Stone Imperial Seasonal 6Pk

Stone Imperial Seasonal 6Pk is a six-pack of Stone Brewing's acclaimed Russian Imperial Stout, brewed at 10.5% ABV and released as a limited seasonal. Scoring a 96 on BeerAdvocate across more than 8,500 ratings, this is one of the most consistently celebrated imperial stouts in American craft brewing.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Escondido, California  |  Style: Russian Imperial Stout  |  IBUs: 45  |  Brewery: Stone Brewing

Production & Heritage

Stone Brewing, founded in 1996 in San Diego County, helped define the West Coast craft beer movement with bold, uncompromising recipes. Stone Imperial Stout is brewed in the Russian Imperial tradition — a style historically produced at high gravity for long-distance transport and extended cellaring. The brewery has emphasized this beer's remarkable aging potential, noting that bottles from the early 2000s continue to drink well more than two decades later. Each annual vintage is released as a seasonal, giving the stout a collectible quality uncommon among widely distributed craft beers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense dark chocolate and heavy roast dominate the nose immediately, followed by layers of espresso, molasses, and dark fruit. A subtle warmth from the 10.5% ABV rounds out the aromatics without sharp alcohol burn.

Taste: The entry delivers a pronounced baker's chocolate and roasted malt character. Mid-palate, espresso bitterness emerges alongside black currant and black licorice, balanced by a fleeting sweetness from the malt backbone. The 45 IBUs provide structure without hop-forward aggression, keeping the focus squarely on malt complexity.

Finish: Exceptionally long and drying, with persistent bitter chocolate and coffee that linger well after each sip. A roasty, slightly tannic quality adds texture and invites another taste.

How to Drink Stone Imperial Stout

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at around 50–55°F to let the aromatics fully open. This stout rewards patient sipping on its own, though it also stands up in cocktail-style applications. A Black Velvet — blending stout with sparkling wine — showcases its roast character against effervescence. A Coffee Nudge variation, combining the stout with coffee liqueur and cream, leans into the espresso notes already present. For a dessert float, pair it with vanilla bean ice cream to create an Imperial Stout Float where the chocolate and coffee flavors mirror a classic affogato.

Best For

• Cellaring alongside annual vintages to compare year-over-year development
• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate high-gravity, malt-forward stouts
• Pairing with a dessert course at dinner parties or holiday gatherings
• Gifting to a serious beer collector during the cooler months

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stone Imperial Stout taste like? Stone Imperial Stout leads with bold dark chocolate and roasted malt, followed by espresso, black currant, and molasses, finishing long and dry with lingering bitterness.

How does Stone Imperial Stout compare to North Coast Old Rasputin? Both are benchmark American-brewed Russian Imperial Stouts, but Stone Imperial Stout sits higher in ABV at 10.5% compared to Old Rasputin's 9%, delivering a bigger body and more pronounced warming character. Reviewers have noted a similarly velvety mouthfeel between the two, though Stone's version leans more heavily into dark chocolate while Old Rasputin emphasizes a sharper roast bitterness.

Is Stone Imperial Stout good for cellaring? Stone Brewing specifically highlights this beer's aging potential, with the brewery reporting that bottles from the early 2000s remain enjoyable — making it one of the more cellar-worthy imperial stouts on the market.

Where is Stone Imperial Stout made? Stone Imperial Stout is brewed by Stone Brewing at their facility in Escondido, California, in the northern part of San Diego County.

What foods pair well with Stone Imperial Stout? Flourless chocolate cake mirrors the stout's dark chocolate intensity. Smoked brisket stands up to the roast and bitterness. Blue cheese — Stilton or Roquefort — creates a classic contrast of pungent salt against malt sweetness. Espresso-rubbed short ribs echo the coffee notes, and dark chocolate truffles with sea salt bring out the beer's residual sweetness.

What sizes does Stone Imperial Stout come in? This seasonal release is available in a six-pack format, with individual 12 oz bottles also commonly found during the release window.

Is Stone Imperial Stout worth the price? With a 96 on BeerAdvocate and legitimate multi-year aging potential, Stone Imperial Stout positions as a premium seasonal release that delivers well above what most comparably priced imperial stouts offer in complexity and longevity.

Why Stone Imperial Stout?

A 96 on BeerAdvocate from over 8,500 ratings places Stone Imperial Stout in rare company among American imperial stouts — that level of sustained critical approval across a massive sample size is not easily earned. The beer's documented ability to age gracefully for decades gives each seasonal vintage a dimension most stouts simply cannot match. At 10.5% ABV with 45 IBUs, it strikes a balance between sheer intensity and drinkability that keeps it from tipping into the cloying or astringent territory common in the style. For anyone serious about imperial stouts, this is a seasonal release that justifies buying multiples — one to drink now and more to lay down.