hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Into The 'Wood Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Stomping Ground Brewing Co.
Tap to rate
🌍 Australia · Imperial Stout · One of 96 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

An imperial stout rested in solera rye whiskey barrels from a Melbourne distillery. Dark chocolate and espresso come first, with oak, vanilla and a warming whiskey note laid over them by the barrel. The body is full and the finish long, sweet at the edges and warming rather than sharply roasted. Bottled at 10 per cent as part of the brewery's barrel series.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →

AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze — Australian International Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full-bodied and gently sweet.

A slow, coating pour that settles on the tongue and rewards the sip that follows.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
coffee
roasted
Distinctive notes
oak
vanilla
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Into The 'Wood Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Appearance

Deep brown to near-black in the glass, with an opaque body that reveals no light. The head is modest and cream-colored, settling to a thin collar with good Schaumhaftung. Carbonation appears restrained, appropriate for the style's full weight.

deep brown-blackopaquemodest cream headlow carbonation

Aroma

Dark chocolate and espresso dominate the initial nose, rich and inviting without harshness. Beneath lies a pronounced oak and vanilla character imparted by the solera rye whiskey barrels, with a subtle warming alcohol note that does not overwhelm. The barrel influence is integrated rather than aggressive.

dark chocolateespressooak and vanillawhiskey warmth

Taste

The palate opens with cocoa and roasted coffee, immediately full and smooth across the tongue. Mid-palate layers in oak spice and vanilla sweetness from the barrel aging, with the 10% ABV providing warmth rather than sharp heat. The finish holds long and sweet at its edges, the roasted character receding as bourbon-barrel tannins and residual Malz sweetness take hold.

chocolate-coffee entryoak spicefull-bodiedsweet finish

Finish

Extended and warming, without the bite of conventional roasted stouts. Vanilla and whiskey oak linger on the palate, yielding gradually to a soft, slightly sweet aftertaste.

longwarmingsweet oak residue
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
89
Appearance
82
Finish
85
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Into The 'Wood Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Serve at 13–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Into The 'Wood Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

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, oak character as Into The 'Wood Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →

WHERE TO BUY

Not sure where to find Into The 'Wood Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout? Search on:

RateBeer →Untappd →