Imperial Stout

A strong, dark, intensely flavored stout with roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruit, and noticeable alcohol warmth. Full-bodied and bold. Compared with standard stout, it is denser, richer, and much more warming.

Defined by extreme roast intensity, high alcohol, and layered complexity.

Also known as: Russian Imperial Stout; Imperial Stout
Family: Strong & Warming Beers - Strong ales like Tripel, Barleywine, and Imperial styles
Variant of Stout - Within the Balanced Ales, defined by structural balance between malt, hop, and alcohol without dominant fermentation character.
Variant influence: Elevated strength increases body and intensity.
Explore in Explorer →

ABV, IBU and colour

This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of Imperial Stout within the GBI model.

ABV: 7,4%
IBU: 60
Colour: 58,5 SRM / 115,2 EBC

Taste profile

The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.

Colour:
Deep brown Black
Clarity:
Clear Slight haze
Aroma – Malt:
High Very high
Aroma – Hop:
Medium High
Aroma – Yeast:
Low
Aroma – Special:
None Low
Sweetness:
Medium
Sourness:
None Low
Bitterness:
Medium
Body:
High Very high
Astringency:
Medium High
Carbonation:
Medium High
Alcohol Strength:
High
Finish Length:
Medium Long
Oxidation:
None Low

Robust, bold, warming, and layered with chocolate and coffee-like malt.

Does Imperial Stout match your taste?

Start with a direction

Which taste direction appeals to you?

What gives Imperial Stout its character

These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.

  • Very high roast level creates very dark colour, intense roast flavour, firm bitterness and a pronounced roasted character dominating the malt profile.
  • Very high grist intensity provides abundant extract and fermentable material, strongly supporting higher gravity and alcohol strength alongside a fuller, sweeter body and longer finish.
  • High crystal addition adds caramel sweetness, deep amber colour and round malt richness.
  • A dextrinous mash leaves more non-fermentable extract, supporting greater body, residual sweetness and a longer finish.
  • Very high toast level creates intense toasted aroma, deep melanoidin character and pronounced malt-driven complexity.
  • Early-boil-focused hopping strongly increases IBU and perceived bitterness and can lengthen the bitter finish.
  • Aromatic malt provides strong malty aroma and melanoidin intensity.
  • Moderate hop loading contributes to perceived bitterness and adds some hop aroma.
  • Dark crystal provides intense dark-caramel and dried-fruit character in the malt aroma.
  • Dark roast gives strong coffee-like roast character.

History

Originated in 18th-century Britain as export-strength stout for the Russian court, later revived and expanded by modern craft brewers.

How Imperial Stout compares to other beer styles

This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.

Imperial Stout vs Stout

Compared with Stout, Imperial Stout has:

  • more intense malt aroma
  • more intense hop aroma
  • a fuller body
  • more carbonation
  • a stronger alcohol impression

Other differences:

  • Stout can be drier.
  • Stout can be more bitter.
  • Imperial Stout can be more astringent.
  • Imperial Stout can have a longer finish.
  • Imperial Stout can have resinous, pine and earthy hop notes.
  • Imperial Stout has burnt and chocolate malt notes and can have caramel malt notes. Both styles have roast and dark Roast malt notes.
  • Imperial Stout uses American ale yeast, while Stout uses English ale yeast.
  • Imperial Stout can use simple Sugars.

Imperial Stout vs Barleywine

Compared with Barleywine, Imperial Stout has:

  • a darker color
  • more intense hop aroma
  • more astringency

Other differences:

  • The malt aroma range of Imperial Stout extends to higher intensities.
  • The yeast aroma range of Barleywine extends to higher intensities.
  • Barleywine can be sweeter.
  • Barleywine can be more bitter.
  • Imperial Stout can have a fuller body.
  • Imperial Stout can have a shorter finish.
  • Barleywine can be more oxidative.
  • Imperial Stout can have pine hop notes. Both styles can have resinous and earthy hop notes.
  • Imperial Stout has roast, dark Roast, burnt and chocolate malt notes and can have caramel malt notes. Barleywine has bready and toffee, caramel malt notes.
  • Imperial Stout can use simple Sugars.

Compare Imperial Stout with another beer style

Choose any GBI beer style to compare sensory ranges and style character.

Want to explore the underlying data in more detail? Compare styles in the GBI Explorer →

Related styles

Other variants within the same style group as Imperial Stout.

