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Ironman Imperial Stout

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Eleven different malts build a roasty flavor and a dark color, with caramel sweetness and a full body. Five hop varieties go into the kettle. The name honors Walt Hull, a local blacksmith. The beer comes from Free State in Lawrence, Kansas, the brewery that opened in 1989 as the first legal brewery in the state in over 100 years.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter78 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
roastedcaramelmalty
roasted
caramel
malty
dark fruit
chocolate
coffee
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted grain and dark malt character, supported by subtle notes of dark chocolate and coffee.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ironman Imperial Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to nearly black in color, with an opaque body befitting the 40 SRM specification. A dense, tan head forms on the pour and persists with fine lacing down the glass. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

deep brownopaque bodypersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted grain and dark malt character, supported by subtle notes of dark chocolate and coffee. Five hop varieties contribute a restrained herbal and earthy undertone that frames rather than dominates the malt-forward profile. A faint suggestion of dark fruit emerges beneath the roasted foundation.

roasted graindark chocolatecoffee notesherbal hops

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and smooth, with eleven malts delivering layered roasted and caramel sweetness across the palate. The bitterness from the 78 IBUs arrives mid-palate as a structured counterpoint, never harsh. Dark fruit and chocolate flavors interweave with the malt backbone, while the alcohol warmth remains balanced and integrated.

roasted maltcaramel sweetnessstructured bitternesssmooth body

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with roasted notes persisting alongside a gentle dry sensation. A subtle boozy character lingers without overwhelming, characteristic of the 8.5% ABV.

long finishroasted aftertastewarming alcohol
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
81
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 Ironman Imperial Stout

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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 roasted, full-bodied, caramel character as Ironman Imperial Stout 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 United States beers →