The craft beer community has universally adopted the term "pastry stout" (although we can credit Don't Drink Beer with coining the name) to describe a stout brewed to be intentionally sweet. And often made with the addition of plenty of sugary ingredients. 

Like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Or maple syrup. Or coconut truffles. 

It's brewers' ability to riff off decadent desserts and confectionary components that makes pastry stouts so fun.

But on the whole, pastry stouts cause plenty of controversy. Much like milkshake IPAs or dessert-inspired sours. 

Fans love the dessert-like profiles. Whereas critics find the throw-all-these-ingredients-into-the-mash approach to be excessive.

Regardless, you can't deny that pastry stouts have become a cultural phenomenon. And it's worth trying a few of these crazy creations to see whether you're a fan or a foe. 

Interested in learning more about pastry stouts? Unwrap the mystery with Hop Culture's What Exactly Is a Pastry Stout?

In the meantime, from an Imperial stout aged for twenty-one months in bourbon barrels with toasted coconut flakes, raw coconut chips, Ugandan vanilla beans, Belizean roasted cacao nibs, and Ghanan roasted cacao nibs 🤩  to one with lactose, peanuts, and peanut butter, here are Untappd's 15 Highest-Rated Pastry Stouts of 2022.

1. Medianoche Reserve (2021) - WeldWorks Brewing Co. 

2. Medicare for All, Now - Modern Times Beer

3. Noa Pecan Mud Cake Four Roses Barrel-Aged Coconut Imperial Stout - Omnipollo

4. Chaos Grid: The Final Search (2021) - Modern Times Beer

5. TIMES 8 Bourbon Barrel-Aged - LERVIG

6. DOOZIE NOCHE - HOMES Brewery

7. Starry Noche (2021) - WeldWerks Brewing Co.

8. My Continuous Improvement - Cloudwater Brew Co.

9. Pastry Mode - Moksa Brewing Co.

10. Scatter Signal (2020) - Bottle Logic Brewing

11. Saturday (2021) - Cycle Brewing Company

12. Double Dose2  - Horus Aged Ales

13. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Weekend - Prairie Artisan Ales

14. Peanut Butter & Stout - Narrow Gauge Brewing Company

15. Barrel-Aged Chocolate Coconut Truffle - Trillium Brewing Company

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Looking for more? Check out Hop Culture's The 10 Best Stouts Available in Most Stores Right Now, The 21 Best Stouts to Drink for International Stout Day, and Blind Tasting 10 of the Best Stouts (Traditional, Imperial, and Pastry).