Blackbeerd Imperial Stout vs Mexican Cake: Which Should You Drink?

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Blackbeerd Imperial Stout

COAST Brewing Co.

United States · Russian Imperial Stout

hopIQ rank #2672

69%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Mexican Cake

Westbrook Brewing Co.

United States · Imperial Stout

HOPIQ TAKE

Blackbeerd Imperial Stout if you want restrained elegance and clarity, Mexican Cake if you want decadence and complexity. Both sit at nearly identical IBU 65, so bitterness won't be your differentiator—it's the 1.2% ABV swing that matters. Blackbeerd's lower alcohol lets the roast and char shine without heat, while Mexican Cake's extra punch adds warmth and amplifies whatever spice or vanilla notes Westbrook's built in. Pick based on whether you're in the mood for a stout that lets you taste each layer, or one that wraps around your palate like a blanket.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Blackbeerd Imperial Stout when…

→You want to taste the brewing decisions clearly without adjunct flavors obscuring the base beer
→You're drinking earlier in the evening and don't want alcohol warmth affecting perception

Pick Mexican Cake when…

→You're in the mood for a dessert beer—something you can sit with and savor slowly
→You want complexity and aren't sure what spice or vanilla notes are present; the ABV helps reveal them
→You appreciate heavier, more textured beers that coat your mouth

SIDE BY SIDE

	Blackbeerd Imperial Stout	Mexican Cake
ABV	9.3%	10.5%
Bitterness	Very bitter	Very bitter
Colour	Dark	Dark
Style	Russian Imperial Stout	Imperial Stout
Origin	United States	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

9 shared · 3 distinct

Both beers

roastedfull-bodiedchocolaterichdark fruitsmoothcoffeecaramelnutty

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Blackbeerd Imperial StoutMexican Cake

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Blackbeerd Imperial Stout

RoastedFull-bodiedMalty

Blackbeerd hits you with honest roasted barley right away—almost like burnt coffee grounds mixed with dark chocolate that doesn't have any residual sweetness hiding behind it. There's a dryness that hangs on your finish, which at 9.3% ABV feels intentional rather than thin. The 65 IBUs present as a whisper of bitterness that threads through the whole thing without ever becoming aggressive. It's the kind of stout where you notice the malt bill doing actual work.

Mexican Cake

RoastedChocolateFull-bodied

Mexican Cake announces itself with a softer, almost creamy entry that suggests there's something beyond just roasted grain happening—vanilla, cinnamon, maybe a hint of cocoa butter. The extra 1.2% ABV registers as warmth on the back of your throat, which actually makes the spice elements pop harder if they're there. It's richer, more dessert-forward, and the finish lingers longer because that alcohol provides a natural carrier for whatever Westbrook layered in. This is a stout that wants to be an experience, not just a beer.

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