Malt aroma & flavor
Extremely rich malty flavor, often expressed as toffee or caramel, and may be accompanied by very low roasted malt astringency.
British Origin Ale Styles
British-Style Imperial Stout
Ale · Ranging from dark copper typical of some historic examples, to very dark more typical of contemporary examples
What to expect
Extremely rich malty flavor, often expressed as toffee or caramel, and may be accompanied by very low roasted malt astringency.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
20–35+
›
Pale / strawBlack
Ranging from dark copper typical of some historic examples, to very dark more typical of contemporary examples · 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
45–65
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 6 · PDF page 15. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Very low to medium, with floral, citrus or herbal qualities.
Perceived bitterness
Medium and should not overwhelm the overall balance. The bitterness may be higher in darker versions while maintaining balance with sweet malt.
Body & mouthfeel
Full
Clarity
Opaque in darker versions. When clarity is perceivable, chill haze is acceptable at low temperatures.
Color
Ranging from dark copper typical of some historic examples, to very dark more typical of contemporary examples
Fermentation characteristics
High alcohol content is evident. Fruity esters if present are medium to high. Diacetyl should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
This style was also originally called ‘Russian Imperial Stout’.
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) 45-65 • Color SRM (EBC) 20-35+ (40-70+ EBC)