Using Imperial Stout in the Beer Kitchen and at the Table
Using Imperial Stout in the Beer Kitchen and at the Table
When cooking with beer, it’s important to use the right beer style for a recipe. In the world of dark beers, stouts range from very low in alcohol like a Irish Dry Stout (4.1%) to a strong and robust American Imperial Stout | Russian Imperial Stout (10 – 21%). Beyond intensity and flavor, the complexity that a Imperial Stout can add to a recipe is vast. As Imperial Stout as a classic beer style usually bring bold flavors of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, espresso, with hints of dried fruit (think prune, fig, raisin), with a rich and strong mouthfeel, rounded out with a high alcohol element, sometimes associated with a brandy like finish. These beers are sipping beers. In the Beer Kitchen, they can bring these flavors into a recipe and used to highlight these flavors with a combination of other food ingredients. Imperial Stouts can be used in savory and sweet recipes, as the flavor elements can go both ways when cooking with them.
Russian Imperial Stouts are your more standard or generic version of this beer style. Many of the great classics will be found in this beer category. While the American Imperial Stout category will highlight barrel aged version, unique and interesting additions to compliment the flavor characteristics of this beer style, along with fun and creative ingredients to highlight other pastries, desserts and combinations. From espresso, vanilla beans, cocoa nibs to donuts, maple syrup, lactose (milk sugar), chilies, spices and other dessert items like cake, cookies and cereals are now added to American Imperial Stouts.
This page in this Online Cookbook highlights all the recipes that use Imperial Stout in a recipe and recipes that can be created to create an amazing Beer Pairing with the same beer style.
Cooking with Beer | Imperial Stout Recipes:
Beer Pairing | Imperial Stouts:
