Imperial Brown Stout, London 1856 – 12 x 330ml Case
From London, 1856 – a stout drawn from the Barclay Perkins brewing records, brewed again in Bermondsey.
This Imperial Brown Stout is based on a historical recipe from the Barclay Perkins archive. It’s the style that would eventually evolve into the Russian Imperial Stout, and this particular version became the basis for the Courage RIS – one of the last remaining links to a once-vital London brewing tradition. That lineage ended in 1992. We brew this beer in homage to that legacy.
Despite the name, it pours black, not brown – language shifts, but flavour stays rooted.
Beer Details
- Style: Imperial Brown Stout
- Size: 12x330ml
- Malt: Maris Otter, Amber, Brown, Black
- Hops: Magnum
- Yeast: Our house ale yeast (California Ale)
Tasting Notes
Don’t be fooled by the 9.6% ABV – this isn’t a brute. Instead, it’s smooth and rounded, with a soft texture and depth that builds. Aromas of cocoa lead into flavours of cream, dark chocolate, and dried fruit. There’s plum, a touch of sour berry, and a long, satisfying finish of herbal bitterness and lightly roasted coffee.
It's a beer that references history but is made to drink now.
Why You’ll Love It
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A piece of London brewing heritage, revived from the Barclay Perkins archive.
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Bold but balanced – rich flavours without overwhelming intensity.
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Smooth and drinkable despite the imperial strength.
Complex layers of chocolate, fruit, roast and bitterness that evolve in the glass.
Cellaring Notes
This beer is built to age. Over time, you can expect the bitterness to soften, the fruit to deepen, and more integration across the malt layers. Ideal for storing in a cool, dark place for a year or more.
Drink now for freshness and roast. Drink later for roundness and harmony.
Order a Case
This is a 12 x 330ml bottle case of Imperial Brown Stout, London 1856 – brewed at 9.6% ABV, with a nod to the past and a flavour rooted in the present.
For questions, email us at shop@thekernelbrewery.com.