Style Breakdown 2: The Best Imperial Stouts Ever Made in Central Texas
Welcome back to Style Breakdown, where we have a jolly good time looking at the best beers ever made in Central Texas. The first article was about Pilsners, and while I wanted to pick wintery beers for this one, I had a tough time deciding if it would be porters, stouts, or strong ales. But let’s be honest, you want to see the imperial stout data most of all, so let’s just go right ahead and do the biggest article now:
Here are the top Imperial Stouts EVER made in Central Texas!
Imperial Oatmeal
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Beerworks | Barrel Aged Sputnik | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | December 21, 2012 | 4.42 | Sputnik (w/ Coconut & Almonds), Lumberjack Slam, Midnight Swordfight (2018), I Am the Machine |
| Jester King Brewery | Whiskey Barrel Rodeo | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | June 27, 2012 | 4.23 | Weasel Rodeo, Whiskey Barrel Rodeo (Batch 2), Beer Geek Rodeo (2020) |
| Independence Brewing Co. | Convict Hill BBA Stout (Garrison Bros.) 2020 | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | December 4, 2020 | 4.17 | Convict Hill "Balmorhea" BBA Stout (Garrison Bros.) 2019 |
| Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches | Hive Mind | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | December 17, 2020 | 4.1 | |
| Bold Republic Brewing Company | Magic Twix | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | November 27, 2021 | 4.04 |
Imperial Milk / Sweet / Pastry
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinthouse Brewing | The Dude (2017) | Stout - Imperial / Double Milk | January 19, 2017 | 4.41 | Brother Seamus, Autobahn (2019), Time's Person of the Year (2020) |
| Zilker Brewing Company | Elfie Sunshine (2016) | Stout - Imperial / Double Milk | December 29, 2017 | 4.26 | Barrel Aged Cold Brew Elfie (2019) |
| Last Stand Brewing Company | Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout | Stout - Imperial / Double Milk | April 13, 2020 | 4.21 | |
| Austin Beerworks | Templar Knights (w/ Cherry) | Stout - Imperial / Double Milk | December 3, 2016 | 4.2 | |
| Red Horn Brewing Co. | Cultivating Mass Cookies & Cream Imperial Stout | Stout - Imperial / Double Pastry | June 17, 2021 | 4.18 |
Russian Imperial
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Brewing | Integrity - Double Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Russian Imperial Stout | Stout - Russian Imperial | May 7, 2018 | 4.48 | Rum Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout With Coconut |
| Hedgehog Brewing | Ericius (2023 Vintage) | Stout - Russian Imperial | March 18, 2023 | 4.47 | |
| Black Star Co-Op | Chocolate Coconut Moebius | Stout - Russian Imperial | August 12, 2020 | 4.45 | |
| Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. | Capt. Ivan Drago (2015) | Stout - Russian Imperial | December 8, 2016 | 4.4 | |
| Real Ale Brewing Company | Volume XV (Mysterium Verum) | Stout - Russian Imperial | February 14, 2013 | 4.4 |
Imperial Coffee
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Elmo Brewing Company | Deluxe Double Barrel Aged Stout - Vietnamese Coffee (2023) | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | March 6, 2023 | 4.46 | Deluxe: Vietnamese Coffee (2022) |
| Guadalupe Brewing | Guadalupe BBA Deathwish Veramendi | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | July 18, 2021 | 4.35 | |
| Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches | Marcello | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | November 27, 2020 | 4.29 | |
| Jester King Brewery | Doom Forge (2022) | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | February 18, 2022 | 4.26 | |
| Pinthouse Brewing | Enchantment Under the Sea (2021) | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | November 3, 2021 | 4.22 |
Just Imperial. Consider this the “Other” category.
