The Black Box 2026

April 16, 2026|Hannah Baars

The return of our superr premium Canvent™ style dark beer 12 pack!

It’s been two years now since the last dark beast, and we’re beyond excited to announce our super premium Canvent™ style winter 12 pack is back in black! Find 12 custom dark & barrel aged beers created especially for this box, from 12 of the best producers of these styles in Australia & New Zealand.

Hells Bells. The 2026 box is not for the faint hearted, rocking the highest proportion of Imperial Stouts and Barrel Aged beers in history of the mighty Black Box. We’re back and we’re going very black and very big...

The Coolroom Black Box Brewer Interviews

Our friends at The Coolroom Podcast chatted to all 12 brewers to really dive deep into each of these monster beers! Catch all 12 interviews here [ THE COOLROOM PODCAST ]

The Black Box 2026

#1 • RANGE (QLD) - EVENING TUXEDO

🍺 Barrel Aged Imperial Pastry Stout⁠• 🥴 12.0% ABV⁠

Lashes of dark caramel and toffee, Belgian chocolate, and barrel aged maple syrup. The toasted coconut blends beautifully with the richer Maillard notes from the malts. Rich and unctuous, with an assertive bitterness and a light salted caramel note that balances out the sweet notes from this huge beer.

#2 • GARAGE PROJECT (NZ) - NINE POINT

🍺 Imperial Baltic Porter⁠ • 🥴 9.0% ABV⁠

Light marzipan, overly toasted bread (borderline smoke, but not quite) and breadcrust, some fruity and licorice notes from the esters come through as it warms up. In mouth it’s medium full bodied, with a light acidity that brings balance to the sweeter malts and provides a dry finish. Surprisingly refreshing for such a big beer, makes you want another sip.⁠

#3 • CYPHER (ACT) - HAUNTING HEAVEN

🍺 Imperial Pastry Stout⁠⁠ • 🥴 11.0% ABV⁠

Swimming in Ferrero Rocher right now. What a massive showcase of Hazelnut in a beer, with huge Chocolate and Vanilla. We also get hints of Loacker Gardena Wafers. The body is rich and creamy, almost like melted Ice Cream. The roast is bitter and assertive, providing the balance that this sweet bomb requires. Absolute dessert in a glass. Just wow.⁠

#4 • DANGEROUS ALES (NSW) - DA BARREL RELEASE: BATCH No 2

🍺 Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout⁠⁠ • 🥴 11.5% ABV⁠

Big sweet flavours like Cola Candies, Light Bourbon, Pancakes with Maple Syrup and Butter & Chocolate Sprinkles, plus a light spiciness, with a boozy finish. The wood character comes through as it warms up, adding a layer of earthy/herbal complexity to this top-notch brew.

#5 • BACCHUS (QLD) - SEKHMET'S DARK RAGE

🍺 Dark Egyptian Ale⁠⁠ • 🥴 10.1% ABV⁠

Herbal and fruity nose, with light aromas like Sage, Apple and Dry Orange Peel. Savoury and sour notes in the palate, not taking from the light roast and dry fruit notes that hold the beer’s core, some light jerky and cassis flavours linger in the palate as you finish. Maybe one of the most rare and unique beers we’ve ever had in any of our boxes! “It tastes like mummy juice”.⁠

#6 • MOUNTAIN CULTURE (NSW) - ¡CHAMPURRADO CALIENTE!

🍺 Mexican Hot Chocolate Imperial Stout⁠⁠ • 🥴 10.0% ABV⁠

Light Capsicum, and Chocolate in the nose, supported by a good roasty backbone. In mouth notes of Vanilla, Chipotle and Mocha. There’s definitely some kick to it, but not enough to scare off the masses. A well-integrated beer that showcases every element on a surprisingly easy to drink brew. Salud!⁠

#7 • CORNELLA (VIC) - NIGHT TERROIR

🍺 Dark Vineyard Ale⁠ • 🥴 9.6% ABV⁠

Pours dark with a beautiful pinkish hue. Light aromas of Funk, Sour Cherry & Grape Juice. In mouth there’s Bread, Raisins, Apple & Blackcurrant Juice, plus a light acidity that provides balance to these sweeter flavours. Very unique blend, truly the best of both worlds. ⁠

#8 • BODRIGGY (VIC) - MASA

🍺 Barrel Aged Imperial Churro Stout⁠ • 🥴 11.0% ABV⁠

Big Cinnabon vibes, with some great Sugary and Vanilla aromas. A Tiramisu-like backbone, showcasing the roastiness and pastry flavours of this brew, with Whisky added for good measure. Surprisingly light bodied for such a flavour packed brew. Finishes sweet with lingering roastiness (and Cinnamon of course).

