Stout
A roasty dark ale with coffee and cocoa notes, moderate bitterness, and a body ranging from dry and light to moderately full. Compared with porter, roast is more central to its identity and often more defining on the palate.
Defined by roasted malt character and balanced bitterness, forming the foundation of multiple stout traditions.
ABV, IBU and colour
This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of Stout within the GBI model.
Taste profile
The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.
Roasty and smooth with balanced bitterness and a supportive, lingering finish.
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What gives Stout its character
These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.
- Very high roast level creates very dark colour, intense roast flavour, firm bitterness and a pronounced roasted character dominating the malt profile.
- Early-boil-focused hopping strongly increases IBU and perceived bitterness and can lengthen the bitter finish.
- Low crystal usage slightly increases colour, body, sweetness, finish length and caramel-like malt aroma.
- Roasted barley produces intense dry roast and stout-like character.
- Melanoidin malt adds intense maltiness and strong melanoidin aroma.
History
Evolved from stronger porter expressions in 18th-century Britain, later diversifying into regional stout traditions defined by roast intensity and strength.
How Stout compares to other beer styles
This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.
Stout vs Dry Stout
Other differences:
- The color range of Stout extends to lighter shades.
- Stout can be sweeter.
- Dry Stout can be more astringent.
- Dry Stout can have a shorter finish.
- Dry Stout can have earthy hop notes.
- Dry Stout has burnt malt notes; both styles have roast and dark Roast malt notes.
- Dry Stout is keg-conditioned.
Stout vs American Stout
Compared with American Stout, Stout has:
- a lighter body
- less carbonation
Other differences:
- The color range of Stout extends to lighter shades.
- American Stout can be more astringent.
- American Stout can have a longer finish.
- American Stout has resinous hop notes and can have citrus and earthy hop notes.
- American Stout has chocolate malt notes; both styles have roast and dark Roast malt notes.
- Stout uses English ale yeast, while American Stout uses American ale yeast.
Compare Stout with another beer style
Choose any GBI beer style to compare sensory ranges and style character.
Want to explore the underlying data in more detail? Compare styles in the GBI Explorer →
Modelled variants of Stout
The following variant profiles are formally modelled expressions derived from this Core Style, each differing structurally in at least one primary sensory driver.
Style details
- Origin: UK — Originating from British ale traditions.
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Glassware:
Nonic Pint
— British-style pint with outward bulge for grip and foam retention; common for ales and stouts.
Tumbler — Simple straight-sided tumbler commonly used for lambic, farmhouse ales, and rustic or sour styles. - Serving: Draft — Served on draft.
- Aging vessel: Stainless — Aged or matured in stainless steel.
- Packaging: Keg — Packaged in keg.
Commercial examples of Stout
The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of Stout in the market.
- Guinness Draught
- Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
- Beamish Stout
Stout – Competition winners and medalists
Medal winners for Stout from major beer competitions. Categories follow each competition's official classification and may include stylistically adjacent interpretations.
2025 competition results
European Beer Star 2025
Stout
- Gold – No Tricks – Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse , United States
- Silver – Event Horizon – SPACECRAFT Brewing Company , Thailand
- Bronze – Alexander Black – Alexander Brewery , Israel
Flavoured Or Pastry Stout
- Gold – OX&DONKEY – 50&50 , Italy
- Silver – Chocolate Rain Milk Imperial Stout – Trueman Brewing Company , China
- Bronze – Nightmare Fuel – River North Brewery , United States
Source: European Beer Star ( official website )
Great American Beer Festival 2025
Stout
- Gold – Heartwood Stout – Grand Fir Brewing , United States
- Silver – Tsunami Stout – Pelican Brewing Co. , United States
- Bronze – Irish Hello – Saint Arnold Brewing Co. , United States
Source: Great American Beer Festival ( official website )
2024 competition results 6 medalists
European Beer Star 2024
Stout
- Gold – Foreign Extra Stout – BROFAKTURA , Poland
- Silver – Dolden Dark – Riedenburger Brauhaus , Germany
- Bronze – Nitro McCarthy Stout – 49th State Brewing , United States
Flavoured Or Pastry Stout
- Gold – Nightmare Fuel – River North Brewery , United States
- Silver – Sweetheart Cocoa Milk Stout – Insomnia Penguin Craft Beer , China
- Bronze – Winter Kingdom – Artmonster Brewery , South Korea
Source: European Beer Star ( official website )
2023 competition results 6 medalists
European Beer Star 2023
Stout
- Gold – Brotas Beer Dry Stout – Brotas Beer , Brazil
- Silver – DAMA STOUT – DAMA BIER , Brazil
- Bronze – Stout – Gaminger Kartausenbräu , Austria
Flavoured Or Pastry Stout
- Gold – The Velvet Underground Stout – YE BREWING , China
- Silver – Nightmare Fuel – River North Brewery , United States
- Bronze – Tiramisù imperial stout – Birrificio Lambrate , Italy
Source: European Beer Star ( official website )
Competition results for Stout variants
These modelled variants have separate competition results in the GlobalBeerIndex dataset.