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BJCP 2021 / 15B

Irish Stout

A dry, roasty, easy-drinking black beer with a creamy head.

  • Drink fresh
  • standard strength
  • dark color
  • top fermented
  • british isles

Serve: 42 to 48F, Pint

OG1.120
1.036 to 1.044
FG1.030
1.007 to 1.011
IBU120
25 to 45
SRM40
25 to 40
ABV14%
3.8 to 5.0%

Taste it in order

Aroma

12 pts
  • Roasted barley, coffee and cocoa
  • Slight sourness or dairy note from some versions
  • Faint hop
Vague
Roasty
Better
Coffee and roast
Best
Low to moderate roasted barley and coffee aroma with cocoa, faint hop, clean ale yeast

Appearance

3 pts
  • Black to very dark brown
  • Opaque or ruby when held to light
  • Dense creamy tan head
Vague
Black
Better
Black with a creamy head
Best
Black to very dark brown, ruby edges when held to light, dense creamy tan head that lasts

Flavor

20 pts
  • Roasted barley bitterness and coffee
  • Light chocolate
  • Dry, firm finish
Vague
Roasty
Better
Coffee and roast, dry finish
Best
Moderate roasted barley and coffee flavor with a trace of chocolate, moderate bitterness, dry roasty finish

Mouthfeel

5 pts
  • Light to medium body
  • Medium carbonation (nitro versions are creamy)
  • Smooth, creamy
Vague
Smooth
Better
Light-medium body, creamy
Best
Light to medium body, creamy, medium carbonation, no harsh grip

Overall Impression

10 pts

Lifts it

  • Roast and dryness together
  • Creamy texture

Drops it

  • Heavy sweetness
  • Burnt acrid roast
  • Thinness

Writing tip

Describe roast character carefully. Example: 'Coffee and roasted barley with a dry finish and creamy texture. Very clean.'

Pour these

  • DraughtGuinnessThe nitro reference: dry, roasty and creamy
  • Irish StoutMurphy'sA little sweeter with soft coffee
  • Irish StoutBeamishSlightly bigger roast, dry

Often confused with

Fine here

  • Sour/Acidic: A faint tartness in the finish is a signature of the style
  • Diacetyl: A faint buttery trace is tolerated

Ruinous here

  • Astringent: Harsh burnt roast
  • Oxidized: Stale
  • Sulfur: Eggy notes

Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.