Nov7 Fun Holiday – International Stout Day

Usually celebrated on the first Thursday of November, International Stout Day pays tribute to the stout, a popular type of beer.

International Stout Day, whose creator is unknown, was first celebrated in 2011. It has gained in popularity over the years, with bars and breweries holding tasting events, brewing classes, and special happy hours with discounted stouts.

Dark and Strong

Historically, stout beer was considered to be a type of porter—a dark beer made from brown malt first introduced in London, England in the 17th century and popular throughout England and Ireland. The stronger and darker porters with more alcohol were called stout porters. Eventually, stout porters gained a faithful following, the word porter was dropped, and the beers came to be known only as stouts.

Stouts are usually made with roasted malt or barley, hops, water, and yeast. They tend to have a higher alcohol content, though not always. Guinness, one of the world's best-known stouts, has about 4.1 to 4.3% alcohol by volume (ABV). Most stouts tend to fall between 5 to 8% ABV.

Variety of Stouts

As this type of beer became popular around the world in the 17th and 18th centuries, brewers started experimenting with fermenting conditions and ingredients to create several different kinds of stouts. For example, Milk or Sweet Stout is made by adding lactose, while Oatmeal Stout is made by adding oatmeal to the ingredient list. Other varieties include Russian Imperial Stout, American Stout, and Dry Stout.

How to Celebrate?

• Gather your loved ones and visit your local brewery or bar to participate in a stout beer tasting.
• If you are a home brewer, why not take the opportunity to make your own signature stout at home? Don't forget to share with friends and family.
• Learn more about the history of beers in general and stouts in particular.

Did You Know…

…that beer enthusiasts use the word zythology to refer to the study of beer and beer making? The word cannot be found in a dictionary but is popular among those who brew and drink the beverage. It comes from the Greek words zythos, meaning beer, and logos, meaning study.

International Stout Day Observances

Fun Holiday: International Stout Day Observances
Year	Weekday	Date	Name
2024	Thu	7 Nov	International Stout Day
2025	Thu	6 Nov	International Stout Day
2026	Thu	5 Nov	International Stout Day
2027	Thu	4 Nov	International Stout Day
2028	Thu	2 Nov	International Stout Day
2029	Thu	1 Nov	International Stout Day
2030	Thu	7 Nov	International Stout Day
2031	Thu	6 Nov	International Stout Day
2032	Thu	4 Nov	International Stout Day
2033	Thu	3 Nov	International Stout Day

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