HOPIQ SCORE
The Best Stouts in the World
309 beers from 231 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 309 beers from 231 breweries.
Top 5 of 25
Black Sheep Milk StoutBest Overall#29 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…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 dry yet mouth-coating finish.
Primátor Stout#72 worldwide
ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 61
Primátor Stout is a top-fermented dark beer of the Irish type at 4.7 %, made from six grains: Pilsner, Munich and colour malts, a smoked malt, roasted barley and oats, with Northern Brewer as the only hop. It is near black with ruby glints…Primátor Stout is a top-fermented dark beer of the Irish type at 4.7 %, made from six grains: Pilsner, Munich and colour malts, a smoked malt, roasted barley and oats, with Northern Brewer as the only hop. It is near black with ruby glints and carries a dense, soft tan head. Delicate notes of nuts, chocolate and caramel play against the rough roast of the dark grains, which brings black coffee and bitter chocolate to the palate, and the oats leave a dry finish.
Guinness Extra Stout#272 worldwide
ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 35
A direct descendant of the archival recipes at St James's Gate, based on a beer Arthur Guinness II specified in 1821 as his Superior Porter. Unlike the nitrogenated draught version it is carbonated, which gives it a sharper attack. The…A direct descendant of the archival recipes at St James's Gate, based on a beer Arthur Guinness II specified in 1821 as his Superior Porter. Unlike the nitrogenated draught version it is carbonated, which gives it a sharper attack. The aroma is medium and balanced, with roasted grain and a subtle fermentation fruitiness alongside coffee, toffee and caramel. Bitter and sweet meet in the middle of the palate before a slight bite carries into a dry finish. In Ireland and continental Europe the same lineage is sold at lower strength as Guinness Original.
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Guinness Smooth#275 worldwide
ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 35
A stout built for a softer finish than the classic draught, brewed with sorghum alongside malted, unmalted and roasted barley. The aroma leads with roast and a pronounced sweetness of chocolate and caramel. It pours dark ruby red under a…A stout built for a softer finish than the classic draught, brewed with sorghum alongside malted, unmalted and roasted barley. The aroma leads with roast and a pronounced sweetness of chocolate and caramel. It pours dark ruby red under a frothy head, and the palate is rounded rather than sharp: malt sweetness and roast bitterness sit close together, and the close is short and clean rather than drying. It is sold mainly in African and Asian markets.
5
Guinness DraughtBest Session#413 worldwide
ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Colour
dark 35
First brewed in 1959 for the 200th anniversary of the lease Arthur Guinness signed at St James's Gate, this is the beer the brand is known for. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are dosed at dispense, which builds the dense pale head and the…First brewed in 1959 for the 200th anniversary of the lease Arthur Guinness signed at St James's Gate, this is the beer the brand is known for. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are dosed at dispense, which builds the dense pale head and the slow surge that settles before drinking. The aroma runs to roasted coffee and chocolate, the liquid is dark ruby red rather than black, and the palate holds bitter, sweet and roasted notes in balance before a dry, grainy finish.
Ranks 6–10
6
Spital Chocolate Stout#486 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…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 finish that never turns bitter — 40 IBU keeps the coffee grounded rather than harsh. A sipping stout that rewards lingering.
7
Noctus 100#536 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…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 luxurious rather than punishing. Winter drinking, near a fire, full stop.
8
Schönramer Imperial Stout#537 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
Double Negative#559 worldwide
Double Negative is Grimm's imperial stout at 10 percent, brewed since 2014. It pours jet black with burnt orange highlights under a long-lasting tan head that leaves heavy lacing. Espresso, bitter chocolate and caramel lead the aroma, with…Double Negative is Grimm's imperial stout at 10 percent, brewed since 2014. It pours jet black with burnt orange highlights under a long-lasting tan head that leaves heavy lacing. Espresso, bitter chocolate and caramel lead the aroma, with dark fruit notes of black currant and blueberry behind them. The palate is creamy and viscous and follows the nose at first; then a smooth bitterness cuts through before a long, roasty finish.
10
A. Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout#607 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…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 direct link to 19th century Baltic porter tradition.
The taste landscape
Of the 25 top beers, 20 lean malt-forward and 2 lean hop-forward.