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Original Beer Company Bullrock Stout

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An imperial stout with extended bourbon-oak barrel aging — coffee, dark chocolate, caramel and nuttiness in harmonious layers, plus oak and vanilla notes from the barrel that linger through the finish. Named 2022 WBA Style Winner in the Porter & Stout category, awarded AIBA Gold in 2025 — Bullrock is the brewery's flagship.

ABV
9.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter31 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
Australian International Beer Awards 2025
Country Winner · 2024
World Beer Awards 2024
Country Winner · 2023
World Beer Awards 2023
Style Winner · 2022
World Beer Awards 2022
Porter & Stout
Gold · 2022
World Beer Awards 2022
★Gold — Australian International Beer Awards 2025
★Country Winner — World Beer Awards 2024
★Country Winner — World Beer Awards 2023
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
nutty
oak
vanilla
Aroma
Roasted malt dominates the nose, layered with prominent coffee and dark chocolate notes that blend seamlessly with barrel-derived oak and vanilla.
also:caramel
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Original Beer Company Bullrock Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep black-brown color with minimal light transmission, characteristic of a heavily roasted Imperial Stout. A dense, tan head forms with excellent retention and lacing, clinging to the glass in distinct rings. The body presents as opaque and full, with slow, deliberate carbonation that emphasizes the beer's weight and presence.

deep black-browndense tan headexcellent lacingopaque

◌ Aroma

Roasted malt dominates the nose, layered with prominent coffee and dark chocolate notes that blend seamlessly with barrel-derived oak and vanilla. Nutty undertones emerge as the beer warms, complemented by subtle caramel sweetness. The bourbon oak integration is refined rather than aggressive, creating a complex aromatic profile that unfolds over multiple passes.

roasted maltcoffeedark chocolatebarrel oakvanillanutty

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich roasted character balanced by smooth, almost creamy texture that belies the 9% ABV. Coffee and dark chocolate persist through the mid-palate, with nutty and caramel notes weaving beneath. Oak and vanilla from the bourbon aging provide structure without overwhelming the base malt character; bitterness develops gradually, providing counterpoint to the underlying sweetness.

rich roastedcreamy mouthfeelcoffee forwardchocolateoak-aged charactermoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish extends with lingering oak and vanilla, carried on a drying bitter edge that prevents cloying sweetness. The aftertaste remains warming and present, with coffee and subtle nuttiness persisting well into the fade.

long finishoak and vanilla lingerwarming
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
87
Serve at 13–16°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 Original Beer Company Bullrock Stout

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About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial 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 Imperial Stout

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

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