Everyone's Drinking Imperials. Why Aren't You?

I am sure you have walked into your local liquor store and seen labels with the word "imperial" on them and wondered what they were. To start, imperial is a fancy way of saying "bold" or "strong". But imperials got their start in the 1800s as stout beers that were brewed in England but shipped to the imperial court of Russia. Since the craft beer boom in America, the word imperial has been placed in front of IPAs, Porters, and Pilsners which might lead to confusion among beer drinkers who are only familiar with original styles. The craft brewery movement was fueled by IPAs but imperials are the "Emporer" of beers. Read more about imperials at thekitchn. For those of you who have yet to try an imperial simply because of lack of information or interest, it is time to hop on the bandwagon. Once you do, it will be hard to go back to your basic go-to's.

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Imperial Stouts

As mentioned earlier, stouts can be considered the King of imperials. Running from 9% and sometimes as high as 15% ABV, you can count on imperial stouts to pack a punch. It only takes one or two of these bad boys to get you to a place that six or seven stouts can take you. The tastes of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and coffee can be expected in an imperial stout but when it comes to a bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout, you can count on vanilla and caramel notes. The following imperial stouts are a great way to ease into becoming an imperial stout mainstay:

Old Rasputin (ABV 9%, 75 IBU)- With a pretty large following and probably one of the more basic imperial stout to start with, North Coast Brewing's Old Rasputin does well with sticking to tradition. Winning many awards, this beer is full of layers that will get you started in the right direction.

Heavy Boots of Lead

Heavy Boots of Lead Imperial Stout (ABV 11.2%, IBU 55)- Singlecut Brewery did this one right. So rich and smooth it is guaranteed to rock your world. Each sip leaves you wanting more with its creamy texture. It's surprisingly not as bitter as your average stout.

Marshmallow Handjee (ABV 15%)- 3Floyds Brewing Company located in Munster, IN is home to some of the best barrel-aged brews you can find. Marshmallow Handjee is perfectly balanced with bourbon and vanilla bean aroma and taste. It has the thickness of motor oil and finishes extra smooth with a nice bitterness at the end. This beer is a hard find, but if your in Indiana, make this place a part of your road trip.

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Imperial IPAs

Imerpial IPAs are great for those who have been drinking IPAs for a little while and bring and extra bitterness to the table, along with a more hoppy feel. High in ABV compared to standard IPAs, imperials are darker in color giving some of them the look of an amber ale. The American take on an advanced IPA has left ordinary IPA fans with an abundance of newer and bolder ones to experience. Read more about Imperial IPAs on CraftBeer. Below are a few to get you started.

Enjoy By (ABV 9.4%, IBU High)- Stone is a well-known brewery that has a few other gems but this is one that is at the top of its list. It has an impressive aroma that is piny, citrusy, and tropical. It is crisp but not too overly hoppy. A great starter IPA for someone looking to be impressed trying their first IPA.

Sleeper Cell (Mothership)

Sleeper Cell (ABV 10.8%, IBU 85)- Part of Founders' Mothership Series, Sleeper Cell provides its audience with a West Coast Double IPA that features a strong floral and citrusy aroma and a nutty, toasty taste. It is very effortless to drink which leaves you wanting more. The alcohol is well hidden making it appealing to drink more than two. A great Imperial IPA for people who have flirted with drinking high ABV imperials.

Pliny The Elder (ABV 8%, IBU High)- Named after the author and army commander of the early Roman Empire, Pliny the Elder is hoppy and fruity with pineapple, orange, ripe, juicy, fleshy, tropical fruits, and grapefruit rind. It also has a bit of spiciness that lingers after you indulge in your first one. A Boy Named Sue listed Pliny the Elder as his beer of the week in his recent article and said the following:

"The malt (that rich body of the beer) is relatively sweet and not overpowered against that bitterness and fragrance of the hops jumping out at your senses. The beer has a refreshing, almost strong effervescence as you taste and swallow it–especially the fresher you drink it to its bottling/kegging."

Russian River Brewing Company has been around since the craft beer scene started to get big. They are still around for a reason with gems like this as one of their most quality brews.

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Imperial Pilsners

Not as popular as the IPAs and stouts in the imperial game, imperial pilsners provide drinkers with something lighter to drink but still offers some "kick" Pilsners are generally on the lighter side and are a safe bet for those not wanting to come to the dark side. Try this one if you want to explore the lighter side of imperials:

Morimoto

Morimoto (8.2 ABV, IBU 74)- Rogue, based out of Oregon, collaborated with chef Masaharu Morimoto to make this thirst quencher. Feels smooth, tastes of light sweetness, and smells like a...pilsner. But this is most definitely one of the better imperial pilsners out there. Great for hot summer days and goes well with any meal. Plus, the bottle design is good enough to make it seem like you actually went to Japan in order to get the beer.

Not looking to upgrade to imperials? You are probably not alone. Imperials aren't for the faint of heart or the content, but rather for the adventurous and the daring. If you are experiencing boredom with your current beer repertoire, it's time to dive deep into the pool of exploding tastes and aromas that imperials have to offer.