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Wintervention

Garrison Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · Imperial Stout · One of 91 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

An imperial stout conditioned for a full month on cocoa nibs. Pale ale, Munich and chocolate malt build a base of dark chocolate, espresso and burnt toast, and the nibs push that further toward unsweetened cocoa and a faint nutty dryness. At 8.5 percent the body is thick and coating, but 60 IBU of Millennium hops and the roasted grain keep the sweetness in check. The finish is long, dry and bitter.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter60 IBU
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
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full body.

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

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
coffee
malty
nutty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wintervention

Appearance

Deep black-brown hue with minimal transparency, characteristic of the style's high roast level. A dense, dark tan head forms and recedes to a thin collar, leaving pronounced lacing down the glass. The body is opaque and viscous, reflecting the beer's full weight and month-long conditioning.

opaque black-browndense headthick lacinghigh viscosity

Aroma

The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, grounded in a foundation of burnt toast and cocoa powder from the extended nib conditioning. Subtle notes of hazelnut and a faint alcohol warmth emerge as the beer opens, while the Millennium hops contribute a restrained herbal-bitter backdrop that does not dominate.

roasted coffeedark chocolatecocoa nibsburnt toasthazelnut

Taste

The palate enters with rich, unsweetened cocoa and espresso character, followed by a substantial malty sweetness from Munich and chocolate malt that is held in balance by 60 IBU of assertive bitterness. Mid-palate reveals nutty undertones and a coating, full-bodied texture; the roasted grain provides dry structure that prevents cloying, while the 8.5% ABV adds subtle warming without harshness.

unsweetened cocoaespressofull-bodiedbalanced bitternessroasted malt

Finish

The finish is notably long and dry, with lingering bitterness from both the Millennium hops and roasted grain character. Cocoa and coffee notes fade slowly, leaving a pleasant drying sensation on the palate.

long dry finishlingering bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Wintervention

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 Wintervention

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, dry, roasted character as Wintervention 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 Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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