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Empress Tonkoko

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Empress Tonkoko is the imperial version of Brew York's milk stout Tonkoko, released once a year since 2018 and brewed to 10.6%. According to the brewery it carries more than three times the coconut, tonka bean and vanilla of the original. The result is described as rich and creamy with a velvety mouthfeel, dense layers of chocolate and coconut and a warming, boozy finish. Lactose is part of the recipe. Each January release is followed by barrel-aged and flavoured editions, which are separate beers.

ABV
10.6%
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
chocolatevanillaroasted
chocolate
vanilla
roasted
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with rich, roasted cocoa and dark chocolate, layered beneath with creamy vanilla and tonka bean sweetness.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Empress Tonkoko

◎ Appearance

Deep blackened mahogany with an opaque, impenetrable core. A generous dark tan head builds quickly and clings to the glass with persistent lacing. The beer holds its carbonation steadily, releasing gentle bubbles through the viscous liquid.

deep mahoganyopaque, full-bodiedlasting head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with rich, roasted cocoa and dark chocolate, layered beneath with creamy vanilla and tonka bean sweetness. A pronounced coconut character threads through, creating an almost dessert-like aromatic profile. Underneath, subtle notes of roasted grain and espresso provide structure without sharpness.

chocolate, coconutvanilla, tonkaroasted grain

◐ Taste

The palate is immediately creamy and smooth, with the lactose lending a silky mouthfeel. Dense chocolate and vanilla dominate the mid-palate, accompanied by genuine coconut character that avoids artificiality. Mild roasted coffee notes and dark fruit undertones balance the sweetness, while a restrained bitterness (65 IBU) emerges in the background without dominating.

creamy, velvety mouthfeelchocolate, vanilla, coconutdark fruit notesbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

A warming, boozy finish extends the experience, with residual sweetness and vanilla lingering on the palate. The alcohol presence is felt as a gentle heat without harshness, fading into chocolate and tonka bean reminiscence.

warming alcohollingering sweetness
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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 Empress Tonkoko

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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 creamy, rich, chocolate character as Empress Tonkoko will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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