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Dark Star

Fremont Brewing
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🌍 United States · Imperial Stout · One of 99 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

A big, velvety oatmeal stout layered with roasted malt and chocolate. At 8% it has real weight — warming, smooth, and dangerously easy to keep drinking despite the strength.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
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-bodied and gently sweet.

A slow, coating pour that settles on the tongue and rewards the sip that follows.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
malty
wheat
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dark Star

Appearance

Deep opaque black with a ruby gleam at the rim when held to light. A dense tan head forms and clings persistently to the glass, leaving thick bands of lacing with each sip. Carbonation is moderate, releasing in slow, deliberate bubbles.

opaque blackpersistent headthick lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with roasted malt and cocoa powder, grounded and assertive without harshness. Beneath lies a subtle sweetness from the oatmeal base, along with whispers of dark fruit—dried plum and raisin—mingling with a faint warmth of alcohol. The overall impression is layered and inviting rather than aggressive.

roasted maltcocoadark fruitwarming alcohol

Taste

Velvety on entry, with roasted grain and bitter chocolate unfolding across the mid-palate. The oatmeal contributes a creamy mouthfeel that softens the 35 IBU bitterness into something refined and integrated. At 8% ABV, the alcohol is present as warmth and weight but never harsh, making each sip dangerously approachable.

roasted chocolatecreamy bodyintegrated bitternesswarming strength

Finish

The finish lingers with dry cocoa and roasted grain, gradually fading over several minutes. A gentle warmth persists, encouraging another sip.

dry cocoalong finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Dark Star

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 Dark Star

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, full-bodied character as Dark Star 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 United States beers →