Top 12 Imperial Stouts you must try

Are you a fan of the dark side? Ever get the urge for a beer with something extra? Do you want something thick and creamy and loaded with flavor? Then you are probably a fan of Imperial Stouts. Imperial Stouts may come in a small assortment of style variations, but in general they are all black as night, at least 8.0% ABV and loaded with calories and flavor.

During the Fall, Winter and early Spring when there is a cold wind blowing, there's nothing better than cuddling up with a significant other and sharing a bottle of a dark, roasted Imperial Stout. The list below shares some of the best available in the Rocky Mountain region.

For those unfamiliar with the style, the following should help describe what this style is all about.

According to Wikipedia: "Imperial stout, also known as "Russian Imperial Stout" or "Imperial Russian Stout," is a strong dark beer or stout in the style that was brewed in 1796 by Thrale's brewery in London, England for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia, as "Thrale's Entire Porter" - when the brewery was taken over by Courage the beer was renamed Courage Imperial Russian Stout. It has a high alcohol content - nine or ten percent abv is common. Guinness make a 7.5% version they call Foreign Extra Stout."

The BJCP Style Guidelines are a bit more explicit with their description: "An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play.

Variations exist, with English and American interpretations (predictably, the American versions have more bitterness, roasted character, and finishing hops, while the English varieties reflect a more complex specialty malt character and a more forward ester profile). The wide range of allowable characteristics allow for maximum brewer creativity."

The following list, in alphabetical order, is a small sampling of 12 of the best Imperial Stouts to be found in stores around Colorado. Not all of these Imperial Stouts come from from the region (to be fair) and at least 1 of them are from overseas. Click on the links below to read a review of each of these outstanding representations of the Imperial Stout style. You too might just fall in love with one of them.

The Top 12 Imperial Stouts List

1. Avery The Czar Imperial Stout - Avery Brewing Co. (CO)

2. Deschutes The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery (OR)

3. Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout - Great Divide Brewing Co. (CO)

4. Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout - Great Divide Brewing Co. (CO)

5. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - Goose Island Beer Co. (IL)

6. Left Hand Oak Aged Imperial Stout - Left Hand Brewing Co. (CO)

7. Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout - Nøgne Ø (Norway)

8. North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co. (CA)

9. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout - Oskar Blues (CO)

10. Samuel Adams Imperial Stout - Boston Beer Co. (MA)

11. Stone Imperial Russian Stout - Stone Brewing Co. (CA)

12. Victory Storm King Imperial Stout - Victory Brewing Co. (PA)

Don't see your favorite Imperial Stout listed here? There are a lot of good ones available across the USA. Let us know which ones you like and post it in a comment below. Look for more lists of the Top beers by style in future posts.

Update 11/20/2009: I've just tried the Dogfish Head World Wide Stout and it definitely deserves a place in this list. For those who like 'em strong - try Avery Mephistopheles' Stout.

Related articles:
- Sinfully delicious list of Colorado winter seasonals.
- Beer style reference guide.
- Colorado Breweries and Brewpubs list.
- More beer reviews sorted by style.

This article came from FermentedlyChallenged.com
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