Pipeworks Imperial End of Days 22OZ

Pipeworks Imperial End of Days 22OZ is a 10.5% ABV imperial milk stout from Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois, sold in a 22-ounce bomber format. This amplified version of the brewery's original End of Days recipe loads up on cacao nibs, vanilla beans, ancho and guajillo peppers, and cinnamon, resulting in a decadent and layered stout that has earned a 4.0 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 8,400 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Imperial Milk Stout  |  Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Pipeworks Brewing Company is a Chicago-based craft brewery that built its reputation on creative, small-batch releases. The Imperial End of Days takes the brewery's standard End of Days milk stout and "imperializes" it — meaning a significantly heavier malt bill alongside increased quantities of cacao nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon, and both ancho and guajillo chile peppers. The addition of lactose contributes body and residual sweetness, which serves as a counterbalance to the heat from the peppers and the roasty bitterness of the dark malts. The result is a thick, adjunct-loaded stout that pushes the original recipe into bigger, bolder territory at 10.5% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted malt and ground coffee lead the nose, followed by warm cinnamon and a subtle dried chile pepper fragrance. Underneath, dark chocolate and vanilla create a dessert-like sweetness that draws you in before the spice registers.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, driven by dark chocolate and creamy lactose sweetness. Cinnamon pushes forward at mid-palate, accompanied by vanilla bean and a developing warmth from the ancho and guajillo peppers. The fruit-forward character of the chiles emerges gradually, with the pepper heat remaining controlled rather than aggressive — the lactose backbone keeps everything in check.

Finish: A dry, lingering close marked by cocoa powder, cinnamon bark, and a gentle chili tingle that builds slowly after each sip. The 10.5% ABV adds warmth without harshness, leaving behind traces of bittersweet chocolate and toasted spice.

How to Drink Imperial End of Days

Pour this stout into a snifter or tulip glass at around 50–55°F to let the complex aromatics open fully; drinking it too cold will mute the chile and cinnamon layers. This beer is best enjoyed on its own as a sipper, given its richness and elevated ABV. For a beer float, pair it with vanilla bean ice cream — the lactose sweetness and cacao nibs complement the cream beautifully. It also works as a base for a beer cocktail riff on a Mexican hot chocolate, combined with a splash of aged rum and a dusting of cayenne. For a simpler mixed option, try it alongside a shot of añejo tequila as a boilermaker — the shared cinnamon and chocolate notes create a seamless pairing.

Best For

• Cold-weather evening sipping sessions when you want a warming, dessert-like beer
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward bold, adjunct-heavy stouts
• Sharing at a tasting alongside other spiced or Mexican-chocolate-inspired stouts
• Pairing with a dessert course at a dinner party as an alternative to port or digestif

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Imperial End of Days taste like? It delivers a rich, full-bodied profile dominated by dark chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon, finishing with a mild but persistent heat from ancho and guajillo chile peppers. Lactose sweetness smooths out the spice, making it indulgent rather than fiery.

How does Imperial End of Days compare to Stone Xocoveza? Both are Mexican-chocolate-inspired stouts brewed with similar spice and cacao elements, but Imperial End of Days runs hotter in ABV at 10.5% versus Xocoveza's typical 8.1%, and uses a lactose-forward milk stout base that gives it noticeably more body and residual sweetness. Some reviewers have described it as a bolder, more intense take on the same flavor concept that Xocoveza popularized.

Is Imperial End of Days good for sipping neat? Yes — its thick body, layered spice profile, and 10.5% ABV make it an ideal slow-sipper, especially when poured into a snifter at cellar temperature to let the aromas develop fully.

Where is Imperial End of Days made? It is brewed by Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Pipeworks is known for producing creative, limited-run beers with adventurous ingredient lists.

What foods pair well with Imperial End of Days? Mole negro, with its shared chocolate and chile flavors, mirrors the beer's profile closely. Smoked brisket benefits from the stout's sweetness cutting through the fat. Dark chocolate brownies or flourless chocolate cake echo the cacao nibs. A sharp aged cheddar provides a salty counterpoint to the lactose sweetness. Churros with chocolate dipping sauce lean into the cinnamon-and-cocoa theme.

What sizes does Imperial End of Days come in? The standard format is a 22-ounce bomber bottle, which is the size most commonly available for this imperial release.

Is Imperial End of Days worth the price? It positions as a premium craft stout release — the imperial-strength ABV, generous adjunct bill of cacao nibs, vanilla beans, two types of peppers, and cinnamon, and the 22-ounce format all place it in line with other specialty bomber releases from well-regarded craft breweries.

Why Imperial End of Days?

What separates this stout from the crowded field of spiced and pastry-style imperial stouts is the deliberate escalation of an already proven recipe. Rather than designing a new beer, Pipeworks took a base that worked — the original End of Days milk stout — and pushed every ingredient further, resulting in a more intense but still balanced experience. The dual-pepper approach using both ancho and guajillo chiles gives it a more nuanced heat than single-pepper stouts, with fruity and earthy tones rather than raw capsaicin burn. With over 8,400 ratings and a consistent 4.0 score on Untappd, it has earned a loyal following among drinkers who want a big, spiced stout that delivers complexity without gimmickry.