Beginner Stouts

Sammy Smith Oatmeal. One of my first real 'craft beers.'

 

I remember when I first started I liked Young's Double Chocolate Stout a lot.

 

The first stout I found that I really really enjoyed was Founders Breakfast Stout , I suggest trying it first ,not sure if it will ruin the rest for you or not , but this one really changed my mind

 

I dont know, I think it depends on the person. Along the FBS/FIS lines, If you want to go this route I would recomment Yeti. It is available usually year round in bombers and 4packs. Yeti was greatly instrumental in my growing love for stouts. Grab a 4 pack, keep drinking it if you dont like it, by the time you finish it you'll want more.

 

that happened to me with barleywines. my first sip of bigfoot and i didnt know what to think. didnt really like it. but the second one i cracked open i fell in love. the end.

 

When I first started it was Old Rasputin that opened my eyes to the glory of the stout, Ten Fidy is another game changer (both not hard to find)

 

<Disclaimer- 'beginner' stouts and porters are quality beers that you never truly outgrow, no matter the connotation associated with the phrase.>

Samuel Smith Taddy Porter and Oatmeal Stout have won many people over, and for good reason- the classic butterscotch/sherry Yorkshire yeast signature is truly in its environment with these roasty beers, and the balance of flavors is just perfect.

Anchor Porter is an amazing American/English hybrid beer that is still unmatched on either side of the Atlantic. Bold, assertive malt flavors combined with a complex yeast signature- best of all worlds. Best between 2-6 months old- check out their page on BA for the date code-
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28

Sierra Nevada Stout/ Deschutes Obsidian Stout- classic west coast style stouts, combining the coffee-like black malts with citrusy hops- like a lemon peel in your espresso- and neutral yeast to allow those hops and malts to shine.

 

Seriously, if Gonzo was my first porter/stout I ever had, I probably wouldn't have ever wanted another porter/stout again. It was way too extreme for me. I think trying something too complex to start can overwhelm someone and cause them to shy away from that style.

 

That's dumb. No need for newbs to wallow in mediocre Belgians and pale ales. Place them in the advanced class right from the start.

 

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout!

 

Had an uncle over during the holidays who didn't know much about much about beer..... only that he liked a wide array of styles. I went out to shop for dinner and I guess while I was away, he decided he was going to grab a beer. Apparently, he reached into the fridge and grabbed a 2-year old World Wide Stout. I came home to find him with the empty bottle sitting next to him.

Me: What did you grab that one for? I had been aging that brew and was saving it for a special occasion. You know that was like 18+% ABV, right.
Uncle: I was wondering why I was so hammered. That was pretty damn good though!

Lesson he learned: Drink big stouts or go home.

 

I'd consider starting with milk stouts/lighter bodied stouts. Bell's Kalamazoo, Double Cream are both good introduction's. Some heavier Porter's could be a good gateway too. Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter is a dandy.

 

I'd go with Chocolate Stouts/Milk Stouts. Because whether you like stouts or not, who doesn't like chocolate/milk. That's what helped me transition from hops to stouts.

 

Exactly. Get right into it. I would recommend Founders Breakfast Stout.

 

I don't think there's such a thing as a beginner's stout. Just good stout and boring stout. Go for it.

 

There seems to be this go big or go home attitude about stouts. Imperial Stouts are undoubtedly amazing, and happen to be my personal favorite style. But that particular attitude implies that "regular" stouts aren't as good. They are two different beasts, both having unique offerings. Start smaller, learn what a stout is, then move to bigger, badder stouts. Build an appreciation from the bottom up.

 

That is not how you develop your palate.

 

Just try North Coast Old Rasputin and Sierra Nevada Stout, and you'll be fine, it's as simple as that. Don't listen to the dbags on here. Available almost anywhere (at least SN), and tasty. Both of these brews will give you a basic understanding of american imperial stouts, then you can move on from there with different nuances.

 

Obsidian Stout is all you need.

 

Sierra Nevada Narwhal. It's not quite go-big-or-go-home, but it has that paradoxically simple complexity that I've come to know and love in imperial stouts.

First though, I would go to the local bottle store and mix-six a couple local stouts (New Glarus Coffee Stout comes to mind for me in WI) to try and think about what your palate is experiencing as you drink them. Then move on to the bigger guns.