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Wellington Imperial Stout

Wellington Brewery
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🌍 Canada · Imperial Stout · One of 87 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Jet black under a deep tan head. Dark chocolate and coffee in the aroma, cocoa and roasted malt across a full body, with toffee, dark fruit and raisin filling the middle and a trace of licorice at the close. Modelled on the British reading of the style, so bitterness stays moderate and the malt carries the weight. Launched in the early 1990s and brewed through every season since.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter40 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →

AWARDS

Bronze · 2025
Canada Beer Cup
Imperial Stout
Bronze · 2024
Ontario Brewing Awards
American Porter and Stout
Silver · 2022
Ontario Brewing Awards
American Porter and Stout
Bronze · 2022
Canadian Brewing Awards
Imperial Stout
Silver · 2021
U.S. Open Beer Championship
British Imperial Stout
Bronze · 2020
Ontario Brewing Awards
American Stout & Porter
Gold · 2018
Ontario Brewing Awards
Imperial Stout
Bronze — Canada Beer Cup (Imperial Stout)
Bronze — Ontario Brewing Awards (American Porter and Stout)
Silver — Ontario Brewing Awards (American Porter and Stout)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
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.

Weight and sugar move together, the pour rolling slow while richness compounds on the palate.

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
malty
caramel
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wellington Imperial Stout

Appearance

Jet black in the glass with minimal light transmission. A deep tan head forms and persists across the surface, showing fine Schaumkleiden down the sides of the glass. The beer presents dense, tight carbonation throughout.

jet blackdeep tan headdense carbonation

Aroma

Dark chocolate and coffee dominate the nose, supported by cocoa undertones and the warm scent of roasted malt. A subtle licorice note emerges in the background, adding complexity without overtaking the primary dark-roasted character.

dark chocolateroasted coffeecocoalicorice hint

Taste

Full-bodied and smooth across the palate, with dark chocolate and roasted malt anchoring the experience. Toffee sweetness and dark fruit—raisin in particular—move through the middle, while bitterness remains moderate and restrained, allowing the malt weight to carry the structure. Cocoa lingers without harshness.

chocolate-forwardroasted malt bodytoffee-raisin sweetnessmoderate bitterness

Finish

A long, warming finish with lingering dark chocolate and a trace of licorice. The 8% ABV is perceptible but well-integrated, adding depth without sharp alcohol burn.

long chocolate fadelicorice tracewarming alcohol
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Wellington 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 Wellington 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, full-bodied character as Wellington 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 Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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