Somewhere in Chiswick, a stone's throw from the Thames, this beer was bottled in 2009 and told to keep until 2012. It didn't listen. Seventeen years on it still sits in its claret box, numbered and patient, and has had all the time in the world to turn into something quite different from the beer that left the brewery.

Expert description of Fullers 2009 Vintage Ale Limited Edition Strong Ale Beer

Vintage Ale is the yearly collector's release from Fullers' Griffin Brewery in London. A new one has appeared every year since 1997, and the recipe changes each time. The idea is simple: the brewer picks the year's best malt and hops, uses the same house yeast as always and then lets the bottle do the rest. 2009 is the 13th edition, built on Kent grown Goldings hops and Tipple malted barley from East Anglia. The signature on the back label belongs to John Keeling, who was running the brewing side at the time.

It's bottle conditioned, so there's live yeast in the bottle, and that is exactly why it lasts. Fullers said as much on the label: they had to print a best before date, but like a fine wine or whisky the beer would get better with age. Expect a natural sediment at the bottom, which is part of the deal.

Only 160,000 bottles of the 2009 vintage were made, each with its own number and its own box. Fullers calls it a Strong Ale, and stylistically it sits close to an English Barley Wine, all malt, dark sugar and dried fruit. The hops were front and centre when it was young. These days they've stepped back and let something softer and deeper take over.

Tasting notes

Aroma

Muscovado sugar and caramel with an almost brandied edge. Behind it, butterscotch, rum soaked raisins and a little orange peel, the fingerprint Fullers' yeast always leaves behind.

Palate

Full and creamy. Butter and rum, blackcurrant and vanilla layered over caramel and raisin. The sweetness is rounded, and the alcohol warms more than it bites.

Finish

Long and soft with caramel and dried fruit. After all these years the hop bitterness has all but faded, leaving a gentle vinous warmth.

Specifications

Name: Fullers 2009 Vintage Ale Limited Edition
Brewery: Fullers
Country/Region: England, Chiswick in London
Beer style: Strong Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Size: 50 CL
Hops: Goldings from Kent
Malt: Tipple malted barley from East Anglia
Fermentation: Top fermented and bottle conditioned
Ingredients: Malted barley, hops, yeast and water
Allergens: Malted barley, contains gluten
Shelf life: Made for cellaring and keeps developing for many years beyond the printed date
Best before: End of 2012
EAN no.: 5011885010577
Serving suggestion: At cellar temperature around 12 degrees in a wide tulip or snifter glass. Stand the bottle upright for a day beforehand and pour slowly so the sediment stays in the bottle

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Sweet · Creamy · Vinous

Did you know?

The courtyard of the Griffin Brewery is home to the oldest wisteria in Britain. It was planted in 1816, the same year the Chiswick brewery traces its history back to.

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When the first frosts settle over Wallonia, Cuvée de Noël comes up from the cellar at St-Feuillien. Dark as a winter parlour, spiced like something from the abbey kitchen, and made for sharing. Here in magnum size, where Christmas gets a little more room at the table.

Expert description of St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël Belgian Strong Ale Beer

St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël is a 9% Belgian Christmas ale from Brasserie St-Feuillien in Le Roeulx, Wallonia. The recipe dates back to 1969, and the first brew was made on 20 July that year, the day humans first walked on the Moon. It has since become one of Belgium's older festive ales and a fixture at the brewery, which releases it every October.

This is a top-fermented beer brewed with caramelised malt, roasted barley, herbs and spices. It is then refermented in the bottle and matured for several months in the brewery's cellars, which gives it a rounded aroma and a soft, full body. Bitterness is restrained at 22 IBU, so the malt and spice take the lead.

The Friart family has run St-Feuillien since 1873, drawing inspiration from the former Abbaye St-Feuillien. In 2001, Cuvée de Noël became the first Belgian Christmas beer exported to Denmark, where it was a big hit. This 150 cl bottle takes up plenty of space on a festive table.

Tasting notes

Aroma

Dark fruit and toffee meet warm spice. Think raisins, prunes and fig pudding, with a touch of roasted coffee beans and a hint of alcohol.

Taste

Full and smooth, with roasted barley, prunes, burnt toffee and cocoa up front. Liquorice, cinnamon and nutmeg follow, while the bitterness stays quietly in the background.

Finish

Long and warm, with scorched raisins, prunes and bitter mocha. A little hop bitterness and cinnamon linger until the next sip.

Specifications

Name: St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël
Brewery: Brasserie St-Feuillien
Country/Region: Belgium, Wallonia
Beer style: Belgian Strong Ale
ABV: 9%
IBU: 22
Size: 150 CL
Malt: Barley malt, caramelised malt and roasted barley
Fermentation: Top fermentation with refermentation in the bottle
Ingredients: Contains barley malt and liquorice
Allergens: Contains barley and gluten
EAN no.: 5707323594784
Serving suggestion: Serve with game in sauce, Belgian carbonnade or chocolate cake

Flavour profile

Malty · Roasted · Spiced · Dried fruit · Liquorice · Caramel

Did you know?

In 1988, St-Feuillien filled its first Triple into champagne bottles in magnum and larger formats, a first in Belgium.

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A silver coin buried deep in the Christmas pudding, and a year of good luck for whoever bites down on it. That old English tradition lends its name to a dark, sweet and sticky Imperial Stout from Yorkshire. Pull the ring and out come dried fruit, warm spice and a lick of flaming cherry brandy.

Expert description of Vocation Brewery May Contain Sixpence Christmas Pudding Imperial Stout Beer

May Contain Sixpence is a Christmas Pudding Imperial Stout at 10.0 percent, brewed by Vocation Brewery in Cragg Vale near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. It comes as a Special Edition, and the can describes it as a sweet and sticky medley of rich dried fruit and warm spice, with a touch of vanilla, drizzled in flaming cherry brandy. So this is no ordinary stout with a hint of Christmas. It is a beer built around the dessert itself.

The name nods to the English custom of hiding a silver coin, a sixpence, in the Christmas pudding, with a year of luck for whoever finds it. The style suits the job: an Imperial Stout brings the dark, mature backbone and the extra strength needed to carry dried fruit and spice without losing its footing. According to the can, it is suitable for vegans.

Vocation was founded in 2015 by John Hickling in a rebuilt chicken shed, and today it is one of the largest independent craft breweries in the UK.

Tasting notes

Aroma

Rich dried fruit fills the nose first, followed by warm spice. It smells sweet and sticky, like a Christmas pudding fresh out of the steam.

Taste of the Beer

The palate is sweet and sticky, with dried fruit and warm spice up front. A note of vanilla rounds things off, and cherry brandy adds a warm, fruity edge that ties it together like a sauce poured over the dessert.

