Australian independent brewery, Coopers, reports the sales of its stout are the best in around 70 years.
Despite a pandemic-led drop in keg sales, figures released by the brewery show it sold 3.7 million liters of its Best Extra Stout last year, an increase of 10 percent from 2019.
Coopers is releasing Best Extra Stout in 440ml cans next month, in time for an expected winter surge, joining the line of Coopers beers moving to a canned format during recent years.
Coopers MD Dr Tim Cooper said the company expects the new can format would help build Stout’s resurgence and edge sales closer to 4 million for the first time in 70 years.
“While our Stout has been in constant production since 1879, sales hit their peak in the 1950s when we were selling over 4 million liters annually,” said Cooper.
“Demand for Stout declined after 1975, with sales dipping to below 2 million liters in the early 1990s. However, we’re now back amid a Stout revival, and the popularity of beer in cans is rising markedly,”
Best Extra Stout is brewed using roasted malt with fruit and hints of chocolate, which the company says makes the beer taste great on its own or versatile enough to use as a mixer.
“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,” said Cam Pierce, marketing and innovation director at Coopers.
Coopers Best Extra Stout in matte black cans will be available in liquor outlets from June in four-packs and cartons. It is still available in bottle format and on tap.