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Black Boar

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An imperial stout brewed with oatmeal. It is black and silky, with a very full, velvety body and soft carbonation. Roast leads the flavour: dark chocolate, roasted malt and strong coffee, joined by dark fruit and a bittersweet edge. The alcohol is noticeable and leaves a mellow warmth at the end. The name comes from the boar of Ben Bulben, which in Irish legend killed the warrior Diarmuid and was killed by him.

ABV
10.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter60 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
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
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with prominent roasted malt and dark chocolate notes, followed by a strong coffee character that dominates without overshadowing.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Boar

◎ Appearance

Black Boar presents as a deep, opaque black with minimal light transmission, characteristic of a well-crafted imperial stout. The head is modest but persistent, clinging to the glass with fine lacing. Carbonation is restrained and gentle, creating a soft, creamy mouthfeel rather than aggressive bubbles.

opaque blackfine lacingsoft carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with prominent roasted malt and dark chocolate notes, followed by a strong coffee character that dominates without overshadowing. Underneath, subtle dark fruit esters emerge—plum and raisin—while a faint alcohol warmth signals the beer's 10.2% strength. The oatmeal adjunct adds a gentle, creamy undertone that softens the intensity of the roast.

dark chocolateroasted maltstrong coffeedark fruit esters

◐ Taste

Entry is full and velvety across the palate, with roasted malt and dark chocolate establishing the core flavor. Mid-palate develops a bittersweet balance, where the coffee notes deepen and dark fruit character becomes more defined. The 60 IBUs provide a measured bitterness that lingers without harshness, complemented by the silky oatmeal body that coats the mouth.

velvety bodybittersweetdark chocolatecoffee-forward

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with residual roast and chocolate notes fading gradually into a mellow alcohol warmth. Dryness builds slowly, leaving a pleasant bittersweet edge that invites another sip.

warming alcohollong finishbittersweet aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
79
Finish
81
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 Black Boar

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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 roasted, chocolate, coffee character as Black Boar will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse Ireland beers →