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Black Gold

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Black Gold opens on a nutty roast and coffee, turns sweet with dark fruit and closes dry with a chocolatey finish, a Scottish milk stout at 4.4% ABV. Four malt colours make up the grist. CAMRA named it Champion Winter Beer of Britain in 2025, after four wins as Champion Beer of Scotland, and in 2026 it took Silver.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Overall
Gold · 2025
Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Session Stouts and Porters
Silver · 2026
Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Overall
Gold · 2026
Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Session Stouts and Porters
Gold · 2026
Champion Beer of Britain
Session Stouts and Porters
Gold · 2005
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, Scotland)
Champion Beer of Scotland
Gold · 2015
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, Scotland)
Champion Beer of Scotland
Gold · 2023
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, Scotland)
Champion Beer of Scotland
Gold · 2024
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, Scotland)
Champion Beer of Scotland
Gold · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Keg Stout & Porter (6.4% and under)
Silver · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Cask Session Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)
Gold · 2021
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Overall Champion Cask Beer
★Gold — Champion Winter Beer of Britain (Overall)
★Gold — Champion Winter Beer of Britain (Session Stouts and Porters)
★Silver — Champion Winter Beer of Britain (Overall)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatenutty
roasted
chocolate
nutty
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced roasted grain and coffee notes, underpinned by nutty undertones from the four malt blend.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Gold

◎ Appearance

Black Gold presents a deep black body with minimal light transmission, characteristic of its 35 SRM rating. A dense, tan head forms and clings to the glass with notable persistence, leaving distinct lacing on the walls. The beer shows good carbonation and stable foam structure throughout the pour.

deep blackpersistent tan headwell-laced

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced roasted grain and coffee notes, underpinned by nutty undertones from the four malt blend. Dark fruit esters emerge beneath, adding subtle complexity. The overall aromatic profile is grounded and warming, with no hop aggression—the 18 IBU remain restrained in the background.

roasted graincoffee, nuttydark fruit esters

◐ Taste

Black Gold enters the palate with robust roasted and chocolate character, evolving quickly into a sweet middle register enhanced by the milk sugar component. Nuttiness and subtle dark fruit flavors build complexity across the mid-palate. The finish turns drier, allowing cocoa and espresso notes to surface, while creamy mouthfeel persists throughout.

roasted, chocolatemilk sugar sweetnessdry cocoa finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is moderately long, balancing dryness with lingering chocolate and coffee impressions. A smooth, creamy residue remains on the palate, with no harsh edges or sharp bitterness.

dry, cocoa-forwardcreamy mouthfeel
86
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
87
Appearance
85
Finish
85
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 Gold

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About Milk Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Milk 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 Milk Stout

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

FEATURED IN

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