(Courtesy Oskar Blues Brewery)

Turns out one Best Stouts of 2025  just wasn’t enough.

While the big-name Imperial Stouts bombs tended to soak up most of the attention, 2025 delivered a deep bench of dark brews that proved excellence lives well beyond the more hyped releases.

From silky-smooth milk stouts to oak-laced beauties built for cellaring, last year showed how wide—and how rewarding—the American stout landscape has become.

Here are more of the best stouts of 2025…Know that many of these stouts are limited releases, so if there out there, they’ve been out there for a while. But the good news is, many of these stouts come with high-velocity ABVs and may even get better with age.

Oskar Blues – Ten FIDY (Barrel-Aged) Longmont, Colorado
ABV: 12.5%

A perennial heavyweight, barrel-aged Ten FIDY continued to evolve in 2025. Thick chocolate, toasted coconut, and a warming bourbon backbone made this one feel both massive and controlled—a rare balance at this strength.

Russian River Brewing – Shadow of a Doubt Santa Rosa, California
ABV: 9.8%

Jackie O’s Brewery – Bourbon Barrel Dark Apparition  Athens, Ohio
ABV: 14%

Jackie O’s continues to quietly build one of the best barrel programs in the country. This version of Dark Apparition was loaded with fudge, oak, and espresso notes, wrapped in a smooth, boozy glow that felt luxurious rather than hot.

Deschutes Brewery – The Abyss (2025 Release) Bend, Oregon
ABV: 12%

The Abyss remains one of America’s great aging stouts, and the 2025 release leaned more toward chocolate, molasses, and gentle barrel spice. It was complex without being overbuilt, perfect for slow winter sipping.

Westbrook Brewing – Mexican Cake (2025) Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
ABV: 10.5%

With cocoa nibs, cinnamon, and chili peppers, Mexican Cake walked a fine line between bold and chaotic—and nailed it. The 2025 batch leaned slightly spicier, making each sip lively without overpowering the chocolatey base.

(Courtesy Founders Brewing)

Founders Brewing – KBS Grand Rapids, Michigan
ABV: 12%

KBS may not be as rare as it once was, but it still delivers (as does its many limited release variations). Coffee, chocolate, and bourbon melded into a smooth, dessert-like stout that stayed balanced despite its intensity.

3 Floyds Brewing – Dark Lord (2025 Release) Munster, Indiana
ABV: 15%

Still one of the biggest, loudest stouts in America, Dark Lord brought waves of vanilla, molasses, and dark fruit. It’s not subtle, but in 2025 it felt more polished than ever.

Cigar City Brewing – Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout Tampa, Florida
ABV: 11.5%

Chocolate, cinnamon, and chili returned in force for Hunahpu’s 2025 release. Rich and warming, it struck a beautiful balance between sweetness and spice, earning its spot among the country’s most iconic stouts.

Burial Beer Co. – Sky Burial (Barrel-Aged) Asheville, North Carolina
ABV: ~13%

Burial’s brooding, artistic approach to beer shone through here. Dark chocolate, toasted oak, and subtle smoke created a stout that felt layered, moody, and perfectly suited for long nights and slow pours.