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Sierra Nevada Stout

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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🌍 United States · American Stout · One of 8 American Stouts in hopIQ

Stout was the first beer brewed on Sierra Nevada's hand-built brewhouse in Chico in November 1980, and the recipe has stayed in the range ever since. A malt bill of two-row pale, Munich, caramel, chocolate, Carafa, black malt and roasted barley meets Bravo, Cascade and Yakima Golding hops. It pours near-black with a tan head; the aroma brings dark roast coffee and bittersweet chocolate, followed by treacle, raisin and a resinous, earthy hop bitterness in a dry finish.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter50 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
dark35
See all American Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Stout.
Hop character
resinous
earthy
hoppy
Malt character
roasted
coffee
chocolate
malty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sierra Nevada Stout

◎ Appearance

Pours nearly opaque black with minimal light transmission, topped by a tan head of moderate density that gradually recedes. The carbonation is moderate, producing fine bubbles that rise steadily through the dark body. Head retention is fair, leaving minimal lacing on the glass.

nearly opaque blacktan headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced dark roast coffee and bittersweet chocolate notes, grounded in the malt bill's roasted and darker grains. Beneath these primary impressions lie hints of treacle and dried raisin, with a subtle resinous and earthy undertone from the noble hop blend. The overall aromatic profile is dry and inviting without excessive sweetness.

dark roast coffeebittersweet chocolatetreacle and raisinearthy hop character

◐ Taste

The palate opens with roasted malt backbone balanced by a restrained, clean bitterness that does not dominate. Flavors of chocolate and coffee persist through the mid-palate, with secondary notes of molasses and dried fruit adding complexity. The 50 IBU provides structure without harshness, allowing the malt complexity to remain the focal point.

roasted malt backbonebalanced bitternesschocolate and coffee

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately long, with lingering roast and hop bitterness gradually fading. The aftertaste carries subtle earthy and resinous notes characteristic of the Cascade and Yakima Golding additions.

dry finishroasted aftertaste
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Sierra Nevada Stout

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.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Sierra Nevada Stout

About American Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American 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 American Stout

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

Other American Stouts in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Stout beers in hopIQ →New to American Stout? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →