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Best Imperial Stouts to Sip This Winter

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Bottle of North Coast Old Rasputin imperial stout


Winter may not officially start for another month, but the time to begin savoring our favorite frigid weather beer, the imperial stout, officially begins now. Sure, we’re all for barleywines, porters, and strong ales around this time too. No offense either to regular stouts or those dry ones we’ll be visiting come early spring. But when push comes to suds, imperial stouts remain our top nominee as the perfect winter-weather beer.

Also known as the Russian imperial stout, this typically pitch-black beer is known for its dark, roasted malts, bold and robust flavors, and high alcohol content, which can push 15 percent. Originating back in the 1700s, the imperial stout got its name from its popular export destination at the time—brewed in England and shipped to Russia to be imbibed by the Imperial Court of Catherine the Great.

From classic, must-try Russian imperial stouts like Old Rasputin to lesser-known, barrel-aged standouts, here are ten rich, roasty, heartwarming imperial stouts we’d choose to sip on any cold, nearly-winter’s night.


North Coast Old Rasputin
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1. North Coast Old Rasputin

No imperial stout list is complete without North Coast Old Rasputin. Paying homage to the infamous “mad monk” Grigori Rasputin with one of the more haunting beer labels out there, this 9 percent ABV award-winner is made in the classic 18th-century style. The result is a bold, flavorful stout with notes of dried fruit, chocolate, fresh-brewed coffee, and caramel.

[$8.99, 4-pack; northcoastbrewing.com]

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Bottle of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
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2. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

You won’t find a more beloved barrel-aged imperial stout than this Goose Island classic launched in 1992 to celebrate the brewery’s 1,000th batch of beer. One of the most eagerly awaited beers every fall, each year’s version is truly its own thing. The 2021 rendering is a blend of stouts aged up to 14 months in bourbon barrels from notable distilleries including Wild Turkey and Buffalo Trace. It’s known for its pronounced chocolate fudge, vanilla, and warming bourbon flavor.

[$23.99 per 16.9oz bottle; gooseisland.com]

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Great Divide Yeti

Great Divide Yeti
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3. Great Divide Yeti

Available year-round and packing a potent punch at 9.5 percent ABV, there’s a reason Great Divide Yeti is rated as highly as it is. This award-winning beer offers hints of roasted coffee beans, buttery caramel, and sweet vanilla. The finish will warm you with a mix of chocolate sweetness and bitter hops.

[$4.99 per can; greatdivide.com]

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Bottle of Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout with filled snifter of beer

Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout
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4. Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout

Whoever Uncle Jacob is, he must’ve been quite a guy to have a 15.9 percent ABV beer named after him. Bourbon barrel-aged for six months, this robust yet surprisingly mellow stout offers hints of raisins, dried cherries, roasted espresso beans, toasted vanilla beans, and sweet bourbon. The Boulder CO-based brewers recommend enjoying it with a rich, gooey chocolate brownie.

[prices vary; averybrewing.com]

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Bottle of Firestone Walker Parabola

Firestone Walker Parabola
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5. Firestone Walker Parabola

California’s Firestone Walker may be best known for its IPAs and Pivo Pils, but don’t overlook its barrel-aged beers—especially one of the best of that batch, Parabola. Aged for a full year in ex-bourbon barrels, the result is a bold beer with notes of oaky wood, dried fruits, coffee beans, bitter chocolate, and caramel.

[$9.99; firestonebeer.com]

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Bottle of Sierra Nevada Narwhal

Sierra Nevada Narwhal
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6. Sierra Nevada Narwhal

Another brewery famous for its hop-centric beer, Sierra Nevada makes some of the finest darker beers out there as well. Living up to its legendary unicorn-like sea creature name, Narwhal is a truly singular imperial stout brewed with Caramelized, Chocolate, Two-row Pale, and Carafa III malts and is filled with flavors like bitter chocolate, raisins, caramel, and just a hint of smoke.

[prices vary; sierranevada.com]

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Bottle of Bell’s Expedition Stout

Bell’s Expedition Stout
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7. Bell’s Expedition Stout

One of the first Russian imperial stouts made in the U.S., this 10 percent brew is only available in the early fall. It’s known for its malt-forward flavor along with dried fruits, chocolate fudge, toffee, and vanilla. A great beer for aging, you can buy a six-pack now and save some for the middle of the winter or early spring.

[$15.99, 6-pack; bellsbeer.com]

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Bottle of Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
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8. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

One of Brooklyn Brewery’s best-known brews, this 10.5 percent chocolate bomb is available only from October until March. The good news: this gives you a whole half-year (and the entire winter) to indulge in this dessert-worthy beer brimming with roasted coffee, fudge, raisin, caramel malt, and dark chocolate tones—with just a hint of fruit.

[$16.99, 6-pack; brooklynbrewery.com]

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Bottle of Founders Imperial Stout with full pint glass beside it

Founders Imperial Stout
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9. Founders Imperial Stout

Michigan’s Founders is a giant name in the beer world, and generally seems to brew nothing but big winners. Its Imperial Stout might not receive the attention of, say, a Founders Breakfast Stout or All Day IPA but we think it should. This 10.5 percent Russian imperial stout is highlighted by roasted malts, dark chocolate, caramel candy, vanilla, and butterscotch.

[$11.99, 4-pack; foundersbrewing.com]

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Bottle of Surly Darkness stout beer

Surly Darkness
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10. Surly Darkness

One of the most eagerly awaited Russian imperial stout releases, Surly Darkness is brewed with a symphony of malts including 2-Row, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Chocolate, Black, and special B—as well as roasted barley, oats, brewers crystals, and a trio of hops (Simcoe, Warrior, and Amarillo). The result is a potent 12 percent brew with notes of raisins, dried cherries, freshly brewed espresso, caramel, and dark, bitter chocolate.

[prices vary; surlybrewing.com]

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10 Best Porters to Drink Right Now

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A bottle of Deschutes Black Butte Porter




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Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

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Barbell Back Squat


The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.

“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.

If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.

Directions

Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.

Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

Circuit 1

Marius Bugge

A. Barbell Back Squat

Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts renegade row
Marius Bugge

B. Renegade Row

Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side

Circuit 2

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing renegade row Dumbbell Bentover Row in gym
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bentover Row

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 
Marius Bugge

B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 

Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 3

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat

Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Marius Bugge

B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift

Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Circuit 4

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing pullup
Marius Bugge

A. Pullup

Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Marius Bugge

B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press

Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 5

A. Dumbbell Pushup

Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps

B. Biceps Curl

Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps


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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout

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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout




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