Which brewery makes the best stouts?

Hard to imagine a better family of Stouts than BC puts out, the base is tremendous as are all the variants. The Burery is also tremendous, but suffers a bit from the high price tag, and being so hard to get, and the ABV's are unreal. I also like the Eclipse brews, expensive in comparison to other stouts, but put price aside every one I've had has beer a real winner.

 

The big two for me in the Midwest is Founders and Piperworks. Both of these breweries I have never had a bad stout or one that fell flat. The stouts from Piperworks last year were amazing and really what started me down the road to loving the taste.

 

I find those to be over the top, tasty as a share bottle. Very bold flavor (with a bold price and ABV). I think if a stout can be between 10% and 14% ABV, it tends to be a great tasting beer. Once you get over that, the alcohol starts coming through. I know there are exceptions to this rule but as a general rule of thumb this is what I have experienced.

 

Based on what I've had it's Founders with honorable mentions going to Great Divide, Southern Tier, and Clown Shoes.

 

Founders
Great Divide
CCB
Brooklyn

 

Brooklyn

 

Had my first FBS last night, so I am updating my list

1.) Left Hand
2.) Founders
3.) Deschutes

 

I have to say Bell's just for the variety of the different stout styles. They run the full range of types of stouts in my opinion and everyone is excellent.

 

How are we forgetting the infamous Speedway Stout?

Always been a sucker for a lovely Yeti also!

Had a whole bunch of the Nitro Milk Stout from Left Hand on tap last night. Blew my socks to the moon. Not just a amazing nitro stout but a milk nitro at that. Got pretty polluted...no hangover...might just have to repeat tonight!

 

LH Milk Stout Nitro is my favorite stout!!!
Have not had a Speedway Stout, who is it from?

 

AleSmith...outta San Diego, CA

I am def a new found fan of the Nitro. After last night, gonna have to stock up on some to get me through another bruiser of a winter.

 

Founders, Goose Island, Great Divide as a whole
but I have to add that the best stout I have ever had is
Firestone Walker Parabola

 

gotta go with Dark Horse on this one.

 

I love BBCS and Ops, but come on, they can't hold a candle to Founders and Bells.

My opinion? Founders by a landslide. I think both CCW and Alesmith are overrated with regards to stouts. Sorry.

 

Founders and Stone. Problem is that so many breweries are not available in different parts of the country. Never saw Cigar City here in Philly.

 

Founders, Bells & FiftyFifty are right there.
But for me cannot beat Firestone Walker's family of Parabola, Velvet Merkin and even the "daily drinker" Velvet Merlin.

 

Bells comes to mind first. The ones I've had—Expedition, Kalamazoo, Java, Double Cream, and Black Note—show great variety and there's not a slacker in the bunch. Great stuff.

I could also make a case for Firestone, on the strength of Velvet Merlin (a terrific oatmeal stout), Velvet Merkin (newly bottled BA oatmeal stout), and the mighty Parabola.

 

North Coast
AleSmith
Deschutes
Great Divide

I haven't tried many of the ones people already listed here - Founders, Bells, CCB, etc. Maybe someday!

 

Cigar City is here in Philly, it's just been they have not been shipping a lot here lately. Try Capones in Norristown, they always seem to have a decent amount of CCB stuff.

 

who or what is "BC"?