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Night Master

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Night Master is a barrel-aged imperial stout of 13% ABV, a collaboration with Brouwerij De Meester that matured eight months on a blend of Wild Turkey bourbon and Kilchoman whisky barrels. Full and creamy, it shows pure chocolate, coffee and dark caramel, with soft bourbon influence, vanilla and oak, plus a subtle touch of peat smoke. The finish is warm, powerful and long.

ABV
13.0%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
chocolatecoffeecaramel
chocolate
coffee
caramel
oak
vanilla
smoky
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted chocolate and dark coffee grounds, layered with subtle caramel sweetness from extended barrel aging.
also:roasted
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Night Master

◎ Appearance

Night Master presents a deep mahogany to near-black hue, opaque and impenetrable to light. The head is dense and persistent, with fine Schaumkleiden clinging to the glass as the beer settles. Minimal carbonation is evident, appropriate to the style's full, creamy character.

deep mahogany-blackdense persistent headlow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted chocolate and dark coffee grounds, layered with subtle caramel sweetness from extended barrel aging. Bourbon and vanilla notes emerge from the mid-palate, accompanied by faint oak and a whisper of peat smoke that does not dominate but adds complexity. The alcohol is warm but integrated, not sharp.

roasted chocolatebourbon vanillasoft peat smoke

◐ Taste

Entry is full and velvety, with pure chocolate and coffee anchoring the palate. Mid-palate depth unfolds through dark caramel, oak tannins, and a gentle bourbon warmth that suggests careful barrel integration. Bitterness is restrained at 65 IBU, balancing rather than asserting, allowing the malt's richness to remain the focal point. The mouthfeel is creamy and substantial, with alcohol present but not burning.

creamy chocolate-coffeeoak tanninswarm bourbon influencerestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is warm, lingering, and powerful—a testament to both the 13% ABV and the complex barrel work. Roasted and caramel notes persist well into the aftertaste, with a soft peat undertone and vanilla sweetness that slowly fades over several minutes.

long warm finishroasted caramel persistence
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
90
Appearance
85
Finish
87
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 Night Master

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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 chocolate, coffee, creamy character as Night Master 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 Netherlands beers →