Consumer reviews and ratingsCheck consumer reviews and ratings on various platforms, such as beer websites, blogs, and forums, to gauge the popularity of a dark beer among enthusiasts and casual drinkers.
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Awards and recognitionsBeers that have won awards or have been recognized by experts and competitions may have a higher popularity due to their perceived quality and taste.
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PriceAffordability can play a role in a dark beer's popularity as well. A reasonably priced, high-quality beer may be more appealing to the masses.
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StyleConsider the specific style of the dark beer (stout, porter, dark lager, etc.) and its popularity among different groups of beer drinkers.
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SeasonalitySome dark beers are more popular during specific seasons, such as winter or fall, when their rich, warming flavors are more appealing. The seasonal popularity of the beer should be taken into account.
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Unique selling pointsSome dark beers may have a unique twist or ingredient that sets them apart from others. This can drive curiosity and interest, leading to increased popularity.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular dark beer. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Stout is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1925 views
- 170 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Stout once every 24 hours. The rank of each Stout is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular dark beer
Dark beer is a type of beer that is known for its rich, full-bodied flavor and dark color. It is brewed using dark malt, which gives it its distinct color and flavor. Dark beer is a popular choice among beer enthusiasts, and there are many different varieties to choose from. Some of the most popular types of dark beer include stouts, porters, and brown ales. These beers are often enjoyed during colder months, as they provide a hearty, warming experience. With so many different types of dark beer to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which one is the most popular. However, by conducting a poll among beer lovers, we can gain insight into which dark beer is the most beloved.
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