HOPIQ SCORE
The Best Stouts in the World
167 beers from 156 breweries · Ranked by style authenticity — not marketing
These rankings are dynamic. As more people rate, match and like beers on hopIQ, community signals will increasingly shape the results alongside style authenticity and award recognition.
Stout originated in the British Isles as a stronger, darker porter variant and has since been adopted and reinvented across five continents. The style family is genuinely diverse: Dry Irish Stout, Foreign Extra Stout, Milk Stout, Imperial Stout, and Oatmeal Stout each have distinct reference criteria and are evaluated separately on hopIQ.
Sub-styles trade positions as scores recompute, and the geographic spread reflects the style's international reach. British Milk Stouts (Black Sheep from North Yorkshire), Czech Foreign Extra Stouts (Primátor), Irish dry stouts (Guinness Extra and Draught — the tradition that made the style globally known), plus entries from South Korea and beyond, all appear in the top group. The style family is broad enough that no single producer or country dominates.
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score weights style authenticity (80%), user engagement (10%), notability (10%), and award history. Active, in-production beers only — non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 167 beers from 156 breweries.
Top 5 of 25
Primátor StoutBest Overall#2 worldwide
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 40
World's Best Stout 2025. A rich, characterful stout — dark and full-bodied with roasted malt depth, coffee and chocolate notes, and a balanced, satisfying finish. One of the most awarded beers in Czech craft brewing. Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
Black Sheep Milk Stout#20 worldwide
ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
dark 36
World's Best Milk Stout 2025 — for the second consecutive year. A wonderfully balanced stout with lactose additions for smooth sweetness, tempering robust roasted malt and hop bitterness. Creamy coffee and rich chocolate notes lead to a… Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
Guinness Extra Stout#113 worldwide
ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 40
Based on a recipe from 1821 — the original Guinness expression. Crisper and more bitter than Draught, with intense roasted coffee and dark chocolate and a sharp, dry finish. Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
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Beamish Irish StoutBest Session#137 worldwide
ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 40
Beamish Irish Stout is a smooth and creamy stout brewed in Cork, Ireland, featuring a rich dark color and a dense, velvety head. With its balance of roasted malt character and subtle bitterness, it offers a classic Irish stout experience… Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
5
Guinness Draught#184 worldwide
ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 25
Guinness Draught is a classic Irish dry stout known for its distinctive creamy head and smooth, balanced taste. It features a rich dark color with subtle roasted flavors and a refreshing, slightly bitter finish. Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
Ranks 6–10
6
Spital Chocolate Stout#255 worldwide
Spitalbrauerei's Manufaktur Stout from Regensburg walks the line between roasted coffee intensity and smooth chocolate indulgence. Pitch-black and full-bodied at 6.8%, it opens with espresso and dark cocoa before settling into a creamy… Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
7
Noctus 100#281 worldwide
Riegele's Noctus 100 is an imperial stout that goes all in — 10% of boozy warmth, pitch-black, dense with roasted malt and dark chocolate from the triple-mash process. The sweetness and high body balance the hefty bitterness into something… Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
8
Schönramer Imperial Stout#282 worldwide
A year-round Imperial Stout from one of Germany's most technically precise lager breweries. Dark chocolate, espresso and dried fruit with a warming, full-bodied depth. Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
9
A. Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout#321 worldwide
Estonia's most historic beer — a recreation of the Imperial porter originally brewed for the Russian Tsar's court. Dark chocolate, coffee, dried fruit and warming alcohol in a rich smooth frame. One of the Baltic's finest dark beers and a… Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
10
Belhaven Black Scottish Stout#334 worldwide
Belhaven Black is a Scottish stout that tastes like its name — pitch-dark, creamy, built on nitrogen for a velvety pour. Coffee and dark chocolate move through easily; the finish is dry and warming without alcohol heat, even at 4.2%. This… Ranked here for style-fit against the Stout reference and award history in Stout-specific categories.
The taste landscape
Of the 25 top beers, 20 lean malt-forward and 0 lean hop-forward.