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Angel's Share Barrel Works

Basqueland Brewing
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🌍 Spain · Imperial Stout · One of 86 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Basqueland's flagship barrel-aged imperial stout — aged in bourbon barrels for 28 months and infused with vanilla beans. The eighth creation of the Barrel Works series. Rated 4.2 on Untappd with 1,514 ratings — Spain's highest-rated beer. Rich, warming, and deeply complex with bourbon oak, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roasted coffee.

ABV
12%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark47
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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
roasted
chocolate
coffee
Distinctive notes
oak
vanilla
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Angel's Share Barrel Works

Appearance

Deep mahogany-brown to near-black in the glass, with excellent clarity and a thick, persistent tan head. The beer displays strong foam adhesion to the glass wall, leaving distinct lacing with each sip. The color intensity reflects 28 months of oak aging and deep Malz character.

deep mahogany-brownopaquethick persistent headexcellent lacing

Aroma

Rich bourbon oak dominates the nose, accompanied by pronounced vanilla and dark roasted coffee notes. Beneath lies dark chocolate and subtle dark fruit undertones, with a warming alcoholic presence that frames without overpowering. The oak influence is mature and integrated rather than raw or aggressive.

bourbon oakvanilla beansdark roasted coffeedark chocolate

Taste

The palate opens with roasted Malz and oak tannins, transitioning through layers of bittersweet chocolate and vanilla sweetness in the mid-palate. The 12% ABV provides warmth and weight while remaining balanced; bitterness at 65 IBU is restrained and integrated, allowing the barrel and adjunct complexity to remain central. A smooth, velvety mouthfeel carries the full range of flavors.

roasted Malzoak tanninsbittersweet chocolatewarming alcohol

Finish

The finish is long and warming, with roasted coffee and oak lingering on the palate for several minutes. A subtle vanilla sweetness fades slowly, leaving dry tannins and a gentle alcohol warmth as the final impression.

long finishroasted coffeewarm lingering
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
88
Appearance
86
Finish
85
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Angel's Share Barrel Works

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 Angel's Share Barrel Works

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, oak, chocolate character as Angel's Share Barrel Works 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 Spain beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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