Upland Teddy Bear Kisses 4Pk

Upland Teddy Bear Kisses 4Pk is a cocoa-aged Russian Imperial Stout from Upland Brewing Company, sold as a four-pack at 10% ABV. A Gold Medal winner at the 2010 World Beer Championships, this stout stands apart through its aging on fair trade cocoa and a massive grain bill that pushes the brewery's mash tun to absolute maximum capacity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10%  |  IBU: 80  |  Origin: Bloomington, Indiana, USA  |  Style: Russian Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Upland Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Upland Brewing Company operates out of Bloomington, Indiana, and has built a reputation for ambitious, flavor-forward brewing. Teddy Bear Kisses uses double the grain of many of Upland's standard recipes — a bill of Pale, Munich, Crystal 60, Crystal 120, Chocolate, Black malt, and Oats — requiring a grueling three-hour boil that the brewery describes as their most challenging, longest brew day. The beer is hopped with Palisade, Cluster, and Columbus varieties, then aged on fair trade cocoa, which deepens the chocolate character well beyond what the dark malts alone deliver.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark roast grains rise immediately, followed by sweet chocolate and deep cacao. A subtle boozy warmth threads through the nose without overwhelming the malt-driven aromatics.

Taste: The entry is big and bold — bitter chocolate dominates the front palate, layered with blackstrap molasses and dark caramel sweetness. Mid-palate, vanilla notes emerge alongside a thick residual sugar feel and mild alcohol warmth. The cocoa aging contributes a calming, confectionery depth that gives the stout its namesake character.

Finish: A dry, coffee-like bitterness closes things out, balancing the expressive roast character and residual sweetness. The finish lingers with roasted grain and a subtle fruit complexity drawn from the caramel malts.

How to Drink Teddy Bear Kisses

This stout is built for sipping at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — where the cocoa and malt complexity can fully unfold. Pouring into a snifter or tulip glass concentrates the rich aromatics. For cocktail applications, try a Stout Float with vanilla bean ice cream, where the beer's chocolate and coffee notes create a decadent dessert drink. A Black Velvet variation — combining Teddy Bear Kisses with sparkling cider — plays the roast character against crisp acidity. It also works beautifully in a Beer Old Fashioned, reduced into a syrup with orange peel and bitters, where the molasses depth adds serious backbone.

Best For

• Cold-weather evening sipping sessions beside a fire
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward barrel-aged and imperial styles
• Pairing with a dessert course at a dinner party
• Building a vertical tasting flight of Russian Imperial Stouts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Teddy Bear Kisses taste like? Teddy Bear Kisses delivers bold bitter chocolate and blackstrap molasses up front, followed by dark caramel, vanilla, and a dry coffee-like finish. The cocoa aging adds a velvety chocolate layer that distinguishes it from standard imperial stouts.

How does Teddy Bear Kisses compare to North Coast Old Rasputin? Old Rasputin is widely regarded as the benchmark classic Russian Imperial Stout at 9% ABV, leaning heavily on roast and hop bitterness. Teddy Bear Kisses runs a full point higher in ABV and differentiates itself with cocoa aging and a notably sweeter, more confectionery-driven malt profile.

Is Teddy Bear Kisses good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the heavy body, velvet mouthfeel, and layered chocolate-to-coffee flavor arc make it ideal for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature without any additions.

Where is Teddy Bear Kisses made? Teddy Bear Kisses is brewed by Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington, Indiana. The brewery is known for its sour ales and ambitious seasonal releases, with Teddy Bear Kisses standing as one of its most grain-intensive productions.

What foods pair well with Teddy Bear Kisses? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa character directly. Smoked brisket or barbecued short ribs match the beer's roast intensity. A slice of flourless chocolate cake or espresso cheesecake complements the coffee-like finish. Sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the residual sweetness.

What sizes does Teddy Bear Kisses come in? Teddy Bear Kisses is available in a four-pack format, which is the standard packaging for this seasonal release from Upland Brewing.

Is Teddy Bear Kisses worth the price? Teddy Bear Kisses positions as a premium seasonal imperial stout, and its cocoa aging, massive grain bill, and Gold Medal pedigree from the 2010 World Beer Championships justify its standing among top-tier examples of the style.

Why Teddy Bear Kisses?

What separates Teddy Bear Kisses from the crowded field of Russian Imperial Stouts is the commitment behind every batch — a grain bill twice the size of standard recipes, a punishing three-hour boil, and deliberate aging on fair trade cocoa. That process earned a Gold Medal at the 2010 World Beer Championships, validating the approach on an international stage. The result is a stout with genuine complexity: bitter chocolate, molasses, dark caramel, and a dry roast finish that rewards patience. For drinkers who want an imperial stout that goes beyond brute strength and delivers layered, cocoa-rich depth, this is a serious contender.