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Black Gates

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A nitro stout at 4.1 %, launched in late 2024 as a pub-only draught beer and named after the Ashton Gate stadium near the brewery. It is hopped with Fuggles and Phoenix and served on nitrogen, which gives the dense, creamy head; the brewery promises a true-to-style stout with a creamy, smooth balance. Trade notes add mild toasty malt, and drinkers on Untappd describe roast with chocolate and coffee in a light body. It now also comes in cans, without a widget. Vegan and gluten free.

ABV
4.1%
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
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
toasty
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with roasted malt—earthy and dry—followed by subtle chocolate and coffee notes that emerge from the grain bill.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Gates

◎ Appearance

Deep black with red highlights at the rim, characteristic of a well-crafted stout. The nitrogen carbonation creates a dense, creamy head that clings persistently to the glass with fine, tight bubbles. Opacity is complete; clarity is not a feature of this style.

deep blackdense creamy headfine bubblesopaque

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with roasted malt—earthy and dry—followed by subtle chocolate and coffee notes that emerge from the grain bill. Fuggles and Phoenix hops contribute a gentle herbal restraint without asserting citrus or floral character. A faint toasty quality rounds the profile, inviting without intensity.

roasted maltchocolate, coffeeherbal hopstoasty

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and creamy, the nitrogen mouthfeel gliding across the palate with a light, almost silky body. Roast flavors and chocolate develop in the mid-palate, balanced by a moderate 40 IBU bitterness that feels clean rather than harsh. The finish dries gently, leaving behind a lingering roast impression without astringency.

creamy mouthfeellight bodyroast, chocolatemoderate bitternessdry finish

◑ Finish

Short to medium in length, with a dry, coffee-tinged aftertaste that fades cleanly. No cloying sweetness; the close remains true to the stout's dry character.

dry aftertasteclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
81
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.

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 Gates

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About Irish Dry Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Dry 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 Irish Dry Stout

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

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