Finish

The finish is warm and sweet, with the spice and the brandy lingering for a good while after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Vocation Brewery May Contain Sixpence Christmas Pudding Imperial Stout
Brewery: Vocation Brewery
Country/Region: England, West Yorkshire
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.0%
Size: 44 CL
Malt: Barley malt and wheat
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, wheat, hops and yeast
Allergens: Gluten from barley malt and wheat
Best before date: September 2027
EAN no.: 5060435604964
Serving suggestion: Serve at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in a small tulip glass. Pour carefully, as the beer may contain sediment.

Flavour profile

Rich · Dried fruit · Spiced · Sweet · Vanilla · Cherry brandy

Did you know?

The whole can is wrapped in a recipe for Christmas pudding, printed in neat italic script across the label. Brandy, raisins and sultanas are on the ingredient list, so you can read your way to the dessert while you drink the beer.

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Harvest has its own dark chapter. On the can, a pink glow breaks through a violet night sky, and in the glass Vocation follows up with plum jam, dark caramel and a whisper of fireside smoke. Dark Harvest is an Imperial Porter made for the long evenings.

Expert description of Vocation Dark Harvest Imperial Porter Beer

Vocation Dark Harvest is a 10.0% Imperial Porter, brewed and canned by Vocation Brewery in Cragg Vale, near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. The can carries the words Special Edition, and the brewery describes the beer as layered with chocolate, dark caramel, toasted malt and dried fruit. Plum purée brings a deep, jammy sweetness, while a touch of smoked malt adds a quiet warmth.

The hop is Bramling Cross, which lends gentle notes of berry and spice without stealing the show from the malt. The ingredients are simple: water, barley malt, hops and yeast, and the beer is suitable for vegans.

The can recommends storing it cool and drinking it fresh. There may be sediment, so pour with care.

Tasting Notes

Aroma of the Beer

Dark chocolate, caramel and toasted malt greet you first. Behind them sit dried fruit and plum, with a faint trace of smoke.

Flavour of the Beer

Plum purée gives a full, jammy sweetness that caramel and chocolate carry onwards. The smoked malt adds warmth underneath, and Bramling Cross brings berry and spice.

Finish of the Beer

Long, rich and full-bodied, with berry and spice fading into a soft close.

Specifications

Name: Vocation Dark Harvest Imperial Porter
Brewery: Vocation Brewery
Country/Region: England, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Beer style: Imperial Porter
ABV: 10.0%
Size: 44 CL
Hops: Bramling Cross
Malt: Barley malt with a touch of smoked malt
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops and yeast
Allergens: Barley, contains gluten
EAN no.: 5060435604902
Serving suggestion: Pour carefully into a small tulip glass or snifter at around 10 to 12 degrees Celsius, so the plum and chocolate have room to unfold.

Flavour Profile

Roasted · Chocolatey · Fruity · Jammy · Lightly Smoked · Spiced

Did you know?

The can art is drawn as a star chart, and the Roman numerals MMXV on the label tell you that Vocation Brewery was founded in 2015.

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A cathedral looms over the can, drawn in gold on deep burgundy, with a ribboned gift box beneath it. Yorkshire to Milan, the side of the can says. A stout that swapped black for white and traded coffee for Christmas baking.

Expert description of Vocation White Gold White Stout Beer

Vocation White Gold is a White Stout from Vocation Brewery in Yorkshire, England. It is brewed in Cragg Vale near Hebden Bridge and released as a Special Edition for the festive season. The name points to a pale stout that keeps the full, smooth body you know from dark stouts, without the roasted edge.

The inspiration is panettone, the Italian Christmas cake from Milan. The flavour comes from honey, orange zest, raisin, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom. The result is creamy and full-bodied, and it finishes with a round, rich sweetness. Vocation itself calls it a beer of substance.

Since 2015, Vocation has brewed under the banner We Brew Bold Beers. The can describes it as bold and beautiful beer for the many, and White Gold fits that to a tee: big flavour, no showing off. The can may contain sediment, so pour it carefully into the glass.

Tasting notes

Aroma of the beer

Honey and orange zest greet you first, with soft vanilla underneath. It smells like a freshly baked festive loaf, just cut open.

Flavour of the beer

Raisin and vanilla fill the mouth, while cinnamon and cardamom add a warm layer of spice. The beer is creamy and full, with honey tying it all together.

Finish of the beer

The finish is rich and sweet, with a lingering trace of spice and honey.

Specifications

Name: Vocation White Gold White Stout Beer 44 cl 6.0%
Brewery: Vocation Brewery
Country/Region: England, Yorkshire
Beer style: White Stout
ABV: 6.0%
Size: 44 CL
Malt: Barley malt
Allergens: Barley malt
Shelf life: Best before September 2027
EAN no.: 5060435604919
Serving suggestion: Serve cool and pour carefully, as the can may contain sediment

Flavour profile

Creamy · Spiced · Sweet · Honey · Fruity · Vanilla

Did you know?

According to its own website, Vocation brewed from an old chicken shed on a hilltop in Yorkshire, a little over 300 metres above sea level. The brewery's founder, John Hickling, quit his job to brew the big, flavourful beers he loves himself.

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Picture a dark winter evening, a can opening with a soft click, and the smell of chocolate and toasted nuts drifting through the kitchen. From a small village in Yorkshire comes the coziest Christmas stout around.

Expert description of Vocation First Pick Chocolate & Praline Stout

First Pick is a Stout from Vocation Brewery, based in Cragg Vale near Hebden Bridge in England. It is brewed as a special festive release and comes in a 44 cl can. Vocation has a reputation for making beer without the fuss, and you can taste that here.

At 4.6% it is light enough that you will want a second. Still, it has real body and weight, and it settles soft and full on the tongue. Think chocolate, hazelnut praline and caramel, held together by roasted malt.

This is a beer for sipping slowly on the sofa, but it also holds its own next to a plate of dark chocolate or a classic Christmas cake. Keep in mind there may be some sediment in the can, and that is exactly as it should be.

Tasting notes

Aroma

Roasted malt and dark chocolate meet a sweet scent of hazelnuts and caramel. Vanilla hangs in the background.

Taste

Full and creamy in the mouth. Chocolate and hazelnut praline lead, caramel and vanilla follow, and the roasted malt keeps it all from turning too sweet.

Finish

Soft and sweet to close, with a warm, roasted edge that lingers a little.

Specifications

Name: Vocation First Pick Chocolate & Praline Stout
Brewery: Vocation Brewery
Country/Region: England, Hebden Bridge
Beer style: Stout
ABV: 4.6%
Size: 44 CL
Malt: Barley malt
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops and yeast
Allergens: Barley
Best before: September 2027
EAN no.: 5060435604896
Serving suggestion: Serve at 8 to 10 degrees in a tulip or snifter glass, and pour gently to leave the sediment in the can

Flavour profile

Chocolatey · Nutty · Roasted · Sweet · Creamy

Did you know?

Vocation brews in Cragg Vale, a small village near Hebden Bridge, in the middle of the English Yorkshire countryside.

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A stone's throw from the Thames in Chiswick, a beer was bottled in 2007 that was never meant to be drunk in a hurry. It has been sitting quietly in the dark ever since, doing its work. Yeast, malt and time. Nothing more needed.

