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Orca

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Orca is a 4.2% stout, deep dark black under a creamy head, rich and full-flavoured, with creamy chocolate, nuts and coffee from roasted barley, and a bittersweet balance from oats. Orcas are social animals, and Hoxa Head on South Ronaldsay is one of the UK's best places to watch whales. The brewers say the beer is worth the wait, like the pour of a pint of stout.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecoffeeroasted
chocolate
coffee
roasted
nutty
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted barley and dark chocolate, followed by nutty undertones and a subtle coffee character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Orca

◎ Appearance

Deep black under a creamy, substantial head that clings to the glass in defined lacing. The body is opaque and full, with no light penetration. Carbonation is moderate, supporting a dense foam that persists throughout the pour.

jet blackcreamy headdense lacingopaque body

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted barley and dark chocolate, followed by nutty undertones and a subtle coffee character. Oat sweetness softens the roasted intensity without dominance. No prominent hop aroma, allowing the grain-driven profile to emerge clearly.

roasted barleydark chocolatecoffee notesnutty, creamy

◐ Taste

The palate opens smooth and creamy from the oat adjunct, with chocolate and walnut flavors building through the mid-palate. Roasted grain bitterness arrives gradually, balanced by a subtle sweetness that prevents harshness. The finish is bittersweet, with a gentle drying effect from the IBU contribution.

creamy mouthfeelchocolate, nutsbittersweet balanceroasted grain

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with lingering roast and chocolate. The aftertaste is clean and slightly dry, without astringency.

medium finishroasted aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
82
Finish
76
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Orca

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About Oatmeal Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Oatmeal 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 Oatmeal Stout

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Oatmeal Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Oatmeal Stout? Read our guide →Browse Scotland beers →