St. Louis stout beers for Father’s Day and summer

My father is not a beer lover by any stretch of the imagination. But when he did have a beer with me, it was almost always a stout. Something dark, rich, and steady. I think he liked the depth, the roast, the way it felt a little more grounded than the bubbly stuff everyone else was drinking. Now, with Father’s Day approaching, I find myself thinking about dads like mine who might not be chasing the newest fruited sour or triple-dry-hopped IPA but still enjoy the occasional pint. Something classic. Something with character. And yes, even in the summer, that something can still be a stout.

Even though the myth goes that stouts are winter beers—too heavy, rich, and belly-warming for poolside sipping—summer drinking is all about staying light on your feet. Skip the syrupy 12-percenters and lactose-loaded dessert bombs, and reach for lower-ABV pours (think 6 percent ABV and less) with a dry finish and just enough roast to keep things interesting, without weighing you down.

4 Hands Brewing Co. | City Wide Stout | 4.5% ABV

Best known for its flagship pale ale, 4 Hands also quietly makes one of the most drinkable summer stouts in town. City Wide Stout leans into its Irish roots—it’s velvety, balanced, and just bitter enough to keep things crisp. Built on a base of two-row barley with caramel, Vienna malts, and flaked oats, it’s roasty but never heavy, and the low ABV means you can sip a couple without regretting it halfway through your bratwurst. Think of it as a black T-shirt in beer form: classic, versatile, and surprisingly cool in the heat.

Alpha Brewing Co. | Believer’s Brew | 6% ABV
Brewed with a heap of roasted malts, this oatmeal stout delivers a bold dose of chocolate and roast while keeping things mild on the hops. Believer’s Brew is dry on the palate and full on flavor—chocolaty, toasty, and grill-ready. It leans classic, not flashy, and that’s exactly what makes it such a solid summer stout pick.

Crossroads Brewery | Dragon Ass Oatmeal Stout | 5.25% ABV
If the name didn’t already win you over, the beer will. Dragon Ass is exactly what it sounds like: the fix for a long day. Smooth, slightly sweet, and light enough to qualify as a true summer stout, this 5.25% oatmeal brew brings bready roasted malt, creamy oats, and just enough hop bitterness to keep things balanced. Aromas of coffee, cocoa, and a hint of raisin round it out.

Excel Brewing Co. | Southside Stout | 6.5%
OK, so it’s over the “sessionable” limit—but if you’re not driving, this one’s worth the pour. Southside Stout is a bold, dark American brew with a citrusy hop edge that keeps it from feeling too heavy, even in the heat. Roasted barley, chocolate malt, and a hit of caramel create a layered richness, while Willamette hops add lift and balance. It’s a grill-side sipper made for long conversations and second helpings. Bonus points if you pair it with brie and brisket. Or, you know, just chocolate.

Ferguson Brewing Co. | Pitch Black Coffee Stout | 5.5% ABV
Creamy, caffeinated, and unmistakably local. Ferguson partnered with Park Avenue Coffee for this cold brew–infused beauty, and the result is everything you want in a summer coffee stout: smooth, roasty, and rich without being too thick. It’s like sipping your morning pick-me-up—but with hops. Serve chilled and pair with brunch, dusk, or a day off.

Ferguson Brewing Co. | Oatmeal Stout | 5.5% ABV
This English-style dry stout doesn’t try to reinvent anything—and that’s exactly why it works. Clean, malty, and medium-bodied with just enough oat-driven creaminess, it’s the kind of stout that disappears quietly on a warm day and makes you wonder why you don’t drink more of them. One of the best no-fuss summer stouts in the metro.

Good News Brewing Co. | Hazelnut Coffee Milk Stout | 5.3% ABV
This one’s got Sunday-morning-coffee energy—but the kind that pairs just as well with a plate of ribs or a freshly mowed lawn. Brewed with cold-brewed hazelnut coffee from Alpha & Omega Roasting (yes, their own roaster), The Good News is a smooth, nutty milk stout with a touch of sweetness and just enough roast to keep it grounded. It’s creamy, comforting, and endlessly drinkable—perfect for when brunch turns into an all-day hang, or when you’ve earned a glass by doing something outdoorsy.

Main & Mill Brewing Co. | Lil’ Jifforia | 5.5% ABV
This one’s a sleeper hit. Lil’ Jifforia leans into the peanut butter and chocolate combo without going full sugar bomb. It drinks like a miniature imperial—velvety, nutty, and deeply roasty—but keeps its cool at 5.5%. Slightly sweet, undeniably rich, and still light enough to have more than one, it’s a reminder that summer stouts can be playful and still deliver on complexity.

Old Bridgeview Brewing | Under the Bridge | ABV 5.5%
Sure, it’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day—but this super dry Irish stout pulls double duty for Father’s Day and the Fourth of July, too. Brewed in collaboration with underGROUNDS Espresso Bar, it’s packed with cold-steeped espresso beans that add smooth, roasty depth without weighing you down. Bold in flavor but light on its feet, it’s a no-fuss, all-flavor brew for dads who like their beer black and their coffee strong.

Scratch Brewing Co. | Hickory Stout | 5.2% ABV
Leave it to Scratch to turn forest floor into flavor. This dry stout is brewed with toasted hickory bark—not just for novelty, but for serious depth. The result is rustic and transportive, layering roasted coffee and toasted marshmallow with an earthy, smoky warmth that hints at incense or campfire coals. At 5.2%, it’s light enough to sip slowly in the shade or take on a breezy evening hike. Think of it as a stout with bark and bite—but none of the bloat.

Schlafly Beer | Oatmeal Stout | 5.7% ABV
The sweet side of darkness. This British-style oatmeal stout is rich but approachable—a full-bodied brew that knows how to take its time. Roasted malt brings nutty depth, cocoa, and a whisper of coffee, while the oats smooth things out without going full milkshake. Raisin and dried fruit sneak into the aroma, giving it a little old-school pub charm. At 5.7% ABV, it’s a touch high for a “true” session, but the balance and clean finish make it easy to come back for a second. If summer has a midnight snack, this might be it.

Square One Brewery | Irish Stout | 5.2% ABV
A true-to-form throwback that checks every box on the dry stout checklist. Irish Stout from Square One is jet black in the glass with a creamy tan cap and all the hallmarks of the Southern Irish style: dry finish, roasty backbone, low bitterness, and a touch of fruit from the yeast. Expect baker’s chocolate, dark roast coffee, and a smooth, full body that leaves lace and “legs” with every swirl. If you’re craving a Guinness-like experience but want to keep it local, this is your glass.

Two Plumbers Brewery + Arcade | Miak | 5.2% ABV
Named for the fictional troll-slaying “elixir” in Ernest Scared Stupid, this one’s built to slay trolls and thirst alike. Sweet, roasty, and ready for battle—Miak is an oatmeal milk stout with enough body to satisfy but low enough ABV to keep things playful. Brewed with lactose for added smoothness, it’s rich without being heavy and lands somewhere between chocolate milk and a dark ale. It’s the kind of beer you reach for mowing the lawn.