Stouts in England?

Some to try that should be fairly easily available from supermarkets etc

Fullers London Porter and Black Cab Stout
Hook Norton Double Stout
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil
Cairngorm Black Gold
Sam SMiths Taddy porter
St Peters old style porter and cream stout
The Kernel have a few stronger ones
Youngs double chocolate stout


Those aren't too wacky and should be fairly easily available

 

Remember (though some will disagree) that Stout and Porter are exactly the same thing.So @Hanglow is right to recommend Porters.

 

St Peter's Old Style Porter is a cracker and easy to find. Once you start drinking the real stuff you won't want to go back to Guinness.

 

Yes, nowadays porter and stout are essentially interchangeable. For (the closest you can really get to) a proper old style, 18th century porter try Meantime's London Porter.

Also +1 for Hook Norton Double Stout. Really like that beer.

 

Shepherd Neame Double Stout from Lidl isn't a bad drop

 

Tried a bottle of Harvey's 1859 Porter the other day and that was pretty damn nice.

 

I've noticed on the FB trade groups a lot of people from Europe trade for stouts and porters, why is that?

 

No way man, the BJCP clearly states the differences. The only thing they have in common nowadays is that they're both types of ale. You need to get with the times. ;-P

 

Try any dark beer from Buxton or The Kernel - they are amongst the best in the UK, and also widely available. Brew By Numbers, Beavertown, BrewDog, and Weird Beard also do good work.

If you can track down one of the imperial stouts from Old Chimneys, you won't regret it. Their stouts are world-class, but also hard to come by.