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Black Belt

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Ritual Lab's Oatmeal Stout — winner of 1st place Beer of the Year 2020 (Birraio dell'Anno). Rich, creamy, and smooth with deep dark chocolate and espresso aromas from the oat-forward grain bill. The dark counterpart to Head Space: technically precise and deeply satisfying, demonstrating Ritual Lab's mastery across every beer style. One of Italy's finest stouts from Italy's most awarded brewery of 2020.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark36
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
malty
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by prominent espresso and cocoa notes that emerge from the oat-forward grain foundation.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Belt

◎ Appearance

Deep ebony color with a dense, tan head that clings persistently to the glass. The body is opaque and substantial, with excellent head retention and fine carbonation that manifests as a gentle cascade of bubbles. The dense foam structure demonstrates confident conditioning and careful pouring technique.

opaque blackpersistent tan headdense foamfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by prominent espresso and cocoa notes that emerge from the oat-forward grain foundation. Subtle hints of dark fruit and dried fruit complexity add depth without overshadowing the primary roast character. The aromatic profile is clean and well-integrated, with no sharp or off-putting notes.

roasted graindark chocolateespressococoa

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and creamy, with the oat component providing a silky mouthfeel that carries roasted malt sweetness across the palate. Mid-palate develops chocolate and coffee character balanced against gentle bitterness, while the 6.5% ABV remains well-hidden beneath the rich body. Finish is dry without astringency, leaving a lingering roast and subtle dark fruit complexity.

creamy oat mouthfeelbalanced chocolate-coffeegentle bitternessdry finish

◑ Finish

The finish extends with sustained roast character and a whisper of dark fruit. Warmth from the alcohol is present but restrained, allowing the malt complexity to dominate the aftertaste.

sustained roastdry warmth
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
89
Appearance
87
Finish
86
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 Black Belt

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About Oatmeal Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Oatmeal 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 Oatmeal Stout

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

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