Top 10 Imperial Brown Ales Brewed in North America
This Top Ten List of Imperial Brown Ales are from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. English brown ale ranges from deep copper to brown in color. They have a medium body and a dry to sweet maltiness with very little hop flavor or aroma Roast malt tones may sometimes contribute to the flavor and aroma profile. ABV: 6.00% – 10.00%. IBU: 15-25
1. Bravo Imperial Brown Ale – Firestone Walker Brewing – California
2. Winter Coat – StormBreaker Brewing – Oregon
3. Wookie Down – Sweetwater Brewing – Georgia
4. Black Lab Porter – Middleton Brewing – Texas
5. Indian Brown Ale – Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – Delaware
6. Old Brown Dog – Smuttynose Brewing – New Hampshire
7. Wilco Tango Foxtrot – Lagunitas Brewing – California
8. Cabin Fever Brown Ale – New Holland Brewing – Michigan
9. Imperial Brown Ale – Legend Brewing – Virginia
10. Bellaire Brown Ale – Short’s Brewing – Michigan
History of Imperial Brown Ales
Imperial Brown Ales emerged as a bold evolution of the traditional English brown ale, a style rooted in the 17th and 18th centuries. Originally, brown ales were malt-forward beers brewed with brown malt, offering nutty, toasty, and slightly sweet flavors, often with moderate alcohol content. By the 19th century, these ales became staples in English pubs, particularly in the North, with variations like the sweeter, darker Newcastle Brown Ale. The “imperial” twist came later, inspired by the high-alcohol, robust Imperial Stouts brewed for export to the Russian court. In the late 20th century, American craft brewers, known for pushing boundaries, began experimenting with brown ales, amplifying their malt complexity, hop bitterness, and alcohol content to create the Imperial Brown Ale. This style retained the classic nutty, caramel, and toffee notes but introduced richer, chewier textures and ABVs often exceeding 7-10%, making it a heftier, more intense counterpart to its humble origins.
The rise of Imperial Brown Ales coincided with the American craft beer boom of the 1990s and 2000s, as breweries sought to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Pioneers like Dogfish Head with their Indian Brown Ale (a hybrid with IPA influences) and Brooklyn Brewery with their intensified brown ale variations showcased the style’s versatility. These beers often featured American hop varieties, adding citrus or piney notes that contrasted with the traditional English restraint, while still emphasizing the malt backbone of roasted nuts, dark fruit, and chocolate. The style gained a loyal following for its balance of bold flavors and drinkability, appealing to those who craved something stronger than a standard brown ale but less heavy than a barleywine or imperial stout. Today, Imperial Brown Ales remain a niche but cherished style, celebrated in craft beer circles for their depth and historical nod to both English tradition and American innovation.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged