Imperiale
Ninkasi Brewing Company

ImperialeImperiale
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From:
Ninkasi Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,820
ABV:
9.1%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,032
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 12.83%
Reviews:
84
Ratings:
243
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 12, 2022
Added:
Nov 05, 2011
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  31
Formerly Imperiale High Gravity Stout

Rich, full bodied and surprisingly smooth, Imperiale Stout has a big roast hit up front, and rich, dark malt flavors balanced with ample hop bitterness to finish.
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Ratings by OrestesMethuon:
Photo of OrestesMethuon
Reviewed by OrestesMethuon from Montana

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A boozy nose, minimal froth, a deep, essentially-opaque brown-black body, and a beautiful label featuring prismatic Byzantine cathedral-domes all conspire to announce this special release as a decidedly imperious stout. Yet it's also not especially thick, possessing a smooth, medium-heft consistency, and that's twinned with a bilious, biting hopping that refuses to let the sweetness or burned-sugar smokiness overwhelm or achieve full assertiveness. Instead, Ninkasi has crafted a big stout that's as balanced as it is bold, boasting bumped-up IBU (reported at 70) and a clean mix of roasted flavors—mostly smoked ash and nearly-blackened caramel—as well as variegated hop notes, which are both decidedly bitter and tart in that grassy, hop-acerbic sense. All in all, a nice, slightly unique, mostly pleasing stout.
Jan 26, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

3.99/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Do not recall when this was purchased but at least 5 maybe 7 years ago.
Pours opaque black with 2 fingers of creamy mocha coloured head.
Roasty malts on the nose - dark chocolate, molasses, hints of licorice with leafy hops.
Taste again roasty malt, char, some dark bittersweet chocolate, licorice, caramel but with a distinct weedy bitterness.
Medium mouthfeel with brisk carbonation even years out - bittersweetness lingers.
Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.78 by GeorgeAKeim from Oregon

Apr 25, 2019
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

3.02/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
April 8th, 2015 - Ninkasi's Imperiale is a special release, but I find it hard to enjoy at first. With a diluted aroma and a sort of "gymnasium" scent, it's a little funky in an odd and unappealing fashion. But as it warms the smell becomes much sweeter, with fructose and candy, like Dumdum lollipops. And in the same way that the aroma was unexciting at first, the flavor seems too sweet, but as it warms, the malt bill becomes easier to sense. And as it's easier to savor, there's much more chocolate, which does much to improve the flavor.
Feb 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by VictorsValiant from Oregon

Apr 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by brayton from California

Apr 22, 2016
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Bomber from Albertsons. Pours out black with a creamy dark beige head. Body seems a little watery, aroma a nice mixture of roast grains and chocolate, taste echoes the aroma with accents of wood, nutmeg and vanilla. Abrupt finish, little alcohol warmth.
Mar 17, 2016
Photo of kevanb
Reviewed by kevanb from Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
650ml bottle, undated, poured into a Ninkasi snifter.

The beer pours a nice deep jet black color, thick bone colored head, about a finger or so, nice retention and great swatches of lace. The aroma is pleasant, simple, roasted grain, light char and bittersweet chocolate lingers. Not a whole lot going on, but there is decent balance and hardly a trace of the 9.1%. The flavors are right in line, bittersweet chocolate, a bit of stone fruit, roasted grain, light char though a bit ashy. The mouthfeel is a bit weak, it coats well, but the body is a bit lacking, thin with higher carbonation and a dry finish.

Verdict: A nice Imperial Stout from Ninkasi, not the most complex or intense, but certainly enjoyable and one that goes down surprisingly easily for the higher ABV. A bit more body would serve this beer well, but it's still a worthwhile purchase, especially at Ninkasi's typically lower price point.
Dec 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by OGdirty from California

Dec 06, 2015
Photo of Brolo75
Reviewed by Brolo75 from California

3.99/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 ounce bottle poured into a snifter

A: Pours black with some coming through around the edges, tan colored head, lots of lacing, looks a little thin, some carbonation streaming up from the bottom.

A: Dark chocolate, coffee, hint of dark fruits, roasted malts, slight alcohol aroma coming through at the end, smells pretty solid.

T: A good balance of roasted and dark fruit flavors, up front, get a hit of dark fruits, followed by some dark chocolate and coffee flavors, hit of bitterness, finishes dry with a big, lingering coffee aftertaste, solid.

M: Smooth, creamy mouthfeel, big dry finish.

O: I think this is a solid beer, nice balance of dark fruits and roasted flavors, smooth creamy mouthfeel, alcohol is well hidden, a little on the light side for a double stout, drinkable but nonetheless, a solid offering.
Nov 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.74 by paresis from Massachusetts

Nov 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.3 by rderedin from Maine

Nov 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by abcdefghijkyle from New Jersey

Oct 21, 2015
Photo of ZakFaruki
Reviewed by ZakFaruki from California

4.27/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Poured from a bomber into a tulip, pours an opaque black, with a tan head, a decent amount of lace comes as well

S: Dark Chocolate on the nose, with roasted malts, a bit of hops, and some ash smell as well

T: The taste follows the nose, Cocoa and roasted malt on the nose, then a slight bit of hops on the way down, a slight ting of booze on the finish as well

F: Smooth as silk, carbonation is light, as expected with the style

O: An exceptionally delicious stout, it definitely competes with the legends. A must-try for a craft enthusiast.
Sep 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.51 by avwrite from California

Sep 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Aug 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.39 by Jhfinn from New York

Aug 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.47 by acurtis from New Jersey

Aug 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Aug 09, 2015
Imperiale from Ninkasi Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 243 ratings