World Beer Awards 2020

World's Best Imperial Stout
Country Winner
Olaf Brewing
Northern Comfort
Finland

"Pours rich and dark with a coffee head. A big chocolate hit on the nose with red berry undertones. The palate is packed with complex, heady flavours and keeps revealing more layers: coffee, roast malt bitterness, burnt caramel. The finish is long and bittersweet with dark chocolate and coffee. A delicious beer which begs another sip."

Select Year

SILVER WINNERS

Malmgård
X-PorterFinland

Belgium

Country WinnerThe Flying Dutchman
Beast Of The East The Bear Is There Russian Imperial StoutBelgium

"This presents well in the glass, and is gentle on the palate. Flavours are overall mild, but notes of chocolate, coffee, roasted notes and some bitterness come through and are well-balanced. There's some pleasant brown foam. "

SILVER WINNERS

The Flying Dutchman
More Complicated Than Your Girlfriend StoutBelgium

Brazil

Country WinnerColorado
IthacaBrazil

SILVER WINNERS

Wäls
PetroleumBrazil

Al Fero Birrificio
Oatmeal StoutBrazil

Cervejaria Pratinha
DarkmoonBrazil

BRONZE WINNERS

Bohemia
EntreguerrasBrazil

Bohemia
Big BangBrazil

St. Patrick's Beer
Dry StoutBrazil

Caracu
Brazil

Canada

Country WinnerFrampton Brasse
Stout Impérial RusseCanada

"Black with a dense, oily aroma that holds notes of raisin and date, with notable phenolic notes which support the aroma quite well. The body is rich and sweet, but not overly so with impressive alcohol notes along with a roast and dark fruit driven flavour. The finish is dry, lightly bitter and very satisfying. "

GOLD WINNERS

La Voie Maltee
La CriminelleCanada

China

Country WinnerMaster Gao Brewing
Lunar EclipseChina

"Banana and clove notes come to the fore in this refreshing and zesty brew. There's a creamy brown foam, with notes of chocolate, dried fruit, and a roasted bitterness on the palate. Good mouthfeel, with some sweetness. "

BRONZE WINNERS

WangQin
Emperor Qin's Imperial StoutChina

France

Country WinnerBrasserie Des Cimes
Impérial StoutFrance

"Big pour, big aroma, big flavour, big beer. Pours densely black with a foamy head. The nose is packed with berry flavours. The palate is creamy, with good chocolate flavour and some coffee and berry notes, too. Nicely complex with a light bitterness. This begs another sip."

"Big smoky cigar notes, along with dark chocolate and savoury notes. Rich ground coffee, smoke, and burnt toast. "

BRONZE WINNERS

Birra Morena
Celtica Sweet StoutItaly

Republic of Ireland

GOLD WINNERS

Solas
Irish StoutRepublic of Ireland

SILVER WINNERS

The Crafty Brewing Company
Irish Craft Stout 4.5%Republic of Ireland

BRONZE WINNERS

Brewmaster Beer
Irish Imperial StoutRepublic of Ireland

Rye River Brewing Co
Irish StoutRepublic of Ireland

United Kingdom

Country WinnerRound Corner Brewing
Society for the Encouragement of VirtueUnited Kingdom

"Very dark ebony, almost black, with a good brown head. The nose has dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, cherries and caramel. The palate is smooth and milky, with sweet vanilla that quickly becomes bitter dark chocolate. A complex beer with clear layers and good balance that is so easy to drink. "