[SydneyK]

I was going to suggest Red Hook until you said you were a stout fan. You know what? I'll still suggest it...

I was in grad school when I discovered Red Hook. Like you, if I were going to drink beer, I had always preferred Bud Light. I got laughed out of the bar. (Then again, I was the only female in the grad program, so the boys felt like they had to teach me how not to be a priss.) Anyway, Red Hook is quite tasty. It's much more flavorful than Bud Light, but it isn't overpowering. The first sip is pretty hoppy, but you might learn to enjoy that hoppy taste (I did). But like I said, since you're a fan of stouts, you might not dig Red Hook that much; it's definitely much lighter than a stout.