It’s bold, it’s rich, and it has a history as deep as its colour. From roots as a nourishing brew for hardworking folks, to becoming a staple of the modern beer world, stout has come a long way in its lifetime. In this blog post, we’re diving into the history and recent buzz around stout, touching on Guinness’s marketing genius that has strengthened the drink's popularity among new and diverse beer drinkers, and finishing with a quick look into our very own version of a classic. 

How it started

In 17th-century England, ‘stout’ didn’t mean dark beer - it meant strong beer, and ‘stout’ was used to describe any strong ale. By the 18th century, stout had evolved into its own thing, standing out with its dark colour, roasted malt flavours, and rich, full-bodied texture.

What makes stout special is the use of roasted barley - the magic ingredient that delivers those signature coffee and chocolate notes. In the 1950s, the production of this distinctive beer was revolutionised, with the introduction of nitrogenation; the process of adding nitrogen gas to the beer to give it a smooth and creamy texture - a game-changer for the beer making industry that’s still commonplace today. 

Guinness: the trendsetter

We can’t talk about stout without talking about Guinness. This Irish staple, first created in 1759 by Arthur Guinness, didn’t just make stout popular - it redefined it. Guinness’s dry stout became Ireland’s pride and joy, and is now a household name, and global icon. 

Did you know Guinness isn’t black? It’s a very dark ruby red due to the roasted barley. 

Guinness has been all over the news recently due to its popular marketing campaigns and Christmas time shortage that caused concern for pubs and drinkers alike. 

Over the last 5 years, they have reversed their declining sales, refined their brand positioning and grown their market share through some great marketing and product innovation. Early advertising campaigns promoted Guinness as being healthy, even being given to patients recovering in hospitals due to its iron content. Imagine seeing a campaign for beers in hospitals in the 2020’s… Nowadays, with on-trend campaigns, celebrity endorsements, and the trend of ‘splitting the G’, it feels like Guinness has been in everyone's hands and all over everyone's social media. 

Guinness have also remained steady on the innovation front, introducing Nitrosurge pourers to enhance the at home, can drinking experience. They’ve also installed DIY pint handles at stadiums, giving sports fans a chance to get hands on with the beer. The Guinness factory tour in Dublin attracts tourists by the flocks, and is a must do experience that places visitors at the heart of the beer, history and the Guinness story. 

These efforts combined have boosted the relevancy and relatability of Guinness; placing it into the minds and hands of the younger market, while also targeting new markets like that of the female beer drinker. 

Why stout is having its moment

Stout’s glow-up in the craft beer scene has been hard to miss. It’s gone from being the drink your grandad loves to a must-try for craft beer newbies and fans alike. 

Here’s why it’s making waves:

Flavours: These days, stouts come in all kinds of varieties - sweet milk stouts, coffee stouts, and even dessert-inspired pastry stouts with flavours like chocolate, vanilla, and berries.

Craft beer love: The craft beer boom has people looking for bold, unique flavours, and stout’s versatility makes it a perfect fit. Some drinkers have grown tired of the ‘turbo hopped’ beers and are looking for other interesting flavours through malts.  

Meet Crate Stout: Our take on tradition

At Crate Brewery, we’ve taken the timeless appeal of stout and added our own spin. Crate Stout is rich, dark, and unfiltered, with a velvety-smooth finish thanks to nitrogenation. 

Here’s what sets it apart:

Flavour/aroma: combining the best of dark fruits, toasted malt, and creamy goodness.

What’s inside: A mix of pale, wheat, crystal, and black roasted barley, paired with Magnum hops from Germany.

Food pairing: It’s a match made in heaven with comfort foods like sausage, mushrooms, hearty stews, or even ox cheek.

Vegan-friendly: Yep, everyone’s invited to enjoy this stout party.

With its deep roasted intensity and low bitterness, Crate Stout is the perfect gateway for stout newbies while still satisfying seasoned drinkers. It’s the kind of pint that feels indulgent but still session-able.

Whilst we love tradition at Crate, we also enjoy innovating and taking action with fresh new ideas, and continue to brew with this guiding principle that’s been with us since 2012. Stay tuned for more bold and exciting Crate twists, coming to Stout and Hackney Wick very soon.