Ballast Point Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
San Diego, California USA

Courtesy of Brad. Dark brown with a medium deep beige head. Sweet aroma with burned malt, coffee, dark bitter chocolate and vanilla notes. Sweet powerfull flavour with burned malt, bourbon, dark bitter chocolate, vanilla and coffee notes. Finished dry.

Bottle 65 cl. Courtesy of KimJohansen. Pours black with a warm reddish/orangey note and a creamy light brown head. Hard roasted malts in the nose. Solid body, massive hard roasted malt - almost charcoal - that eventually manages to battle and win the cloyingly sweet and unpleasant vanilla notes. Ends with a warming alcohol and a massive malt bitterness - almost astringent. 141109

Bottle, 10%. Vinous aroma, a little fresh coffee and some vanilla. Almost black colour, red shine. Distinct vanilla flavour, sweet, but not as sweet as other barrel aged ones. Distinct alcohol note, a bit rough, but balances the vanilla and sweetness off nicely.

22oz bottle, thanks nimbleprop. Medium tan head atop brown-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, coffee, light sugar, vanilla, roast. Taste is moderately sweet, coffee, some vanilla, alcohol, light roast. Smooth medium-full body with low carbonation.

Bottle at the release of Flaming Fury. Pours black with a medium tanned beige head. Coffee and vanilla abound. A touch of acrid bitterness keeps the coffee and vanilla from being overpowering and the result is delicious. Very smooth, and very tasty.

Bottle from Stefanje, iirc. Pours a nice black/brown with a dark tan head. Nose is peanuts, cordial cherries, ovaltine and roast. Taste jumps out like dark rum laced with cocoa and vanilla, finishing remarkably dry for as sweet as it is going in. Damn this is some fine stuff.

Amazing porter with tons of redeeming qualities. Large frothy brown head forms on top of a thick, black body which leaves plenty of hearty lacing. Abundant aroma of roasted nuts, vanilla, cherries, chocolate, and a great woody after scent. Sweet and creamy with a filling and sturdy body. Very malty flavor dominated by dark roasted goodness. Plenty of dark fruits with hints of black strap molasses, coffee and cream as well as a subtle chocolate flavor.

Sampled at GABF. This was one of the highlights. Black pour with creamy tan head. Aroma of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, light roast. Flavor is smooth: nice dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee. Really, really tasty. Smooth, delicious beer.