Pipeworks Toasty Slopes 16OZ

Pipeworks Toasty Slopes 16OZ is a 10.5% ABV Imperial Milk Stout in a 16oz can, inspired by the classic Baked Alaska flambé dessert. Brewed by Chicago's Pipeworks Brewing Company, this bold stout layers cherries, cherrywood smoked malt, marshmallow, lactose, vanilla, and cacao nibs into a single, decadent pour that stands apart from conventional pastry stouts.

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

Production & Heritage

Pipeworks Brewing Company was founded in 2012 in Chicago with an ambitious goal of releasing a new beer every week — a pace that cemented its reputation for relentless experimentation. Toasty Slopes reflects that creative ethos: the brew starts with a rich imperial milk stout base fortified with lactose for body, then incorporates cherries, cherrywood smoked malt, natural marshmallow flavoring, vanilla, and cacao nibs. The cherrywood smoked malt is a particularly distinctive choice, bridging the gap between fruit sweetness and fire-kissed char to replicate the toasted meringue exterior of a Baked Alaska.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark chocolate and roasted malt arrive first, followed by a wave of sweet cherry and a light vanilla marshmallow warmth. A subtle undercurrent of campfire smoke threads through the aromatics without dominating.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, with lactose lending a creamy, almost custard-like sweetness on the front palate. At mid-palate, tart cherry pushes through alongside bittersweet cacao, and the cherrywood smoked malt introduces a toasted-meringue quality that genuinely recalls the flambéed crust of its namesake dessert. Vanilla rounds out the profile, keeping the sweetness grounded rather than cloying.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering dark chocolate, a gentle tang of cherry, and residual smoky warmth. The lactose smoothness persists, leaving a velvety mouthfeel that slowly fades to dry roast.

How to Drink Toasty Slopes

Best served at 45–50°F to let the complex layering of smoke, cherry, and chocolate fully develop; pouring into a tulip glass or snifter concentrates the aromatics. At 10.5% ABV, this is a sipper rather than a session beer. For a float-style dessert drink, pour Toasty Slopes over a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to amplify the Baked Alaska concept. It also works in a Beer Flip — shaken with a whole egg, a dash of simple syrup, and nutmeg — where the stout's creaminess and cherry notes create a rich, eggnog-like cocktail. A Stout Espresso Martini riff, combining a few ounces of Toasty Slopes with cold espresso and coffee liqueur, plays off the cacao nibs and roast character nicely.

Best For

• Dessert course replacement at a dinner party
• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who seek boundary-pushing stouts
• Cold-weather fireside sipping sessions
• Gifting to a collector of limited or experimental brewery releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Toasty Slopes taste like? Toasty Slopes delivers a rich combination of tart cherry, dark chocolate, and vanilla cream underpinned by a distinctive cherrywood smoke character that evokes toasted meringue. The lactose base keeps the texture smooth and full-bodied throughout.

How does Toasty Slopes compare to Southern Tier Crème Brûlée Stout? Both are dessert-inspired imperial milk stouts, but Toasty Slopes takes a markedly different direction with its cherry fruit addition and cherrywood smoked malt, whereas Southern Tier Crème Brûlée leans on caramelized sugar and vanilla. Toasty Slopes also sits higher in ABV at 10.5% compared to Southern Tier's 9.6%, and its smoke element adds a savory complexity absent from the Crème Brûlée profile.

Is Toasty Slopes good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 10.5% ABV with layered dessert flavors and a creamy mouthfeel, it is built to be savored slowly from a snifter or tulip glass rather than consumed quickly.

Where is Toasty Slopes made? Toasty Slopes is brewed by Pipeworks Brewing Company at their facility on West McLean Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Pipeworks has operated out of Chicago since its founding in 2012.

What foods pair well with Toasty Slopes? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cacao nibs and roast malt character. Cherry clafoutis echoes the beer's fruit element while matching its dessert inspiration. Smoked brisket or barbecue picks up on the cherrywood smoke thread. A sharp aged cheddar provides savory contrast to the sweetness. Crème brûlée mirrors the custard-like lactose body and toasted-sugar notes.

What sizes does Toasty Slopes come in? Toasty Slopes is available in a standard 16oz can format, consistent with Pipeworks' typical single-serve packaging for their specialty releases.

Is Toasty Slopes worth the price? Toasty Slopes positions as a premium specialty release within the craft imperial stout category, justified by its high ABV, complex multi-ingredient recipe, and the experimental pedigree of Pipeworks Brewing. For drinkers who value inventive pastry stouts with genuine complexity beyond simple sweetness, it represents strong value at the specialty tier.

Why Toasty Slopes?

What separates Toasty Slopes from the crowded pastry stout landscape is its commitment to a singular dessert concept executed with uncommon specificity. The use of cherrywood smoked malt — not generic smoked malt — is a deliberate choice that replicates the caramelized, torched-meringue quality of an actual Baked Alaska in a way that generic vanilla-and-lactose stouts simply cannot. Pipeworks' founding philosophy of constant experimentation means this beer reflects genuine recipe development rather than trend-chasing, and the interplay between tart cherry, bitter cacao, sweet marshmallow, and savory smoke creates a layered drinking experience that rewards attention. For anyone who has grown tired of one-dimensional dessert stouts, Toasty Slopes offers real complexity backed by real technique.