Good beginner stout?

Starting with a chocolaty stout might be the best introduction...three readily available would be Young's Double Chocolate, Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate, and Rogue Chocolate Stout.

Then ease your way into a little more bitter stouts or something with coffee notes: Founders Breakfast Stout will not disappoint.

 

I thoroughly enjoy you're avatar, I have that exact shirt and nobody seems to recognize it, which really upsets me. "Ruth!..Ruth!..Baby..Ruth!"

 

They are the same thing, a stout is just a "darker" version of a porter in the traditional sense. Stouts started being called stouts back in the 1800s, but most of the time they referred to them as "dark or brown" porters I think

 

Why not? For someone who is "intimidated by stouts", starting out with an easy-drinking Irish dry stout (Murphy's is my go-to) is basically the equivalent of crawling before learning to walk. Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout and Left Hand's Milk Stout (is it odd I prefer the non-nitro?) are solid stepping stones from there. Russian imperials, blends with coffee/chocolate/etc., or anything barrel-aged as an introduction to stouts deprive those poor souls of learning/enjoying/appreciating the base style.

 

I'll have to give this a go. I'm always looking for a good, basic, ordinary stout besides sierra or deschutes. Which is what the OP is probably looking for. a lot of these posts, are not gateway stouts. Thx for the suggestion. Plus I'm sure the price is good on this stuff.

 

This was my gateway stout. First time I tried it back in the mid 90's I was blown away.

 

I assume because he's already had them and wasn't a fan. Stouts are my favorite beer and Guinness was my first one. I still am not a fan of Guinness. It has a bit of a grassy taste to me. I am going to guess the OP has a similar palate.

My experience with stouts was Guinness and then giving up on stouts for a year until my friend poured me a Young's Double Chocolate Stout. The chocolate was a nice familiar taste and as I drank more of them I began to appreciate the other elements, the roastiness and more. I could then appreciate those elements in other stouts. In other stouts I would appreciate the coffee flavors and then move on from there.

 

those mentioned. velvet merlin is good & easy to find

 

Another vote for Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

 

I concur with the Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout. So fucking good.

 

Three floyds Moloko was the first that got me into the stouts.

 

IMO That is the best beer that Nimbus makes.

Starters would be Sam Smith,Sierra Nevada,Sam Adams,Deschuttes Porters/Stouts. The lower ABV ones. Once you get a taste for it then move onto the good Imperial versions. If you jump right into a Stone Imperial Russian you might run away from Stouts too soon.

 

It's only available on draft and in a few select "test" markets right now, but if you can find Samuel Adam's Boston Stout (on nitro), order it. Very solid and very approachable to a stout newb.

 

Young's, Sammy, and Left Hand were my first stouts and I liked them, but I don't think I LOVED Stouts until my first Fidy. Not sure if I'd recommend it as a first, but those really chocolatey stouts that drink like pudding are really what pulled me in.

 

Velvet Merlin is my vote. But the beer that really got me into stouts, more than having the occasional Guinness or Murphy's in college, was Speedway.

 

Another option for getting into stouts are half/half combos trying pouring into a glass half new castle brown ale or any other brown or scotch ale then pour over a spoon carefully guinness or whatever stout youd like to try the sweeter brown ale kicks down the bitter of the stout making it a smoother drink for someone just getting into stouts

 

Marston's Oyster Stout.
O'hara's Leanne Follain.
O'hara's Irish Stout.

Guinness. There I said it. Yep it is a great intro stout.

 

Samuel Smith's oatmeal stout is a good place to start, and Samuel Smith's imperial stout is a good place to go next. Those two are a good intro to the subject, and depending on which you like best can help you decide what to try next.

 

Buried Hatchet Stout from Southern Star

 

That one doesn't actually taste like beer. It's just a chocolate bomb.


Sit down with a pitcher of Guinness and an empty stomach. By the bottom you'll be satisfied and full. Most people on here will knock Guinness, but I still think it's a great gateway to roasty beers. Also, if you don't like coffee, you're probably going to struggle with this style.