Stout vs IPA. What’s the difference? From flavor profiles to signature ingredients, learn the differences between these two flavorful beers.
Stout beers have been around since the mid-17th century and IPA beers soon followed in the 18th. You’d think a few hundred years would be enough for everyone to understand the differences between these two types of beers, wouldn’t you? Alas, it’s not that simple.
Stouts used to refer to any beer with over 7% alcohol content, but they don’t anymore. And there used to be only one kind of IPA beer, but that is no longer the case. So answering the question, “Stout vs IPA. What’s the difference?” demands further investigation.
We can assure you that both beers are made from the same four basic ingredients and they are both delicious when consumed chilled. But, let’s take a deeper dive into the differences between the two so you can appreciate both of these unique beers.
Different Origin Stories
You might have other questions like “How did IPA beer get its name?” Stout and IPA beers have different origin stories, despite both of them starting life across the pond in England. That is where the comparison ends.
Stout started appearing in London pubs in the late 1600s and skyrocketed into popularity among the “porters” in the city, hence the term “stout porter”. Beer drinkers loved it because of its strong flavor, its affordable price, and because it took longer to spoil. And it only took Arthur Guinness in Ireland a few decades to open his own stout brewery in 1776.
Brewers created India Pale Ale in the late 1700s as an export beer to the Brits living in India. Pale ales wouldn’t survive the journey, but the heavy-hopped India Pale Ales did.
Different Colors (Most of the Time)
Now, let’s get the obvious difference out of the way. In most instances, stouts have a darker, coffee color and IPAs have a lighter caramel or amber color.
This is because most stouts consist of roasted barley or other chocolate-colored malts. IPAs most often consist of lighter malts, hence the color.
But while stouts are always dark, black IPAs have the same dark appearance. That’s where things can get confusing! These IPAs consist of the roasted malts you might find in stouts, but their hoppy flavor is more consistent with that of an IPA.
Different Flavor Profiles
Speaking of flavor, that’s one of the other main differences between these craft beers.
Common flavors associated with stouts are coffee, chocolate, licorice, and even hints of hazelnut. These decadent, dessert-like tastes lend themselves well to the consistency of the stout beer. Most stouts have a more creamy, silky, and full-bodied texture than an IPA.
Is your mouth watering too?
The flavor profiles of most IPAs couldn’t be more different. They have fruity, citrusy, and floral tasting notes sometimes, even with a touch of pine. If stouts are the dessert course, IPAs are the palate-cleansing appetizers.
They also have a more bitter (in a good way) and watery texture than stouts.
Different Signature Ingredient
All beer has only four main ingredients (water, malt, hops, yeast). So, what causes stout beers and IPA beers to have such distinct, different flavors?
Well, the Colonel needs a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices for his unique recipe. But stouts and IPAs only need to rely on one signature ingredient to stand out from the rest of the casks.
Most stouts rely on their rich, roasted barley malt to create their flavors and have very few hops in comparison to IPA beers. IPAs are almost overloaded with hops that give it’s bitter, edgy flavor over other types of pale ales. That’s why black IPAs are IPAs and not stouts; because they’re hopping mad!
Different Varieties
If you ever tried to order a New England stout, the bartender either might think you know very little about beer or way more about beer than they do. Unlucky for you, the former would be true. IPAs and stouts are available in many different varieties with few crossovers.
Types of IPA Beers
Here’s a list of common variants of IPAs:
- English IPA
- East Coast/New England IPA
- West Coast IPA
- Double or Triple IPA
- Session IPA
- Black IPA
- Brut IPA
- Imperial IPA
English IPAs are the Grandaddy of IPAs. They are like West Coast IPAs, but it won’t surprise you to learn that West Coast IPAs consist of American hops. New England IPAs tend to be hazier and fruitier.
Double or triple IPAs get their name due to their alcohol content. Double IPAs tend to be over 7% (remember people used to call any beer above 7% a stout!). Triple IPAs are above 10%, whereas session IPAs have lower than 5% alcohol content.
Most IPAs get their flavor from hops, as already mentioned, but fruit and herbs are common extra ingredients.
Types of Stout Beers
And here’s a list of common types of stouts:
- Milk stout
- Dry/Irish stout
- Oatmeal stout
- Oyster stout
- Chocolate stout
- Pastry stout
- Barrel-aged stout
- Imperial stout
Contrary to IPAs, the extra ingredients in most of the different types of stouts are dairy or different malts. It is a creamy, malty beer, after all! Oatmeal stouts still have roasted barley malt, but they use oatmeal, too.
Pastry stout is a catch-all term to describe stouts that have any sugary-sweet ingredients added to them. We’ve mentioned that stouts are the desserts of the beer world, but pastry stouts literally taste like liquified cookies and cakes.
You’ll notice that “imperial” is a type of stout and IPA, but they still aren’t very similar. They’re IPAs and stouts with higher than average alcohol contents. That’s it!
So, Stout vs IPA. What’s the Difference? Now You Know
Aside from both meeting the basic requirements of being beer, there aren’t many similarities between these brews. So, stout vs IPA. What’s the difference? There are quite a few!
But now that you know the differences, you can appreciate these unique beers for what they are. And, you can attempt to taste as many of the distinct types as you want. Call us at (402) 344-0200 or check out our brews to see which IPAs and stouts you want to try first and second and third!