Expert description of Fullers 2007 Vintage Ale Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition Old Ale Beer

Fuller's has brewed a new Vintage Ale every year since 1997, and the 2007 edition marks exactly ten years of the series. Head brewer John Keeling picked English Fuggles and Target alongside Slovenian Super Styrian hops, all built on classic Maris Otter malt and the brewery's own house yeast. The backbone is closely related to Fuller's Golden Pride, but Vintage Ale is unpasteurised and bottle conditioned. After fermentation it rests for a month at the brewery before being dosed with fresh yeast in the bottle, which is what lets it keep evolving for years.

Every bottle comes in its own gift box and carries an individual number, with just 150,000 made of this anniversary release. The label says best before 2010, but that's a legal requirement, nothing more. Fuller's themselves said it would improve with age like a fine wine or whisky. Now closing in on two decades, you can taste it. The fruit has darkened, the sweetness has softened, and there's a port-like edge that simply wasn't there at launch. Like any old bottle, each one has lived its own life, so a little variation comes with the territory.

Tasting notes

Nose

When young, the brewery described spicy hops and rich fruit. Time has added caramel, roasted chestnuts and something that reads a lot like old whisky, even though this beer has never been near a cask. Behind it sit dates and a hint of port.

Palate

Malty and fruity with a soft, creamy body. Dates, dark cherries and stewed prunes lead, followed by raisins, walnut and toasted bread. Picture a fruit loaf fresh out of the oven, just at 8.5 percent.

Finish

Surprisingly clean for a beer of this weight. Butterscotch and a vinous warmth fade out slowly, while a gentle herbal hop bitterness keeps everything in balance.

Specifications

Name: Fullers 2007 Vintage Ale Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition
Brewery: Fuller's Griffin Brewery
Country/Region: England, Chiswick in London
Beer style: Old Ale
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 40
Size: 50 CL
Hops: Fuggles, Target and Super Styrian
Malt: Maris Otter
Fermentation: Top fermented and bottle conditioned
Ingredients: Maris Otter malted barley, hops and yeast
Allergens: Barley
Shelf life: Can be cellared for many years stored upright, cool and dark
Best before date: End of 2010 as stated on the label
EAN no.: 5011885010096
Serving suggestion: Cellar temperature around 12°C in a tulip glass, poured gently so the sediment stays in the bottle

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Caramel · Vinous · Nutty · Spicy

Did you know?

The label still reads Fuller Smith & Turner P.L.C. The brewery stayed in family hands from 1845 right up until 2019, when it was sold to Japan's Asahi. So this bottle was brewed while the families behind the name were still running the coppers in Chiswick.

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An ace of spades, drawn in black and white, and a headline that promises trouble. Dancing With The Devil isn't just a beer - it's a tribute to one of rock's most legendary names, brewed by one of England's oldest independent breweries.

Expert description of Motörhead Dancing With The Devil

Dancing With The Devil is a limited edition stout from Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool, brewed in collaboration with the Motörhead brand. Behind the beer is Lion Brewery, which has brewed in Hartlepool since 1852 and, with this series, puts its craft to work alongside rock history. The base is water, barley malt, hops and yeast in classic English style, with the roasted malt types giving the beer its deep, almost black colour.

The style is a top-fermented English stout, full-bodied but not heavy, built to highlight coffee and chocolate notes from the roasted malt. It's a beer that suits fans of the band perfectly, but also anyone who appreciates a solid, characterful stout without unnecessary frills.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Roasted malt, dark coffee and a hint of chocolate, with a light caramel sweetness peeking out from behind raw hops.

Taste

On the palate you meet full-bodied espresso and bitter dark chocolate, supported by a solid malt foundation and a gentle, well-balanced bitterness.

Finish

Dry and roasted, with a lingering coffee bitterness that fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Dancing With The Devil
Brewery: Camerons Brewery
Country/Region: England
Beer style: Stout
ABV: 4.2%
Size: 44 CL
Malt: Barley malt
Fermentation: Top-fermented (Ale)
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops and yeast
Allergens: Contains gluten (barley)
EAN: 5031061003230
Serving suggestion: 10-14°C, ideally in a stout or pint glass

Flavour Profile

Roasted · Malty · Creamy · Lightly Bitter

Did You Know?

Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool has been brewing beer since 1852 and is one of the oldest still-active breweries in North East England - Dancing With The Devil is just one of several Motörhead beers it has created in collaboration with the band's estate.

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In the dark beneath Lervig's brewhouse in Stavanger, some barrels rest longer than others. Fable is one of them - allowed to sit year after year, while the port and bourbon slowly write themselves into the beer. This isn't a beer you rush through. It's a beer you listen to.

Expert description of Lervig Fable By Rackhouse Imperial Stout

Fable is part of Lervig's Rackhouse series, where the Stavanger brewery indulges its passion for barrel ageing to the fullest. The base is a powerful Imperial Stout, which has then rested for a full three years in the dark - first in port wine barrels from Portugal, then in bourbon barrels from Kentucky. The two barrel types meet and merge in the beer, and the result is a deep, complex stout carrying traits of both worlds: the port's sweet, winey depth and the bourbon's warm, smoky sweetness.

Rackhouse is Lervig's dedicated line for barrel-aged beers, where time and wood are just as important ingredients as malt and hops. Fable is among the more ambitious releases in the series - a beer that takes patience to brew, and rewards the same patience in whoever drinks it.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate and stewed fruit greet you first, with a sweet, almost syrupy aroma of port. Beneath it lies vanilla from the bourbon barrels, soft and round, together with a hint of oak.

Taste

Full-bodied and dessert-like, with dark chocolate up front followed by stewed fruit and a warm, port-like sweetness. The bourbon gives the beer body and a lightly smoky caramel note that ties it all together.

Finish

Long and soft, with a finish of vanilla, dark chocolate and a final hint of red-wine-like fruit sweetness that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Fable By Rackhouse
Brewery: Lervig
Country/Region: Stavanger, Norway
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 13.1%
Size: 37.5 CL
Best before: 01/03/2031
EAN: 7072712015354
Serving suggestion: 10-12°C in a snifter or port glass, ideally as a finish to the meal

Flavour Profile

Malty · Roasted · Fruity · Sweet · Spiced · Creamy

Did You Know?

The name Rackhouse comes from the American term for the warehouse where bourbon matures in barrels - a small love letter from Lervig to the bourbon world they draw so much inspiration from.

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An emptied whisky barrel is never quite empty. There's always something left in the wood - rye, fire, a little caramel from the last round - and that's the residue Lervig chases when they fill their darkest beer into used barrels and let time do the rest.

Expert description of Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky By Rackhouse

Off The Rack is Lervig's barrel-ageing series under the Rackhouse programme. The Stavanger brewery takes their most powerful beer and puts it into freshly emptied spirit barrels, and this release is the second chapter in the line, aged on Finnish rye whisky barrels. The base is an Imperial Stout brewed on water, barley, oats, hops and yeast, and the beer has spent 20 months on the barrels - long enough for both the rye's spiced character and the whisky's spirit notes to settle into the beer.

