Craft Dark Wave: Stouts and Porters to Double in Value by 2035
Beer does not only mean another crisp eurolager—consumers worldwide crave craft and specialty styles with real character. The stout and porter segment exemplifies this shift, valued at US$47.8 billion in 2024 and projected to reach US$86.5 billion by 2035 at a 5.1% CAGR from 2025, according to a recent Transparency Market Research report.
Stout and porter beers stand out with their dark colors, roasted malts, and full-bodied taste profiles. These styles remain deeply rooted in European brewing culture, where the region commands about 35.6% of the global market—roughly US$17 billion of the 2024 total. Leading producers like Molson Coors, Heineken N.V., Carlsberg Group, AB InBev, and Diageo (Guinness) dominate, yet demand surges worldwide as craft enthusiasts embrace these flavorful dark beers.
Just recently, b33r.xyz reported on Diageo selling its East African Breweries subsidiary to Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings in a landmark $2.3 billion deal, while securing long-term licensing for Guinness production and distribution in the region.
Another key driver is rising beer consumption in mature alcohol markets like Europe and North America. Consumers there aren’t just increasing their alcohol intake; they’re diversifying beer choices toward premium, flavorful options. With beer accounting for over a third of global recorded alcohol consumption per the World Health Organization, this ongoing dominance enables experimentation within styles, allowing stout and porter to capture incremental value even in low-volume-growth markets.
Within the stout and porter segment, stouts claim a dominant 68.8% share. While porters offer balanced maltiness with chocolate and caramel notes, stouts deliver bolder roasted intensity and creamier textures. Stouts benefit from superior brand recognition, rich history, and diverse styles from dry to imperial, whereas porters draw in consumers seeking milder alternatives to those intense roasted profiles.
