Beginner Stout Recommendations MA

SN stout comes to mind for a beginner. Also, check out the top stotus and read the reviews to see what flavors you're looking for (or avaoiding).

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/158/

 

I would say just avoid imperials to start, I wouldn't recommend starting with troegs java head either. Sierra nevada stout is probably a good starting point. Samuel Smith's oatmeal stout or Great lakes Edmund Fitzgerald porter may be good also.

 

Ipswich oatmeal stout is a good place to start. Great local beer.

 

It's a local classic. I'll also second the recommendation for Sierra Nevada. I would try the stout and the porter. Some porters seem to be very good transitions into stouts. If your see Smuttynose Robust porter, Mayflower porter, and anchor porter they are very good and worth a try as well.

 

All the stouts at Treehouse are amazing. Very smooth with chocolate and coffee flavor.

 

A few recommendations for the beginner:

Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout
Wachusett Milk Stout
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Sam Smith Chocolate Stout
Ipswitch Oatmeal Stout
BBC Coffee House Porter
Mayflower Porter

Slightly more advanced, but very tasty, would be Founders Breakfast Stout which might still be available in a few places (seasonal).

 

Second the Mayflower Porter and Ipswich Oatmeal. I think Mayflower is as good as any. BBC Coffeehouse - I think they call it Dean's Beans or something? Tasty. A bit of an outlier -Wolaver's Alta Gracia Coffee Porter. My non-stout loving friend always reminds me to have this on hand when he comes to visit.

I personally like Leaning Chimney - a lightly smoked version from Gray Sail, but I don't know how far from SE Mass they distribute. Easy find and kind of a bargain around my area. It's something different - not the "campfire" taste of a rue rauchbier, but enough smokiness to be interesting.

Speaking of Southeastern MA - The Townsman Stout from Goodfellow's is a great stout in my opinion. Has all the character you would need in a stout but isn't overdone on the coffee bitterness. Very smooth and drinkable. The distribution map (and it is limited - small operation) on the web page is up to date.

I'd cast a vote for King Titus and Mean Old Tom from MBC as well. Maybe as a second step on the journey to the dark side...soon it will be your master!

 

All great ideas! I will double up the recommendation for the Smuttynose robust porter, and then step up to the baltic porter (seasonal available in four packs now).

 

Do you like Porters? Might be an easier transition and you'll probably pick up more flavors. Jackys Abby Framminghammer (Porter) and Founders Breakfast Stout are easily found plus your wallet and palette will thank you.

Cheers!

 

I think all have been listed above but definitely Mayflower Porter, Smuttynose Robust Porter, Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter. All are great local beginner options.

 

Cadillac Mnt Stout by Bar Harbor.

 

The first stout that blew my socks off was Founders Breakfast Stout. At the time it was year round though, and may be hard to find now. Also, depending on where you are in Mass, Tree House does some of the best stouts in the business IMO (double shot- coffee stout, dirty chocolate-chocolate stout, TWSS- milk stout). Other than that Left Hand Milk Stout is a pretty solid Intro stout.

 

I'll just post how a list of how I might progress through stouts and porters since I don't have vastly different suggestions from everyone else. Sierra Nevada Porter is really easy drinking, I might start with that. A milk stout afterwards: Left Hand is a pretty good option. Mayflower Porter and Ipswich Oatmeal Stout would work well after those, then the Founders Porter and Smuttynose Robust Porter. After that, I would definitely pick up some Framinghammer and Smuttynose Baltic Porter, and if you like those, I think you'd be safe trying pretty much any imperial stout. You'd get a good sense of traditional porter and stout flavor, and then you can branch out into the Berkshire Coffeehouse, Founder's Breakfast Stout, Alta Gracia, and Victory at Sea.

 

I totally think the Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout & Chocolate Stout are both great. If you want to stay local, Clown Shoes has a lot of barrel aged options that can be pretty good, too.

I'll be the outlier and say I'm not a huge fan of the Mayflower porter; just too dry for my tastes. Instead, I'd recommend Trillium Pot & Kettle, Maine Brewing King Titus, and - for fun and sheer drinkability - Atwater Vanilla Java.

 

You can generally find Old Rasputin on the shelves as well.