Dark Matters
By Nadia Prupis

Perhaps the most disarming secret charm of all about dark beer is that it is healthy in many ways and its color does not, in fact, equate directly to calories and heaviness – a common misconception. Dark beer is not the syrup of sin! For instance, a 12-ounce serving of Guinness has 125 calories while the same size in Budweiser is 145, and even the delicious Sam Adams Summer Ale has 175 calories per serving.

If that alone doesn’t convince you that dark beer is as worthy of love and attention as the golden children of the liquor world, consider that in 2003, a study conducted by John D. Folts, PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered that dark beer may be healthier for your heart than light beer. It contains the beloved plant compounds known as flavonoids, rich in antioxidants, which help prevent blood clots. These heart-healthy flavonoids can also be found in dark chocolate and red wine – we hope you’re seeing a pattern here.

Oh, and the dark beer used in the study? More Guinness!

For more on the study, click here.