Favorite American Stout under 7%

Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

 

I bet you're not alone .

 

Sam Adams Cream stout is damn good and deserves more love tbh

 

At a bit under 6%, plain old Sierra Nevada Stout always surprises me with how satisfying it is, and I'd guess it was one of the earlier specifically American stouts with an enhanced hop presence.

 

It may have been inspired by New Albion's, but if not then it was the trailblazer.

 

Wallet friendly, either Modern Times Black House or Deschutes Obsidian

Un-wallet friendly, Dieu du Ciel! Aphrodisiaque. Cheers!

 

Sierra Nevada Stout

 

It's right at exactly 7%, but Ipswich Oatmeal Stout is absolutely fantastic and can be had for under $10 a sixer even in the boston area. For me anyway, it's basically the canonical example of what a stout should taste like.

I don't know how far they distribute, but if you see it, buy some.

 

Tough limitation of 7%, but here are a few I've had and liked;

Sierra Nevada Stout, 5.8% ABV
Bell's Kalamazoo, 6% ABV
Bell's Special Double Cream Stout, 6.1% ABV
Lakefront Fuel Cafe, 6.4% ABV
Deschutes Obsidian Stout, 6.4% ABV
Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, 6.9% ABV

 

Yeah, that's pretty low for me lately. Not that I like high ABV, it's just that they seem to jack the ABV on cult/quality beers to help justify the price.

 

Depends on how you look at it, I guess. To me Imperial Stouts are a subset of the broad stout/porter family, which runs the gamut in terms of gravity and flavor profile.

I suppose we could use more threads like this, then.

 

I enjoy many of these so far, but I may as well throw in my sleeper selection, which is Pike XXXXX. It's really hoppy and aggressive, for when you're in the mood for something like that. Just makes it at 7%, too.

 

Atwater- Decadent Dark Chocolate Stout
Finch's- Secret Stache Stout
Bells- Kalamazoo Stout

 

OP, suppose if you want low alcohol, I can suggest just drinking half of any one of these;

KBS
BCBS
Pirate BOMB
BA Bomb
Fidy

 

That's too hard (that's what she said) - honestly, any coffee stout.

 

4hands Chocolate Milk Stout

 

Based strictly on the style classifications here are my highest rated <7% ABV
American Stout = Bell's Special Double Cream Stout stands alone
American Porter - got several that are nearly identical rated at the top....Maui Coconut, Deschutes Black Butte, Terrapin Liquid Bliss, Brothers Elementary Porter


Now if you want to dive into talking about English stouts and English porters under 7%, I can list many that blow away nearly everything I've listed above.

 

It doesn't get much love here, but I need to give this a shoutout for fellow coffee lovers.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/213/107165/

However, I tend to like the English examples better most of the time for stouts under 7%, particularly the offerings from Samuel Smith.

 

Probably "Single Shot w/ Vanilla Bean" from Treehouse

 

In threads that ask "What is your favorite stout," "What is your favorite non-flavored stout," "What is your favorite non-barrel-aged stout," "What is your favorite sub-7% stout,"... my answer is pretty much going to be the same. Stouts that hover around 6% and have not touched coffee or bourbon are pretty much the ideal stout.

Deschutes Obsidian is divine.

I also think that Bell's Kalamazoo and Duck Rabbit Milk Stout are terrific. American made stouts don't get much better than that for me.