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10 Layers

RAR Brewing
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🌍 United States · Pastry Stout · One of 3 Pastry Stouts in hopIQ

Named for Maryland's official state dessert — the Smith Island cake, ten thin layers stacked with chocolate frosting. RAR translates it into a pastry stout: dense sweet dark chocolate, molasses, roasted coffee, and a soft vanilla thread through the finish. Creamy mouthfeel, no sharpness. 10 Layers is dessert in a can, without apology.

ABV
7.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full body.

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pastry Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
coffee
malty
Distinctive notes
vanilla
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 10 Layers

Appearance

Deep brown to nearly black, with opacity that reveals only the faintest light at the edges. A dense, tan head forms on the pour and clings persistently to the glass walls, leaving distinct rings of lacing with each sip. The carbonation is moderate and restrained, befitting a creamy pastry stout.

deep brownopaquepersistent head

Aroma

Roasted coffee and dark chocolate dominate the nose, grounded by molasses sweetness and a subtle earthiness. Vanilla emerges as a delicate thread beneath, balancing the darker roasted character without asserting itself. There is no sharpness or astringency, only a warm, dessert-like impression that invites the next breath.

roasted coffeedark chocolatemolasses sweetnessvanilla

Taste

The palate opens with dense, smooth chocolate and roasted notes that build through the mid-palate without harshness. Molasses and vanilla weave through continuously, creating a full, creamy body that coats without cloying. The 40 IBU bitterness sits low and well-integrated, allowing the sweet, dessert-like character to remain front and center.

chocolate-forwardcreamy mouthfeellow bitterness

Finish

The finish lingers gently with vanilla and residual chocolate sweetness, fading gradually rather than abruptly. No astringency or sharp edges remain, only a soft warmth that suggests another sip.

sweet aftertastesmooth fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of 10 Layers

Serve at 10–14°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

Food Pairing

What to eat with 10 Layers

About Pastry Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pastry Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Pastry Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, sweet character as 10 Layers will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pastry Stouts in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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