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Stouts are one of the most beloved styles in craft beer and they seem to make even more sense at this time of year. So here are 5 more incredible stouts that you need to get your hands on.
Hill Farmstead Earl
Vermont’s Hill Farmstead Brewery is responsible for many legendary beers and this dark “opus to oats and coffee” is among their best.
Named after founder Shaun Hill’s great uncle, who once owned the land that the brewery now stands on, Hill Farmstead’s Earl is an unfiltered and naturally carbonated 7.2% Coffee Oatmeal Stout that’s a coffee-infused masterpiece of balance. Spectacular!
Yeti Imperial Stout
Founded by Brian Dunn back in 1994, Denver, Colorado’s Great Divide Brewing has orchestrated many great beers throughout its long history, but their multi-year GABF award-winning Imperial Stout is in a league of its own.
Big, roasty and with malt enriched flavor that eventually gives way to subtle caramel and toffee notes, Great Divide’s relatively hop-forward Yeti weighs in at an unapologetic 9.5% ABV that never burns. Genius in a bottle!
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
No discussion of stouts would be complete without acknowledging Guinness and their role in this proud brewing tradition. Founded in 1759 this global leader remains the largest brewer of stout in the world.
Much lower in alcohol (7.5% ABV) than its American compatriots, and unlike their flagship, carbonated rather than nitrogenated, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is as close as the brewery gets to what might be considered an “Imperial” in the United States.
Deservedly popular around world and accounting for 45% of their overall sales, Foreign Extra is less ubiquitous in the states and a valuable find when you happen upon it.
Half Acre Big Hugs
It’s no surprise that Chicago is home to some of the most amazing Imperial Stouts in the world – these are the kids of beers that are brewed to withstand winter’s winds and artic cold – and Half Acre Beer is home to one of the best.
Energized by an unforgiving profusion of specialty beans from Dark Matter Coffee, Half Acre Big Hugs is a big roasty 10% Imperial that as ruthless as it is tender and defines what a great Coffee Stout needs to be.
Sierra Nevada Stout
Ranked in 2015 as the 3rd biggest craft brewer in America Sierra Nevada which now helms brewing operations in both Chico, California, and Fletcher, North Carolina, built their empire brewing abundantly hoppy Pale Ales. So it might surprise you that they also brew a world-class stout.
Relatively sessionable by today’s craft stout standards (5.8% ABV) Sierra Nevada Stout is a rich and roasted, West Coast take on the traditional. And not surprisingly, it’s pretty aggressively hopped as well
