Malt aroma & flavor
No roast barley or strong burnt/black malt character should be present. Medium malt, caramel, and cocoa sweetness should be present.
North American Origin Ale Styles
American-Style Imperial Porter
Ale · Black
What to expect
No roast barley or strong burnt/black malt character should be present.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
40+
›
Pale / strawBlack
Black · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
7.0–12.0%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
35–50
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 13 · PDF page 22. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Low to medium-high
Perceived bitterness
Medium-low to medium
Body & mouthfeel
Full
Clarity
Opaque
Color
Black
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters are present but not overpowering and should complement hop character and malt-derived sweetness. Diacetyl should not be present absent.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.080-1.100 (19.3-23.7 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.020-1.030 (5.1-7.6 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 5.5%-9.5% (7.0%-12.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 35-50 • Color SRM (EBC) 40+ (80+ EBC)