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8 Wired iStout

8 Wired Brewing
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🌍 New Zealand · Imperial Stout · One of 83 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

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
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full body.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
coffee
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of 8 Wired iStout

Serve at 13–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with 8 Wired iStout

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.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse New Zealand beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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