It's a single batch. Once it's sold, it won't come again. Lervig has marked it vegan, so no animal-derived fining agents are involved.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark cocoa and roasted malt first, then a mild tobacco note, and behind it all lies the rye whisky - warm, spiced, a hint of oak.

Taste

Heavy and full. Cocoa and dark chocolate carry it all, while the rye's spiced character meets a distinct spirit warmth from the barrels. It's balanced enough that the malt can still shine through.

Finish

Long and dry, with tobacco and a final hint of whisky oak that lingers long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky 2024 By Rackhouse
Brewery: Lervig
Country/Region: Stavanger, Norway
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.7%
Size: 37.5 CL
Malt: Barley, oats
Ingredients: Water, barley, oats, hops, yeast
Allergens: Barley, oats, gluten
Best before: 10/02/2031
Serving suggestion: 12-14°C in a snifter or tulip glass

Flavour Profile

Malty · Roasted · Spiced · Creamy

Did You Know?

The Off The Rack series is Lervig's way of squeezing the last out of their own used spirit barrels. Instead of leaving the barrels empty after a Rackhouse ageing, they fill them again with a new round of Imperial Stout, so the wood's last flavour isn't wasted.

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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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In Kerava north of Helsinki, Factory Brewing brews beer with the same precision a skilled barista brings to coffee - the Barista series is the proof.

Expert description of Factory Brewing Barista Series #4 Imperial Stout

Factory Brewing Barista Series #4 is an imperial stout made for coffee enthusiasts who want a beer with the same depth, warmth and aromatic intensity as a professionally brewed cup of specialty coffee. This 12% stout from the Finnish brewery Factory Brewing (part of ETKO Brewing) is brewed in collaboration with Good Life Coffee, where the brewers hand-picked Primavera beans from Colombia to define the beer's character.

The aroma opens with strong notes of espresso, dark chocolate and roasted malt. The flavour is deep and layered: first intense coffee, then bitter cocoa, caramelised malts and a rounding sweetness that balances the high alcohol strength. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy and full - exactly as a barista-style imperial stout should be.

The coffee is roasted slightly above medium, giving a darker profile that melts perfectly into the beer's chocolate, caramel and roasted malt base. The result is a stout that feels like a liquid coffee dessert: intense, aromatic and with a long finish of espresso and dark chocolate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Espresso, dark chocolate and roasted malt.

Taste

Intense coffee and bitter cocoa, rounded by caramelised malts.

Finish

Long, with lingering espresso and dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Barista Series #4
Brewery: Factory Brewing / ETKO Brewing
Country/Region: Kerava, Finland
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 12%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, rye, coffee, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley and rye
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, as a dessert or with dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Coffee · Roasted · Full-bodied · Dessert-like

Did You Know?

Factory Brewing's Barista series is created in collaboration with a different coffee roaster for each release, meaning every entry in the series has its own unique coffee character.

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Three different smoked malts, each with its own character - Moersleutel has given this stout full firepower and called it Supernova.

Expert description of Moersleutel Supernova Smoked Imperial Stout

Moersleutel Supernova Smoked Imperial Stout is a stout with full firepower from the Dutch brewery Moersleutel Craft Brewery in Alkmaar - a beer that explodes with smoke, depth and warmth. It's brewed with three different smoked malts, each with its own character, resulting in a layered, intense and perfectly balanced smoked imperial stout.

Oak-smoked wheat provides an almost bacon-like fullness and umami, while beech-smoked barley adds spice and campfire atmosphere. On top of that comes peat-smoked malt, bringing earthy smoke, depth and a hint of whisky associations. By adjusting the ratio between these malts, the brewers have created a stout that is both powerful and harmonious.

The flavour moves from warm campfire embers to intense peat smoke, with dark malts, chocolate and a light sweetness that ties it all together. The innovation lies especially in the use of oak-smoked wheat, which gives a salty-savoury dimension rarely found in a stout.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Campfire smoke and dark chocolate.

Taste

Peat smoke and beech smoke in layers, with dark malts and a light sweetness.

Finish

Deep and smoky, with lingering whisky associations.

Specifications

Name: Supernova
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: Alkmaar, Netherlands
Beer Style: Smoked Imperial Stout
ABV: 10%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, rye, oak-smoked wheat, beech-smoked barley, peat-smoked malt, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley, rye and wheat
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, with barbecue or a strong smoked cheese

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Complex · Full-bodied · Intense

Did You Know?

Moersleutel uses three different types of smoked malt in this beer - oak-smoked wheat, beech-smoked barley and peat-smoked malt - which is unusual even for a beer in the otherwise popular smoked stout category.

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The name doesn't oversell it - Motor Oil pours out of the can with the same viscosity as actual motor oil, and that's entirely the point.

Expert description of Moersleutel Motor Oil Imperial Stout

Moersleutel Motor Oil Imperial Stout is a massive, jet-black and uncompromising imperial stout at 12% from the Dutch brewery Moersleutel Craft Brewery in Alkmaar, brewed to be just as thick and heavy as the name promises. It pours out of the can with the same viscosity as motor oil and settles in the glass with a dense, dark head.

The aroma is dominated by deeply roasted malt, followed by dark chocolate, coffee and a hint of vanilla. The flavour is intense and full: first powerful roasted notes, then bitter cocoa, espresso and a soft, rounding sweetness. The heavy body and oily mouthfeel make it one of Moersleutel's most iconic beers - a true Russian Imperial Stout in a modern Dutch interpretation.

Motor Oil is part of the brewery's permanent range and is considered their flagship stout: dark, deep, robust and built for those who love a stout with maximum power and character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Deeply roasted malt, dark chocolate and a hint of vanilla.

Taste

Bitter cocoa and espresso, with a soft, rounding sweetness.

Finish

Heavy and oily, with lingering roasted notes.

Specifications

Name: Motor Oil
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: Alkmaar, Netherlands
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 12%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, rye, nuts, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley, rye and nuts
Best Before: 25/09/2028
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, with dark chocolate or a strong cheese

Flavour Profile

Roasted · Full-bodied · Coffee · Heavy

Did You Know?

Motor Oil is considered Moersleutel's flagship stout and is a permanent part of the brewery's range, unlike many of their other, more experimental limited releases.

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A box of hand-crafted truffles - just in liquid form. That's how Moersleutel itself describes this dessert stout, built around a carefully selected trio of cocoas.

Expert description of Moersleutel Coconut Chocolate Truffles Pastry Stout

Moersleutel Coconut Chocolate Truffles Pastry Stout is crafted as a box of hand-made truffles in liquid form. Here, creamy coconut, deep chocolate and roasted malt from the Dutch brewery Moersleutel Craft Brewery in Alkmaar meet in a dessert stout that is luxurious, layered and irresistibly full.

