What's your favorite Stout in each sub-style?

I’ll admit, I don’t drink a lot of sweet/milk stouts and Young’s has some nostalgia going for it

 

Irish Dry Stout - Sly Fox O'Reilly's Stout
Sweet/milk stout - Lancaster Milk Stout

I love stouts but don't have strong opinions on the rest of the categories. And didn't know today was whatever day so I'll chill one for later. Really need a calendar on the sidebar of this site.

 

Me too, man. Me too

 

Oh wait... now that I think about, I probably misunderstood. Do you mean the Double Chocolate Stout that's still around? I was strictly thinking of Young's back when they were still a genuine thing. I had their old oatmeal stout in mind... which I never had. Wish I could try those old beers today.

 

Youngs. Murphys. Guinness etc etc

I very much enjoy Sam Smiths Imperial Stout. Tonewood out of New Jersey has a 3. Something percent stout that is crazy good. I was a giant fan of milk stout until my body said permanently no more or else. Lancaster Milk Stout is what dreams are made of

 

I was referring to the not genuine thing, and a time when I used to bring it to D&D sessions because it was agreeable for everyone while being somewhat “fancy”

 

Mexican Chocolate Yeti has got to be one of the all around favorites on my entire beer list.
SHOUT OUT TO THE STOUT!!!! I believe a stout is in order after working on this list. CHEERS!

• American Imperial Stout
  Mexican Chocolate Yeti
  Great Divide Brewing Company
  
• American Stout
  Black Forest Nitro
  Left Hand Brewing Compan
  
• English Stout
  Kentucky Coffee Barrel Stout
  Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.
  
• Foreign / Export Stout
• Dragon Stout the only one on my list
  Desnoes & Geddes Limited
• Irish Dry Stout
  Maury Mable’s Irish Stout
  Three Taverns Craft Brewery
  
• Oatmeal Stout
  Breakfast Stout
  Founders Brewing Company
  
• Russian Imperial Stout
  Departed Spirit
  Three Taverns Craft Brewery
  
• Sweet / Milk Stout
  Nitro Hot Cocoa
  Southern Tier Brewing Company

 

My list with a tiny bit of commentary

American Imperial: Collective Arts - Origin of Darkness: Lervig

This is probably more of an Imperial Pastry Stout as it’s BBA and loaded with peanut butter. Peche Mortel and Ten Fidy (old standbys) are right behind


American: Siren Craft Brew Caribbean Chocolate Cake


English: Harviestoun Old Engine Oil

Ola Dubh 18 & 30 are right behind. Harviestoun apparently has this style on lock down.


Foreign/Export: Beau’s Sergeant Stripes

Experience is limited here (only six) - Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is the runner up.


Irish Dry: Central City Red Racer Gingerbread Stout

This is a flavored stout, runner up is/was Black Creek Irish Potato Stout marginally ahead of a number of other quality Irish Dry Stouts.


Oatmeal: Founders Breakfast Stout

No surprise.


Russian Imperial: Founders Imperial Stout

St-Ambroise Stout Imperiale Russe and North Coast Old Rasputin are close enough to give pause.


Sweet/Milk: Flying Monkeys The Chocolate Manifesto

Bellwoods Black Liquids No. 9 is close enough to give a mention.

 

I think, if Zonker Stout was more widely available/distributed, it'd be a lot of people's number one choice as well.

 

American Imperial Stout - Ten Fidy

American Stout- Kalamazoo Stout

English Stout-Harviestoun Old Engine Oil.

Foreign/Export Stout- Lion Stout

Irish Dry Stout- Murphy's

Oatmeal Stout-Ipswich Oatmeal Stout

Russian Imperial Stout - Parabola

Sweet/Milk Stout--Mackeson XXX

 

I'm not quite as prolific in the Stouts as other styles. I'm guessing virtually no one will have many of the same ones I do. Maybe Murphy's and Guinness. Anyway here's mine.

• American Imperial
  Piano Keys
  New Belgium Brewing
• American Stout
  Walkers Station
  Pretoria Fields
• English Stout
  North Sky
  Allagash
• Foreign / Export Stout
  Guinness Foreign Extra
  Guinness
• Irish Dry Stout
  Murphy's
  Murphy Brewery
• Oatmeal Stout
  Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
  Samuel Smith
• Russian Imperial Stout
  Declaration
  Reformation Brewery
  
• Sweet / Milk Stout
  When All Goes Black My Shadow Seeks Me
  Orpheus Brewing

One side note, I really like a "straight ahead" American Stout but it has really become difficult to have much of a selection in my area. Even directly at the brewery. It can be a little frustrating to me.

 

@Todd as if you guys don't have enough to do, but this is a pretty good idea. A calendar with all the different beer days on it. Nice @Spade !

 

Well, you asked so here is an unfiltered accounting of my preferences over the last decade or so. Some of my ratings are utterly inexplicable to me now. Others I remember fondly. But FWIW here you go. YMMV.

