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Mean Old Tom

Maine Beer Company
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🌍 United States · Stout · One of 32 Stouts in hopIQ

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
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
roasted
chocolate
coffee
Distinctive notes
vanilla
dark fruit
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FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Stouts

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

Other Stouts in hopIQ

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Mean Old Tom

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.

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
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Food Pairing

What to eat with Mean Old Tom

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

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