hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

8 Wired iStout

Tap to rate

New Zealand's benchmark Imperial Stout — 8 Wired built their name on this beer, and it holds the weight easily. Pitch-black, dense, 10% ABV, yet the dark chocolate, coffee and molasses arrive clean and well-integrated, not muddled or hot. The alcohol warms without burning. Serious drinking; serious beer.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolateclean
roasted
chocolate
clean
coffee
dark fruit
malty
Aroma
Roasted grain and dark chocolate dominate immediately, layered with coffee grounds and a subtle molasses sweetness.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 8 Wired iStout

◎ Appearance

Pitch-black in the glass, opaque and impenetrable to light. A dense, tan head forms readily and clings to the rim with steady retention. The beer presents as a visual statement of weight and intensity, with carbonation that supports the foam structure without excessive aggression.

pitch-blackopaquedense headsubstantial presence

◌ Aroma

Roasted grain and dark chocolate dominate immediately, layered with coffee grounds and a subtle molasses sweetness. The alcohol sits integrated in the background, warming without sharpness. Secondary notes of dark fruit—dried plum and raisin—emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

roasted graindark chocolatecoffeemolasses sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate opens with clean roasted and chocolate characters that build into a rich, full-bodied presence. Coffee bitterness arrives mid-palate at a measured 65 IBU, balanced rather than aggressive. Dark fruit and subtle alcohol warmth sustain without harshness, creating a smooth, integrated finish despite the 10% ABV.

clean entrychocolate-coffee balancemeasured bitternessfull-bodied

◑ Finish

The finish is lengthy and warm, with roasted malt and dark chocolate lingering on the palate. Alcohol warmth settles in cleanly, leaving no burn or astringency.

warm finishroasted persistence
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
87
Serve at 13–16°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with 8 Wired iStout

More from 8 Wired Brewing

8 Wired Hopwired IPA
8 Wired Hopwired IPA
American IPA
7.3%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, clean character as 8 Wired iStout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Imperial Stout? Read our guide →Browse New Zealand beers →