Recommend perfectly balanced stouts for me

I think ten fidy is just delicious and perfectly balanced. The abv is hidden well its very smooth and easy to drink. Oak aged yeti is another well balanced. I especiallly like the espresso oak aged yeti

 

Balanced is a hard definition to get around on a stout, my favorites are the Imperials and they are all listed above, Ten Fidy, Founders, KBS, Yeti, and Big Bear Black Stout from Bear Republic. Peche Mortel (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1141/10325) is an awesome stout, but for session stouts I like the ones with either cream or coffee mostly, chocolate sometimes but rarely. Narwhal from Sierra Nevada surprisingly, is very tasty to me. Left Hand Milk Stout is one I often recommend to a "noob" craft beer drinker that wonders what all that dark beer tastes like, it has never gone wrong.

 

I'm surprised at the lack of love for Pretty Things' Babayaga.

If we're talking about balance, then Babayaga has to be included. The symmetry of flavors is rewardingly experimental while staying true to style.

 

Haven't tried any of the Yetis other than espresso oak aged, so perhaps I'm off base, but that one seems a bit heavy and sweet to throw back more than one maybe two. Don't get me wrong, I love it but I wouldn't recommend it in this instance.

I do agree whole-heartedly with Boulevard's Dark Truth stout which I think is one of the best balanced stouts out there. Also Odell's Cuthroat Porter, though not a stout. There's been a lot of mention of Obsidian as well, which I like, but I had Abyss on tap the other day and found it extremely drinkable as well. Gotta watch those ABVs if you want to throw them back all night though.

 

milk stouts (left hand nitro/ killigans mother's milk) are always very smooth... but also generally low ABV and kinda mild. Of the non-milkstout varieties: Speedway is a generally available, much stronger flavor, and tasty as hell. Well, at least I think it's well balanced, although not ultra smooth. Same for Big John, although that's likely difficult to find now.

 

I prefer expedition...absolutely stunning.

 

Had a Alesmith Speedway Stout the other night. Wow!!!

It was too strong at first, but when I started swallowing it slowly the chocolate and vanilla flavors really came through. I thought that balanced the taste and the heavy mouth was unreal.

One of my new favorites.

 

I like new holland's dragon's milk. I think it is a very smooth BA stout.

 

I would seriously recommend Dark Horse's Plead the 5th- the roasted malt really shines through more so than the hoppier Founders Imperial Stout.

If you want a similar porter, I would go with Deschutes Black Butte, has a nice creamy mouthfeel to go along with the complex porter flavour.

 

I just had my first a Obsidian Stout and was blown away! So, that's my vote.

 

I was pleasantly surprised with Magic Hat's heart of darkness, very smooth English stout. Could drink a whole six pack of this with ease.



As for an imperial, I recommend Southern Tier's Oat, it's pretty damn smooth and very well balanced. Enjoy OP.

 

FIS aged at least one year.

 

Thank you for considering OP's question and answering appropriately. OP Check out foreign style stouts.

 

Lion Stout is one I have not seen mentioned -- a really good foreign export type of stout and a decent price.
Sierra Nevada Stout is a good everyday stout.
A month ago I would have said Rogue Shakespeare stout, but they changed something about the hop aggressiveness in that beer when I tried it last month -- either a different crop or hopping rate or timing or something. Much more bitter than I remembered.
Bell's Kalamazoo Stout and Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout are two more good suggestions for non-imperial stouts. Bell's Double Cream is a great stout but not around all year long.

On the imperial side, it is hard to go wrong with Yeti (harder to find though at least here in VA), Founders IS, and Brooklyn BCS is also a good choice for a balanced option.

 

Firestone Walker Parabola (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/41815). Not my favorite barrel aged RIS but the most balanced in my opinion. I actually prefer stouts with a bolder flavor profile.

 

I would agree with everyone saying Old Raspy, Yeti (just "simple" Yeti), and Founders Imperial Stout. This Black Rat Imperial Stout I'm having right now falls into that category too I would say, though that's obviously not exactly something available widely.

 

The flying Dog Pearl Necklace Stout is pretty smooth and tasty. Other than that Victory's Baltic Thunder.

I'm loving SN Narwal, but not everyone is liking it.

 

This is like a really big honey dew list and I like it much better than the one my wife gives me....

 

old raspy
ten fidy