hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Stars Align

Tap to rate

Stars Align is Hop Nation's alcohol-free stout, first released in 2022. Three toasted malts, specialty oats, flaked barley and a trio of base malts give it a smooth, silky texture. Eclipse hops open with a touch of citrus and pine before the malt takes over with notes of nuts, dried fruit and caramel. The palate moves towards dark chocolate, and the beer stays a little brighter and lighter in body than a full-strength stout. The finish is rich and chocolatey.

ABV
0.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecaramelroasted
chocolate
caramel
roasted
nutty
malty
piney
Aroma
The nose opens with bright citrus and pine from Eclipse hops, cutting through the darker aromatic backdrop.
also:dark fruit,citrusy,coffee
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Stars Align

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in colour, characteristic of a stout's dark roasted grain bill. The beer presents with good clarity despite its colour intensity, and the head forms a dense, tan foam with strong adhesion to the glass. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

deep mahoganydense tan headclear for stylemoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus and pine from Eclipse hops, cutting through the darker aromatic backdrop. This quickly yields to the malt-forward character: toasted grain, hazelnut, dried stone fruit, and hints of toffee develop as the beer warms. The overall impression is balanced between herbal hop definition and rich, roasted grain depth.

citrus, pineroasted grainhazelnut, dried fruittoffee sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate enters soft and silky, driven by the blend of oats and specialty malts. Mid-palate brings forward dark chocolate, caramel, and nutty notes that build in intensity without becoming cloying. A gentle thread of bitterness emerges from the Eclipse hops, providing structure and preventing the beer from feeling flat, though the overall impression remains malt-centric.

silky mouthfeeldark chocolatecaramel, nutgentle bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is rich and lingering, dominated by dark chocolate and roasted malt that persist on the palate. The beer fades gradually, leaving a warming dryness without harsh aftertastes, and the low alcohol allows the finish to feel clean rather than alcohol-numbed.

chocolate aftertastewarming drynessclean finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Stars Align

More from Hop Nation Brewing Co.

Footscray Draft
Footscray Draft
Australian Lager
4.2%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Fresh Hop Chop
Fresh Hop Chop
IPA
6%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Hop Nation Peach Lager
J. Juice
J. Juice
New England IPA
7.1%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Karma Chocolate Stout
Karma Chocolate Stout
Milk Stout
5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Libba Legacy
Libba Legacy
Australian Lager
4.4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Melbourne Black
Melbourne Black
Irish Dry Stout
4.3%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Melbourne Fog
Melbourne Fog
Hazy Pale Ale
4.8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

About Alcohol-Free Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Alcohol-Free 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 Alcohol-Free Stout

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

Compare with another beer →