Warm Up With The Best Dark Beers

Dark beers are a beaut winter warmer, whether it’s a porter, stout or an American style brown ale.

Often brimming with moreish chocolate, coffee and caramel characters, enjoy them on their own or with a Sunday roast.

Here are five of our favourites.

Exit Milk Stout
Made by Frase and Grum, two mates who founded Melbourne’s Exit Brewing, this sublime Milk Stout (5.2%) hooks you in with its rich milk chocolate and vanilla bean aromas. We dig its smooth mouthfeel and velvety cocoa, vanilla, toffee and espresso notes.
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Big Shed Frankenbrown American Brown Ale
Naturally Big Shed Brewing started out in a big shed in the Barossa back in 2002 and has become a massive success. Their Frankenbrown American Brown Ale (5.3%) is a hoppy belter full of malt, biscuit and coffee goodness thanks to the use of speciality grain. Well deserving of the silver it scooped at the 2016 Craft Beer Industry Association Awards.
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Killer Sprocket Amber Ale
This Amber Ale (4.8%) is the first beer on offer from Melbourne’s Killer Sprocket. It pours a clear deep ruby-copper with a thin, quickly dissipating head. On the nose you get a good dose of toffee with caramel and dark fruit supporting. A combo of Cascade, East Kent Goldings and Amarillo hops balance the malt sweetness nicely. Refreshing bitter finish.
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Riverside Eighty Eight Porter
Based in Western Sydney, Riverside Brewing Company’s Porter (6%) strikes a good balance between malt and hops. You’ll also detect a hint of chocolate, resulting in a smooth and very drinkable beer.
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Feral Karma Citra Black IPA
This family owned brewery in Western Australia’s Swan Valley is renowned for its world class range of awarded beers and this beauty is no exception. American Citra hops have been combined with dark malts to produce a smooth brew with chocolate and coffee undertones and a big tropical and citrus aroma.
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