The 9 Best Dark Beers

Dark beers have a long history, so it can be hard to know which is the best if you’re new to drinking them. Perhaps you’ve just gotten a taste for richer flavors, or maybe you’ve never tried dark beer before and want to know what would be the best and least overpowering to start with.

This is a complete guide to the best dark beers on the market right now. Each beer listed will be explored and explained in terms of flavor, intensity, and origin. We’ve also included a short buyers guide and FAQ to give extra guidance in choosing a beer.

What Makes A Dark Beer?

Dark beer has its origins in Germany - it’s made with roasted grains and tends to have a dark coloring and rich flavors. The color of beer comes out of the kind of malt used in making it, and the malt gets its color from its temperature and how long it is dried, a process called kilning.

But these days there is some debate as to what constitutes a dark beer. Generally, it is accepted that anything from copper to dark brown, to black, can be comfortably called dark beer. Darker beers are more likely to have notes of caramel, nuts, chocolate, molasses and licorice.

In recent years there have been more inventive blends of flavor, and there is always a new brewery out there trying their hand at creating a unique dark beer that stands apart from the more traditional flavors. 

Buyer’s Guide

Because there is such a huge variety when it comes to dark beer, it’s best to research a little and consider when selecting your perfect stout, ale, IPA, or lager. Here are some things you should keep in mind when exploring the world of dark beer. 

Notes

When reading descriptions of different beers, you’ll keep seeing the word ‘notes’ written. Notes just mean small tastes that you can detect in any particular beer. Common notes of dark beer include caramel, chocolate, coffee, raisins, currants, licorice, and roasted nuts.

All of these words not only give you an indication of what the beer might taste like, but also whether or not it's a dark beer. Pale Ales tend to have much lighter notes and ingredients, whilst dark beers are almost always created with deep, rich flavors in mind.

Types Of Dark Beer

When browsing for dark beers, sometimes the terminology can be overwhelming. What is a stout? What is a porter? What is the difference between an ale and a lager? Don’t worry, this section is here to help you through this!

Stouts are usually made from unmalted roasted barley, which tends to create a more coffee-like flavor. Porters use malted barley. Beer can qualify as either a lager or ale depending on how it’s been fermented.

Ales are made through a process called top fermentation, which is where fermented yeast settles at the top of the beer, whereas lagers are made through a process called bottom fermentation at colder temperatures where the yeast settles at the bottom.

This is one of the processes that cause a difference in color and taste between beer and lager.

Brewery

The brewery is an important factor to consider when selecting your ultimate dark beer. Firstly it’s good to consider where the brewery is located.

Traditionally, German breweries are more likely to have more of a rich history of creating dark beers and some of them go back two centuries in age.

That’s not to say you can’t find great breweries that are newer - some of the more innovative flavors are coming out of modern breweries - but it’s important to work out if you’re looking for something more traditional, or newer and groundbreaking.

The age and location of the brewery can tell you a lot about this!

ABV Percentage

ABV stands for Alcohol By Volume, and it’s important to consider the percentage of alcohol in whatever dark beer you’re looking at before you commit to buying it.

For example, if you’re not overly used to alcohol, then purchasing an 8% dark beer could be overpowering and leave you spinning. Alternatively, you can go for something with a smaller alcohol percentage and drink several without feeling too drunk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind Of Beer Is A Dark Beer?

Dark beer is a famous kind of beer worldwide, traditionally german. Its dark color typically comes from roasted grains which allow it to have a much deeper flavor. Dark beers are well known for their darker flavors and notes of caramel, chocolate, licorice, etc.

It’s important to note that dark beer does not necessarily mean a higher ABV, and refers mostly to its color and flavor.

Are Dark Beers Better For You?

There have been some studies that have linked dark beer to health benefits, including antioxidants which have been linked to the prevention of blood clots because they contain something called Flavonoids.

Whether or not dark beer is truly better for you than pale or light beers is still debated and more research is needed, but it’s good to know that they may indeed have positive health effects!

Is An IPA A Dark Beer?

The simplest answer to this question is that IPA’s can be classified as dark beer, but aren’t that often. As IPA beers have risen in popularity over the last ten years, they have branched and now cover a variety of different colors.

IPA stands for Indian Pale Ale, but recently there are much darker versions of IPA including Black IPA. So generally - whilst IPA is not classified as dark beer, there are versions of IPA that are so dark they could be. It’s a tricky question!