Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

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

Shared by Dickinson beer (thanks, Paul!) - dark brown beer, amber around the edges - light oak, bourbon, and chocolate malt in the aroma, with light notes of roast, spices, and vanilla - soft carbonation - oak and vanilla are prominent, but the bourbon is quite mild - a bit of spicy alcohol, and some notes of tobacco and slightly burnt wood - quite subdued for a BA beer, which makes it quite enjoyable.

Dark brown body with some lighter brown hues at the edges, and a dark tan/brown head. Nose is ashy and buttery bourbon and chocolate, while the flavor is bright bourbon at first (when cold), before turning more towards the ashy, bitter baker’s chocolate and light bourbon with some fudge thrown in for kicks. Flavor is ashy chocolate (there’s a lot of that), light buttered bourbon, a bit chalky as well, and overall it’s really good but not stellar - rich, decadent, and savory, but maybe a bit too ashy and chalky overall. Not a bad beer by any means - really tasty.

2009-03-20. Pitch black with a modest foamy tan head that fades. Sweet bourbony aroma, mild alcohol and modest roast malt. Flavour is fairly alcoholic up front, then bourbon, brief dark malts, then a very dry finish of alcohol and bourbon. (7+) Average plus to medium bodied palate. Decent stout, and the bourbon is not too over the top. Bottle shared by Blankboy

Pours black and thick with a dark coffee head, laces well on the glass as you drink, very pretty to look at. Nose is sweet with lots of bourbon/whiskey notes up front and hops and malts in the background. Taste is dominated by bourbon notes and oak, but comes across a bit thin for me, lacking a strong roast/coffee/chocolate base. finish is slow and yummy. very good but would be better with a stronger roast/dark ester base.

22oz bottle (trade with 5000, thanks André!) Pours pitch black, capped with a moderate sized brown head. Beautiful aroma; notes of vanilla, toffee, cocoa, plum, wood, almonds and roasted malt. Chocolate malt flavor, with oak, coffee, bourbon, and ash. Ash is a bit strong for my palate. Substantial warming alcohol in the finish.

Pours a dark brown/black. Not too much head. Aroma is a oaky bourbon. Some sweetness coming through. Flavor is heavy woody bourbon and roasted malt. Finish is fairly clean with a lingering sweetness. Nice beer.

The aroma is incredibly bourbony...then you adapt and it is only largely bourbony! Alcohol on the nose with some smoke. A tad thin in the glass. Beautiful head. Taste is hot, bourbon, candied sweet, with a rich dark malt presence. A bit of sharp, almost chewing on balsawood oakiness. Quite drinkable for 9.85% that’s for sure. Thanks Steve - makes the prospect of spending 5 figures on a new car somewhat palateable. Maybe. Oh, yes, and I let this thing settle in the cellar for a whole 7 hours before drinking it...what can I say?

Black pour, medium brown head. Aroma is oak and bourbon. Flavor is fudge, bourbon, lots of woody to this, some vanilla. Very dominated by the wood but is very chocolatey and the touch of bourbon is all balanced nicely. Some smoke in the background and even a dash of raisens. Nicely done.