An American stout pours jet black, under a large, lasting head of light tan to light brown. It tastes of strong roast, coffee and dark chocolate, sometimes a touch of burnt coffee grounds, with a medium to high bitterness and a citrus or resin hop. The finish is medium to dry. At 5–7% alcohol it is fairly strong.
Where it comes from
Craft brewers and home brewers took a strong English or Irish stout and hopped it the American way. Home brewers once called it West Coast stout, as they did other heavily hopped beers.
How to serve it
Pour it at 10–13 °C into a nonic pint. It goes with grilled lamb, a sharp Cheddar or coffee cake.
Next to its neighbours
It tastes like a hoppy, bitter, heavily roasted Irish extra stout. It has far more roast and body than a black IPA and goes further than an American porter; stronger versions are imperial stouts.
American Stout in numbers
- Classic examples
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Bell's Brewery, Deschutes Brewery, Trillium Brewing Company
- Original gravity
- 1.050–1.075
- Final gravity
- 1.010–1.022
- Food
- Grilled lamb; sharp Cheddar; coffee cake
- Classic examples
- Deschutes Obsidian Stout; Sierra Nevada Stout; Bell's Kalamazoo Stout; Avery Out of Bounds; Trillium Secret Stairs
- BJCP style
- 20B American Stout
Sources
Checked .
- 20B. American Stout, 2021 Beer Style Guidelines — Beer Judge Certification Program
- American Stout — CraftBeer.com, Brewers Association
