French Broad Imperial Porter

Brewed by French Broad Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Asheville, North Carolina USA

Growler. Chocolate, toast, burnt/roasted malt, coffee and mild smoke in the aroma. Ruby hued dark brown with a thin and diminishing, but creamy, tan head. Very nice roast malt and sweet chocolate fore. Nice balance to it between roast bitter and sweet malt. Faint charry notes. Black chocolate, black coffee grounds...astringent, but in a complimentary way. Very solid brew.

On tap at the Federal. This is probably the best beer I’ve had from French Broad. Nice thick pour with an inky black body, modest head, and a lovely aroma of chocolate malts. The body is so thick and smooth, but without being too cloying. And the flavor is deeply milky, with roasts and even some slight vanilla coming through the chocolatey goodness. Fine stuff!

On tap at the Federal. Quite a tasty beer. Dark brown, slight head. Chocolately, slightly roasty, sweet overall. Much too easy to drink before dinner!

Tap at the Federal in Durham, NC. Very dark brown. Slightly off white head. Good lacing. Very chocolatey in the aroma and flavor. Definitely dominates everything else. Slightly bitter at the finish which evens things out. You could easily be tricked into thinking you’re enjoying a solid session beer and that 7.3% abv could easily creep up on you. Nice to have around.

Date: January 19, 2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Asheville Winter
Appearance: opaque dark brown, big frothy tan head, lots of drippy lace
Aroma: rich dry dark chocolate aroma
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, touch of roasted balances the chocolate and helps to keep it dry, light earthyness gives a smoky character, light bitterness in the finish

Date: April 11, 2008
Mode: draft
Source: Barley’s Asheville
same as before, creamy, touch of sweetness brings out the chocolate,

Date: April 17, 2009
Mode: draft
Source: brewery
Score: 3.5 to 3.8
same great imperial porter from last year, maybe richer and creamier if possible, maybe a touch more of the dark caramel sweetness which adds to the richness, just a hint of fruityness that might emerge with a touch of age,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

This is the fourth growler Degarth opened out of seven he brought back from his trip. Thanks buddy. Pours dark with clear brown edges and tan head. The aroma is malty, roasty and malty sweet with nearly as bold notes of burnt malts and chocolate malts. The taste is fairly bold with a nice dash of burnt malts that seems to run through the flavor from front to back. More initial flavor notes are coming from malt roastiness, rich chocolate malts and coffee mingling with the burntness. Sweetness seems to build midway and into the finish to balance the roasty to burnt malt notes. Enjoyable Porter and I can even taste the Asheville.

This was good. Released on tap at Aheville Winter Warmer festival. pours a dark brown with brown head. light smooth malty aroma. smooth with dry finish, the mocha sweet background and cammanding front. sweet on the front with a great balance. great front and initial, very good stuff.