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Imperial

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Imperial is a smoky porter at 5.2% ABV, flavoured with roasted coffee and chocolate plus a slight hint of raisin fruits. Hydes brews it at the Beer Studio near MediaCityUK in Salford, to which the firm moved in December 2012 after the Queens Brewery site in Manchester closed. The brewery makes more than 40 cask ales a year.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
smokychocolatecoffee
smoky
chocolate
coffee
roasted
dark fruit
malty
Aroma
Prominent roasted and smoky notes dominate the nose, with rich coffee and dark chocolate undertones layered beneath.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Imperial

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in color, with dense opacity and fine, persistent carbonation evident at the glass edge. A thick tan head forms and clings well to the sides, displaying excellent lacing throughout the drinking experience.

dark mahoganyopaquepersistent head

◌ Aroma

Prominent roasted and smoky notes dominate the nose, with rich coffee and dark chocolate undertones layered beneath. A subtle dried fruit character—particularly raisin—emerges in the background, complementing the malt-forward profile without sharp hop presence.

smoky roastcoffee, chocolatedried fruit notes

◐ Taste

The palate opens with bold roasted grain and chocolate flavors, followed by a smooth, malty mid-section with integrated coffee bitterness. Mild residual sweetness from dark fruit lingers, while 33 IBUs provide measured, non-aggressive bitterness that balances rather than dominates.

roasted chocolatecoffee bitternesssmooth malt

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with roasted grain and subtle smoke persisting on the palate. Aftertaste leans toward cocoa and light coffee without sharpness.

dry aftertasteroast and smoke
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
75
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C. Too cold mutes the roasted complexity that makes a good porter worth drinking slowly.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within 6–12 months for best results. Baltic Porters can be aged longer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Imperial

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About Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Porter?

Porters are dark ales with 4–6.5% ABV and IBU 18–35. Roasted malt brings chocolate, caramel and toffee — medium body with a clean finish.

Finding a similar Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same smoky, chocolate, coffee character as Imperial will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Porter beers in hopIQ →New to Porter? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →