Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

Formerly brewed at Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Hood River, Oregon USA

Pours thick and next to black w/ a solid two finger head. Superb head retention reducing to a full canopy and a fluffy ring. Aromas of earth, chocolate, vanilla bean, wet rocks, and roasted chestnuts. Full, thick, and viscous nectar w/ good carbonation that produces a milky, creamy texture. Massive roasted malts. Chunky chewy black chocolate smothered in Kentucky Bourbon. This thing kicks up a distinctly defined Bourbon flavor that rushes forward right behind the chocolate. I’ve had this kind of stuff before and I have to tell you, this is the frst to exhibit true flavor from the barrel. Fresh evergreen, toasted waffers, just mildly sweet. The finish is long and satsfying like a steak and egg burrito in the morning. Give me another mam’!

22 oz bottle via Roth’s. Pours midnight black with a tiny tan head that leaves a ton of spidery lace.. Nose is oak, smoke, bourbon. Mmmmm this is yummy....starts with the chocolate, then some roasted coffee, roasted barley, bourbon, molasses, dark currants, and finishes with a subtle yet enduring oak that lingers for a nice long while into the aftertaste. Body is medium, carbonation is low. This is a world class late night sippers delight

I have been anticipating this since I saw it on the Full Sail Brewmaster’s Reserve calendar for 08. I was expecting a blast of bourbon when I sniffed the open bottle but I got a nice surprising aroma. Very subtle bourbon, chocolate,vanilla, oaky complex aroma. Of course it is black and the light brown head quickly dissipated into a thin bubbly film. Wow, the taste is really, really good. It has nice bourbon flavors (but not strong), vanilla, and a real woody finish without a hint of the alcohol until hit hits your stomach and starts spreading the warmth. This is a really nice way to improve a porter that was already pretty darn good. This also tastes completely different than the regular Top Sail I was drinking last year and it also costs twice as much but if you see it, buy one. I thought the bourbon-barrel aged black gold was a bourbon-bomb (back in 06) so I was impressed by how subtle this beer was which made it easy to drink. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 02-11-2008 02:50:01

22oz. bomber. You know this came out of bourbon barrels right on the pour. Not much foam, but a nice tight lace down the glass. Rich, whiskey, dark fruit aroma with just a little wood. Smooth, dry, lightly semi-sweet chocolate flavor was a surprise. I was expecting a syrupy brew (which can be nice as well) and the lack of sap really leads you to explore the flavor more completely. Though my experience with the bourbon barrel beers is still limited, this is the best of them I’ve had so far. Magnificent stuff!

Poured into snifter glass. Smells chocolaty. No light is passing through this glass, that’s for damn sure. Smell alcohol in the second whiff. Unbelievably smooth. Malt just flows. You can taste the distinctive cask flavor, but it’s far from overpowering. You could smell the alcohol, but you really can’t taste it. Just a delicious bree.

22oz. Bomber Gold Foil Pours a nice black color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy tannish head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is big and malty, lots of bourbon, woody, nice touch of vanilla, some toffee/chocolate, with some nice tones of caramel. The taste if very nice, malty, very nice notes of vanilla, very nice touch of bourbon, slight woody taste, a very nice balance of toffee/chocolate. Full/medium body, the alcohol is hidden very well. Very drinkable, another great brew from FS that is here in Utah, highly recommended.

Bottle from Market of Choice in Ashland, OR. This brew was outstanding! It mimiced a quality Cabernet and had the alcohol content to boot. This beer was full-flavored and satisfying. It’s a definite re-buy, if I get the chance... (a month later) I had a dream about this one last night...

OMG this is an amazing beer. Black pour with a brownish head. Aroma is chocolate and a hint of bourbon...flavor is ALL chocolate and bourbon...oh my oh my oh my what a beer...wow. seriously amazing. I need more of this and NOW!!!!!!!