Black Gold vs The Poet: Which Should You Drink?

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Black Gold

Castle Rock Brewery

United Kingdom · Oatmeal Stout

hopIQ rank #2505

85%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

The Poet

New Holland Brewing Company

United States · Oatmeal Stout

HOPIQ TAKE

Black Gold if you want to stay sharp through the session, The Poet if you want a touch more depth to justify lingering. Both are oatmeal stouts with identical bitterness, but that 0.4% ABV difference matters more than you'd think—Castle Rock keeps theirs lean and approachable, while New Holland lets a bit more body and complexity creep in. You're really choosing between a stout built for repeatability versus one that rewards slower sipping.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Black Gold when…

→You're settling in for a longer night and want something that won't fatigue your palate
→You prefer stouts that feel like a welcoming introduction rather than a statement
→You want maximum drinkability without sacrifice

Pick The Poet when…

→You're looking for a stout with actual narrative—something that changes as it warms
→You appreciate oatmeal stouts that lean into roasted complexity over smoothness
→You're having one or two and want them to count

SIDE BY SIDE

	Black Gold	The Poet
ABV	4.8%	5.2%
Bitterness	Noticeably bitter	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Dark	Dark
Style	Oatmeal Stout	Oatmeal Stout
Origin	United Kingdom	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

9 shared · 3 distinct

Both beers

roastedcoffeecreamyrichsmoothdark fruitchocolatewheatmalty

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Black GoldThe Poet

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Black Gold

RoastedCoffeeRich

Black Gold hits smooth and almost creamy right away—the oatmeal does its job, softening what could be sharp edges. There's a light cocoa undertone, maybe a whisper of roasted grain, but nothing that overstays its welcome. At 4.8%, it drinks almost like a session beer that happens to be dark; you don't feel the alcohol, which is the point. It's the kind of stout you can have two of and still feel present.

The Poet

RoastedCreamyRich

The Poet opens with more presence—there's actual weight on your tongue from the first sip. The oatmeal is there too, but it's supporting a richer malt backbone and deeper roasted character. You get hints of dark chocolate and a very slight coffee dryness that lingers just long enough to make you take another sip. The extra ABV compounds the effect; it sits heavier, tastes more intentional.

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