The aroma opens with sweet coconut and dark cocoa, followed by warm coffee tones and a hint of vanilla. The mouthfeel is thick and silky, almost like a custard-like raw stout that envelops the palate with intense chocolate fullness.

The flavour profile is built as a true truffle experience: raw coconut flakes are combined with a hand-selected cocoa trio - Bolivia for nostalgic warm chocolate, Tanzania for caramelised fruitiness and Ghana for nutty coffee and bitter wood. Mexican vanilla rounds off the whole, while Moersleutel's Italian dark roast coffee provides depth and balance.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Sweet coconut and dark cocoa.

Taste

Intense chocolate and coconut, with warm coffee tones and a light vanilla sweetness.

Finish

Thick and silky, with lingering chocolate fullness.

Specifications

Name: Coconut Chocolate Truffles
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: Alkmaar, Netherlands
Beer Style: Pastry Stout
ABV: 10%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, rye, cocoa nibs, vanilla, coffee beans, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley and rye
Best Before: 04/12/2027
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, as a dessert or with dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Coconut · Chocolate · Full-bodied · Dessert-like

Did You Know?

Moersleutel used three different cocoa varieties from three different countries - Bolivia, Tanzania and Ghana - to build this beer's truffle-inspired complexity.

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Dutch licorice isn't like the Danish kind - and at Moersleutel they've turned the soft, salty dropjes tradition into the starting point for one of their most surprising pastry stouts.

Expert description of Moersleutel Drop It Like It's Hot Pastry Stout

Moersleutel Drop It Like It's Hot is a dark, soft and deeply aromatic pastry stout at 10% from the Dutch brewery Moersleutel Craft Brewery in Alkmaar, where a true Dutch classic - licorice - is transformed into a luxurious stout experience. At its centre is licorice paste, not the sweet candy version, but a concentrated, velvety extract that adds subtle saltiness and earthy depth.

Cocoa nibs, coffee beans and premium vanilla add layers of roasted warmth and dessert fullness, while a hint of tonka bean brings almond, spice and an exotic edge. The result is a stout that pays homage to the Dutch dropjes tradition: recognisable, but far more elegant and complex than a bag of mixed candy.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Salty licorice, cocoa and vanilla.

Taste

Velvety licorice paste with roasted warmth from coffee beans and an exotic tonka bean edge.

Finish

Earthy and sweet, with lingering licorice depth.

Specifications

Name: Drop It Like It's Hot
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: Alkmaar, Netherlands
Beer Style: Pastry Stout
ABV: 10%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, rye, licorice paste, cocoa nibs, vanilla, coffee beans, tonka beans, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley and rye
Best Before: 19/09/2027
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, as a dessert or with dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Salty · Sweet · Complex · Dessert-like

Did You Know?

"Dropjes" is the Dutch word for licorice candy, a near-national institution in the Netherlands, where people eat more licorice per capita on average than any other country in the world.

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Moersleutel translates Italian gelato straight into beer - Pistachio Gelato is dessert in a can, where buttery pistachio meets roasted coffee and creamy lactose.

Expert description of Moersleutel Pistachio Gelato Pastry Imperial Milk Stout

Moersleutel Pistachio Gelato Pastry Imperial Milk Stout is a full-bodied, silky and dessert-inspired milk stout at 10% from the Dutch brewery Moersleutel. The pistachio lends a buttery, nutty depth, while the brewery's own Italian dark roast coffee adds a roasted balance so the sweetness never takes over. Vanilla rounds off the whole and gives the classic pastry stout feel, while lactose creates the creamy gelato texture that ties it all together.

The flavour is rich, nutty and silky with layers of pistachio, coffee, vanilla and dark malts. Like a scoop of pistachio gelato - just warmer, wilder and far more potent. A stout for those who love dessert beer with character, depth and Italian flair.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Roasted coffee, buttery pistachio and vanilla.

Taste

Pistachio, coffee, vanilla and dark malts in a rich, silky body.

Finish

Creamy and nutty with lingering sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Pistachio Gelato Pastry Imperial Milk Stout
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: The Netherlands
Beer Style: Pastry Stout
ABV: 10%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Barley, wheat, rye, coffee beans, pistachio nuts
Allergens: Contains barley, wheat, rye, nuts
Best Before: 05/01/2028
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy as a dessert beer, ideally on its own or with something sweet

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Creamy · Coffee-forward · Sweet

Did You Know?

Moersleutel brews this stout with their own Italian dark roast coffee, giving a roasted balance that keeps the sweet pistachio and vanilla profile in check.

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In Alkmaar they call themselves "beer engineers" - and Moersleutel's pastry stouts are exactly that: engineered with precision, but brewed with a sense of play.

Expert description of Moersleutel Banana Bread Pastry Stout

Moersleutel Banana Bread Pastry Stout is an imperial stout from the Dutch brewery Moersleutel Craft Brewery in Alkmaar, founded in 2015 by the Zomerdijk brothers. The brewery is known for building its own equipment and for pastry stouts that mimic desserts with great precision - this release is inspired by classic banana bread.

The beer is brewed with banana, cocoa, coffee and vanilla, which together create a full-bodied, dessert-like experience carried by a solid malt backbone. At 12%, it's a beer for slow enjoyment - small glasses, plenty of time.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Ripe banana, cocoa and a sweet, caramel-like malt.

Taste

Banana bread, coffee and vanilla in a full, dessert-like body.

Finish

Long, sweet and lightly roasted, with coffee and cocoa lingering.

Specifications

Name: Moersleutel Banana Bread Pastry Stout
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: Alkmaar, Netherlands
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 12%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, spelt, rye, wheat, demerara sugar, banana, cocoa, coffee, vanilla, hops, yeast
Best Before: 16/09/2027
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, as a dessert or with dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Full-bodied · Roasted · Dessert-like

Did You Know?

The Moersleutel brothers build much of their own brewing equipment themselves, which has earned them the nickname "beer engineers" in the Dutch craft beer scene.

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Three vanilla varieties from three corners of the world and the brewery's own Italian dark roast coffee - that's the ambition when Moersleutel's beer engineers go after the éclair.

Expert description of Moersleutel Vanilla Glazed Éclair Pastry Stout

Moersleutel Vanilla Glazed Éclair is a creamy, dessert-like Pastry Stout at 10%, brewed by the Dutch brewery Moersleutel Craft Brewery in Alkmaar. The beer uses the brewery's own Italian dark roast coffee and an exclusive blend of three different vanillas from around the world, made for beer lovers who crave rich, full-bodied dessert beers.

A base of classic Madagascar vanilla provides creamy body, while a rarer variety from the same region adds extra aromatic depth. Tahitensis vanilla from Ecuador contributes floral, lightly tropical sweetness, while the roasted coffee notes balance the sweetness and give the beer a round, harmonious profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Intense vanilla, dark coffee and sweet pastry notes.

Taste

A decadent combination of vanilla and deep coffee notes, with a thick, syrupy mouthfeel.

