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Big Fish

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Big Fish is the brewery's take on a dry Irish stout and a fixture on the taps of its own Belfast taproom, where it is poured on nitrogen. Bullhouse describes a light roastiness, a thick mouthfeel and a big body for a beer of modest strength. Drinkers on Untappd agree on a smooth, creamy texture and add a toasty note. It is sold on draught only and has no page in the brewery's shop.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter41 IBU
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
toastyroastedcoffee
toasty
roasted
coffee
malty
Aroma
Light roasted grain and cocoa notes dominate, without aggressive char or smokiness.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Big Fish

◎ Appearance

Deep garnet to black in the glass, with excellent clarity and a tight crumb of dense foam that clings persistently to the walls. The nitrogen pour creates a distinctly creamy head with fine carbonation, characteristic of traditional Irish stout service. The body is substantial and opaque, presenting the hallmark visual density of the style.

black, dense foamnitrogen-conditionedexcellent head retention

◌ Aroma

Light roasted grain and cocoa notes dominate, without aggressive char or smokiness. A subtle toastiness emerges alongside soft malt sweetness, with minimal hop expression in the background. The overall nose is restrained and refined, allowing the clean fermentation character to remain prominent.

light roastcocoa, toastclean fermentation

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and creamy, with gentle roasted malt flavors that build into a toasty mid-palate. The modest 41 IBU bitterness arrives as a dry finish rather than assertive bite, balancing the malt-forward body without dominating. The full mouthfeel and moderate strength create a satisfying, easily drinkable profile.

creamy, smoothroasted malt, toastdry bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish fades gradually with lingering roasted grain and a subtle drying effect on the palate. A clean, refreshing aftertaste rounds out the experience without residual sweetness.

dry, roastedclean fade
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
81
Appearance
82
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 Big Fish

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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 smooth, full-bodied, creamy character as Big Fish will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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