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Vecchia Orsa Stout

Birrificio Vecchia Orsa
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🌍 Italy · Stout · One of 47 Stouts in hopIQ

The beer that placed fifth in Italy's Beer of the Year — Vecchia Orsa's powerful Stout is jet black with cappuccino foam and notes of cocoa, espresso, liquorice and dark molasses; a full, velvety body and a long dry, bitter finish at 8.0% ABV. Made by a social cooperative near Bologna that employs people with disabilities, Vecchia Orsa Stout is one of Italy's most emotionally resonant and technically impressive dark beers.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
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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

Full 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
coffee
roasted
chocolate
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Vecchia Orsa Stout

Appearance

Jet black in color with virtually no light transmission, conveying the depth characteristic of a traditional stout. A dense, cappuccino-toned foam head forms at the pour and displays excellent retention and adhesion to the glass. The body appears full and opaque, with minimal carbonation visible as fine bubbles.

jet blackdense cappuccino foamopaqueexcellent head retention

Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced roasted malt and espresso notes, complemented by cocoa and a subtle licorice undertone. Dark molasses adds a sweet, earthy backdrop to the otherwise austere aromatic profile. The overall impression is one of complex roasted grain character without sharp or acrid edges.

espresso, roasted maltcocoa, licoricedark molassescomplex grain

Taste

Entry is smooth and velvety, with roasted coffee and chocolate flavors establishing themselves immediately on the palate. Mid-palate develops deeper notes of dark molasses and licorice, while a persistent dry bitterness gradually emerges. The full body carries these flavors with authority, remaining creamy despite the drying character.

roasted coffee, chocolatedry, bitter finishfull-bodiedvelvety texture

Finish

The finish extends long and dry, with lingering roasted grain bitterness and a slight licorice persistence. The aftertaste remains clean and composed, never becoming harsh or overly astringent.

long dry finishroasted grain bitterness
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
90
Appearance
89
Finish
85
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Vecchia Orsa 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.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Vecchia Orsa Stout

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, coffee, dry character as Vecchia Orsa Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Stouts in hopIQ

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