Today’s non-alcoholic drinks are leagues above what was on the market even 10 years ago. Whereas non-alcoholic beers used to include just pilsners and lagers, today’s alcohol-free beers are available in a variety of styles.
One of these newcomers is the non-alcoholic dark beer. With All Out, Athletic Brewing was one of the first to create a non-alcohol dark beer and it has already taken the world by storm, selling out of stores and winning major awards.
Did I love it as much as everyone else? I share my tasting notes in this Athletic Brewing All Out Review.
A Quick Look At All Out Stout
Athletic Brewing All Out Extra Dark (formerly called All Out Stout) is a non-alcoholic, porter/stout-inspired brew containing less than 0.5% ABV.
Although very much a dark beer in terms of appearance and flavor, this brew is decidedly lighter than what you’re probably used to.
Athletic Brewing All Out Review
Looks & Aroma
As you would expect from a dark beer, Athletic Brewing All Out pours an opaque black color. I liken the color to black coffee or cola.
It had a one-finger foamy tan head with moderate retention. The head definitely lasted longer than a lot of other non-alcoholic beers I’ve tried.
On the nose, I smelled roasted barley, bittersweet chocolate, and some coffee. So far, the aroma hits the spot for a stout.
Taste
On the palate, the first notes I can taste are roasted grains, followed by coffee, and a hint of dark chocolate. There’s also a distinctly smoky background present as well.
There is some bitterness (IBUs 20), but it’s short-lived and quickly transitions to a smooth milkiness. Given that this is a vegan-friendly brew, it’s certain that the smoothness comes from the oats.
The finish is smooth, although slightly bitter. I found the carbonation moderate and the body to be light/medium (definitely on the light side for a dark beer).
Customer Reviews
To see what other customers think about Athletic Brewing All Out stout, I went on BeerAdvocate for a better sampling of customer feedback. Overall, All Out stout has a 84-out-of-100 rating with more than 40 customer reviews.
The general consensus is that it has an average mouthfeel for a stout, with the taste of roasted malts and coffee to remind you it is a stout alternative.
Athletic Brewing All Out Ingredients
Athletic Brewing All Out contains water, organic Vienna malt, malted barley, oats, wheat, and yeast.
Vienna Malt contributes a malty sweetness and aroma, as well as a subtle biscuit flavor. It adds rich, golden hues to the final beer.
Athletic Brewing All Out Calories
A 12oz/355mL can of Athletic Brewing All Out contains 90 calories, 21g of carbs, 1g of protein, and 0g of fat.
As a comparison, the same serving size of an alcoholic Guinness contains 125 calories, 10g of carbs, 1g of protein, and 0g of fat.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (12 oz/ 355 ml) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 90 kcal |
| Carbs | 21g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Fat | 0g |
I’m impressed that Extra Dark has managed to recreate a dark beer with fewer calories, however, the carbs are pretty high when compared to an alcoholic beer of a similar style. In general, stouts are known to have more calories and carbs than other lighter styles of beer.
Unfortunately, having a lot of carbs and/or sugar is common for alcohol-free beers because sugar is added to improve the flavor once the alcohol has been removed.
Even though Athletic Brewing All Out does not have added sugar on the can label, stouts have a heavy concentration of roasted grains used in its brewing process.
As a result, the fermented barley, oats, and wheat contain a high amount of carbohydrates.
Final Verdict Of My Athletic Brewing All Out Review
While researching this article, I indirectly found out why Athletic Brewing changed the name from All Out Stout to All Out Extra Dark–basically, this isn’t really a stout. Instead, it’s much closer to a porter.
Whereas stouts are strong, heavily roasted, bitter, and hoppy, porters are malty dark beers with a dark malt character.
I think the name change will help manage people’s expectations, but until they forget that this was once labeled a stout, they might be disappointed.
So, judging this as a porter, I’ll say that it’s a pretty solid attempt. I was impressed by the depth of flavors, the head retention, and the overall balance of Athletic Brewing All Out.
I also thought the body and carbonation were well-suited to this style of beer. Typically drinking dark beers leaves me with a rock in my stomach but that didn’t happen here.
If I’m craving a dark non-alcoholic beer, I’d be happy to make it Athletic Brewing All Out.
Where to Buy Athletic Brewing All Out
Customers in the United States can purchase Athletic Brewing All Out from Proof No More. It’s available in single cans, 4-packs, 6-packs, 12-packs, and 24-packs.
UK-based customers can find it on Dry Drinker.
Other Athletic Brewing All Out FAQs
Is Athletic Brewing All Out Gluten-Free?
All Out Extra Dark contains malted barley and wheat, neither of which is gluten-free.
While this might be a bummer for those avoiding gluten, several other non-alcoholic stouts on the market are gluten-reduced. Two of our favorites are Big Drop Galatic Milk Stout and Bravus Oatmeal Stout.
You can learn all about them in our Ultimate Guide To Gluten-Free Non-Alcoholic Beer.
Is Athletic Brewing All Out Alcohol-Free?
For all intents and purposes, Athletic Brewing All Out Extra Dark is alcohol-free. It contains 0.5% ABV, which is a negligible amount of alcohol (about what you’d find in a cup of apple juice).
Like all of Athletic Brewing’s products, All Out is fully brewed. That means nothing is removed using distillation or reverse osmosis.
In other words, the drink has a low ABV from the start. This technique is favorited by non-alcoholic brewers because it preserves the flavor.
Related: Can Non-Alcoholic Beer Get You Drunk? We Did The Math
Is Athletic Brewing All Out Vegan?
Despite its silky, full-bodied mouthfeel, All Out contains absolutely no animal products, making it a delicious choice for vegans.
Looking for even more vegan non-alcoholic beers? Then see our roundup article: 10 of The Best Vegan Non-Alcoholic Beers We Love.
Did you like this Athletic Brewing All Out review? Check out other Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beer reviews:
A dark beer that doesn't hold anything back in the flavor department. It leans more towards a porter than a stout.