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Dark & Wild

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Very chocolatey, thick and full-bodied at 8.2%, with big chocolate flavour and aroma: a double chocolate mudcake stout made with vats of cacao emulsion and layered with lactose. A brewery from Florida joined in for this one. The festival it belongs to is on hiatus in 2026, and the beer was brewed anyway.

ABV
8.2%
Bitterness
Very bitter
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
chocolateroastedcoffee
chocolate
roasted
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
Rich cacao dominates the nose, layered with roasted malt depth and subtle cocoa powder notes.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dark & Wild

◎ Appearance

Deep black-brown color with an opaque, viscous body characteristic of a full-strength Imperial Stout. A dense, tan head forms and clings persistently to the glass walls, leaving structured lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is restrained, allowing the weighty presence of the beer to dominate visually.

deep black-browndense head retentionstructured lacinglow carbonation

◌ Aroma

Rich cacao dominates the nose, layered with roasted malt depth and subtle cocoa powder notes. Lactose contributes a creamy sweetness without cloying, while dark chocolate undertones emerge beneath. The overall profile is restrained and composed rather than aggressive, with no sharp alcohol burn despite the 8.2% ABV.

pronounced cacaodark chocolateroasted maltcreamy lactose

◐ Taste

The palate opens with smooth chocolate mudcake character, followed by a full, creamy mid-palate where lactose and cacao emulsion create a dessert-like texture. Moderate bitterness (65 IBU) emerges gradually, balancing the sweetness without overwhelming it. The finish remains thick and chocolatey, with gentle roasted grain notes adding complexity.

chocolate mudcakefull-bodied, thickmoderate bitternessbalanced sweetness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with residual chocolate and cocoa powder lingering on the palate. A dry roasted note emerges late, providing closure to the sweetness without astringency.

warming alcohollingering chocolatedry roasted fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
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 Dark & Wild

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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, full-bodied, rich character as Dark & Wild 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 United Kingdom beers →