Beginner Imperial Stout Recommendations

The first big stout that I remember drinking when I first delved into this venture years ago was Ten Fidy.
Now, I consider "stout season" to be year round, not just fall and winter

Reading this thread is making me want to crack my final '16 KBS this evening after I pull my food off the grill.

 

Agree 100%, and LOVE that beer.

 

i went thru this same initiation early last fall

-Ten Fidy
-Founders Breakfast stout
-Founders Imperial Stout
-Old Rasputin
-Stone RIS

 

Storm King popped my brown malt cherry. It's chocolatey and sweet, with plenty of hops to balance it out. Also 6 packs. Can't beat that.

Yeti is in the same boat, I'd say.

 

Classic in my book.

 

Well, if you're an IPA junkie, an imperial stout that's overly cloying or soy-saucy will probably disagree with you. However, the ones with intense hop or roast character you might find appealing. I agree with @StoutElk_92's suggestions. Old Rasputin and Founder's Breakfast Stout. I highly recommend coffee stouts if you like coffee. Great Divide's Espresso Oak Aged Yeti is superb. And, like he said, you might like black IPAs as a transition or an in-between option. I highly recommend Founders Dark Penance, Firestone Walker Wookey Jack, and 21st Amendment Back in Black.

 

I'm not going to chime in specific beers to recommend but I would say this to the OP:

Try multiple different beers before making your conclusion.

I say this because as people are recommending things that are classics, their go-to's or their absolute favorites... in my mind, I'm thinking "Yeah, but I don't like those, I like these." So don't just pick one of the highly mentioned ones in this thread and have all your expectations be based on that one. They are as varied as IPAs, so I suggest a tasting of a number of them. And who knows, you may discover you could like (some) Imperial Stouts after all.

 

That is the exact same list I was going to post.

 

If you get any of the non mass-produced FFF up by you, I would suggest Blot Out The Sun. They brewed and bottled it not too long ago, but I'm not sure if they distro it out of this area.

Since you like hops, that's technically an Imperial Stout, but it's hoppy....almost to the point where I'd call it a hybrid between a stout and a black IPA

 

An excellent beer, but at $20 bucks a bomber it shelf turds the Chicago area.
,
Also ,OP, just go to any basic beer fest that has 20-30 brewers, a flat fee for unlimited samples and you can sample you hearts delight out on basic stouts. No worries about drain pouring as you've already paid for the ticket.

 

I agree, that is the beer that made me appreciate the style.

I never really got ten fidy or any other oscar blues beer for that matter but I do love old rasputen and black chocolate stout.

 

Get out of my head!

 

I realize you probably already know this, but with the beginner comment I think it is important to note that you shouldn't drink any of these ice cold. You will get a whole different taste profile if you let them warm up to "cool" instead of drinking them cold.

 

For beginners, I recommend baby stepping in. There are a lot of beers to welcome you into their world.

If you can purchases singles, I'd go with:
1. Young's Double Chocolate.
2. Bells Kalamazoo
3. Ballast Point Victory at Sea
4. Bells Porter
5. Praire BOMB!
6. Ten Fidy

And as others have mentioned, let the beers warm up a tad before moving to the next.. lots of interesting flavors for you to experience. Good luck!!

 

I would go with Yeti. Plenty of hop flavors along with the chocolate to please the hop-heads.

 

Without checking your distribution, I would say to try some non-imperial stouts and porters first.

Left Hand Milk Stout, Sam Adams Cream Stout, Rogue Chocolate, Founders Porter, Samuel Smiths Oatmeal, Sierra Nevada

Then try Old Rasputin, Ten Fidy, Brooklyn, and Brooklyn Black Chocolate. If you like those, then start diving into the top rated imperial stouts.

You may like some black ales too since you love hops

 

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout - https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/113/782/

 

Another vote for Lagunitas: Imperial Stout

Sam Smith: Imperial Stout
Deschutes: Obsidian Stout
Samuel Adams: Cream Stout

Are you willing to try Porters? If so

Deschutes: Black Butte Poter

Founders: Porter

 

Boulevard Dark Truth Stout
Old Rasputin
Ten Fidy
Oatmeal Yeti

... some of my faves. I'm not sure I understand the concept of imperial stouts for beginners though. You'll either like the style or not.