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Fuzzy

Side Project Brewing
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🌍 United States · Imperial Stout · One of 100 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

A barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with peaches and aged in spirit barrels — one of Side Project's most sought-after releases. Rich, dark and decadent with stone fruit sweetness layered over roasted malt and vanilla from the barrels.

ABV
13.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark50
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

Full-bodied and gently sweet.

Weight and sugar move together, the pour rolling slow while richness compounds on the palate.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
roasted
chocolate
Distinctive notes
peach
dark fruit
vanilla

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Stouts

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fuzzy

Appearance

Deep mahogany-brown to near-black in the glass, with opacity that reveals only the thinnest amber edges when held to light. A dense, tan head forms and clings to the glass in tight rings of lacing. Carbonation is subdued, appropriate to the spirit-barrel aging and high alcohol content.

deep mahogany-brownopaquepersistent lacing

Aroma

Stone fruit dominates the nose, with ripe peach skin leading the charge, accompanied by subtle dark cherry and plum undertones. Beneath, roasted malt and cocoa powder provide a grounding earthiness, while vanilla and gentle oak from the spirit barrels add warmth and complexity. A whisper of alcohol heat sits in the background without becoming sharp.

ripe peachroasted maltvanilla oakdark fruit

Taste

The palate enters with sweet peach and dried stone fruit, building into a rich, full-bodied mid-palate dominated by roasted grain and subtle chocolate. Vanilla and charred oak notes weave through smoothly, while the 13.5% ABV adds weight and slight warming without harshness. Bitterness remains restrained at 40 IBU, allowing sweetness and complexity to remain the focal point.

stone fruit sweetnessroasted graincreamy bodyspirit-barrel vanilla

Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering peach and dark malt notes fading slowly into a soft vanilla echo. A slight drying quality from the oak and roasting provides structure without becoming astringent.

warming alcohollong fadevanilla aftertaste
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
89
Appearance
85
Finish
86
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Fuzzy

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 Fuzzy

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 peach, roasted, rich character as Fuzzy 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 States beers →