The 7 Best Stouts for Warming Up This Winter

A simple imperial bourbon barrel-aged stout wasn’t enough for Firestone Walker. The producer took it to the next level with Parabolita, its first canned vintage beer. To make this epically rich brew, Parabola was aged for a year in bourbon barrels and then blended with Velvet Merlin milk stout. That was followed by an infusion of Madagascar vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, and sea salt. At under 10% alcohol-by-volume (ABV), it’s a smooth, luscious reimagining of a wintery favorite and an ideal option for dessert.

It’s a myth that all dark beers are high in alcohol. In fact, American porters can fall below 5% ABV, and they often focus more on the malt expression and flavor rather than aggressive alcohol content or a hefty mouthfeel. This classic-style stout boasts large notes of roast, chocolate, and espresso. It’s easy to sip this and fall in love. At 6.4% ABV, it’s also easy to enjoy a bottle or two without going overboard.

This offering from Missouri-based Side Project brewing is released each fall and eagerly snatched up by beer geeks in search of a rich, heavy blend of barrel-aged imperial stouts. Last year’s iteration included components from the brewery’s O.W.K., Vibes, Generational, Henry, and Sam recipes. Founder and brewer Cory King says the 2024 version utilized O.W.K. and Vibes as well as its Chocolate recipe, which was highlighted in the 2018 iteration. To craft the perfect blend takes a whole team and requires several days. 

“The selected barrels came from four different brew dates of these recipes, ranging from 16 to 29 months of resting and developing in our favorite barrels,” says King. He says that the barrels came from Willett Family Estate and Still630 and range from four to eight years old. It’s a magical mix, and with a double-digit ABV, it’s one that will certainly warm your bones. 

At 7.5% ABV, North Sky is a nicely balanced take on a Belgian-inspired stout that melds malt, hops, and yeast into a harmonious concoction that’s neither too big nor small. Many stouts are meant to age, but North Sky is best enjoyed fresh for the brightest expression of the Cascade and Northern Brewer malts used in the recipe, alongside Allagash’s house yeast strain. No need to save this one for dessert, as its medium body makes it an agreeable companion to a traditional winter roast or cozy family dinner with a crackling fire nearby.

At 14% ABV, this imperial stout is big, bold, and full of rich vanilla and chocolate notes that are accentuated by a year-long soak in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. As commanding as the annual release is, Fundamental Observation maintains a smooth complexity and sumptuous mouthfeel that’s best for slow sipping. It’s easy to see why Bottle Logic is renowned for its barrel-aged stouts. Save this one to share with friends.

Few menus are as stout-heavy at Ohio-based Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery. From straightforward porters and barleywines to more experimental iterations, dark beer lovers are all but guaranteed to find something to their liking. Its cuvée series highlights hand-selected brews brought together to create something entirely new. This year’s blend unites a 17-month-old honey stout with a 21-month-old brown sugar and maple barleywine. The result is a decadent, rich, and high-octane dessert stout.

If Breakside’s barrel-aged series is for the hardcore ABV chasers, those that seek a more approachable option need look no further than Black Swift Stout (6% ABV). This palatable brew is as classic as stouts get. It offers a medium body that spotlights lots of chocolate maltiness, and a roasty profile that’s more coffee than espresso. Its approach, consistency, and balance makes it an easy pick any day of the year.