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The best Australian beers for winter trade pale ales and lagers for darker, richer styles that suit the colder months. Stouts, porters, brown ales, and barrel-aged specials come into their own when the temperature drops, delivering the kind of malt-driven warmth that a crisp pale just cannot match. We have rounded up ten of the top Australian craft beers brewed for winter drinking, from proper English bitters to full-bodied imperial stouts.
Related: Our complete guide to beer types and styles breaks down every major category, or jump straight to our list of the most popular beers in Australia.
Best Australian Beers for Winter
“Winter is when Australian brewers get to flex their creativity,” says Matt Kirkegaard, founder of Beer and Brewer magazine. “The darker, maltier styles reward patience and complexity in a way that summer beers don’t.”
1. Young Henry’s Real Ale: Best English-Style Bitter
One of the first beers these boys ever brewed, it’s still a favourite for the winter months. 4% ABV and a lower carbonation makes it an English Best Bitter in the truest form – if you get the opportunity, try it off a hand pump for the best flavour.
While Young Henry’s are best known for consistently producing easy to drink refreshments, they are also on top of things when it comes to seasonal releases; each winter sees some tasty darker beers, so check out their latest specialty brews and collaborations. You can find them pouring at the GABS craft beer festivals around the country.
Style: English Bitter
Brewery: Young Henrys
ABV: 4%
Price: $5/can
2. 4 Pines Stout: Best Classic Winter Stout
About as classic a winter beer as it gets, stout is mothers’ milk to beer drinkers who live in cold climates, and this one from 4 Pines is an absolute ripper. In true stout style it is thick and chocolatey with caramel notes, a toasty mid-palate and a rich mouthfeel. If you’re wondering why the neck label says ‘Space Beer’, it’s exactly that, the team at 4 Pines specially developed this stout to be the first beer consumed in space, having gone through rigorous testing, including a lengthy trip on the ‘Vomit Comet’, to experience zero Gs of gravity.
Style: Stout
Brewery: 4 Pines Brewing
ABV: 5.1%
Price: $5/can
3. Balter Alt Brown: Best Winter Brown Ale
From the Queensland brewers who’ve made themselves know for the light, refreshing characteristics of their beers comes this; a brown ale with a difference. While it has all the telltale signs of a dark beer (toasty, chocolatey, rich), it’s also incredibly balanced and easy to drink, making it a perfect Australian winter beer for when you want to grab a few and hook in for a session.
Style: Brown Ale
Brewery: Balter Brewing
ABV: 4.8%
4. Grand Ridge Moonshine Dark Scotch Ale: Best Dark Ale
Clocking in at a whopping 8.5% ABV, this dark scotch ale from Gippsland brewers Grand Ridge is one of the biggest flavours on this list. Perfect for a cold night in front of a fire, this ale is best enjoyed at a slightly higher temperature than you’d normally expect for a beer. Pair it with a big, hearty stew or any classic wintry fare.
Style: Dark Beer
Brewery: Grand Ridge
ABV: 8.5%
Price: $9.50/bottle
5. Moo Brew Seasonal Stout: Best Seasonal Release
Hobart‘s Moorilla estate is one of the food and wine region’s best assets, and a perfect place to warm up during a freezing Tassie winter. Each year for winter, the winery / brewery combo release their famous seasonal stout, nicknamed The Velvet Sledgehammer, which makes a visit during the colder months well worthwhile. Classic stout characteristics of chocolate, toffee and toasted malt dominate, with a rich, heavy mouthfeel and super long finish. Australian winter beer from a bunch of brewers who know a thing or two about cold weather.
Brewery: Moo Brew brewery
ABV: 5.8%
6. Willie The Boatman Black Bunny: Best Black IPA
This delicious dram from Marrickville brewery Willie The Boatman is an old-style ale, with a flavour profile made for winter. Bacony smoke on the nose leads into rich, chocolatey flavours on the front palate and a big hit of coffee at the end. While the taste is huge, the ABV sits just below 5%, making it an easier beer to have more than one of than some of the others on this list.