Best food pairings for Imperial Stout

These food pairings complement the dominant sensory traits of Imperial Stout.

  • Chocolate
  • Blue cheese
  • Desserts

Service & Aging

Practical guidance for serving and handling Imperial Stout.

Serving notes
Serve cool to cellar temperature · Allow warming in glass
Pouring technique
Slow pour · Allow head to form naturally
Aging potential
Excellent aging: 1–5 years
Common faults
Solvent alcohol · Oxidation
Style details
  • Origin: UK — Originating from British ale traditions.
  • Glassware: Snifter — Curved snifter used for strong, complex ales or barrel-aged beers to enhance warming and aroma concentration.
    Tulip — Stemmed tulip glass that concentrates aroma and supports a stable head; ideal for aromatic ales and Belgian styles.
    Teku — Modern universal tasting glass designed for maximum aroma capture and sensory evaluation.
  • Serving: Draft — Served on draft.
  • Aging vessel: Stainless — Aged or matured in stainless steel.
  • Packaging: Can — Packaged in can.

Commercial examples of Imperial Stout

The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of Imperial Stout in the market.

  • North Coast Old Rasputin
  • Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
  • Great Divide Yeti

Imperial Stout – Competition winners and medalists

Medal winners for Imperial Stout from major beer competitions. Categories follow each competition's official classification and may include stylistically adjacent interpretations.

2026 competition results

World Beer Cup 2026

American-Style Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Doldrums of Winter – Norbrook Farm Brewery , United States
  • Silver – Oubliette – Seventh Son Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Imperial Stout – Olde Hickory Brewery , United States

British-Style Imperial Stout

  • Gold – 15th Anniversary – Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. , United States
  • Silver – Reduction Ratio – UPP Liquids , United States
  • Bronze – Touch of Chaos – Formula Brewing , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2026

Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Heer van Gramsbergen – Mommeriete Brouwerij , Netherlands
  • Silver – Imperial Stout – Bierbrouwerij Wentersch , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Zwartbaard – Brouwerij Homeland , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Zwarte Turf – Brouwerij Avereest , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

2025 competition results 19 medalists

European Beer Star 2025

Imperial Stout

  • Gold – 7 VIDAS - Russian Imperial Stout – Cerveza 7 VIDAS , Peru
  • Silver – Night Rocker – Molo Brew , Norway
  • Bronze – Mr. Sandman – River North Brewery , United States

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

Great American Beer Festival 2025

Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Raven's Home – Morgan Territory Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Romanov's Revenge – Maple Branch Craft Brewery , United States
  • Bronze – Reduction Ratio – UPP Liquids , United States

Source: Great American Beer Festival ( official website )

World Beer Cup 2025

American-Style Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Fulcrum Imperial Stout – ZwanzigZ Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Thunderbolt Stout – Valhöll Brewing , United States
  • Bronze – Lights Out – Project 9 Brewing Co. , United States

British-Style Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout – No-Li Brewhouse , United States
  • Silver – Fayston Maple Imperial Stout – Lawson's Finest Liquids , United States
  • Bronze – Raven's Revenge – Beachwood Brewing , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2025

Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Zwartbaard – Brouwerij Homeland , Netherlands
  • Silver – Export Porter 1750 – Brouwerij Kees , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Hel & Verdoemenis – Brouwerij De Molen , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Heft Ruig Russian Imperial Stout – Brouwerij Heft , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

Brussels Beer Challenge 2025

Russian Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Mazout – Hoppy Road , France
  • Silver – Speedway Stout – AleSmith Brewing Company , United States
  • Bronze – Imperial Russian Stout – Brasserie St Germain/ Page 24 , France

Source: Brussels Beer Challenge ( official website )

2024 competition results 3 medalists

European Beer Star 2024

Imperial Stout

  • Gold – Riegele Noctus 100 – Brauerei S. Riegele , Germany
  • Silver – Wrecking Ball – No-Li Brewhouse , United States
  • Bronze – El Matador – Juguetes Perdidos , Argentina

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

2023 competition results 3 medalists

European Beer Star 2023

Imperial Stout

  • Gold – The Abyss – Deschutes Brewery , United States
  • Silver – Daarbulah – Hammer Italian Craft Beer , Italy
  • Bronze – Riegele Noctus 100 – Brauerei S. Riegele , Germany

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

Scroll to Top