Stout Beer

The word stout  is defined as "physically strong, bulky," and stout beer is no exception.  These are dark, bitter beers composed of barley and various types of malt, which creates a strong, flavorful taste, but many different varieties are possible. Irish stout beer is the most popular, with the dry Guinness  being the most notable brand.  Imperial Stout Beer  was given a much higher alcohol content for transport, since it became popular before the days of refrigeration.  Sweet Cream  or milk stout, however, has a much sweeter taste because of the addition of lactose, a sugar derived from milk, during the brewing process.  Two types of these stouts are Mother's Milk , brewed in New York, and Snowplow , from Oregon.  It is oatmeal stout, though, that is the sweetest of the stouts. A couple of popular oatmeal stouts are Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout  and St. Ambroise .  Coffee stout is the darkest and most bitter of the stouts and chocolate stout mixes both sweet and bitter to create a unique taste.

Types of Stout

All right, let's go over this again to be sure.

• Dry  or Irish Stout : Very dark, rich, and bitter. Almost a toasted flavor.
• Imperial Stout : Very alcoholic--9% to 10% alcohol by volume is common.
• Milk Stout : Sweet and smooth.
• Oatmeal Stout : The sweetest stout.
• Chocolate Stout : This beer has a very dark, rich flavor, but is not necessarily actually brewed with chocolate.
• Coffee Stout : Dark roasted malts; not necessarily brewed using coffee either.
• Oyster Stout : Stouts have a long history of being enjoyed with oysters, and some stouts are actually brewed with them.

Popular Stout Beers

Bell's Double Cream Stout  A very creamy, sweet beer. Cream stouts are quickly becoming very popular.	Young's Double Chocolate Stout  A very sweet desert beer.	Sam Smith's Oatmeal stout  A hugely popular oatmeal stout that is also sweet.

Highland's Mocha Stout  Can actually be served warm as well as chilled.	Paulaner's Salvator Stout  Strong, but not overpowering.	Dogfish Head's Worldwide Stout  Almost 20% by volume; costs more than $10 a bottle at some locations.

Related Guides

Beer Buying Guide	Spirits	Coffee Buying Guide