Stone w00tstout
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with dark roasted malt, bittersweet chocolate, and a pronounced hop presence that sets this apart from most imperial stouts — pine and resin notes are unmistakable. On the palate, flavors of espresso, dark chocolate, and dried fruit layer over a full, almost chewy body. The hops stay active throughout, lending a bitter edge that keeps the sweetness in check. The finish is long, warming, and dry, with roast and hop resin lingering well after the sip.
About the Brewery
Stone Brewing is based in Escondido, California, founded in 1996, and became one of the defining forces of West Coast craft brewing. They built their reputation on aggressively hopped beers — the Arrogant Bastard and IPA lines are flagship examples — and helped normalize high-bitterness, high-ABV ales for American drinkers. The w00tstout is a collaboration with homebrewing figures and represents their experimental, community-driven side.
Food Pairings
Aged cheddar or gouda works well because the beer's roast and bitterness cut through the fat while the chocolate notes mirror the cheese's nuttiness. A smoked brisket or pulled pork brings out the darker malt character through shared smokiness. Dark chocolate brownies or a flourless chocolate cake echo the cocoa tones without competing. A small pour alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream turns the beer's bitterness into a contrast that makes both richer.
Style Guide
American Imperial Stout takes the English stout tradition and pushes nearly every parameter higher — more malt, more hops, and significantly more alcohol, typically ranging from 8% to well above 12%. Where Russian Imperial Stouts lean into a more balanced, old-world richness, the American version often incorporates assertive hop bitterness or dry-hop character alongside the expected roast and chocolate notes. The style originated as American craft brewers riffed on historic high-gravity stouts brewed for export, and it has since become a canvas for adjunct additions like vanilla, coffee, and bourbon barrel aging. At 13%, this sits at the upper range even within its own category.