BJCP 15C · Irish Beer
Irish Extra Stout
An Irish stout bigger and fuller-bodied than the classic draft version, with coffee and bitter chocolate roast and a dry finish. More alcohol, same dryness.
Irish Extra Stout by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 5.0 – 6.5%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 35 – 50 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 30 – 40 SRM59–79 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.052 – 1.062on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.010 – 1.014on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Irish Extra Stout is like
An Irish stout with more body, more flavor and more alcohol than the Irish Stout. It keeps the coffee roast and dry finish, with a bit more chocolate and caramel.
Appearance
Black and opaque. Tan, creamy head with good retention.
Aroma
Roasted coffee and bitter chocolate, with some caramel or licorice. May have light esters and a touch of earthy hops.
Flavor
Intense roast with coffee and bitter chocolate, some sweet malt in the background and a dry finish. Moderate to high bitterness.
Mouthfeel
Medium to medium-full body, creamy texture and moderate carbonation. Possible light warmth.
Where Irish Extra Stout comes from
It's a stronger version of Irish stout that was bottled and exported, halfway between draft stout and Foreign Extra Stout.
Ingredients
Pale ale malt, roasted barley, sometimes chocolate or black malt, and flaked barley. English bittering hops and Irish or English yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Irish Extra Stout at home
Mash at 66-67 °C (151-153 °F) and ferment at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) with a healthy yeast pitch. Keep the roasted barley as the main source of roast and add some chocolate malt for roundness. Carbonate moderately, around 2-2.3 volumes.
Food pairing
Goes well with oysters, grilled meat or dark chocolate cake.
Glassware: nonic pint glass, the classic pub glass, made for long drinks.
Classic examples
- Guinness Extra Stout
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Irish Extra Stout?
Between 5.0% and 6.5% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Irish Extra Stout?
It has 35 to 50 IBUs, a high bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Irish Extra Stout?
Black: 30 to 40 SRM (59 to 79 EBC).
What food pairs well with Irish Extra Stout?
Goes well with oysters, grilled meat or dark chocolate cake.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Irish Stout and Foreign Extra Stout.
If you like Irish Extra Stout, try these
Classification and statistics: official Irish Extra Stout guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.