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BLACK

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🌍 United Kingdom · Stout · One of 41 Stouts in hopIQ

A stout where roasted grain and dark chocolate anchor the glass. The aroma carries fudgy sweetness alongside the smoke of French roast coffee—a roasty, toasty profile that settles into something deeper as you drink. Let the beer warm slightly in your hand; the flavour shifts with temperature, the coffee notes gaining edge, the chocolate turning more brittle. At 4.6% it sits lighter than many stouts, making it a beer for the late afternoon rather than a grand finale, yet with enough character to hold attention through an entire session.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
See all Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Substantial 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
roasted
toasty
chocolate
coffee
Distinctive notes
smoky
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for BLACK

Appearance

Deep black body with minimal light penetration, characteristic of a well-kilned stout grain bill. The head is modest and tan, settling into a thin collar with restrained lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is gentle and measured, befitting a session-oriented interpretation of the style.

deep blacktan headminimal lacingsoft carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with roasted grain and dark chocolate, layered beneath a prominent coffee note that recalls French roast and espresso grounds. Fudgy sweetness threads through the mid-palate aroma, while a subtle smoke character sits further back, emerging more clearly as the beer warms in the glass. No sharp alcohol burn; the aromatic profile remains grounded and inviting.

roasted graindark chocolatecoffeefudgy sweetnesssubtle smoke

Taste

Entry is smooth and creamy, with roasted malt flavour dominating—toasted grain and cocoa powder combine with a brittle dark chocolate note that sharpens as warmth develops. Mid-palate carries coffee bitterness and a whisper of charred dark fruit without becoming harsh. The 4.6% ABV keeps the palate light despite the roast intensity, allowing the coffee and chocolate to remain distinct rather than merging into one-dimensional char.

toasty maltdark chocolatecoffee bitternesscreamy bodydark fruit

Finish

The finish is dry and moderately lengthy, with coffee edge persisting into the aftertaste. Roasted grain lingers pleasantly without astringency, and the beer settles into a clean, unfussy farewell.

dry finishcoffee persistenceclean
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
79
Appearance
76
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of BLACK

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 BLACK

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 toasty, roasted, chocolate character as BLACK 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 United Kingdom beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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