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Counter Stout

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Roasted barley and Carafa Special bring deep coffee, cocoa and a touch of roast, and East Kent Goldings add gentle bitterness with earthy, herbal notes. A crisp, lean dry stout, black and clean, with flaked barley giving it a silky body. The grist is barley, flaked barley, roasted barley and Carafa Type 3 Special, and the Goldings keep it traditionally English.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
roastedcoffeeclean
roasted
coffee
clean
earthy
herbal
chocolate
Aroma
The nose presents roasted barley and dark chocolate notes in the foreground, underpinned by a distinctive coffee character that gives way to subtle earthy and herbal undertones from East Kent Goldings.
also:dark fruit
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Counter Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep black in the glass with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent tan head that clings to the sides with good retention. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, lending a refined presentation befitting a traditional dry stout.

deep blackcleartan head lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose presents roasted barley and dark chocolate notes in the foreground, underpinned by a distinctive coffee character that gives way to subtle earthy and herbal undertones from East Kent Goldings. A touch of cocoa complexity rounds out the aroma without any sharp roast edges.

roasted barleycoffeecocoaearthy and herbal

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and dry with prominent coffee and chocolate flavors balanced by a lean, silky body from the flaked barley. Mid-palate develops earthy and herbal bitterness that remains gentle and refined, never harsh, while dark fruit notes emerge subtly beneath. The dry character dominates throughout, creating a clean, unfussy mouthfeel.

coffee, chocolatedry, leanherbal bitternessdark fruit undertones

◑ Finish

Finish is crisp and dry with lingering coffee and earthy notes fading gradually. The aftertaste remains clean and bitter-dry without any warming alcohol impression.

dry, crisplingering coffee
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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 Counter Stout

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About Dry Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 Dry Stout

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

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