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Fuller's Imperial Stout

Fuller's Griffin Brewery
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🌍 United Kingdom · Imperial Stout · One of 120 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Fuller's Imperial Stout is a bottle-conditioned stout brewed from barley and oats. It pours jet black under a deep tan head. Rose buds stand out on the nose, alongside bitter chocolate, cocoa powder, creamy malt, burnt fruit and hints of Turkish delight and marshmallow. The palate is smooth and creamy, carrying the earthy rose, Turkish delight and burnt fruit further, while peppery hops give the beer its backbone.

ABV
10.7%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
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
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Hop character
spicy hop
floral
earthy
Malt character
chocolate
malty
roasted
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

FEATURED IN

#6 of 50The Best British Stouts→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fuller's Imperial Stout

◎ Appearance

Fuller's Imperial Stout presents a jet-black colour with opaque clarity, characteristic of the style. A deep tan head forms at the pour and maintains good retention throughout the glass, displaying fine adhesion to the sides. The beer's density and roasted grain content produce minimal light transmission.

jet blackdeep tan headopaqueexcellent head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a striking floral note of rose buds, distinct and unexpected in this roasted context. Beneath this lies a rich base of bitter chocolate and cocoa powder, complemented by earthy, creamy malt character. Secondary notes of burnt fruit, Turkish delight, and marshmallow add complexity and a subtle confectionery sweetness.

rose budsbitter chocolate, cocoaburnt fruitTurkish delight

◐ Taste

The palate is smooth and full-bodied, with the creamy malt foundation carrying the beer's structure. Earthy rose and Turkish delight flavours follow the initial sweetness, while burnt fruit notes persist through the mid-palate. Peppery hop character emerges to provide backbone and prevent any cloying tendency, with a measured bitterness of 65 IBU integrating naturally.

smooth, creamyearthy rose, Turkish delightpeppery hopsburnt fruit

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and measured, with lingering cocoa and subtle spice from the hops. Moderate length allows the beer to conclude without excess warmth from its 10.7% ABV.

clean finishcocoa aftertastemoderate length
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Fuller's Imperial Stout

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 Fuller's Imperial Stout

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, smooth, creamy character as Fuller's Imperial Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →