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SWX

Stone & Wood Brewing Co
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🌍 Australia · Imperial Stout · One of 100 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Brewed to mark the brewery's tenth year and matured for ten months in seasoned fortified wine barrels. It pours jet black under a chocolate-brown head, with espresso, cocoa and dark fruit in the aroma and cherry and oak arriving from the barrel. The palate is deep and layered, full-bodied and warming at ten percent, with a firm bitterness holding the malt sweetness in line. The finish is long, roasty and dry.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Very bitter65 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
coffee
roasted
malty
Distinctive notes
oak
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for SWX

Appearance

SWX pours jet black with minimal light transmission, crowned by a substantial chocolate-brown head that settles to a persistent collar. The foam displays fine adhesion to the glass, leaving distinct lacing as the beer is consumed. The surface tension and body suggest a dense, full-strength Imperial Stout.

jet blackchocolate headdense foampersistent lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with rich espresso and cocoa, layered with darker stone fruits characteristic of the barrels' influence. Oak and dried cherry emerge from beneath, providing structural complexity without dominating the malt-forward foundation. These elements integrate rather than compete, creating a cohesive aromatic profile.

espresso, cocoabarrel oakdark cherryintegrated complexity

Taste

The palate enters with deep chocolate and roasted grain, immediately revealing the beer's full body and warming alcohol presence at 10% ABV. A firm bitterness at 65 IBU cuts through malt sweetness and barrel-derived vanilla, preventing cloying accumulation. The mid-palate sustains this tension between dark roasted character and oak spice through to the swallow.

chocolate, roastedfull-bodiedfirm bitternesswarming alcohol

Finish

The finish extends long and dry, with roasted grain notes persisting through the aftertaste. Barrel influence fades to whisper-quiet oak, leaving a clean, slightly astringent conclusion without lingering sweetness.

long finishroasty dryclean aftertaste
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
87
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of SWX

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 SWX

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, dry character as SWX will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

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