Full Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Hood River, Oregon USA

Pitch black with a small brown head. Smoky bourbon aroma... god I love these things... words really can not describe the enjoyment of such a rich and full aroma containing equal parts smoke, bourbon, wood and sweet malts. Even cold the aroma is phenominal. Say what you will about the barrel aging "fad", but the aroma, if nothing else, is a very solid improvement from the aging. Extremely thick and sludgy, coating the mouth with a spicy bourbon and wood flavor, over-the-top really, but that is just OK by me. Rich coffee dominates the finish, sticky and sweet. This stuff is truly amazing. Thank you to batkins for sending a couple of bottles.

Bottle pours murky black, with a medium milkish tan colored head.   Strong aroma of Bourbon and not much else.   Initial taste is of Bourbon and Vanilla.   Mouthfeel seems more like and Imperial Stout than a Porter, but regardless the Bourbon is so strong that any disctinction between Porter and Stout would be difficult.   This tastes very much like a dark version of Bear Creek Twin Creeks Ale.   Finish is again very Bourbonesque.   Not much else coming through unfortunately.   Full mouthfeel, adaquate texture.   Good, but not as smooth as MacTarnahans Blackwatch Oak Aged.

Deep brown hue with ruby highlights that produced a massive tan creamy head which settled nicely, outstanding lace. The aroma is hum, BOURBON! Lots of vanilla, woody, currents, grape, and alcohol phenols. Oh yeah, the nose also detects a big caramel, mocha, nutty, slightly smoky, aromatic hops, and earthy and dusty yeast esters. The taste continues the bourbon aggressiveness, lot of vanilla and woody tones on top of a large malt base and nice mocha tones. Additional undertones of bitterness (coffee and hops), smoke and nutty tones upon the finish before becoming subdued by the bourbon nature again. The palate is full and rich, the alcohol was actually well hidden upon palate. This beer could have been something truly wonderful if the taste displayed less bourbon character. I like the basic FS Impy Porter better which has a nice piney undertone.

Thanks Murph! Dark brown/black. Head is creamy,tan,and lasting,though small. At first strong bourbon aroma,dies down. Under the bourbon is wood,light roast,caramel,chocolate,and cream,aromas. The year of aging really mellowed,what was,a thick,brew. Very creamy,maybe a tad thin. Flavors of bourbon,roast,wood,chocolate,and caramel. The bourbon,caramel,and chocolate really stand out. Finish has bourbon,maybe a tad hoppy,with chocolate,and burnt caramel.The original has more flavor,and is more enjoyable,IMO. Great drinkability,though, for a beer that seems stronger than it is. Good one!

22 oz bottle, snifter. Chocolate, molasses, coffee, caramel malt (H); bourbon/oak, toffee, vanilla aromas. Tall, brown, creamy head sits on a nearly black body. Heavily sweet, lightly acidic becomes a moderately sweet, lightly bitter, lightly acidic, alcoholic finish. Medium-heavy body, oily texture, soft carbonation. The bottom line is: the alcohol is sort of hot, but i really like the rich flavors that run rampant in this brew.

Very black with deep caramel head. Beautiful aroma with some alcohol propelling it. Creamy, roasted, woody aromas. A muted sweetness in the tasting, flavors of vanilla, grapefruit (?), long finish of mocha coffee that hits like a ton of bricks about two seconds after tasting it. Later sips, when warm, made me think of alcoholic drinks. (on tap, Full Sail Pilsner Room, Portland)

Pours a very, very dark color, rich and brown with only the slightest hints of deep red in the light. Aroma is extremely smokey, mostly wood with some chocolate undertones. Taste is very similar, with an aftertaste like chocolate milk mixed with earthy wood. Didn't care for it as much as it warmed-it was then that the true smokiness of the porter came through and the chocolate and sweetness turned a little bitter. Not bad.

This was incredibly tasty. Lots of chocolate and cocoa right upfront, with a nice bit of earth wood and bourbon bite as it warms. The alchohol also becomes more apparent as it warms, and has a nice zing in the mouthfeel, perhaps from the smokiness. This was a great porter and I am very glad I got to try it.