The team behind Edinburgh’s Cold Town Beer have poured their passion into the extra special ‘Barrel Aged Imperial Stout’, which has been described as the ultimate Christmas tipple for craft beer connoisseurs, due to its smooth whisky character and deep complexity.

The Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is aged in Speyside whisky casks, making it a rare and extra special festive treat worthy of Santa himself.

Christmas shoppers have just until Friday 19 December to snap up fewer than 1,000 cans of Cold Town Beer’s ‘Barrel Aged Imperial Stout’ online and through independent Scottish retailers, while limited stocks last.

This Speyside whisky cask finished pastry stout is a rich, dark and opaque liquid with a lusciously smooth, velvety texture and a distinctively deep mouthfeel.

On the nose, the aroma is a symphony of decadence, with notes of dark malt and a whisper of Speyside malt whisky. The sweetness of this beer is pronounced yet balanced by a subtle bitterness and soft effervescence.

Ian Kennedy, head of production for Edinburgh’s Cold Town Beer, said: “With fewer than 1,000 cans of our Barrel Aged Imperial Stout now available, only a small number of dedicated beer lovers will get the chance to taste this one-of-a-kind release this Christmas.

“We’re incredibly proud of what it represents as part of our ongoing journey to craft world-class, award-winning stouts.

“Our first batch of imperial stout — aged in a different whisky cask — went on to win overall Beer of the Year at the London Beer Competition 2025, so it’s exciting to see what unique character this new cask has brought to the same base recipe.

“Each cask tells its own story, and this one has nurtured something truly special over the past year.”

The base beer for Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is taken from Cold Town Beer’s Topic Thunder Stout, which took home a gold medal at last year’s London Beer Competition. 

Cold Town Beer has also just won the top gold award for the first release of its Barrel Aged Imperial Stout in the ‘Bottle & Can Speciality & Flavoured Beer’ category at the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) Digital Indie Beer Awards 2025.