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Shadows Are Everlasting

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Bay leaf, coffee, chocolate and roast lead the flavour of this imperial stout, which ends in a fine bitter finish; there is also a touch of liquorice and a dark red-fruit edge. Thick and full-bodied at 11.5 % ABV, it is the thickest stout the Alphen brewery has made and also its biggest batch so far, plain in make-up yet pushed further than usual.

ABV
11.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
chocolatecoffeeroasted
chocolate
coffee
roasted
dark fruit
herbal
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, grounded by earthy bay leaf and subtle herbal notes.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Shadows Are Everlasting

◎ Appearance

Deep garnet-black in color with minimal light transmission, characteristic of a full-bodied Imperial Stout. The head forms a dense, dark tan collar that clings persistently to the glass walls, demonstrating strong Schaumhaftung. The surface shows the thick, viscous quality expected from an 11.5% ABV expression.

deep blackdense headhigh viscosity

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, grounded by earthy bay leaf and subtle herbal notes. A pronounced licorice undertone weaves through the mid-range, while dark stone fruit—plum and blackberry—emerges beneath the roasted grain. The alcohol warmth is present but restrained, supporting rather than overwhelming the aromatic layers.

coffee, dark chocolatebay leaf, licoricedark stone fruit

◐ Taste

Full-bodied and rich on the palate, with chocolate and coffee dominating the entry and mid-palate development. Bay leaf and herbal complexity frame a dry, warming progression, while hints of dark cherry and plum add dimension. The bitterness builds gradually, finishing crisp and assertive without harshness, with a lingering roasted quality.

chocolate-forwardcomplex herbal layerclean bitter finish

◑ Finish

The finish is long and dry, with the coffee and roasted grain carrying through cleanly. The licorice note resurfaces briefly before giving way to a fine, persistent bitterness that dries the palate without astringency.

dry, persistentroasted grain fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Shadows Are Everlasting

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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 chocolate, coffee, full-bodied character as Shadows Are Everlasting 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 →New to Imperial Stout? Read our guide →Browse Netherlands beers →