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Jackie O's Dark Apparition

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Jackie O's masterpiece and one of America's most acclaimed Imperial Stouts. Dark chocolate, espresso, dark fruit and bourbon warmth in a massive, velvety body. Dark Apparition regularly tops national stout rankings and is Ohio's most sought-after dark beer.

ABV
12%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter40 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
Intensely aromatic with roasted malt dominating—dark chocolate, espresso, and burnt coffee grounds lead the charge.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Jackie O's Dark Apparition

◎ Appearance

Deep black color with an opaque, impenetrable body that reveals no light when held to a source. A rich, creamy tan head forms with excellent retention, creating lacing as you sip. Minimal carbonation produces a slow, deliberate cascade characteristic of imperial-weight stouts.

jet blackcreamy headopaqueexcellent retention

◌ Aroma

Intensely aromatic with roasted malt dominating—dark chocolate, espresso, and burnt coffee grounds lead the charge. Beneath lies dark fruit character with hints of molasses sweetness and subtle bourbon oak warmth. The nose is complex and sophisticated, revealing subtle nutty undertones with each nosing.

roasted maltdark chocolateespressobourbon warmth

◐ Taste

The palate delivers a velvety, full-bodied experience with rich dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavors coating the mouth from entry through mid-palate. Dark fruit notes—plum and raisin—dance alongside molasses sweetness, while the 40 IBUs provide restrained bitterness that never overwhelms. Alcohol warmth (12% ABV) integrates seamlessly, adding depth without harsh heat.

dark chocolatesmooth mouthfeelcomplex roastbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with roasted and chocolate notes persisting gracefully on the palate. A subtle drying effect emerges as alcohol warmth builds, leaving no cloying residue—just sophisticated, lingering complexity.

lingeringwarmingroasted aftertaste
91
hopIQ score
Aroma
92
Taste
93
Appearance
89
Finish
88
Serve at 13–16°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Jackie O's Dark Apparition

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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, rich character as Jackie O's Dark Apparition will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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