BJCP 15B · Irish Beer
Irish Stout
A black, dry Irish stout with coffee-like roast from roasted barley, light body and a creamy head. Low in alcohol and very easy to drink, especially on nitro.
Irish Stout by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 3.8 – 5.0%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 25 – 45 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 25 – 40 SRM49–79 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.036 – 1.044on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.007 – 1.011on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Irish Stout is like
A black, low-alcohol beer with pronounced roast reminiscent of coffee and a dry finish. The draft version is creamy and smooth despite its light body.
Appearance
Black or very dark brown with ruby highlights, opaque. Thick, creamy tan head with excellent retention, especially when served on nitrogen.
Aroma
Coffee-like or roasted-grain aroma, sometimes bitter chocolate. Low to no hops and restrained esters.
Flavor
Dry, coffee-like roast, with some bitter chocolate and medium bitterness that adds to the bitterness from the roasted barley. Dry, clean finish. It shouldn't be burnt or overly acidic.
Mouthfeel
Light to medium-light body with a creamy texture. Low to moderate carbonation; on nitro it's very smooth.
Where Irish Stout comes from
It grew out of the strong porters, the stout porters, brewed in London and Dublin in the 18th century. Guinness made it Ireland's best-known beer, and in the mid-20th century nitrogen dispense fixed the image of the style.
Ingredients
Pale ale malt with unmalted roasted barley, which gives the dry coffee character, and often flaked barley. English bittering hops and Irish or English yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Irish Stout at home
Use about 10% roasted barley and the same amount of flaked barley, mash at 65-66 °C (149-151 °F) and ferment at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). In bottles, carbonate low, around 1.8-2 volumes; if you have a keg with a nitrogen/CO₂ blend and a stout faucet, you'll get the classic creamy head. The classic mistake is using too much black malt so it turns acidic or ashy.
Food pairing
Oysters, beef stew or soda bread with butter.
Glassware: nonic pint glass, the classic pub glass, made for long drinks.
Classic examples
- Guinness Draught
- Murphy's Irish Stout
- Beamish Irish Stout
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Irish Stout?
Between 3.8% and 5.0% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Irish Stout?
It has 25 to 45 IBUs, a moderate bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Irish Stout?
Dark brown to black: 25 to 40 SRM (49 to 79 EBC).
What food pairs well with Irish Stout?
Oysters, beef stew or soda bread with butter.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Irish Extra Stout, English Porter and Oatmeal Stout.
If you like Irish Stout, try these
Classification and statistics: official Irish Stout guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.