Finish

Round and harmonious, like a freshly glazed éclair.

Specifications

Name: Moersleutel Vanilla Glazed Éclair Pastry Stout
Brewery: Moersleutel
Country/Region: Alkmaar, Netherlands
Beer Style: Pastry Stout
ABV: 10%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Barley, wheat, rye, coffee, vanilla
Allergens: Contains barley, wheat, rye
Best Before: 05/01/2028
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed in small glasses at 10-12°C, with chocolate éclair, tiramisu or vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Creamy · Coffee · Dessert-like

Did You Know?

Moersleutel uses three different vanilla varieties from three continents in this beer - one from Madagascar, a rarer variety from the same region, and a tahitensis vanilla from Ecuador.

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In an industrial quarter of Budapest, a small team of brewers experiments its way toward beers that don't always follow the recipe book. Love in a Foreign Language is one of the results - a barrel aged Imperial Stout, heavy with dark chocolate and warm from months on wood.

Expert description of Mad Scientist Love in a Foreign Language

Mad Scientist is a Hungarian brewery from Budapest, known for an experimental, boundary-pushing approach to beer. Love in a Foreign Language is their barrel aged take on an Imperial Stout, where the heavy, dark base flavour is joined by warm wood notes and vanilla from the barrel ageing. The result is a beer with dessert-like depth, where classic stout elements melt together with a softer, rounder character from the wood.

The brewery builds on a solid base of barley and wheat malt, letting the beer draw character from the barrels over a long period so vanilla and wood become a natural part of the flavour rather than a bolted-on layer. That gives a full-bodied, silky texture that stout lovers with a taste for the experimental will find hard to resist.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate, roasted malt and a hint of coffee, with warm notes of oak and vanilla in the background.

Taste

Caramel, cocoa and dried fruit, carried by a soft, warm finish from the barrel ageing.

Finish

Long and round with lingering vanilla and a light sweetness that fades gently.

Specifications

Name: Love in a Foreign Language
Brewery: Mad Scientist
Country/Region: Budapest, Hungary
Beer Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 9%
Size: 500 ML
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, wheat malt, hops, yeast, nuts
Best Before: 05/03/2050
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed at 15-18°C in a snifter or tulip glass

Flavour Profile

Roasted · Chocolate · Barrel-aged · Creamy · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Mad Scientist was founded in 2016 and has in just a few years built a reputation across Europe for experimental craft beer that often combines several brewing techniques in a single bottle.

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Cake in glass form. Light Devourer Dark Ages is a pastry stout that leaves no doubt it was made for dessert.

Expert description of Seven Island Light Devourer Dark Ages

Seven Island Light Devourer Dark Ages is an intense, dessert-like Imperial Pastry Stout at 11%, brewed in Greece and made for those who love dark, sweet and deeply aromatic stouts. The beer opens with heavy notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt and caramelised sugar, followed by warm spices and a deep, syrupy sweetness that gives an almost cake-like fullness.

The creamy, full body and the long, silky finish make Light Devourer a stout that balances intensity with elegance. A prime choice for stout enthusiasts seeking a dark, decadent and uncompromising flavour experience within the Imperial Stout style.

Seven Island Brewery is a Greek brewery that often experiments with dessert-inspired stouts, where sweetness and spice take the lead role over classic hop bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate, roasted malt and caramelised sugar.

Taste

Warm spices and a deep, syrupy sweetness that gives an almost cake-like fullness.

Finish

Creamy, full and long, with a silky finish.

Specifications

Name: Light Devourer Dark Ages
Brewery: Seven Island Brewery
Country/Region: Greece
Beer style: Imperial Pastry Stout
ABV: 11%
Size: 44 CL
Allergens: Barley malt, gluten
Best before: 28/02/2029
Serving suggestion: 10-12°C in a wide snifter glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Spiced · Creamy · Complex

Did You Know?

A "pastry stout" is a relatively new sub-genre of imperial stout, where the brewer deliberately designs the beer to taste like a dessert - often with ingredients and techniques borrowed directly from pastry-making.

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A brewery and a black metal band. ΧΞΣ (Evony Is Evil) is the collaboration between Seven Island and Rotting Christ - dark from the first whiff.

Expert description of Seven Island ΧΞΣ (Evony Is Evil) x Rotting Christ

Seven Island ΧΞΣ (Evony Is Evil) is a powerful, deeply aromatic Imperial Stout, brewed in Greece and created in collaboration with the legendary black metal band Rotting Christ. This 11% stout is intense from the first aroma: dark chocolate, cherry stone, warm spices and a pronounced sweetness from Greek honey.

Brewed with vanilla, mahleb and honey, the beer gains a full, creamy body and a long, silky finish where the dark, spiced notes linger. It's a stout that balances raw power with elegant depth - perfect for stout enthusiasts seeking something unique, dark and uncompromising.

Seven Island Brewery is a Greek brewery known for seeking collaborations across music and beer, where the brewery's powerful stouts are often interpreted through musical themes.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate, cherry stone and warm spices, with a pronounced sweetness from Greek honey.

Taste

Full and creamy, carried by vanilla, mahleb and honey.

Finish

Long and silky, where the dark, spiced notes linger.

Specifications

Name: ΧΞΣ (Evony Is Evil)
Brewery: Seven Island Brewery
Country/Region: Greece
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 11%
Size: 44 CL
Ingredients: Vanilla, mahleb, honey
Allergens: Barley malt, gluten
Best before: 06/06/2036
Serving suggestion: 10-12°C in a wide snifter glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Spiced · Creamy · Complex

Did You Know?

Mahleb is a spice made from the kernels of a specific cherry variety, used in traditional Greek and Middle Eastern baking - an unusual ingredient that underlines the beer's roots in Greek food culture.

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Mad Scientist in Budapest doesn't brew beer for the cautious - Salted Caramel Chocolate Roller is liquid dessert with attitude, brewed for those who want their flavour turned all the way up.

Expert description of Mad Scientist Salted Caramel Chocolate Roller Pastry Stout

Salted Caramel Chocolate Roller is a decadent, dessert-like Pastry Stout at 8% from the Hungarian brewery Mad Scientist in Budapest. The brewery is known for its experimental approach, and here they deliver a beer that tastes like a liquid dessert in a glass.

The aroma opens intensely with chocolate, roasted malt and soft caramel. On the palate you meet a creamy, almost syrupy mouthfeel, where salted caramel, milk chocolate and light notes of vanilla and fudge roll forward in layers. The moderate bitterness keeps the sweetness in balance, while the 8% lends warmth without taking over.

A natural pick for anyone who loves Pastry Stouts with maximum flavour impact - perfect to close out a meal, alongside desserts or simply as pure indulgence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Chocolate, roasted malt and soft caramel.

Taste

Salted caramel, milk chocolate and light notes of vanilla and fudge.

