Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
Deep black and strong at 7 %, though moderate by the standards of the style. Chocolate and dark roast lead, joined by espresso, dark fruit and the esters of the house yeast; hop bitterness keeps the malt sweetness in balance. The body is rich and warming, the finish long, with roast and a little alcohol. Brewed with well water, barley malt, roasted barley and cane sugar and fermented in slate Yorkshire squares. The style goes back to strong stouts that British brewers shipped to the Russian court.
Tasting Notes
AI-generated sensory profile for Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.
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.
More from Samuel Smith's Old Brewery
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, rich, chocolate character as Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.
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