Style: Dark beer
Brewery: Willie the Boatman
ABV: 4.9%
Willie The Boatman Black Bunny
7. Doctor’s Orders Malpractice: Best Imperial Stout
Doctors Orders release their beers by the season, and generally sell out before the kegs have even been filled. This one’s called Malpractice, but it’s always good to check in on their site to see what they’ve been up to as they often won’t repeat the same beer twice, and we highly recommend you try to get your hands on them before they’re all gone. Here, an India Stout (Hoppy Stout) blends an IPA with a Dry Stout, delivering more toast than a Black IPA but with all the big hoppy notes from Hop Hash.
Brewery: Doctor’s Orders Brewing
ABV: 5%
8. Modus Operandi Cascadian Howl: Best Dark Ale
This black IPA from Northern Beaches boys Modus Operandi is a delightfully dark beer which gets made at wintertime to appease the thirsty masses. Completely jet black, it’s a huge smack of flavours with a creamy mouthfeel and a high ABV of 8.1% – this beer has been brewed for the sole purpose of keeping you happy during winter, though probably not sober.
Style: Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale
Brewery: Modus Operandi Brewing Co.
ABV: 8.1%
Modus Operandi Cascadian Howl Black IPA
9. Frenchies Kiss From A. Rose: Best Belgian Winter Ale
Not technically a winter beer, but we figured we’d include it as the huge ABV of 10.2% is likely to have some warming capability. This is a layered golden ale which has been bolstered with the addition of Archie Rose White Rye, making it a seriously strong beer. Boozy flavours don’t dominate, however – this is a delicate and very drinkable beer.
Style: aromatic golden ale
Brewery: Frenchies
ABV: 10.2%
10. Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale: Best Beer to Cellar
An oldie but a goodie – each vintage of this extra strong ale from the South Australian stalwart is strong, bitter and complex, and can be matured (under correct cellaring conditions) to further develop the hoppy flavours. Perfect for a winter drink when you want to prioritise quality over quantity. Our tour of Coopers’ mega-brewery in Adelaide is worth a read.
Style: Ale
Brewery: Coopers Brewery
ABV: 7.5%
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Alternatives to the Best Australian Beers for Winter
If the beers above sparked your interest in darker styles, our guide to the best porters and stouts digs deeper. For something lighter, our best lagers guide covers sessionable options year-round, and these are the best gluten-free beers in Australia.
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How the Best Winter Beers Compare
| Beer | Brewery | Style | ABV | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Henry’s Real Ale | Young Henrys | English Bitter | 4% | $5/can |
| 4 Pines Stout | 4 Pines Brewing | Stout | 5.1% | $5/can |
| Balter Alt Brown | Balter Brewing | Brown Ale | 4.8% | Varies |
| Grand Ridge Moonshine | Grand Ridge | Dark Scotch Ale | 8.5% | $9.50/bottle |
| Moo Brew Seasonal Stout | Moo Brew | Stout | 5.8% | Varies |
| Willie the Boatman Black Bunny | Willie the Boatman | Dark Beer | 4.9% | Varies |
| Doctor’s Orders Malpractice | Doctor’s Orders Brewing | India Stout | 5% | Varies |
| Modus Operandi Cascadian Howl | Modus Operandi Brewing Co. | Black IPA | 8.1% | Varies |
| Frenchies Kiss From A. Rose | Frenchies | Golden Ale | 10.2% | Varies |
| Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale | Coopers Brewery | Ale | 7.5% | Varies |
Australian Winter Beers FAQs
A few of the best Australian beers for winter are Balter Alt Brown, 4 Pines Stout, and Young Henry’s Real Ale.
Winter beers tend to be full-bodied, darker, and malt-driven styles. Sometimes with additional spices added to the flavour.
Stouts, porters, brown ales, and Scotch ales. Their higher alcohol content and roasted malt profiles create a warming effect. Imperial stouts and barley wines are particularly well-suited to sipping slowly on the coldest nights.
Yes. Higher-ABV styles like Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale and imperial stouts are excellent candidates. Store bottles upright in a cool, dark place at 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Most strong ales improve over 1 to 3 years.
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