Finish

Sweet and warming with balanced bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Salted Caramel Chocolate Roller
Brewery: Mad Scientist
Country/Region: Budapest, Hungary
Beer Style: Pastry Stout
ABV: 8%
Size: 44 CL
Allergens: Contains barley malt
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy at 8-12°C in a tulip glass or snifter, ideally as dessert

Flavour Profile

Creamy · Sweet · Caramel · Chocolatey

Did You Know?

Mad Scientist is known for naming its beers after specific desserts, and Salted Caramel Chocolate Roller is brewed to taste as close to the real cake as possible.

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Nøgne Ø calls itself "the uncompromising brewery," and Dark Horizon 8 Whisky Edition is the proof - a beer not made to be drunk quickly, but to be sat with quietly.

Expert description of Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon 8 Whisky Edition Imperial Coffee Stout

Dark Horizon 8 Whisky Edition is a massive, intense and uncompromising Imperial Coffee Stout at 16% from the Norwegian brewery Nøgne Ø - one of the heaviest and most complex beers to come out of Norway. This special edition is conditioned with whisky character, adding even deeper layers of warmth, smoke and barrel presence. It's a beer to be sipped slowly and enjoyed as a dessert in its own right.

Nøgne Ø was founded in 2002 in Grimstad and is considered Norway's leading and largest craft brewery, with several rankings among the world's best breweries. The name means "the naked isle" and is taken from Henrik Ibsen's poem "Terje Vigen" - a reference that underscores the brewery's raw, uncompromising approach to flavour.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Espresso, dark chocolate, dried fruit, molasses and distinct whisky notes from the barrel conditioning.

Taste

Intense and full-bodied with bold notes of coffee, roasted malt, liquorice, dark caramel and a warming alcohol profile tied together by whisky, oak and vanilla.

Finish

Long, deep and warm, with bitterness, sweetness and barrel notes that linger for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Dark Horizon 8 Whisky Edition
Brewery: Nøgne Ø
Country/Region: Norway
Beer style: Imperial Coffee Stout
ABV: 16%
Size: 33 CL
Malt: Barley malt
Bottles produced: 12,000
Allergens: Gluten (barley)
Best before: 19/07/2033
Serving suggestion: 12-14°C in a small snifter

Flavour Profile

Roasted · Coffee · Barrel-aged · Intense

Did You Know?

Nøgne Ø has brewed different Dark Horizon editions since 2010, each with its own barrel conditioning - from sherry to cognac to, as here, whisky. The series is widely regarded as the brewery's most ambitious and sought-after releases.

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Red wine fruitiness meets the stout's heavy malt profile. Red Wedding 2026 builds on a series that gets better every year.

Expert description of Fanø Bryghus Red Wedding 2026

Red Wedding 2026 at 12.8% builds on the classic Wedding series from Fanø Bryghus, while standing out clearly through its long ageing on used red wine barrels. From the first impression, the barrels' mark is obvious: a deep, dark aroma with both warmth and tart nuances, where the red wine's fruitiness meets the stout's heavy malt profile.

The taste opens with dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and a light caramelised sweetness, quickly followed by red berries, cherry and blackcurrant from the red wine barrels. The combination of coffee and milk sugar gives the beer a soft, round sweetness, while the roasted malt acts as a solid, well-balanced foundation.

Fanø Bryghus is located on the West Jutland island of Fanø, where the North Sea and the island's raw nature are a clear part of the brewery's identity. The brewery makes everything from classic, golden lagers to barrel-aged specialties, and has won several awards for its craft.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Deep, dark aroma with warmth and tart nuances, where red wine fruit meets a heavy malt profile.

Taste

Dark chocolate and roasted coffee meet red berries, cherry and blackcurrant, rounded off by a creamy milk sugar sweetness.

Finish

Long and lingering with oak, coffee, dark fruit and a mild alcohol warmth.

Specifications

Name: Red Wedding 2026
Brewery: Fanø Bryghus
Country/Region: Denmark, Fanø
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.8%
Size: 50 CL
Allergens: Malt, lactose
Best before: 04/02/2031
Serving suggestion: Enjoy slowly, ideally lightly chambered, in a wide snifter glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Roasted · Barrel-aged · Fruity

Did You Know?

Each vintage of Red Wedding is aged on its own set of red wine barrels, so no two vintages taste exactly alike - the 2026 release is therefore a unique entry in the series.

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24 months in the barrel. White Wedding Limited Edition is proof of what patience can do to an imperial stout.

Expert description of Fanø Bryghus White Wedding Limited Edition

White Wedding Limited Edition at 14.6% is a beer that shows what patience, barrel ageing and a strong base recipe can develop into when given time to work undisturbed. This release is aged for a full 24 months, and the long time in the barrel gives the beer a deeper, more rounded and markedly more complex character than the standard version.

The aroma carries port-like fruit sweetness, dark berries, caramel and a subtle wood note. The taste opens with a soft, round sweetness, where notes of dried fruit, raisins, figs and dark caramel emerge. Midway through, the barrel character comes through more clearly with warm wood tones and a port-like fullness, while the roasted malt sits as a dark, rounded foundation.

Fanø Bryghus is located on the West Jutland island of Fanø, where the North Sea and the island's raw nature are a clear part of the brewery's identity. The brewery makes everything from classic, golden lagers to barrel-aged specialties, and has won several awards for its craft.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Port-like fruit sweetness, dark berries, caramel and a subtle wood note.

Taste

Dried fruit, raisins and figs meet dark caramel, with a port-like fullness from the barrel.

Finish

Thick and creamy, with sweetness, dark fruit, wood and a mild alcohol warmth that lingers long.

Specifications

Name: White Wedding Limited
Brewery: Fanø Bryghus
Country/Region: Denmark, Fanø
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.6%
Size: 50 CL
Other: Limited Edition
Allergens: Malt, lactose
Best before: 30/12/2033
Serving suggestion: Enjoy slowly, ideally lightly chambered, in a wide snifter glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Barrel-aged · Creamy · Complex

Did You Know?

With 24 months of barrel ageing, White Wedding Limited Edition is the longest-aged release in the entire Wedding series, giving it a markedly deeper character than the standard White Wedding 2024.

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Whisky barrels, maple syrup and 24 months of patience. Black Wedding Limited Edition is the darkest of the sibling trio.

Expert description of Fanø Bryghus Black Wedding Limited Edition

Black Wedding Limited Edition is a dark and intense imperial stout from Fanø Bryghus, delivering a deeply complex and flavour-packed experience. At a powerful 13.4% ABV, this is a beer made for those who love deep, roasted malt notes combined with a silky mouthfeel and a long, warming finish. This special release is aged for a full 24 months on whisky barrels, developing deep, full notes of maple.

The stout offers notes of roasted coffee, dark chocolate and maple syrup, while the taste unfolds with nuances of caramelised sugar, vanilla and dried fruit, along with a light hint of toasted oak from the whisky barrels.

