The Thames slides past the walls of the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, and every winter the same old story rises from the brewhouse's dark vessels: a stout once brewed heavy and sweet enough to survive the journey to the Russian imperial court. Fuller's has retold that story every year since 2013 - and the 2025 edition is no exception.
Expert description of Fuller's Imperial Stout 2025 Limited Edition
Fuller's Imperial Stout is the brewery's annual tribute to the classic imperial stout style, which originated in 18th-century England, where especially strong, dark beers were brewed for export to the Russian imperial court. The 2025 edition is part of a limited three-bottle collector's set marking Fuller's 180th anniversary, alongside a 180th Anniversary Porter and a Vintage Ale 2025. The beer is bottle conditioned, meaning a live secondary fermentation continues in the bottle, so it can be enjoyed now or laid down to mature for years.
The recipe follows tradition, with Sovereign and Centennial hops lending a floral edge while dried rose buds are added during conditioning. This gives a characteristic sweetness reminiscent of Turkish delight, layered over the classic roasted malt backbone. Fuller's is brewed at the Griffin Brewery, where a brewhouse has stood since the 1600s, and the site has belonged to Fuller, Smith & Turner since 1845.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Deep and dark with bitter chocolate, cocoa powder and creamy malt. The rose buds peek through alongside a hint of Turkish delight, dark fruit and marshmallow-like foam.
Taste
Creamy and full-bodied with round malt, dark chocolate and a sweetness of roasted coffee and liquorice. Rose petals and dark fruit balance against a peppery hop bitterness underneath.
Finish
Long and lightly bitter, with lingering notes of roasted grain, dark chocolate and a final touch of flowers.
Specifications
Name: Fuller's Imperial Stout 2025 Limited Edition
Brewery: Fuller's
Region/Country: Chiswick, London, England
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.7%
Size: 50 CL
Edition: 2025 Limited Edition
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed at 12-14°C in a wide brandy or stout glass, ideally with dark chocolate, blue cheese or a rich Christmas dessert
Flavour Profile
Roasted · Chocolate · Rose petal · Fruity · Full-bodied · Spiced
Did You Know?
The Griffin Brewery in Chiswick is home to Britain's oldest wisteria plant, planted all the way back in 1816 - it still climbs the brewhouse walls to this day.
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