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The Kalash

Hop Nation Brewing Co.
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🌍 Australia · Imperial Stout · One of 104 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

The Kalash is Hop Nation's Russian imperial stout, released every year at the start of winter; the current batch is the tenth. It rests for four months in seasoned bourbon barrels before blending. Dark chocolate and roasted malt lead, layered with tar, warm spice and a subtle oak character that brings a hint of vanilla and bourbon. The body is full and dense, and the high alcohol leaves a warming, lingering finish.

ABV
10.1%
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
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.

A slow, coating pour that settles on the tongue and rewards the sip that follows.

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

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Kalash

Appearance

Deep black-brown hue with an opaque, impenetrable clarity characteristic of the style. A dense, tan head forms and clings persistently to the glass walls, indicating robust carbonation and malt body. The beer coats the glass with substantial lacing as it's consumed.

black-brownopaquedense headpronounced lacing

Aroma

Roasted malt and dark chocolate dominate the initial bouquet, grounded by earthy tar notes. Beneath lies a warming spice character with subtle hints of vanilla and bourbon oak from the four-month barrel aging. The alcohol presents as heat rather than sharp solvent, integrating smoothly into the overall aromatic profile.

roasted maltdark chocolatebourbon oakwarming spice

Taste

Rich roasted and chocolate notes lead the palate, followed by a layered mid-palate of tar, licorice-tinged spice, and oak-derived vanilla. The body is decidedly full and dense, with the 10.1% ABV providing warmth and weight without harshness. Bitterness is restrained, allowing the malt complexity and barrel character to take precedence.

full-bodiedroasted, chocolatey entryoak and spice mid-palaterestrained bitterness

Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering roasted malt and a subtle bourbon-oak dryness. Alcohol heat persists pleasantly, lending a characterful fade that encourages contemplation.

warming finishlingering roastbourbon-oak dryness
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
90
Appearance
85
Finish
86
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of The Kalash

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 The Kalash

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, chocolate, full-bodied character as The Kalash 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 Australia beers →