#9 • WORKING TITLE (QLD) - NEON DEMON

🍺 Muscovado, Cinnamon & Tangerine Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout⁠ • 🥴 9.5% ABV⁠

The Tangerine notes are upfront and huge, with enough complexity to provide Mandarin, Orange, Ruby Grapefruit and Pomelo. Light Coconut and spicy notes in the back, with mild molasses and the whisky coming through as it warms up. This beer screams signature Old Fashioned, with the same delicacy that this easy to make, but easy to screw up cocktail has.

#10 • BRIGHT (VIC) - CHERRIED TREASURE

🍺 Barrel Aged Cherry & Coconut Imperial Stout⁠ • 🥴 10.9% ABV⁠

Toasty and rich, with notes of Burnt Brownie Ends on the nose and Dark Table Grape aromas. In mouth the vibes go straight towards Cherry Ripe, with Charred Coconut and Kirsch. The finish is dry and bitter, but nowhere harsh. Very creamy on the palate, just as we like it.

#11 • WOLF OF THE WILLOWS (VIC) - DARK HORSE

🍺 Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Cola Stout⁠ • 🥴 11.1% ABV⁠

Green Coffee, and Artisanal Cola vibes. The body is medium-light and the mix of flavours is wild! Light Smoke, Chilli Notes, Light Spearmint and Cinnamon (kinda like a Big Red). It keeps on developing in the palate, with the whisky coming through as it warms up.

#12 • GOOD LAND (VIC) - QUADILLION$

🍺 Barrel Aged Pastry Imperial Stout/Quad Blend⁠ • 🥴 13.8% ABV⁠

Sweet, bold & boozy. Just massive on the nose. You can smell the dark fruit and rum coming through, this is gonna be BIG. Once you take your first sip, you’re immediately transported into what seems like a dessert taken from a 1960s book, with massive Raisin, Whiskey, Coffee, Rum, Burnt Caramel and Banoffee Cake. Rich and sweet, but well rounded, with a bitter finish and lingering Dark Fruits like Prunes and Dates. Just a masterclass of Pastry Dark Ale making.

Explore Past Black Boxes

The Black Box 2024

The booziest Black Box yet, with an average ABV north of 11%! Loaded with iconic monsters.

Beer highlight:

Good Land (VIC) - Trillion$
🍺 Pastry BBA Quad & Rum BA Imperial Stout Blend • 🥴 14.0% ABV⁠ • ⭐ 4.31
A single whiff and we can’t help but smile. We’re in for a treat. Roasted macadamias, s’mores, flambé bananas & maple syrup on the nose. The aromas translate perfectly into the mouth with rich nuttiness, burnt Basque cheesecake and chocolate cookie character. Full bodied and absolutely delicious.

The Black Box 2023

Bigger. Bolder. Blackerer. This one really pushed the boundary of dark beer!

Beer highlight:

Banks (VIC) - Whisky Spice & Everything Nice
🍺 BA Imperial Pastry Stout⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 🥴 10.6% ABV⁠⁠ • ⭐ 4.31
In the nose, coconut & vanilla, with a light marzipan character and a mild minty/herbal note. It’s also reminiscent of the classic “Golden Rough” which we LOVE.⁠ The flavours follows with the Golden Rough and adds a hint of chilli, with raspberry jam and a barrel note that brings it all together. The vanilla makes this very pastry-like without becoming over the top sweet.

The Black Box 2022

The first time we unleashed the dark beast! Still our highest rated Black Box to date.

Beer highlight:

Hawkers (VIC) - Double Bourbon BA Imperial Stout 2022
🍺 Double Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout • 🥴 13.7% ABV⁠⁠⁠ • ⭐ 4.42
First sip is sweet up front and BOLD, but it starts feeling lighter and smoother on second sip. Big creamy mouthfeel, backed up by a lovely blend of malts with toast, chocolate, espresso and a light nutty character. Finishes with an oaky and roasty aftertaste, everything just comes together really well.