What is an Imperial Stout?
In the 18th century, Britain created the Imperial Stout — a powerful dark beer that was later exported to the Russian Empire, specifically for Empress Catherine II. Strong, thick, and aged — perfect for long sea voyages.
It typically has a deep color ranging from dark brown to black, with intense malty notes, rich spice accents, and sometimes hints of dark fruits and chocolate. Bitterness usually ranges from low to moderate.
But times have changed. The world has changed. And so has the style.
Anti-Imperial Stout by MOVA
Our stout is a rejection of imperial ambitions and resistance to modern imperial aggression. This stout is brewed in Ukraine, and its name is an ironic yet honest response to history. Anti-Imperial Stout is not about compromise, glamour, or ambiguity. This beer is about principle — dark as night and bitter as truth.
We first brewed it in 2022 — a manifesto against the invader. A year later, as a Christmas exclusive, our brewers aged it in oak barrels. Thus, Anti-Imperial Stout became the first variety in our upcoming exclusive Barrel Aged line.
Today, this beer is gaining popularity abroad — especially in Finland, a country with its own history of resisting that same evil empire.
Anti-Imperial Stout in Finland
As of February 2025, it appeared in the assortment of Finland’s Alko network — the national distributor of alcoholic beverages. Finnish media dubbed it a “protest beer” and even “Putin’s tears in a bottle.”
Nevertheless, it wasn’t just the name or message that earned it a place on the shelves. Alko representatives highlighted two independent factors: Anti-Imperial stood out with its flavor during the selection of new stouts for the store assortment and matched the current demand in Finland — a demand for Ukrainian products.
“In my opinion, the name of this beer also refers to its relative lightness compared to classic imperial stouts... When making our selection, we did not set Ukrainian origin or political context as a requirement — we simply chose a stout that was in demand.”[1]
— Anu Koskinen, Director of Assortment and Purchasing at Alko
Thus, Anti-Imperial Stout became a manifesto of our nation against empire. It carries this mission onto the international stage and is embraced by consumers and connoisseurs alike.
Strong like Ukrainian courage. Dark as night, and bitter as truth.
