HOPIQ FACEOFF
74%
Overall similarity
hopIQ take
Belhaven Black Scottish Stout if you want roasted grain depth and a drier finish,
Murphy's Irish Stout if you want creamy smoothness and subtle sweetness.
Both clock in at identical IBUs and similar ABV, so the real difference is texture and flavor direction. Belhaven leans into the malt complexity; Murphy's prioritizes that signature Irish creaminess. Neither will knock you over—these are session stouts designed for a pint or three.
At a glance
The differences that matter
Generated from the four anchored axes — never hand-written.
Structurally near-identical
Structurally these two are the same beer. The difference is in the aromatics. Belhaven Black Scottish Stout runs a touch sweeter in sweetness (Δ 3). Belhaven Black Scottish Stout brings a distinct smooth-drinking note that Murphy's Irish Stout doesn't.
Beer DNA
Where they separate
Body
Δ 2
Sweetness
Δ 3
Situations
When to choose which
In words
Tasting notes
Belhaven Black Scottish Stout
Belhaven hits you with immediate roast right away—think burnt toast and espresso without harshness. There's a dryness that builds through the middle, almost like sucking on dark chocolate that's been left in a cool cupboard. The body's leaner than you'd expect, which actually lets those roasted notes breathe. It finishes clean and slightly chalky, leaving your palate wanting another sip rather than feeling coated.
Murphy's Irish Stout
Murphy's feels softer the moment it touches your lips—that nitrogen pour creates a dense, velvety foam that lingers. The flavor is gentler: dark malts with hints of caramel and a whisper of cocoa, nothing aggressive. There's a slight sweetness underneath that keeps it approachable, almost comforting. It's the kind of stout that doesn't demand attention but rewards you for paying it.
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