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Blended Barrels

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Two years in the barrel, then blended with care. Vanilla, coffee, prunes and caramel sit under a faint layer of peat smoke in this 10% imperial stout. It spent more than 24 months in bourbon, rum and whisky barrels, and the brewers picked individual barrels for their complexity and their suitability for blending. Canned for the cellar, it is built to improve with age.

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
vanillacoffeecaramel
vanilla
coffee
caramel
dark fruit
oak
smoky
Aroma
Complex and layered, with vanilla and bourbon oak dominating the opening, followed by rich coffee grounds and dried prune notes.
also:roasted,chocolate
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Blended Barrels

◎ Appearance

Deep black with mahogany highlights at the rim, revealing the beer's substantial malt structure. A thick, tan head forms on the pour with excellent retention and lacing. The body is opaque and viscous, characteristic of a mature imperial stout aged in spirit barrels.

deep blackmahogany rimdense tan headviscous body

◌ Aroma

Complex and layered, with vanilla and bourbon oak dominating the opening, followed by rich coffee grounds and dried prune notes. Beneath these sits a subtle earthiness from peat smoke, adding depth without overwhelming the sweeter barrel-derived aromatics. Two years of barrel contact has married these elements into a cohesive whole.

vanilla, bourbon oakcoffee, prunespeat smoke undertonebarrel complexity

◐ Taste

The palate is full and rounded, opening with caramel and roasted malt sweetness tempered by 65 IBU of measured bitterness. Mid-palate reveals layered vanilla and coffee character with a drying peat smoke note that emerges toward the back. Rum and whisky barrel influence adds subtle spice and warmth without harshness.

caramel, roasted maltcoffee, vanilla complexitybalanced bitternesswarming barrel spice

◑ Finish

Long and contemplative, with dry cocoa and smoke lingering on the palate. The finish suggests this beer will continue to evolve in the cellar, with integrated oak tannins providing structure for extended aging.

dry cocoalingering smokeage-worthy structure
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
89
Appearance
87
Finish
86
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Blended Barrels

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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 vanilla, coffee, caramel character as Blended Barrels 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 United Kingdom beers →