Strong Beers

Strong beer brings together some of the richest and most intense styles in brewing, from imperial stout and barleywine to Belgian tripel, quadrupel and double IPA. These are beers built around concentration, texture and layered flavour, designed for slower drinking and sharing.

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Stouts and Porters Imperial Stout Pastry Stout Emperors Brewing Brouwerij Kees Sinnister Brewing Edinburgh Double IPAs, Triple IPAs and Imperial IPAs Belgian Beer

Strong beer covers some of the boldest and most flavour-packed styles in brewing, from Belgian tripel and quadrupel to imperial stout, barleywine, double IPA and barrel-aged seasonal releases. Higher alcohol beers are typically richer, fuller-bodied and more intense than everyday styles, with layers of malt, hops, spice, dark fruit and warming alcohol that continue to evolve as the beer warms in the glass.

Many classic strong beer styles originated in Belgium and Britain before expanding through modern craft brewing into everything from hop-saturated imperial IPA to dessert-like pastry stout and oak-aged mixed fermentation beer. Today the category includes both traditional bottle-conditioned ales and modern craft releases built around barrel ageing, high gravity brewing and long maturation.

Our strong beer range focuses on bottles and cans designed for slow drinking, colder evenings and sharing, including imperial stout, Belgian strong ale, barleywine, DIPA and barrel-aged releases from breweries across the UK, Europe and beyond. Alongside darker malt-driven beers, the collection also includes higher-strength hop-forward styles and mixed fermentation bottles with significant ageing potential.

Expect flavours of chocolate, coffee, caramel, dried fruit, spice, toasted malt, resinous hops and warming oak complexity alongside fuller texture and elevated alcohol. Depending on style, these beers can range from rich and dessert-like to dry, spicy and highly structured with remarkable depth and cellar potential.

Whether you prefer dark roasted stout, traditional Belgian strong ale, barrel-aged beer or intensely hopped DIPA, strong beer remains one of the most rewarding and expressive corners of modern brewing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are strong beers?

Strong beers are beers with a higher alcohol content than standard beers, typically starting from around 6% ABV and going upward depending on the style and brewing method.

What ABV is considered a strong beer?

Most beers above roughly 6% ABV are considered strong, while anything above 9% ABV is often classed as very strong in beer style guidelines.

What types of beers are considered strong?

Strong beers include styles such as IPAs, double IPAs, imperial stouts, barley wines, strong ales, tripels and bocks, all of which are brewed for higher alcohol and fuller flavour.

Why are some beers stronger than others?

Stronger beers are made by using more fermentable sugars from malt, longer fermentation, and yeast strains that can survive higher alcohol levels.

Do strong beers taste different?

Yes. Strong beers usually have more intense flavour, higher malt richness, greater hop character, and a warming alcohol presence compared to lighter beers.

Are strong beers always bitter?

No. Strength is about alcohol content, not bitterness. Strong beers can be sweet, malty, bitter, fruity or roasted depending on the style.

What is an imperial beer?

“Imperial” typically refers to a stronger version of a style, such as imperial stout or imperial IPA, brewed with more malt and higher alcohol content.