Vault City's Highest Rated Stouts from 2025
With 118 total beers released in 2025, 90 of these were sour, 26 were stouts and we threw in 2 radlers for good measure!
Our blog looks at the top ten highest rated stouts as chosen by you on Untappd, with all ratings accurate at the time of publishing. If you prefer beers on the sour side, check out our top ten highest rated sour blog here.
#1. GLOOP – Chocolate Fudge Brownie, 10%
4.83 / 5 (36 ratings)
Chocolate + Fudge + Brownie + GLOOP. A new breed of cream stout from Vault City taking the word thicc to new meanings. Our initial super small batch was brewed for an event at Joule in Manchester, with the rest available exclusively at our taproom, The Wee Vault. More gloop, glooping soon, watch this space...
#2. 7 Years Stout (Cacao, Maple, Coffee, Coconut, Vanilla, Cinnamon & Caramel), 14%
4.34 / 5 (2,613 ratings)
Much like 7 Year Sour, this birthday special was a favourite in 2025, brewed to mark Vault City turning 7. This decadent imperial stout layers chocolate cacao nibs, maple syrup, coffee, coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel into something luxuriously smooth and full-bodied. It’s dark, rich, sticky, and the perfect way to celebrate seven sweet years, with many more to come.
#3. Dips & Pieces, 13%
4.26 / 5 (2,113 ratings)
Inspired by the irresistible combo of peanut butter–coated pretzels dipped in rich chocolate, Dips & Pieces is a rich and indulgent imperial pastry stout. This recipe features a layered malt bill of Carafa Special III, Melanoidin, Chocolate Malt, Wheat and Oats for a sticky, full-bodied stout with intense roasted dark chocolate notes enhanced by mountains of cacao nibs.
#4. Gold Standard, 15%
4.24 / 5 (1,177 ratings)
Part of our Quaffable Treats range brewed for right under your tree at Christmas, Gold Standard is an imperial stout inspired by a classic hazelnut chocolate treat. A rich, layered malt bill creates a thick, decadent body, balancing sweetness and depth. It’s smooth, bold, and indulgent, a festive stout worth unwrapping.
#5. Swiss Peaks, 14%
4.23 / 5 (69 ratings)
Our latest release, and our final beer of 2025, Swiss Peaks is a tribute to everyone’s favourite mountainous chocolate. While the ratings are still coming in, this decadent imperial stout is starting on a high, combining a layered bill of chocolate, pale and amber malts with smooth oats, cacao nibs and a touch of soft honey. It finishes with a gentle dusting of almond flavours, like fresh snow settling on a Swiss alpine peak.
#6. Crunch, 15%
4.23 / 5 (4,260 ratings)
Initially brewed and sold out in an hour, this imperial stout had to be brewed again with us releasing a second batch in April and becoming a firm favourite in 2025. This rich full-bodied imperial stout delivers a decadent blend of bold flavours, with layers of rich dark chocolate and cinder toffee to capture the irresistible taste of our favourite crunchy snack.
#7. Salted Caramel Crema, 14.5%
4.22 / 5 (2,238 ratings)
One half of a bold and decadent duo released in 2025, showcasing the latest evolution of our Crema Imperial stout series. A rich blend of chocolate malt, wheat and oats creates a smooth and luxurious mouthfeel, while additions of Weyermann® Carafa® Special III and Melanoidin malt blend with brown sugar and Belgian dark syrup to form layers of deep caramel and toffee notes.
This sweetness is balanced with additions of Hard Lines Peru Seasonal Coffee which infuses complex flavours of red fruits, toffee, and toasted biscuit. Finally, a pinch of sea salt and East Kent Goldings hops tie it all together.
#8. Chocolate River Imperial Stout, 12%
4.14 / 5 (2,774 ratings)
Our wonka-fied imperial stout in the Marvellous Liquids series lets you dive headfirst into decadence. A river of thicc, indulgent liquid chocolate inspired by a fantasy of swirling sweetness, delivering waves of deep chocolate malt, velvety cocoa, and a luxurious, sticky body. No golden ticket required.
#9. Dubai-Style Chocolate Pistachio Pastry Imperial Stout
4.14 / 5 (1,981 ratings)
Our most requested recipe this year. This luscious imperial stout replicates the iconic flavours of silky milk chocolate among layers of rich pistachio cream and golden syrup-soaked knafeh pastry. It’s full-bodied, nutty, and unapologetically indulgent.
#.10 Toffee Nut Latte
4.13 / 5 (2,063 ratings)
Finally, in our top ten list, we have Toffee Nut Latte, a riff on one of our most popular imperial stouts with a Toffee-Nut twist! Our full-bodied seasonal stout showcases layers of chocolate malt and oats, smooth toffee, and creamy vanilla for a velvety mouthfeel and a rich, nutty finish.
