Phase Three Curvature 2Pk

Phase Three Curvature 2Pk is a limited-release imperial stout from Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, at 12.5% ABV. Scoring 93 points on BeerAdvocate and averaging 4.5 out of 5 on Untappd across various batches, Curvature has earned a reputation as one of the most sought-after dark ales in the American Midwest, routinely appearing on enthusiast trading forums and secondary market lists.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates out of Lake Zurich, Illinois, with a philosophy rooted in small-batch production and focused recipe development rather than volume-driven output. Curvature exemplifies this approach — each batch is brewed in tight quantities and released with little advance notice, typically distributed exclusively through the taproom. The result is a dense, full-bodied imperial stout built on a foundation of deeply roasted malts, designed to showcase richness and texture without relying on barrel aging or pastry adjuncts to carry the flavor.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep roasted malt dominates the nose immediately, layered with dark chocolate and espresso bean. A faint undercurrent of brown sugar and hazelnut emerges as the beer warms, adding sweetness beneath the roast.

Taste: The first sip lands heavy and velvety, coating the palate with bittersweet cocoa and roasted barley. Mid-palate, molasses-like sweetness develops alongside milk chocolate and a subtle nuttiness. At peak, the espresso intensity returns with earthy, slightly dank malt complexity that keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish: Long and coating, with lingering bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee that persist well after each sip. The mouthfeel stays thick through the finish, with a touch of residual warmth from the 12.5% ABV that never turns hot or boozy.

How to Drink Curvature

Serve Curvature at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate its layered aromatics. Pouring too cold will mute the chocolate and coffee complexity, so allow it a few minutes to open after pulling from the refrigerator. For a decadent twist, Curvature works beautifully in a stout float with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, amplifying the milk chocolate and hazelnut notes. It also pairs well in a Black Velvet variation, blended gently with dry sparkling wine for a textural contrast. A simple boilermaker alongside a pour of rye whiskey plays off the beer's roasted earthiness and adds a spiced backbone.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer collector who values rare Midwestern releases
• Sharing at a tasting night focused on imperial stouts or dark ales
• Cellaring for a special anniversary or milestone celebration
• Adding to a curated beer trade or bottle share lineup

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Curvature taste like? Curvature delivers a dense, velvety imperial stout experience dominated by bittersweet dark chocolate, roasted espresso, and molasses, with secondary notes of hazelnut and milk chocolate throughout.

How does Curvature compare to Toppling Goliath Assassin? Both are highly coveted Midwestern imperial stouts, but Curvature focuses on small-batch freshness and taproom-exclusive drops without barrel aging, while Toppling Goliath Assassin leans into extended bourbon barrel maturation for added vanilla and oak complexity. The two represent distinct philosophies within the same elite tier of American dark ales.

Is Curvature good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 12.5% ABV, Curvature is built for slow, deliberate sipping from a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature, where its layered roast and chocolate character can fully develop.

Where is Curvature made? Curvature is brewed by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a small-batch operation in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago known for extremely limited releases.

What foods pair well with Curvature? Braised short ribs complement the roasted malt depth, while dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa and espresso in the beer. Aged cheddar or Gruyère offers a savory contrast to the malt sweetness. Smoked brisket stands up to the stout's intensity, and a slice of pecan pie mirrors the hazelnut and brown sugar undertones.

What sizes does Curvature come in? This listing is a 2-pack format, consistent with Phase Three's standard packaging for their limited imperial stout releases.

Is Curvature worth the price? Curvature positions as a premium, limited-allocation imperial stout from one of the most in-demand small-batch breweries in the country, and its 93-point BeerAdvocate rating and strong Untappd scores reflect quality that supports its market positioning within the upper tier of collectible American stouts.

Why Curvature?

Phase Three Curvature stands apart because of extreme scarcity and consistent execution — each batch drops with minimal notice from a single taproom, and demand consistently outpaces supply. A 93-point score on BeerAdvocate across a relatively small number of ratings speaks to quality control that many larger stout programs struggle to maintain at scale. The beer itself delivers textbook imperial stout character — thick, roasted, chocolate-drenched — without leaning on barrel aging or heavy adjuncts as a crutch. For collectors and stout enthusiasts tracking the best of what the Midwest produces, Curvature has earned its place as a legitimate benchmark.