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Elmo Brewing Company | Deluxe: Double Barrel-Aged (2023) | Stout - Imperial / Double | March 4, 2023 | 4.48 | Deluxe Double Barrel Aged (2022), Seven |
| Pinthouse Brewing | Jaguar Shark Brewers Reserve 2018 | Stout - Imperial / Double | November 17, 2018 | 4.47 | Jaguar Shark Deep Search: Green Cheek Beer Co., Elastic Slacks |
| Red Horn Brewing Co. | Rye Barrel Aged W/ Vanilla Suburban Ninja (2017) | Stout - Imperial / Double | March 10, 2019 | 4.46 | Bourbon Barrel Aged Suburban Ninja W/ Vanilla (2020), Tequila Barrel Aged Mexican Chocolate Suburban Ninja (2019) |
| Guadalupe Brewing | Bourbon Barrel Borodin Imperial Stout | Stout - Imperial / Double | October 19, 2015 | 4.42 | BBA German Chocolate |
| Lazarus Brewing Company | Big Bad Wolf | Stout - Imperial / Double | September 20, 2023 | 4.38 |
Next, let’s look at all imperial stouts over time:
2010-2014
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Beerworks | Barrel Aged Sputnik | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | December 21, 2012 | 4.42 | |
| Real Ale Brewing Company | Volume XV (Mysterium Verum) | Stout - Russian Imperial | February 14, 2013 | 4.4 | |
| Jester King Brewery | Black Metal Imperial Stout (2011) | Stout - Russian Imperial | October 28, 2012 | 4.31 | Whiskey Barrel Rodeo |
| (512) Brewing Company | 512 Rum Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout | Stout - Russian Imperial | October 26, 2014 | 4.27 | |
| Pinthouse Brewing | The Big Lebarrelski | Stout - Russian Imperial | February 6, 2014 | 4.18 |
2015-2016
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Brewing | Bourbon Barrel Borodin Imperial Stout | Stout - Imperial / Double | October 19, 2015 | 4.42 | Borodin |
| Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. | Capt. Ivan Drago (2015) | Stout - Russian Imperial | December 8, 2016 | 4.4 | |
| Austin Beerworks | Sputnik (w/ Coconut & Almonds) | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | January 8, 2016 | 4.38 | |
| Red Horn Brewing Co. | Bourbon Barrel Aged Suburban Ninja w/ Vanilla | Stout - Imperial / Double | March 12, 2016 | 4.33 | Hardwood Series Red Wine Barrel Aged Suburban Ninja With Orange Peel And Habaneros |
| Pinthouse Brewing | Goin' Camping, Dude? | Stout - Imperial / Double | September 16, 2015 | 4.32 | The Big LeBarrelski (2015) |
2017-2018
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Brewing | Integrity - Double Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Russian Imperial Stout | Stout - Russian Imperial | May 7, 2018 | 4.48 | Rum Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout With Coconut, BBA German Chocolate, "Humility" Rum Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout |
| Pinthouse Brewing | Jaguar Shark Brewers Reserve 2018 | Stout - Imperial / Double | November 17, 2018 | 4.47 | The Dude (2017), The Big Lebarrelski (2017), Autobahn |
| Red Horn Brewing Co. | Rye Barrel Aged w/ Vanilla Suburban Ninja | Stout - Imperial / Double | March 11, 2018 | 4.44 | Hardwood Series Bourbon Barrel Aged Suburban Ninja (w/ Ginger), The S.O.N. Double Stout w/ Coconut And Cacao Nibs |
| 4th Tap Brewing Co-Op | Barrel Aged Lawgiver | Stout - Russian Imperial | November 12, 2017 | 4.31 | |
| Austin Beerworks | Midnight Swordfight (2018) | Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal | December 9, 2018 | 4.25 |
2019-2020
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Star Co-Op | Chocolate Coconut Moebius | Stout - Russian Imperial | August 12, 2020 | 4.45 | |
| Red Horn Brewing Co. | Tequila Barrel Aged Mexican Chocolate Suburban Ninja (2019) | Stout - Imperial / Double | February 21, 2020 | 4.43 | Port Whiskey Barrel Aged Suburban Ninja W/ Vanilla (2019) |
| Reck 'Em Right Brewing Company | Caprock Ridge, Barrel Aged Stout | Stout - Russian Imperial | October 24, 2020 | 4.38 | |
| Pinthouse Brewing | The Big Lebarrelski (2019) | Stout - Imperial / Double Milk | February 21, 2019 | 4.38 | Elastic Slacks |
| Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches | Randy | Stout - Imperial / Double | November 27, 2020 | 4.32 |
2021
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Horn Brewing Co. | Bourbon Barrel Aged Suburban Ninja W/ Vanilla (2020) | Stout - Imperial / Double | March 4, 2021 | 4.42 | Tequila Barrel Aged Mexican Chocolate Suburban Ninja (2020) |
| Zilker Brewing Company | Bourbon Barrel-Aged Black Is Beautiful (Toasted Marshmallow) | Stout - Imperial / Double | December 28, 2021 | 4.4 | |
| Black Star Co-Op | SRSLY Chocolate Cacao Nibs And Vanilla Bean Moebius | Stout - Imperial / Double | November 18, 2021 | 4.39 | |
| St. Elmo Brewing Company | A.M. | Stout - Imperial / Double | March 7, 2021 | 4.36 | |
| Pinthouse Brewing | SFTB (Straight From the Barrel) | Stout - Imperial / Double | November 26, 2021 | 4.35 |
2022
| Brewery | Beer Name | Style | Date Created | Beer Rating | More Top Beers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Elmo Brewing Company | Deluxe: Vietnamese Coffee (2022) | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | February 19, 2022 | 4.46 | Deluxe Double Barrel Aged (2022), Deluxe Full Stack W/ Maple, Cocoa Nibs & Blueberry (2022) |
| Guadalupe Brewing | BBA Breakfast Integrity | Stout - Russian Imperial | January 22, 2022 | 4.3 | |
| Hedgehog Brewing | Ericius (2022) | Stout - Russian Imperial | March 18, 2022 | 4.29 | |
| Jester King Brewery | Doom Forge (2022) | Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee | February 18, 2022 | 4.26 | |
| Pinthouse Brewing | Breakfast At Klaus' (2022) | Stout - Imperial / Double | November 10, 2022 | 4.25 |
2023
Almost time for this one! Not yet though.
Finally, here are the overall top 10 imperial stouts ever made in Central Texas (one per brewery):
