Popular New Zealand stouts and porters

Rich, silky, smooth, full-flavoured dark beers, stouts and porters that deserve to be savoured

Best New Zealand stout of 2026

Stouts and porters represent the darkest of ales, with rich caramel, coffee and chocolate notes. These darker styles, including even amber ales, focus on pronounced toasted barley flavours, forgoing fruit and citrus in flavour of fresh baking and sugar.

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Epic Coming of Age Brewers Cut Stout

Type of beer: Stout

Brewery: Epic

Flavours: An imperial stout built to age. Chocolate and roasted malt lead the way, with a firm body and clean finish. No sweet shortcuts - just deep, structured stout that gets better with time.

For more on this beer visit: https://epicbeer.com/

Buy this beer: Visit online shopping

Best New Zealand beers and ciders of 2026

Which Top 25 winner stands out to you?

The winners are here so you can try, sip and vote for your favourite! Once you'd had your say, you'll be in to win 1 of 50 $100 New World gift card. You must be 18+ to vote.

Best Aotearoa craft beers and ciders for 2026

Introducing the Top 25 of the New World Beer & Cider Awards for 2026. Our expert judges have picked the standout brews from around Aotearoa, featuring a thirst-quenching range of lagers, ales, ciders, non-alcoholic beers and more.

Best Aotearoa lagers and pilsners for 2026

We’re celebrating some of Aotearoa’s best and brightest lagers and pilsners with 2026’s New World Beer & Cider Awards. To help you find your new favourite in this sparklingly fresh category, we’ve pulled out our top lagers and pilsners from Aotearoa.

Best Aotearoa IPAs and pale ales for 2025

IPAs and pale ales are beloved for their hoppy character, often complemented with herbal, fruity or citrus flavours. Dive in to discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made IPAs and pale ales for 2025 plus our favourite food pairings for each beer. 

Best Aotearoa hazy ales for 2025

Hazy ales are enjoying their own spotlight in the New World Beer & Cider Awards. Discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made hazy ales for 2025 plus our favourite food pairings for each beer.

Best Aotearoa ciders and brewed sodas of 2025

Nothing beats a sweet and refreshing cider in Spring's longer nights. Discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made ciders and brewed sodas of 2025.

Best Aotearoa stout for 2025

Stouts and porters, often called dark beers, are packed with roasted flavours and richness that make them an indulgent treat. Our winner of the best Kiwi stout and porter of 2025 has a chocolate, coconut and vanilla kick you're going to want to try again and again. 

Best Aotearoa fruity, weird and wonderful beers of 2026

This new category celebrates the unique brews whipped up by our innovative breweries. From beers with a kick to a surprisingly fruity and thick beer, there's sure to be a beer you'd want to try or bring along to your next gathering.

Best Aotearoa non-alcoholic and low-carb beers for 2025

Over the past year or two, the quality of Aotearoa non-alcoholic beer has markedly improved. Discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made non-alcoholic and low-carb beers for 2025 plus our favourite food pairings for each bevvy.

Explore the Beer & Cider Awards hub

Learn all about the Beer and Cider Awards, our Top 25 winners and how you can be in to win this year!

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