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Styles · Imperial Stout

Beer style · BJCP 2021 20C

Imperial Stout

American Porter and Stout

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.075–1.115
Final gravity
1.018–1.030
Bitterness
50–90 IBU
Color
30–40 SRM (59–79 EBC)
Alcohol
8.0–12.0 % ABV

What it is

An intensely rich black ale where roast, dark chocolate, dried fruit and alcohol all arrive at once over a heavy, viscous body. Modern American versions lean hoppy and roast-bitter; English-inspired ones stay sweeter and more vinous.

Flavor

What a Imperial Stout should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Room for earthy/woody, citrus, floral, herbal or resin/pine.

Malt

Chocolate, coffee/roast and sweet/honey, with room for grainy, dark fruit, caramel, bready/biscuit or toasty.

Fermentation

Clean, with room for fruity esters.

Hops that suit it

Varieties whose loudest notes all sit on this style’s hop wheel, best fit first. How much to use is the recipe’s question; these are the ones that taste right.

And 14 more hops whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

And 82 more yeasts whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.