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Beluga

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Beluga is a bold, roasted Russian Imperial Stout with the requisite chocolate and coffee flavours, enriched by subtle hints of leather and dried fruits. Goldings from the UK, Warrior and Zeus hops sit on black, brown, chocolate, crystal and roasted malts plus flaked oats, fermented with US-05 at 10.5 % ABV. A beer to savour slowly.

ABV
10.5%
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
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
dark fruit
smoky
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced roasted malt and dark chocolate, underscored by coffee grounds and a subtle earthiness.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Beluga

◎ Appearance

Beluga presents a deep black core with mahogany highlights when held to light, revealing the density of its grain bill. The head is substantial and tan, settling into persistent lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is restrained, appropriate to the style's contemplative character.

deep blacktan headlacing retentionlow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced roasted malt and dark chocolate, underscored by coffee grounds and a subtle earthiness. Leather and dried stone fruit emerge in the background, mingling with the restrained, noble character of Goldings and Warrior hops. The flaked oats add a soft, grain-forward sweetness that rounds the aromatic profile.

roasted maltdark chocolatecoffee groundsleatherdried fruit

◐ Taste

On entry, the palate is gripped by rich roasted character and cocoa depth, followed by a coffee bitterness that develops gradually across the mid-palate. The 10.5% ABV sits comfortably, warming without dominance, while leather and dark fruit notes provide complexity. Bitterness peaks at 65 IBU, structured and clean rather than aggressive.

full-bodiedroasted cocoacoffee bitternessleather notessmooth finish

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with roasted and chocolate notes persisting alongside a gentle bitter grip. The dried fruit character lingers in the aftertaste, inviting another contemplative sip.

warmingpersistent roastdry finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
81
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 Beluga

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About Russian Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Russian 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 Russian Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, coffee character as Beluga will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Russian Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Russian Imperial Stout? Read our guide →Browse Netherlands beers →