American Double / Imperial Stout
American brewers, inclined as they are to experiment with the limits of beer styles, have taken the American Stout to bigger levels of malt and hop character. Thus, they’ve “doubled,” or “imperialized,” the American Stout into a stronger brew. Expect a very robust, full-bodied Stout with lots of complexity in aroma and flavor, with many examples surpassing Russian Imperial Stouts in strength and intensity. Look for a dark, virtually black color displaying the beer’s roasted malt soul. The rich malts combine with generally high hop aromas and flavors along with alcohol notes and esters of dark fruits. All elements are typically balanced and exhibit a layered complexity, with many examples aged in whiskey or bourbon barrels for additional levels of aromas and flavor character. They also may be cellar-aged during which the beer’s character will evolve. These are beers for sipping and savoring. Several popular examples are only available on a special-release basis throughout the year.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Taste/Smell | Complex, Robust, Malty, Roasty, Full-bodied |
| Alcohol-by-Volume (ABV) Range | 7.5 – 13+% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 50-90 |
| Popular Examples | Founders Breakfast Stout, Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout, Laughing Dog The Dogfather, Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, Bell’s Java Stout, Stoudts Fat Dog Imperial Stout, Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, Southern Tier Jah-Va, AleSmith Speedway Stout, Avery Mephistopheles’ Stout |
| Serving Temperature | Cellar, 55-57° |
| Glassware | Pint or nonic, beer snifter, large wine glass |
| Cheese Pairing Ideas | Cheddar (aged), Gouda (aged), Roquefort |
| Food Pairing Ideas | Smoked foul and cheesecake |
