A Trappist brewery does not create a set style of beer. It denotes that the beer has been brewed at a Trappist Monastery. There are only 11 in the world that are entitled to carry the “Authentic Trappist Product” label.

Westmalle Dubbel is attractive in the glass, with a creamy head and the fragrance of malt. It’s rich and complex on the tongue, featuring a soft mouthfeel augmented by herby spices and a fruity yet slightly bitter finish.

If you are looking for a quintessentially Belgian dark beer made by Trappist monks, this quality bottle is hard to go past.

3. Guinness Draft/Guinness Extra Stout

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Sure, this may be a boring addition, however, there are plenty of reasons why this famous dark Irish dry stout has been entrancing customers since 1759 across 150 countries.

Despite its reputation as a thick dark beer, Guinness Irish stout has a lot in common with lager, given it’s a sessionable 4.2% ABV that contains a similar amount of calories in the glass. Its rich and creamy mouthfeel from malted barley makes it the ideal entry point for those new to stout.

If you are looking for a heavier, more traditional stout beer style, then Guinness Extra Stout will appeal. You’ll notice the slightly different label, brighter, more bitter flavor, and higher ABV (5.6%) on the can.

With the Guinness Extra Stout, you’ll notice roasted barley and the added crispness of carbonation in the beer’s flavor.

4. Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin

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I was extremely tempted to put this Oatmeal Stout at the top of this best beer list based on name alone, so it’s a bonus that West Coast brewer Firestone Walker’s Velvet Merkin tastes full and rich.

Dark beers like oatmeal stout offer an oilier, fuller mouthfeel than traditional milk stouts and tend to ramp up the malty flavor. For relative novices such as myself, there’s not a huge amount of difference in taste, and it does feel at times that a knife and fork may make consumption a bit easier.