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Auld Reekie Black

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A dark stout of moderate strength, 4.2 %, named after Edinburgh's old nickname. The brewery describes it as easy-drinking with a gentle bitterness and hops it with Willamette, chosen for a herbal and earthy character. Drinkers at the brewery's own bars report roasted malt and a coffee aroma, with a mild, fairly soft palate rather than a heavy roast. First listed in 2025, it is poured at the taproom and at Nobles.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
coffeeearthyroasted
coffee
earthy
roasted
herbal
chocolate
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted malt and coffee notes, grounded and inviting rather than aggressive.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Auld Reekie Black

◎ Appearance

Deep black color with minimal transparency, typical of the stout style. The head forms with moderate density and displays good retention, settling into a persistent collar around the glass rim. Carbonation appears restrained, appropriate to the beer's approachable character.

deep blackmoderate head retentionlow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted malt and coffee notes, grounded and inviting rather than aggressive. Willamette hops contribute a subtle herbal and earthy undertone that frames the malt without overwhelming it. A gentle, integrated character reflects the brewery's restraint in hopping and roast intensity.

roasted maltcoffeeherbal and earthy

◐ Taste

The palate enters soft and smooth, with roasted malt providing the foundation without harsh phenolics or excessive char. Bitterness remains mild and restrained at 35 IBU, allowing the gentle herbal quality of Willamette to emerge in the mid-palate. The overall impression is of balance and drinkability rather than intensity or heaviness.

soft palateroasted malt foundationgentle bitternessapproachable

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately short, with lingering coffee and subtle herbal notes fading gracefully. No astringency or harsh roast character persists, leaving a pleasant dryness.

clean finishcoffee fadedry
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
78
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Auld Reekie Black

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About Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same coffee, earthy, roasted character as Auld Reekie Black will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Stout? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →