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The Brother Sean

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The Brother Sean is the brewery's yearly Belgian-yeast take on its Stout Porter. It is brewed once a year with a changing yeast strain and rests in the bottle for twelve months before release. The 2024 edition marked Anspach & Hobday's tenth birthday and comes in at 8.0 %. It layers roasted coffee, chocolate and dark fruit, balanced by delicate spice aromas and a full, rounded body, and is meant to be drunk fresh or aged.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecoffeedark fruit
chocolate
coffee
dark fruit
roasted
spicy
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, layered with subtle dark fruit notes—plum and raisin—that emerge from the Belgian yeast character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Brother Sean

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in the glass, with opaque clarity characteristic of the style. A dense, tan head forms on the pour and maintains excellent Schaumhaftung throughout the drinking experience. The body is full and viscous, with slow-moving legs that speak to the beer's 8% alcohol and substantial malt backbone.

deep mahoganyopaquedense head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, layered with subtle dark fruit notes—plum and raisin—that emerge from the Belgian yeast character. Delicate spice aromatics, likely phenolic contributions from the yeast strain, weave through the profile without dominating, creating a complex and inviting bouquet that rewards close examination.

roasted coffeedark chocolatedark fruitBelgian phenolics

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich roasted malt and coffee character, transitioning to cocoa and subtle berry sweetness in the mid-palate. The 40 IBU provide measured bitterness that balances the full body without harshness; the Belgian yeast contributes gentle spice notes that complement rather than overpower the roasted foundation. Alcohol warmth is present but integrated into the overall structure.

roasted maltcoffee-forwardcocoa sweetnessmeasured bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering roasted and chocolatey notes that persist on the palate. A subtle drying effect from the yeast and noble hops leaves the mouth refreshed despite the beer's full body, inviting another sip.

long finishwarming alcoholroasted persistence
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 10–14°C

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

Pint glass

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with The Brother Sean

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About Stout Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Stout Porter?

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 Stout Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, coffee, dark fruit character as The Brother Sean will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Stout Porters in hopIQ

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