American Imperial Stout (149):
The Farewell To Foes We Neversaid (Burial Beer Co.)

American Stout (39):
Murder of Crows (Reaver Beach Brewing)

English Stout (3):
Cafe Cohiba (Mason Ale Works)

Foreign / Export Stout (2):
Fade To Black - Volume 1 (Left Hand Brewing)

Irish Dry Stout (4):
NA - I hated them all

Oatmeal Stout (22):
Breakfast Stout (Founders)

Russian Imperial Stout (66):
Coven [Coffee + Coconut + Cacao + Cookies & Cream + BBA Maple] (Ghost 1107) (Adroit Theory)

Sweet / Milk Stout (30):
Cafe Con Leche Stout (Cigar City)

 

Excellent!

 

Dammit, I’m drinking IPA’s tonight! Need to change it up seeing as there’s still 2 innings left in game 5.

Going strictly by review/rating because I don’t feel like picking favorites:

American Imperial Stout: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Café de Olla Stout (2019)
Sweet/Milk Stout: Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Latte
Russian Imperial Stout: Surly Darkness
Oatmeal Stout: Revolution Café Deth
American Stout: Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout
Irish Dry Stout: North Coast Old #38 Stout
Foreign/Extra Stout: Schlafly Irish-Style Extra Stout

I don’t get on the forum much, but cheers y’all!

 

• American Imperial Stout - Adroit Theory / Cushwa Future You Hates You - Coconut, Cacao, English Toffee, Maple
• American Stout - Deschutes Obsidian Stout
• English Stout - Overtone Ray Zen
• Foreign / Export Stout - Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
• Irish Dry Stout - Woodland Empire Sláinte
• Oatmeal Stout - Founders Breakfast Stout
• Russian Imperial Stout - Barrel-Aged Narwhal
• Sweet / Milk Stout - Southern Tier 2XSTOUT

 

American Imperial Stout - South of Nowhere - MERIT Brewing Co.* (see bellow)

American Stout - Viva la Stout - Sawdust City Brewing Co.

English Stout - Old Engine Oil - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

Foreign/Export Stout - Dragon Stout - Desnoes & Geddes Limited

Irish Dry Stout - Murphy's Irish Stout - Murphy Brewery Ireland Limited

Oatmeal Stout - Simple Man - Frank Brewing Co.

Russian Imperial Stout - Wellington Imperial Stout - Wellington Brewery

Sweet/Milk Stout - Kentucky Cow - Wellington Brewery

and finally, even though it is classified as an American Imperial Stout, I do feel that Coffee stout deserves it's own category, to which I give the king of all stouts I've had.

Coffee Stout - Peche Mortel - Brasserie Dieu du Ceil!

 

American Imperial: KBS, Founders
American: Obsidian, Deschutes
English: only one I've reviewed is Kentucky Coffee Barrel, Alltech's
Foreign/Export: Guinness Foreign Extra
Irish Dry: O'Hara's Leann Folláin, Carlow
Oatmeal: Breakfast, Founders
Russian Imperial: Old Rasputin, North Coast
Sweet/Milk: The Temptress, Lakewood

 

Here are my top rated reviewed beers by sub-style:

03-14-2010 Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
Great Divide Brewing Company
American Imperial Stout 9.5 4.22 4.8 +13.7%

12-10-2017 Breakfast For Dummies
Stickman Brews
American Stout 8.5 4.22 4.56 +8.1%

05-24-2011 Cowbell
Voodoo Brewery
Sweet / Milk Stout 8.5 4.37 4.63 +5.9%

11-27-2021 Ralphius - Two Year Double Barrel (Buffalo Trace/Sazerac)
Free Will Brewing Co.
Russian Imperial Stout 18.4 4.6 4.84 +5.2%

02-25-2020 OatBituary
Northway Brewing Co.
Oatmeal Stout 5 4.21 4.65 +10.5%

07-12-2021 Pierced Moon
Troubles End Brewing
Irish Dry Stout 5.5 4.43 4.43 0%

02-25-2018 City Of The Dead
Modern Times Beer
Foreign / Export Stout 7.5 4.1 4.29 +4.6%

11-23-2011 Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Aged In Malt Whiskey Casks)
Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.
English Stout 8 3.87 4.5 +16.3%

 

• American Imperial Stout
  Oil of Aphrodite - Jackie O's
  
• American Stout
  Mean Old Tom - Maine Beer Co.
  
• English Stout
  Pemaquid Oyster Stout - Marshal Wharf Brewing Co.
  
• Foreign / Export Stout
  Guinness Foreign Extra Stout - Guinness Ltd.
  
• Irish Dry Stout
  Old #38 Stout - North Coast Brewing
  
• Oatmeal Stout
  Breakfast Stout - Founders Brewing
  
• Russian Imperial Stout
  Blackout Stout - Great Lakes Brewing Co.
  
