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Boss Black

Boss Brewing
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🌍 United Kingdom · Stout - Other · One of 4 Stout - Others in hopIQ

CAMRA Champion Beer of Wales 2019 — Boss Brewing's award-winning stout. Smooth and roasted with coffee and chocolate character. The dark flagship that put Sarah and Roy Allkin's brewery on the Welsh craft map.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
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.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

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

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best British Stouts

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Boss Black

Appearance

Deep black pour with minimal transparency, revealing only the darkest garnet at the edges when held to light. A dense, tan head forms and persists with good retention and distinct lacing down the glass. Moderate carbonation presents as a fine, even bead throughout.

deep blacktan head lacingfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced roasted coffee and cocoa aromatics, grounded in dark malt character. Subtle earthy undertones emerge beneath, with a gentle toastiness that suggests careful kilning rather than harsh char. No aggressive bitterness on the nose, allowing the roasted sweetness to dominate.

roasted coffeedark cocoatoasted maltearthy

Taste

Smooth entry with substantial body that coats without heaviness, the roasted character immediately evident. Mid-palate brings together coffee and chocolate in balanced measure, with subtle notes of dark fruit adding complexity. Bitterness integrates cleanly—moderate and refined rather than sharp—while creamy texture softens the roasted edges throughout.

smooth roastedcoffee and chocolatemoderate bitternesscreamy body

Finish

The aftertaste lingers pleasantly into the medium range, leaving residual roasted and malty notes without astringency. A clean, slightly dry conclusion underscores the stout's drinkability.

medium finishclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Boss Black

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 Boss Black

About Stout - Other

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Stout - Other?

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 - Other

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

Other Stout - Others in hopIQ