As with most "imperial" beers, the imperial stout is "boss" of the stout world, emphasizing more maltiness, more alcohol, and often more hops than its non-imperial peers. The style originated in England as an export product to the Baltic States, where the Russian Imperial Court purportedly enjoyed these products. This style has intense flavors including those typical of any stout (but magnified and more complex), as well as dark fruitiness (prunes, plums, and raisins). Some of the more popular imperial stouts of today include a hoppy balance in the finish.
