Imperial Stout

About Imperial Stout

Imperial stouts range from dark reddish-brown to black in color. The aroma of these stouts is complex: the traditional stout aroma of roasted grain and fruity esters exists alongside notes of coffee, chocolate and hops. The flavor of these stouts is rich, a strong combination of roasted malt, hop bitterness and fruitiness. Imperial stouts are stronger than other stouts, the high alcohol content originally intended to keep the beer from freezing when it was transported from England to Catherine II of Russia. Stouts of this kind are often also bready and caramelly. They are smooth, strong in flavor, and extremely full-bodied.