Do you fancy stepping out with a Stoutia or following in your father’s footsteps with a Portagaff?
Or are you simply a straight up traditionalist?
Stout is back in a big way among Australian men and women – both as a standalone drink or as a popular mixer.
What’s old is new again, with Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery reporting sales volumes for its Stout are now approaching the historic highs of the 1950s.
Coopers Brewery sold 3.7 million litres of Stout in 2020, a rise of 10% on 2019, and despite a Pandemic-led drop in keg sales.
And as more people rekindle their love of Stout or discover it for the first time, Coopers Brewery has canned Coopers Best Extra Stout just ahead of the traditional winter surge.
“While our Stout has been in constant production since 1879, sales hit their peak in the 1950s when we were selling over 4 million litres annually,” Coopers Managing Director Dr Tim Cooper said.
“Demand for Stout declined after 1975, with sales dipping to below two million litres in the early 1990s. However, we’re now back in the midst of a Stout revival and the popularity of beer in cans is rising markedly.
“It’s the perfect time for an eye-catching addition to our growing can portfolio.
“We expect the new can will build on the resurgence of Stout and edge us even closer to 4 million litres of sales for the first time in 70 years.”
Dr Cooper said the high gravity brew with an abundance of roasted malt provides Stout with luscious fruit and chocolate flavours. This makes it a versatile and quality beer that tastes great on its own or as a mix.
Coopers Marketing & Innovation Director Cam Pearce said that more people are now enjoying Stout – either on its own or as a mixer with lemonade, ale, champagne, vodka, cream liqueur, rum or whiskey.
“We feel that releasing Best Extra Stout in a can format will make it even more appealing to new and seasoned lovers of this hearty brew,” Mr Pearce said.
Coopers Best Extra Stout in 440ml matte black can format will be available in liquor outlets from June in four packs and cartons. It is still available in bottle format and on tap.
MIXING IT UP - popular Stout combinations
• Portagaff – 70% Coopers Best Extra Stout and 30% Lemonade
• Black and Tan – 50% Coopers Best Extra Stout and 50% Coopers Pale Ale
• Black Russian – Coopers Best Extra Stout with ½ measure Vodka and ½ measure Kahlua
• Black Velvet – 50% Coopers Best Extra Stout and 50% Champagne
• Stoutia – Coopers Best Extra Stout plus full measure of Tia Maria
• Stout and Stormy – Coopers Best Extra Stout plus full measure of dark rum
IN THE CAN - recent Coopers can releases
• Coopers Best Extra Stout 2021
• Coopers Australian IPA 2021
• Coopers Pacific Pale Ale 2020
• Coopers Hazy IPA 2020
• Coopers Sparkling Ale 2019
• Coopers XPA 2019
• Coopers Pale Ale 2018
• Coopers Mild Ale 2004