Throw your hands up and – Stout!

Tomorrow, Thursday, November 3rd, has been deemed International Stout Day! By whom you ask? Does it really matter?! Someone is suggesting that we take one day out of the year to pay tribute to one of my favorite styles of beer! A Stout is a dark style of beer, originally just another way to say a strong porter. They often come with chocolate and coffee undertones and are made in several variations such as oatmeal stout, imperial stout, chocolate stout, Irish stout, and milk stout.

There are some pretty freaking fantastic stouts that are made right here in Michigan. In fact, some are so good, that they have ignited an underground beer trading movement across the country, and are selling for as much as $100 on sites like eBay. Since stouts are one of my favorite styles of beer and in honor of International Stout Day, I have decided to share with you my top ten favorite Michigan stouts, and yes, the top three are all from Founders Brewing.

KBS Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids An imperial stout brewed with a massive amounts of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels. This beer comes out once a year, and is very hard to come by.

Canadian Breakfast Stout Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids An Imperial Stout brewed with a blend of coffees and imported chocolates, then aged in spent bourbon barrels that have most recently been aging pure Michigan maple syrup. This is also an extremely hard beer to locate.

Breakfast Stout Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids Double chocolate, oatmeal stout, brewed with Sumatra and Kona coffee. Luckily this stout from Founders is much easier to find, and still pretty amazing.

The Poet New Holland Brewing Co., Holland The Poet has a rich, smooth malt character enveloped in tones of roast and chocolate.

Uber Goober Oatmeal Stout Shorts Brewing Company, Bellaire Smooth, creamy, chocolaty, peanut butter oatmeal stout…need I say more?

Espresso Love Breakfast Stout Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor An oatmeal stout with a mildly chalky espresso character balanced by a rich, sweet creamy maltiness.

Sanders Chocolate Stout Detroit Brewing Co., Detroit A dark, satisfying aroma and flavor of a fine Stout Ale with the restrained richness and elegance of the hand selected cocoa used by Sanders Fine Chocolatiers in Detroit since 1875.

Imperial Creme Brulee Java Stout Kuhnhenn Brewing Company, Warran An imperial stout with chocolate and coffee flavors.

Country Cork’s Irish Stout Grizzly Peak, Ann Arbor A dry, rich, Irish-style stout, nitrogen-dispensed for creaminess.

Peanut Butter Stout Old Hat Brewery, Lawton Pure peanut butter goodness with a hint of chocolate.

What are some of your favorite stouts and how do you plan on celebrating International Stout Day?