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Gatherwell

Allagash Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Imperial Stout · One of 125 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Gatherwell is Allagash's imperial stout, aged for five months in oak bourbon barrels. A dark grist of dark caramel malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, roasted wheat and rolled oats is fermented with an abbey ale yeast. It pours opaque dark brown under a khaki head. Cocoa, vanilla and oak lead, backed by caramel, mocha, roast coffee and raisin-like dark fruit, with a warming touch of bourbon. The body is full and creamy, and a light roasty bitterness stays behind the malt.

ABV
11%
Bitterness
Very bitter65 IBU
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
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

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

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
caramel
coffee
Distinctive notes
oak
vanilla
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gatherwell

◎ Appearance

Gatherwell pours opaque dark brown, nearly black, with substantial depth and no visible light transmission. A khaki head rises with fine carbonation and settles into persistent lacing along the glass walls. The dense foam suggests good protein and body structure, typical of well-crafted imperial stouts.

opaque dark brownfine khaki headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by cocoa and vanilla from the bourbon barrel aging, backed by rich oak character. Caramel and mocha notes emerge beneath, with hints of roast coffee and dried raisin-like dark fruit. The alcohol warmth is present but restrained, allowing the barrel influence and roasted malt complexity to shine through.

cocoa, vanilla, oakroast coffee, carameldark fruit notesbourbon warmth

◐ Taste

Entry is full and creamy with a smooth malt foundation of caramel and mocha. Mid-palate reveals the coffee and roasted barley character, with vanilla and oak adding structural complexity without dominating. A light, measured roasty bitterness lingers on the palate—balanced rather than assertive, complementing rather than overwhelming the malt sweetness.

full, creamy bodycaramel, mocha, coffeerestrained roasty bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is warming and lingering, with a gentle bourbon heat that builds gradually. Roasted grain and a dry chocolate note persist into the aftertaste, leaving a balanced bitterness that fades evenly without harshness.

warming finishdry chocolatelingering roast
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
85
Appearance
87
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Gatherwell

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 Gatherwell

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, oak character as Gatherwell will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →