Brasserie de Blaugies - Blidegarian Imperial Stout

The Blidegarian Imperial Stout is a first for Brasserie de Blaugies. After trying this, you’d think they were making stouts from the inception of the brewery, that’s how tasty it is. Being almost impossible to find in the US in 750ml bottles, or any format for that matter, the Rare Beer Club is proud to feature this ultra-rare imperial stout.

The Blidegarian Imperial Stout pours nearly opaque black with a dense tan head and leaves thin lacing with every sip. The aromas that abound are initially of deeply roasted malt with hints of char and a whisp of smoke which leads to dark chocolate aromas and rich coffee notes. The coffee was added at the end of the boiling process to enhance the roasted malt aromas. This culminates in pronounced notes of dark earth and dark dried fruit that are complex and inviting.

On the palate is where the Blidegarian Imperial Stout really shines. The mouthfeel is smooth and round with grippy bitterness that initially greets our taste buds. Being bottle conditioned, the Blidegarian Imperial Stout has a creamy mousse with good carbonation that complements the coffee and roasted malt and brings forward dark chocolate and black fruit flavors. There are notes of spice and cola nut that come through mid-palate and floral flavors from the yeast as well. For a full-bodied stout at 9% abv its presence on the tongue is deceptively light, leaving us with no palate fatigue, just craving more. The finish is long and layered, carrying the chocolate and coffee notes all the way to the end. Another winner from Brasserie de Blaugies!

The “best by” date on the bottle states the Blidegarian Imperial Stout should be consumed by the end of 2025. They may be a bit cautious with that date (or it’s their strategy to sell more beer!) but we wouldn’t age it too far beyond that. To pair we recommend cast iron seared rib eye steaks with mushroom sauce and roasted root vegetables, with Belgian chocolate cake for dessert. Enjoy!