Last Updated: 2 March 2026
Key Takeaways
- The Legacy: Signature Brew’s Anthology series started in 2017 and set the benchmark for London-brewed Imperial Stouts.
- The Profile: A massive 10% ABV stout featuring an intense blend of six different malts, Chinook hops, and cacao nibs.
- The Tasting Notes: Expect deep, velvety flavours of dark chocolate, liquorice, and vinous dark stone fruit.
- The Evolution: This brilliant base beer paved the way for years of incredible barrel-aged spin-offs from the Leyton brewery.
As we sit here in March 2026, the evenings are still carrying a bit of a chill, which means it is still perfectly acceptable to crack open a massive dark beer. I have been a huge fan of Signature Brew for a very long time now. Their Coffee Porter “Nightliner” is an absolute beauty, and I always highly recommend grabbing a can whenever you see it.
However, today I wanted to look back at one of the most important beers they ever released. When Signature Brew of Leyton, East London, first announced the launch of Anthology, a highly limited edition Imperial Stout, it completely changed the game for their brewery.
The Origins of Anthology
The original Anthology beer was designed and created by Signature Brew’s head brewer at the time, Riina Lääts. She had joined the team after previously brewing at Estonia’s Sori Brewing.
After working closely on developing and tightening Signature Brew’s core range with founders Tom Bott and Sam McGregor, Anthology was an opportunity for Lääts to express her brewing prowess on a much more personal level.
At the time of the original launch, she explained exactly why she chose to brew an Imperial Stout: “As the nights have started drawing in and we begin to head to the cosiest pubs possible, it seemed a deep, velvety imperial stout was the only option! The style also lends itself to being regularly reworked for each annual edition, and the scope for twisted spin-offs is endless. All of the guys here are already pitching their ideas for next year’s version.”
Tasting Notes and Specs
Anthology comes in at a mouth-watering 10% ABV. The recipe showcases six different malts, healthy additions of Chinook hops, and cacao nibs that add profoundly bittersweet chocolate notes.
When you pour this beer, it features intense flavours of dark chocolate, distinct hints of liquorice, and vinous notes of dark stone fruit. All of this complexity leads to a lingeringly bitter, satisfying finish.
If you remember the heavy-hitters from my Imperial Beer Club review, Anthology easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best of them. The beer was exclusively packaged in 440ml cans and key kegs, featuring absolutely stunning artwork by Signature Brew’s designer Simon McCoy.
An Annual Tradition
As Lääts indicated back in the day, the Anthology concept became an incredible platform for annual releases and barrel-aged versions, with early batches being put aside for maturation in oak.
Signature Brew co-founder Tom Bott explained why the East London brewery was so excited to kick-start this project: “Anthology is the pinnacle of our brewing expression. Everyone in the team excitedly observed the development of the beer, and we couldn’t wait to share it with the world. This beer should be shared with friends while listening to a classic record, or better still, aged for future enjoyment.”
He was absolutely right. Ageing these high ABV stouts works wonders. If you have any vintage cans of Anthology hidden away in your cellar or garage, now is the perfect time to open one up.
If you are looking for a unique gift idea for a craft beer lover, hunting down a modern barrel-aged Signature Brew release is guaranteed to put a smile on their face.
FAQ: Signature Brew Imperial Stouts
What is an Imperial Stout? An Imperial Stout is a dark, highly roasted beer that has been brewed with extra grains to produce a much higher alcohol content (usually 8% ABV and above). This process creates a thicker, richer mouthfeel and intense flavours of coffee and chocolate.
Does Signature Brew still make Anthology? While the original 2017 Anthology was a specific batch, Signature Brew continues to release phenomenal, limited-edition dark beers and barrel-aged stouts every winter season.
At what temperature should I serve a 10% Imperial Stout? You should never drink a stout this strong straight out of a cold fridge. Let it sit at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes before opening. This allows the complex cacao and dark fruit notes to properly warm up and expand on your palate.
