Tree House Lights Out
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a faint undercurrent of vanilla — Tree House's characteristic attention to soft, rounded malt character shows even in a heavy beer. On the palate, flavors of bittersweet cocoa, espresso, and molasses come forward without the harsh, acrid edge that plagues lesser examples of the style. The body is full and chewy but stops short of syrupy, with carbonation that keeps it moving. The finish is long and warming, with lingering dark malt bitterness and a whisper of dried dark fruit.
About the Brewery
Tree House Brewing is based in Charlton, Massachusetts, and has built one of the most devoted followings in American craft beer largely on the strength of its New England IPAs — Julius in particular is considered a benchmark of the style. Founded in 2011, the brewery expanded to a large production facility that draws significant destination traffic. While they are best known for hazy, hop-forward beers, their darker offerings demonstrate the same technical precision and ingredient quality.
Food Pairings
A rich Imperial Stout like this pairs naturally with a dark chocolate brownie or flourless chocolate cake, where the beer's cocoa notes reinforce rather than compete with dessert. Aged cheddar or a firm gouda work well because the fat and salt cut through the beer's roasty weight and reveal its sweeter undertones. Braised short ribs or beef stew echo the beer's molasses depth while the roast character acts as a counterpoint to the meat's richness. A smoked brisket can also be a strong match, with the char on both sides finding common ground.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial Stouts are outsized versions of the standard stout, built around heavy roasted malts and brewed to higher gravity for a fuller, more intense experience. The style is characterized by flavors of espresso, dark chocolate, molasses, and sometimes dried fruit, with a body that ranges from full to viscous. While Russian Imperial Stouts have 18th-century British and Russian export roots, the American version tends to emphasize smoother, less astringent roast and often incorporates adjuncts like vanilla, coffee, or bourbon-barrel aging. At 8.5% this sits on the accessible end of the category, which commonly ranges from roughly 8% to 14% ABV.