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Merula Nitro Stout

Hook Norton Brewery
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🌍 United Kingdom · Stout · One of 40 Stouts in hopIQ

Merula Nitro Stout takes Hook Norton's classic dark recipe and reshapes it through a nitrogen pour, giving it a smoother, creamier mouthfeel than tradition allows. The cascade releases coffee and dark chocolate alongside a subtle smokiness, then the taste follows: rich and velvety, creamy up front, before the finish turns dry with roasted-grain bitterness. Treacle toffee and cocoa dust linger. A session stout at 4.2 percent — depth without weight.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
See all Stout alternatives →
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

Substantial 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.
Malt character
chocolate
coffee
roasted
caramel
Distinctive notes
smoky
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#4 of 50The Best British StoutsFeatured inThe Best British Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Merula Nitro Stout

Appearance

Deep brown to black in the glass, opaque with an inky quality typical of the style. The nitrogen pour produces a dense, creamy head with exceptional retention and fine-textured lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is soft and restrained, contributing to the overall smooth visual impression.

deep brown-blackopaquecreamy headfine lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by pronounced coffee notes with a subtle underlying smokiness. A light treacle sweetness grounds the profile without overwhelming the dry, burnt character. The nitrogen delivery softens the edges, presenting the aromas as rounded and approachable rather than sharp.

roasted graindark chocolatecoffeesubtle smoke

Taste

Entry is velvety and creamy on the palate, with immediate impressions of cocoa and caramel supported by rich roasted malt. Mid-palate sustains the chocolate and coffee notes while a drying bitterness emerges from the grain. The finish turns distinctly dry with roasted-grain tannins, leaving treacle toffee and cocoa dust as lingering impressions.

velvety mouthfeelroasted chocolatedry bitternesstreacle toffee

Finish

The aftertaste is clean and measured, with roasted grain bitterness fading to cocoa powder and a gentle warmth. Despite the 4.2 percent alcohol, the finish carries satisfying depth and complexity without heaviness.

dry roastedmoderate lengthcocoa dust
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Merula Nitro Stout

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.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Merula Nitro Stout

About Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 Stout

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

Other Stouts in hopIQ

Explore all Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Stout? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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