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Imperial Kirsch

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An imperial stout matured in Cognac barrels, which the brewery calls a returning favourite of its barrel-aged programme; the current release spent 24 months in wood and has 10.0%, earlier ones 11%. Vocation describes a double-mashed beer with dark chocolate and ripe Morello cherries up front, a sweet, spiced depth from the spirit and hints of candied fruit. Tasters recall Black Forest gateau, marzipan, almond, oak and low bitterness.

ABV
10%
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
chocolateoakdark fruit
chocolate
oak
dark fruit
nutty
spicy
roasted
Aroma
The nose opens with dark chocolate and dried morello cherry, followed by warming cognac oak and candied fruit notes.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Imperial Kirsch

◎ Appearance

Deep black-brown liquor with a dense, persistent tan head that clings to the glass. The beer presents opaque, full opacity typical of the imperial stout style. Carbonation is restrained, lending a still, weighty presence in the glass.

black-brownopaquedense headlow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with dark chocolate and dried morello cherry, followed by warming cognac oak and candied fruit notes. Beneath lie hints of almond, marzipan, and subtle roasted grain. The spirit integration is seamless, adding a gently spiced, almost confectionery depth without sharp alcohol burn.

dark chocolatemorello cherrycognac oakmarzipanspiced

◐ Taste

Rich chocolate dominates the entry, quickly joined by ripe dark fruit and a creamy nuttiness. The mid-palate reveals soft caramel sweetness balanced by low bitterness and a light, toasted oak texture. The 24-month barrel maturation has mellowed any aggressive tannins, creating a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel with warming boozy notes.

chocolate-richdark fruitcreamylow bitternessoak-agedsmooth

◑ Finish

The finish lingers with gentle chocolate, cherry, and oak nuances, fading slowly into a dry, warming aftertaste. No harsh alcohol edge intrudes; instead, the cognac barrel presence grounds the decay.

lingeringwarmdry aftertaste
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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 Imperial Kirsch

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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, sweet, oak character as Imperial Kirsch will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

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