What do you look for in Stouts?

Not typically picky, it's probably my favorite style so generally I just like them to have some complexity but be smooth and/or boozy.

Some of my favorites would be Anderson Valley Huge Arker, Pipeworks Mocha Abduction, 4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout and I'll go out and say it, I really enjoy a properly poured Guinness.

 

I like the chocolate stouts that have more of a chalky, cocoa powder profile.

 

Besides the taste properties discussed above, I love that clingy residue that the head of a tarry stout (I'm thinking Ten Fidy right now) leaves in the glass. May be strange, but when I'm scraping that film out of the glass the next morning and wondering if it is permanently stained, I just seem to recall how much I enjoyed it...

 

Non-BA: Coffee, roastiness, dark chocolate, bitterness
BA: Vanilla, barrel (whatever type of barrel it was aged in), balanced flavors/complexity, smoothness

 

I look for hidden treasure at the bottom.

 

My favorite non-imperial stout is an Oatmeal stout. A nice combination of malt flavors including some chocolate flavors with the luscious mouthfeel that oatmeal brings to the party.

Cheers!

 

I love the sweeter stouts. Chocolate, cream, mild coffee, and only a slight roasty flavor are what I enjoy the most. That's not the only type of stout I drink, but I tend to steer away from most stouts that have that burnt char character. If I choose a stout that has that ends up having that burnt roast flavor it's all I focus on and ruins the beer for me.

 

Pretty much been said, but I like a full bodied stout that has good roasted characteristics with a dark fruit sweetness on the back end.

 

I tend to dislike overly bitter stouts. I like a more rich flavor. Had a Sea Monster last night and it was very good. Well balanced. I just like em done right

 

Coffee, chocolate, lactose sugar, no vanilla

 

I look for Ten Fidy in my stouts.

 

Deep roasty flavors and strong bitterness (like my coffee ). Founders Nitro Oatmeal, Porter, and Imperial Stout; Sierra Nevada Porter, Stout, and Narwhal; and Stone IRS as my benchmarks. I love some dark fruit flavors, but not 1:1 with the roasty flavors. I generally like them to lean towards roast (FIS) or dark fruit (Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball). Cheers!

 

Thickness. Gloopy like founders. Dark brown head

 

I'm with the majority - roasted malt notes, definitely some dried fruit on the back end, chocolate and coffee with a hint of cream in there - all about the balance for me! I usually like to have at least a medium-to-thick body to back up the complexity of the flavors though, so a milk stout is always a good choice.

 

More Cowbell !!!
Just kidding, I've only had one !!!

 

Rich filling malty stouts with no taste of hops or bitterness

 

Espresso, milk chocolate, vanilla and a rich and creamy mouthfeel.

 

Chocolate, bitter coffee, and the bottom of the glass

 

Damn, pretty much what I was going to say.