Popular New Zealand stouts and porters
Rich, silky, smooth, full-flavoured dark beers, stouts and porters that deserve to be savoured
What are dark beers?
Dark beers are typically dark brown or black in colour due to the use of toasted or dark roasted malts that create their distinct appearance. They can range from light, silky and sweet to heavy, creamy and bitter. They are frequently enhanced by the addition of bold flavours including chocolate, coffee, caramel, liquorice and dark berries.
Popular types of dark ales, stouts and porters
Porters
Porters date back to the 1700s when they were the most affordable form of malt beer in Britain, popular with low-paid dock workers.
Today, New Zealand’s best porters are perfectly balanced, medium-bodied dark beers with a mellow toasted malt undertone. Delicious chocolate and caramel notes are characteristic of these slightly sweet, smooth, dry beers that are perfect for savouring by an open fire.
Panhead Bounty Hunter Chocolate & Coconut Porter
Type of beer: Porter
Brewery: Panhead
Flavours: Chocolate, coconut and vanilla treat.
Judges’ comments: Upper Hutt’s Panhead Custom Ales are best known for their hoppy beers but their dark side is also impressive. The chocolate, coconut and vanilla flavours all seamlessly and smoothly integrated.For more on this beer visit: https://panheadcustomales.com/
Buy this beer: Visit online shopping
Stout, Porter & Dark Beers
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Stouts
The earliest stouts, like Guinness, were originally referred to as stout porters and made from extremely dark-roasted, unmalted barley for a bolder, more bitter flavour.
Today, New Zealand’s stouts are typically medium to full-bodied with distinctive dark roasted espresso and chocolate flavours that appeal to those who enjoy bold flavours. Stouts tend to be more bitter and have a higher alcoholic strength than porters and a richly satisfying, creamy mouthfeel.
Stout variants that you may also find include:
- Milk stout - Lactose sugars are added to achieve a creamier, sweeter stout with a lower alcohol content
- Oatmeal stout - Oatmeal is added to increase creaminess and create a richer, fuller body.
- Imperial stout - A stronger version of stout with an ABV between 7-12%, increasingly popular amongst New Zealand craft brewers eager to achieve more flavour by ageing in oak barrels and extreme alcohol strengths.
Dark Ales
Dark ales and beers are made in a similar way to stout and porter but have a lower ABV of around 4%. Clean, roasted malt and hoppy flavours are delivered in a rich creamy dark beer with chocolate fudge and coffee overtones.
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The difference between dark ales, stouts and porters
Porter 4-6%:
Characteristics: Medium-bodied, dark colour, slightly sweet and dry
Flavour: Restrained roast and mellow bitterness, chocolate and caramel notes
Who it suits: Newcomers to dark beer
Baltic Porter 7-12%:
Characteristics: Full-bodied, extremely dark or jet black with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel
Flavour: Dark roasted malt forward, coffee and chocolate with oaky, burnt, bitter notes and sweet vanilla
Who it suits: Experienced dark beer drinkers seeking a more intense craft-brewed porter
Stout 4-7%:
Characteristics: Medium to full-bodied, extremely dark or jet black, with a rich, creamy mouthfeel
Flavour: Extremely dark roasted espresso and dark chocolate with burnt, bitter notes
Who it suits: Fans of coffee and bold flavours
Milk Stout 4%
Characteristics: Smoother, slightly sweet, medium-bodied
Flavour: Milky coffee and milk chocolate
Who it suits: Newcomers to dark beer
Oatmeal Stout 4%
Characteristics: Full-bodied, thick, smooth and creamy
Flavour: Roasted coffee and dark chocolate with bitter notes
Who it suits: Fans of long, creamy beer with chocolate and coffee flavours
Imperial Stout 7-12%
Characteristics: Stronger, full-bodied, extremely dark or jet black with a richer, creamier mouthfeel
Flavour: Dark roasted coffee and chocolate with oaky, burnt, bitter notes, sweet vanilla and dark fruits
Who it suits: Experienced dark beer drinkers seeking a more intense craft-brewed stout
Dark Ales 4%
Characteristics: Big, creamy mouthfeel
Flavour: Chocolate fudge with coffee overtones
Who it suits: Newcomers to dark beers. Experienced dark beer drinkers seeking lower alcohol option
Storing and serving dark beers, porters and stouts
Before serving:
Store upright in a cool, dark place for up to two years. Refrigerate your beer between 4-5 degrees Celsius before drinking.
Once opened:
Dark beers taste best on the day of opening if resealed and refrigerated. If your beer is flat, tastes like cardboard and smells off then it is unsuitable to drink.
