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Mean Old Tom

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A stout aged on natural vanilla beans for a rich, dessert-like depth without losing its drinkability. Dark, warming, and smooth — a cult favourite in a lineup otherwise dominated by hoppy beers.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
vanillaroastedchocolate
vanilla
roasted
chocolate
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by a clear vanilla presence that neither masks nor overwhelms the malt base.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Mean Old Tom

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to black in the glass, opaque and dense with minimal light transmission. A rich tan head forms with good retention and leaves a defined lacing pattern down the sides of the glass. The body presents thick, viscous legs that speak to its full-bodied character.

opaque blacktan head retentionviscous legs

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by a clear vanilla presence that neither masks nor overwhelms the malt base. Coffee and cocoa undertones emerge with aeration, while subtle dark fruit notes add dimension to what remains a balanced and inviting bouquet.

roasted maltvanilla, chocolate, coffeedark fruit undertones

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and creamy, with roasted flavors building through the mid-palate where vanilla becomes distinctly present alongside rich chocolate notes. The 35 IBU bitterness is restrained, providing structure without harshness, while dark fruit characters lend complexity. The mouthfeel is full yet approachable, with a subtle warming alcohol presence that never dominates.

roasted, vanilla-forwardcreamy mouthfeelbalanced bitternessdark chocolate notes

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, with lingering roasted and vanilla notes gradually receding. A gentle warming sensation persists, leaving behind impressions of chocolate and coffee without any harsh drying.

warming aftertasteroasted chocolate finish
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
86
Appearance
82
Finish
81
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.

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Mean Old Tom

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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 vanilla, smooth, rich character as Mean Old Tom will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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