The Best Stouts Available in Durham Region

​The Best Stouts Available in Durham Region

We’re excited that November is here, because it also means that one of our favourite times of year has arrived: stout season!

Of course, there’s no rule that says you can’t drink one in the spring or summer, but there’s just something comforting about taking that first sip of a nice, cool, freshly-poured stout at your local craft brewery. And because our next in-person tasting event will be taking place at Falcon Brewing in Ajax, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of the best stouts available in the Durham region. Read on to see our picks in no particular order.

Salem Stout – Falcon Brewing, Ajax

Of course, we had to start off our list with a stout from the site of our next in-person tasting! With an ABV of 4.7%, this easy-drinking stout is full-bodied with a toasty flavour, thanks to the black malts.

Dig Deep Imperial Stout – All or Nothing Brewhouse, Oshawa

This heavy-hitter has been aging in a fresh bourbon barrel since the start of the year, and now, it’s available for the Durham region (and beyond) to enjoy! At 10% ABV, this imperial stout will definitely keep you warm throughout the winter.

Milk Chocolate Stout – Brock St. Brewing, Whitby

While some stouts can be heavy and strong, this nifty little number has a dominant flavour of rich milk chocolate and is much more sweet than bitter.

The Machine – Manantler Craft Brewing, Bowmanville

We love a good Russian Imperial Stout, and The Machine is certainly that! Full-bodied, rich and smooth, you can expect to taste notes of dark coffee, dark chocolate, and even fried plum – and it’s perfect for aging!

Necessary Lifting – New Ritual Brewing, Oshawa

The spooky skeleton label might make it seem like this stout is only appropriate for Halloween, but we’ll be drinking it all winter long – it’s that good! With notes of dark chocolate and toffee throughout, there’s definitely more ‘treats’ than ‘tricks’ with this one.

Blak Katt – C’est What Durham Brewing, Pickering

This is a dry, Irish-style stout that is served in a nitro-infused cask-in-a-can – meaning that, for best results, you’ll want to shake, open, and pour. It’s as easy as it sounds, and it’s definitely worth it in the end, but click the link above if you want to see a demonstration.

Star Destroyer – Chronicle Brewing, Bowmanville

A French vanilla coffee stout? Sign us up! At 8.5%, this ‘Emperial’ stout is sure to keep you warm inside on even the chilliest of autumn days. Oh yeah, and the can art is absolutely fantastic, too, making this one an all-around winner.

Of course, this is just a brief taste of the stouts available at craft breweries in Durham, so be sure to get out there this fall and find some that you enjoy. And don’t forget about our upcoming in-person tasting at Falcon Brewing on November 25 – tickets are available now and going fast!