Imperial Stout

What is Imperial Stout?

Imperial stout, also known as Russian imperial stout, is a dark, strong, and flavourful top-fermented beer.

The beer boasts a rich malt flavour, often expressed as notes of toffee or caramel. Dark fruits and liquorice intertwined with hints of chocolate or coffee roast are also characteristic.

Imperial stout earned its title from being supplied to the Imperial Court of Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. The beers were made extra strong to withstand the long journey and to cater to the taste preferences of the Russian market.

Origin Story

Major porter brewers in London began brewing extra stout porter from the late 18th century onwards for exporting to the Baltics and Russia. Reportedly, Thrale’s Anchor Brewery in London laid the foundation for this beer style.

The beer was also exported to the court of Empress Catherine II of Russia, hence earning the beer its "Imperial" designation.

In 1781, Thrale’s Brewery changed ownership and the beer was renamed Barclay Perkins Imperial Brown Stout.

Most breweries in the 19th century did not bottle their own beer but sold barrels to professional bottlers, who then marketed the beer under their own name. One such enterprising intermediary was a Belgian-born merchant Albert Le Coq, who had originally come to London to trade with the produce of his family’s vineyard.

He began supplying Barclay Perkins beer to the Russian market under the name A. Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout and was so successful that he obtained the title of official supplier to the Russian Imperial Court. The business was very successful, but increasing import duties in Russia and increasing counterfeiting of the brand forced A. Le Coq to move closer to his consumers.

In 1912, A. Le Coq bought Tivoli Brewery in Tartu and enlisted the expertise of an English brewmaster to begin brewing stout under his own operation. This marked A. Le Coq’s entry into Estonia.

Today, Imperial stout is a very popular craft beer worldwide, often incorporating various extra ingredients ranging from vanilla beans and chilli peppers to marshmallows.

The term "Imperial" is also used today for other beer types to indicate that it is a stronger version of the regular version of that beer, such as imperial IPA, imperial pilsner, etc.