During our scorching Pennsylvania summers, most craft beer drinkers reach for a light, refreshing beverage. Rightfully so, as a pilsner or IPA can be essential for beating the heat. However, there is a place for a dark stout during every season, especially around the campfire or under the stars.
Pennsylvania craft beer drinkers are treated to a wonderful variety of stouts, as breweries pump out options that range from light and sessionable to rich and high-octane. Some stouts are so light that they could totally be enjoyed in the dead of the heat. Here are some of the our top picks from around the state.
Yards Brewing Company: Love Stout
Available all around the City of Brotherly Love and beyond, Yards Brewing Company’s Love Stout embodies what it means to be a year-round stout. Dark in color with roasty notes of rich milk chocolate and a velvety, smooth mouthfeel, Love Stout is just light enough in body to be sessionable. A precise combination of roasted barley, chocolate, crystal and black malts drive the beer’s flavor, which is especially delectable when served on nitro.
Penn Brewery: Chocolate Meltdown
Chocolate Meltdown is an aptly named chocolate milk stout from Penn Brewery, brewed with caramel malts, lactose sugar and Betsy Ann American Chocolates’ milk chocolate. Notes of caramel and milk chocolate flood the senses, much like enjoying a chocolate milkshake. This beer is perfect for cooling off after a long day in the heat.
Vault Brewing Company: Full City Coffee Stout
Vault Brewing Company offers its Full City Coffee Stout in nitro 16-oz. cans, making it easy to enjoy a frothy pour while hiking or camping. Lots of roasted barley and chocolate malts make up Full City’s base, while Vault’s own Pretty Bird Sumatra and Ethiopian coffee contribute roasty and nutty notes. Full City Coffee Stout exemplifies both Vault’s and Pretty Bird’s devotion to quality liquid. At only 5% ABV, this beer makes a nice pick-me-up.
Tröegs Brewing Company: JavaHead Stout
Tröegs’ JavaHead Stout is brewed with chocolate and roasted malts, and infused with cold-steeped coffee through its HopBack vessel. The result is a balanced stout with notes of cocoa powder, dark mocha and raisins. This beer is perfect served with dessert in place of actual coffee.
Victory Brewing Company: Storm King
Storm King is a staple in the Pennsylvania imperial stout world. The pitch-black brew has a full-bodied mouthfeel, while the flavor boasts notes of espresso and chocolate with a notable hop presence. Rich and roasty, Victory’s Storm King pairs well with barbecue. Just keep an eye on the 9.1% ABV, and get yourself a DD or an Uber.
Lavery Brewing Company: Ulster Breakfast Stout
Lavery Brewing Company’s Ulster Breakfast Stout pays homage to a hearty Irish breakfast — and would ideally be paired with one. Brewed with dark roasted malts, oats, fresh organic coffee and milk sugar, Ulster Breakfast Stout is like experiencing a whole meal in a bottle. This beer is great with brunch or a nightcap.
2SP Brewing Company: Baby Bob Stout
2SP Brewing Company’s Baby Bob Stout is a wonderful representation of the style. It has just about everything you want in a stout, with just enough roastiness and hop bitterness to keep everything in balance. At 6% ABV, this stout is a great choice to enjoy with a savory, meat-heavy dinner.
Stoudts Brewing Company: Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout blends the smooth, creamy mouthfeel of an oatmeal stout with the hop bitterness and viscosity of an imperial stout. Clocking in at 9% ABV, Fat Dog is brewed with a lot of roasted malts to lend big notes of fudge and espresso. This beer is ideal for sharing on a cool summer night, ideally with dessert.
Iron Hill Brewing Company: Russian Imperial Stout
Iron Hill Brewing Company’s Russian Imperial Stout is its most-awarded beer. Renowned for its viscous body, roasty flavors and surprising drinkability at 9.5% ABV, Russian Imperial Stout is a must-try. A hefty malt bill drives the beer’s flavor, while hops add bitterness to keep everything in check. This beer pairs great with steak or burgers, as well as dessert.
Limited Releases:
Weyerbacher Brewing Company: Sunday Morning Stout
Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Sunday Morning Stout pushes the style to the extreme. This 12.7% imperial stout is brewed with coffee and aged in bourbon barrels, resulting in a beverage that can accompany your breakfast sandwich or your chocolate cake. With notes of coffee, bourbon and caramel, Sunday Morning Stout is thick and savory and perfect for sharing over weekend breakfast or brunch. This beer is released once a year, generally around February.
East End Brewing Company: Steelcut Oatmeal Stout
Steelcut Oatmeal Stout is the kind of beer that you can enjoy several of in one sitting. At only 4.4% ABV, this oatmeal stout has a smooth mouthfeel and malt-driven flavor that can be enjoyed all day. Look for this sessionable beer available at both of East End Brewing Company’s locations April through June.
The Brewers of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit trade association that brings together leaders of Pennsylvania-based breweries in order to promote and protect the brewing industry in the state. Established in 2011, the Brewers of Pennsylvania serves the consuming public of Pennsylvania by encouraging brand diversity in the market. We believe in the nobility of brewing and hold dear the great traditions and history of Pennsylvania brewing.
Featured image: Bigstock; other photos, top to bottom: Andrew Boyer, Penn Brewery; Weyerbacher; East End Brewing Company