I'm not really familiar with any of the hyper-locals from STL, but if you get Bell's distributed, Expedition stout is a great regional stout. Comes in a 6pk.

I'll check it out. I really like the few beers I've had from Bell's.

Thoughts on Founders Breakfast Stout?

That's another fantastic one.

Sierra Nevada's Narwhal is an imperial that you might be able to find around STL. 4pk. Deschutes Obsidian is also a good one that's widely distributed.

I'll admit I'm kind of a bitch about my stouts. I really only like them if they're flavored with something like pumpkin. Sorry I can't recommend much.

Will 2nd the Expedition Stout. Others to keep an eye out for that can be found in StL:

Stone Russian Imperial Stout
Boulevard Imperial Stout
Schlafly Oatmeal
4 Hands Milk Chocolate
Great Divide Yeti (preferably the espresso)

Harder to get a hold of, but worth it:

Goose Island BCBS (any variety)
Prairie Bomb (incredible, but may have to take out a 2nd mortgage)

No Samuel Smith?

Just throwing a few out off the top of my head. Certainly not an exhaustive list. Plus, I was thinking of stuff you can't necessarily get everywhere. Admittedly, Stone is pretty ubiquitous these days, but that's one of my favorites.

Local brewery by us just made a batch of Prickly Pear Ale.

Gonna get a growler fill tomorrow and try her out.

Was going to be Aventinus tonight because of B-Day but I came down with a horrible throat and nose cold.

Had a 2012 bourbon county tonight - so good. They're pasteurizing it this year, will be interesting to see if it changes the flavor at all.

In related news, I'm moving to San Diego in a few weeks. Pretty excited about living in beer Mecca.

Yuengling Black & Tans as I try to fight off this throat cold.

Sipping on Left Hand Brewing's Fade to Black Ale. Damn good. Tastes more like a traditional porter then a black ale.

Edit: They call it a 'Foreign Export Stout' not sure what that means other then they were doing a take on Guiness Extra?

Foreign Export Stout is simply a style (that any brewer can make) and does not imply anything about copying a beer by another brewer, FYI.

Most craft brewers have no interest in copying what Guinness does. Nothing against Guinness at all, but I find their beers to be pretty average and they don't really stand out as anything particularly exemplary. The goal for most craft shops is to brew something that differentiates them from everyone else, not to brew a clone of another popular beer.

I echo this post. Very much enjoyed the Opus Vert. Thanks a million, TimBone.