Serving:
Remove from the fridge and allow to warm to 10 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes before pouring. This allows the robust flavours to open up.
The best glass to serve stout and porters?
A stout glass or tapered pint beer glass are recommended for dark beers. These are designed to accentuate the roasted malt, rich coffee and chocolate notes that define stout beer styles.
Imperial stout that is more intense is best served in a wide-bowled tulip glass with a narrow top to support the creamy head.
Stouts and porters should be poured slowly, angling the glass at 45 degrees and positioning the bottle close to the middle of the glass. Allow the glass to sit for a couple of minutes to allow the bubbles to settle and the creamy head to form above the dark liquid before drinking.
When is it best to drink dark beers?
Everyday drinking
Stouts and porters are versatile beers providing year-round drinking enjoyment. The creamier, lighter stouts are perfect for everyday session drinking.
At home and after-dinner drinking
The more robust, full-bodied stouts are best enjoyed in the cooler months when they provide a rich, comforting and intense drinking experience. Stouts and porters are perfect fireside drinks to make you feel warm, cozy and satisfied. Their chocolate and coffee flavours pair well with creamy, chocolate desserts as a perfect drink or digestif to sip after dinner.
Indulgent treat
For a special treat, choose one of the stronger Imperial stouts or Baltic porters and sip from a tulip glass to appreciate the depth of flavour and high alcohol content.
Pairing dark beers with food
Dark beers, stouts and porters tend to pair with very similar types of food. Look for dishes that are compatible with roasted flavours and chocolate, coffee or caramel notes and you can’t go wrong.
Serve stouts with:
Chargrilled steak or burgers
Slow-cooked barbecued brisket
Creamy mashed potato
Rich dark chocolate desserts like tiramisu and ice cream
Serve porters and dark ales with:
Roast pork with crispy crackling
Beef rib eye with horseradish
Chargrilled root vegetables
Hard cheeses and dark stonefruits
Discover more beer and food pairing ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Standard dark beers, stouts and porters range between 4-7% ABV. Sweet, creamy milk and oatmeal stouts tend to have a lower alcohol content by volume. The darker, more full-bodied dark beers like Imperial stout and Baltic porters are usually stronger with 7-12% ABV. Some New Zealand craft-brewed stouts that have been aged in oak barrels can be as high as 15% ABV.
Calories 200 calories
Carbohydrates 15 grams
Sugar 6 grams
Protein 2 grams
Dark beers are known for their rich, malty flavour and silky, smooth texture. Tasting notes vary across different products but commonly include chocolate, coffee, caramel, liquorice, dark fruits and a slightly smoky flavour.
They can be both. Newcomers and occasional drinkers of dark beer may enjoy sipping a porter or dark ale after dinner or by an open fire. Seasoned drinkers will happily enjoy a session drinking fuller-flavoured stouts and richer dark beers.
Variety and diversity that demands further exploration
Instead of writing off stouts and porters as a fairly homogenous family of beers, you’ll discover that they can range from delicate to extremely powerful, sweet and silky, to dry, coarse and bitter. The addition of chocolate and coffee flavours adds greater variety and diversity that demands further exploration. Take your time to indulge and savour each one, but beware of the caffeine content - you don’t want to be awake all night.
If you’re thirsty to learn more about different types of New Zealand beers we have More beer shopping guides to check out below or read our guide to craft beer.
Thirsty for more top New Zealand beers?
If you’re after dark beers, lagers or more unique craft varieties, don’t forget to check out the articles linked below, or browse the Top 25 from the New World Beer & Cider Awards 2025.
Not sure what you like? Our craft beer guide will walk you through what makes craft beer special and the different styles and flavours you can find in Aotearoa.
Related articles:
Best New Zealand craft beers for 2025
Best New Zealand IPAs and pale ales for 2025
Best New Zealand lagers and pilsners for 2025
Best New Zealand hazy ales for 2025
Best New Zealand wheat, saison and sours for 2025
Best New Zealand ciders for 2025
About the author
Michael Donaldson is one of New Zealand’s most renowned beer writers and was named Beer Writer of the Year by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand for a third time in 2018. He has been the Chair of Judges for the New World Beer & Cider Awards since 2016.
His writing appears in North & South, The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and Drinksbiz. He is also the editor of The Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine published by the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA). He is the author of New Zealand's definitive beer history Beer Nation - the Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer as well as The Big Book of Home Brew: a Kiwi Guide and The Hopfather, the biography of Emerson's founder Richard Emerson.