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Wholesome Stout

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Intense roasted barley and roasted-coffee notes, a smoky and nutty nose, plenty of hop character and a dry, bitter finish in a full-bodied, smooth stout. It began as Peter Amor's cask recipe, sold as Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout, and it is the beer that Nightjar later grew out of. Silver for Cask British Dark Beers at the 2025 Midlands & West Indie Beer Awards.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands & West)
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands & West) (Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcoffeenutty
roasted
coffee
nutty
smoky
hoppy
chocolate
Aroma
Roasted barley dominates the nose with pronounced coffee and cocoa notes that build as the beer warms.
also:dark fruit
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wholesome Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep black-brown colour with an opaque, impenetrable body characteristic of the style. A dense, tan head forms quickly and clings persistently to the glass walls with fine Schaumkleiden. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, contributing to the smooth mouthfeel.

black-brownopaquedense headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

Roasted barley dominates the nose with pronounced coffee and cocoa notes that build as the beer warms. A smoky undertone weaves through, accompanied by earthy, nutty character from well-developed grain and restrained hop aromatics. The overall effect is dry and inviting without harshness.

roasted barleycoffee, cocoasmoky, earthyrestrained hops

◐ Taste

The palate opens with full-bodied roasted grain and bitter coffee notes that develop into subtle chocolate and dark fruit complexity mid-palate. Hop bitterness is pronounced yet balanced, contributing a dry, assertive character without overshadowing the malt foundation. The mouthfeel remains smooth and creamy despite the substantial bitterness.

full-bodied roastbitter coffeechocolate, dark fruitdry, hoppy finish

◑ Finish

A lingering dry finish with persistent coffee and roasted notes. Bitterness carries through the aftertaste, leaving a clean, mineral quality on the palate.

drycoffee aftertastepersistent bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
82
Appearance
84
Finish
79
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.

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 Wholesome Stout

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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, full-bodied character as Wholesome Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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