Fanø Bryghus is located on the West Jutland island of Fanø, where the North Sea and the island's raw nature are a clear part of the brewery's identity. The brewery makes everything from classic, golden lagers to barrel-aged specialties, and has won several awards for its craft.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Roasted coffee, dark chocolate and maple syrup.

Taste

Caramelised sugar, vanilla and dried fruit, with a light hint of toasted oak from the whisky barrels.

Finish

Silky and long, with lingering warmth and maple sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Black Wedding Limited
Brewery: Fanø Bryghus
Country/Region: Denmark, Fanø
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 13.4%
Size: 50 CL
Other: Limited Edition
Allergens: Malt, lactose
Best before: 30/12/2033
Serving suggestion: Enjoy slowly, ideally lightly chambered, in a wide snifter glass

Flavour Profile

Roasted · Barrel-aged · Creamy · Sweet

Did You Know?

Black Wedding Limited Edition is aged on whisky barrels, just like its standard sibling, but for a full 24 months versus the usual 18 - giving it a markedly stronger maple and wood character.

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Anti Cake Deluxe Blend is Blackout Brewing's most ambitious project in the cake series - several cake-inspired stouts blended together and aged on bourbon barrels in one combined experience.

Expert description of Blackout Brewing Anti Cake Deluxe Blend Bourbon BA Imperial Stout

Anti Cake Deluxe Blend is a heavy, dark, dessert-like Imperial Stout at 11% from the Romanian brewery Blackout Brewing, where several cake-inspired stouts are blended and subsequently aged on bourbon barrels. The result is an intense, sweet and deeply complex beer with both warmth, depth and pronounced barrel character.

The beer appears almost black in the glass with a thick, oily viscosity that already hints at its concentrated nature. The aroma offers dark chocolate, burnt caramel, vanilla, dark brown sugar and roasted malts, combined with distinct bourbon notes of oak, warm spices and a mild alcoholic sweetness. The flavour is full-bodied, creamy and intense - the dark malts deliver cocoa, espresso, liquorice and caramelised sugar, while the cake-inspired elements give a soft, sweet and almost confectionery-like character.

The finish is long, deep and persistent with dark chocolate, toasted oak, bourbon, caramel and a sweet, warm ending. Anti Cake Deluxe Blend suits those who love heavy, barrel-aged and sweet stouts with plenty of depth and character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate, burnt caramel, vanilla and dark brown sugar.

Taste

Cocoa, espresso, liquorice and caramelised sugar with a soft, confectionery-like sweetness.

Finish

Long and persistent with toasted oak, bourbon and caramel.

Specifications

Name: Anti Cake Deluxe Blend
Brewery: Blackout Brewing
Country/Region: Romania
Beer Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 11%
Size: 33 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley malt
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy at 12-14°C in a snifter glass, ideally to close out a meal or as a slow solo pleasure

Flavour Profile

Confectionery-like · Sweet · Chocolatey · Barrel-aged

Did You Know?

Anti Cake Deluxe Blend is exactly that - a blend where several of the brewery's cake-inspired stouts are mixed together before the joint bourbon barrel ageing, making it a kind of "best of" from Blackout's dessert series.

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From Tartu in Estonia comes a stout that isn't afraid to spice things up - rye malt gives Seven Seas of Rye a spiced bite that classic bourbon stout doesn't have.

Expert description of Andersons Craftbeer Seven Seas of Rye Wild Turkey Bourbon BA

Andersons Craftbeer Seven Seas of Rye is a massive, dark and deeply aged Imperial Stout at 13.5% from the Estonian brewery Andersons Craftbeer in Tartu, where the rye malt's spiced edge meets intense sweetness, dark malts and pronounced character from Wild Turkey bourbon barrels. The beer appears jet-black in the glass with a thick, oily viscosity that already signals its heavy, concentrated nature.

The aroma opens with dark chocolate, burnt caramel, rye bread and roasted malts, followed by distinct bourbon notes from the Wild Turkey barrels: vanilla, oak, warm spices and a pronounced alcoholic sweetness. The flavour is full-bodied, creamy and intense - the rye malt gives a spiced, lightly peppery edge that plays against the dark malts' notes of cocoa, espresso, liquorice and caramelised sugar.

The finish is deep and lingering with dark chocolate, toasted oak, bourbon, rye spice and a sweet, warm tail. The combination of rye, dark malts and bourbon makes the beer complex, intense and surprisingly balanced - made for those seeking a heavy, barrel-aged and spiced stout experience.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark chocolate, burnt caramel, rye bread and roasted malts.

Taste

Cocoa, espresso, liquorice and caramelised sugar, spiced by the rye malt's peppery edge.

Finish

Deep and lingering with toasted oak, bourbon and rye spice.

Specifications

Name: Seven Seas of Rye Wild Turkey BA
Brewery: Andersons Craftbeer
Country/Region: Tartu, Estonia
Beer Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 13.5%
Size: 33 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley malt
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy at 12-14°C in a snifter glass, ideally to close out a meal or as a slow solo pleasure

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Barrel-aged · Chocolatey · Intense

Did You Know?

Rye malt is used more rarely in Imperial Stouts than in other beer styles because it can make mashing difficult - but in return it lends a unique, peppery spice depth that Seven Seas of Rye takes full advantage of.

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Blackout Brewing leaves the stout world for a moment with Vision Port - a dark, sour beer flirting with the world of dessert wine.

Expert description of Blackout Brewing Vision Port BA Dark Sour

Vision Port BA Dark Sour is a dark, sour and wine-like specialty beer at 10% from the Romanian brewery Blackout Brewing, where roasted malts, fruity acidity and the port barrel's deep character melt together into a complex, layered whole. The beer appears deep ruby-dark in the glass with a lightly oily structure that already hints at its combination of dark malts and sour elements.

The aroma offers dark berries like cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry, combined with lightly roasted malts, mild acidity and a distinct port character with notes of dried fruit, oak and a wine-like sweetness. The flavour is full-bodied and fruity with a pronounced acidity that lifts the dark malts' heavy expression. Notes of cherry, red fruit, cocoa and light coffee blend with the port barrel's warmth, tannins and rounded sweetness.

The finish is long and complex with dark berries, mild acidity, oak and a rounded port note that lingers. Vision Port suits those seeking a dark beer with distinct sour and wine-like elements, who appreciate beer that challenges and surprises.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry and a distinct port character.

Taste

Cherry, red fruit, cocoa and light coffee, lifted by pronounced acidity.

Finish

Long and complex with dark berries, oak and a rounded port note.

Specifications

Name: Vision Port
Brewery: Blackout Brewing
Country/Region: Romania
Beer Style: Barrel Aged Dark Sour
ABV: 10%
Size: 33 CL
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, yeast
Allergens: Contains barley malt
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy at 10-14°C in a wine glass, ideally as an afternoon or evening beer or as an alternative to dessert wine

Flavour Profile

Sour · Wine-like · Fruity · Complex

Did You Know?

The source data for this beer had a naming slip, where the specifications called it "Vison Dark Sour" - but the correct name is Vision Port, as shown by the product name.

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