• Sweet / Milk Stout
  Milk Stout - Left Hand Brewing

So many solid choices and brewers Bell's and Jackie O's could fill much of this list. FBS made it based on consistency and availability as St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout is probably my favorite of the sub-style that is w/o added flavors.
Really want to keep the beers dark until the spring bocks this year.

 

What a fun thread! For me (with links to my reviews, some a bit old and less informed than I am these days ) it's:

• American Imperial Stout
  CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) - still my highest rated beer of all time
  Founders Brewing Company
  
• American Stout
  Two Die For
  Two Roads Brewing Company
  
• English Stout
  Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30
  Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.
  
• Foreign / Export Stout
  Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
  Guinness Ltd.
  
• Irish Dry Stout
  Cadillac Mountain Stout - oh look, this one is the top rated of the style
  Atlantic Brewing Company
  
• Oatmeal Stout
  Bourbon County Brand Special #4 Stout - beat out Rusty Nail by literally 0.01
  Goose Island Beer Co.
  
• Russian Imperial Stout
  Siracusa Nera
  Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
  
• Sweet / Milk Stout
  Impermanence - just recently had this and it's amazing, beats out Moment Of Clarity
  Tree House Brewing Company

 

Interesting to sort through this and find some surprises like the difference between what I would pick up to drink versus highest rated, plus two relatively easy to find styles lightly represented. Man, there are a ton of good beers if I combine all the stout categories. But anyway...

American Imperial

• KBS from Founders as highest rated and I'd throw in some of my lower rated variants, but one of my favorite drinkers is Undead Party Crasher (nee Vampire Slayer) from Clown Shoes.

American

• Brig and Maple Brig from Springdale. The Townsman was one of my favorites from a local brewer/friend - but sadly closed.

Oatmeal

• Danny's Oatmeal Stout from Lake St. George Brewing - favorite and top scored.

Russian Imperial

• Surley Darkness is at the top of the ratings. Lake St. George Fledgling, Thirsty Dog Siberian Night are more of the "go to" when I can find them.

Foreign/Export

• Babayaga from Pretty Things - didn't realize it was in this category. Lovely brew.

Sweet/Milk

• Mast Landing Gunner's Daughter hand's down (I even like the peanut butter), but pretty fond of Shake It Sugar Tree from Foundation when it's out.

 

I pretty much gave up on local stouts as most have unnecessary flavoring additives in them.
I like a good ole regular stout, nothing added, aged on or infused, or overly hopped.
Guinness Foreign Export Stout, Guinness Extra Stout, Guinness Pub Style Stout, Sammy Smith Imperial Stout & Oatmeal stout are my go to's when in the mood for the style.
Yuengling Porter is also very satisfying for the price & a Fall & Winter staple for me.

 

A while back I started a thread on the top-rated “plain” stouts in each subcategory — plain meaning no barrel aging and no add-junks (coffee, coconut, peppers, etc).

The Irish Stouts and Foreign/Export subcategories still have a lot of plain options. The others you need to dig a bit deeper.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/best-plain-stouts.653052/

 

Based on my BA stats...

• American Imperial Stout
  Bourbon County Brand
  Goose Islan
• American Stout
  Ivory Stout
  Brew Link Brewing Company
  
• English Stout
  Organic Chocolate Stout
  Samuel Smith
• Foreign / Export Stout
  Fade to Black - Volume 1
  Left Hand
• Irish Dry Stout
  Guinness Extra Stout
  Guinness Ltd.
• Oatmeal Stout
  Do or Die
  Orpheus Brewing
• Russian Imperial Stout
  Wake Up Dead Nitro
  Left Hand
• Sweet / Milk Stout
  Nitro Hot Cocoa
  Southern Tier

 

This is an interesting exercise as I rarely think about my favorite stouts and don't buy them that way. My stout drinking is pretty simple: If the weather or my mood is lousy, I just go down to the cellar and get whatever stout is down there. I also rarely repeat a stout; indicating I don't assimilate favorites in these styles. I use parentheses to show how little I do this.

American Imperial Stout (55): Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand Stout
American Stout (18): New Glarus' Coffee Stout
English Stout (12): the four Harviestoun's Engine Oil varieties
Foreign export stouts (8): Lion Stout from Ceylon, I have not found it for several years
Irish Dry Stout (18): North Coast's Old #38
Oatmeal Stout (24); Founder's Breakfast Stout
Russian Imperials (35): Firestone Walker's Parabola
honorable mention Drago from Chicago's Wild Onion
Sweet/milk (31): Tree House's Candy Shop
honorable mention: Azadi's Kadak (Azadi is a startup at Chicago's Pilot Project)

 

All I know is that if you like sweet stouts and don’t necessarily want a high ABV, pastry bomb Tree House really has it figured out quite well.