Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

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

2008 vintage bomber, aged over a year. A dark, mahogany colored body is almost black in hue, crowned by a tall, spongy head of light brown foam. Dense, solid rings of lacing circle the glass, coating it well. The nose is significantly more fruity than expected, notes of earthy fig and dark raisin intertwined amongst burnt caramel malt and notes of sweet dark chocolate. Woody oak lends that signature Kentucky sour mash twang, imparting loads of vanilla into the fold. Flavors follow suit, largely dark chocolate based, again loaded with fig and various other dark fruits. Caramel and toffee bring further sweetness, while the vanilla laden bourbon plays a complimentary backup role. The palate is lightly carbonated and feels a little thin, no doubt the workings of the barrel, though there’s virtually no alcoholic burn on the way down. Overall, a very solid brew, though a little more roast certainly wouldn’t hurt.

22oz bottle thanks to triplethreat. Black with a tan head. Subtle bourbon, sweet malt, and light coffee in the aroma. The flavor is dry cocoa, dark-roast coffee and mellow bourbon. Nice mocha porter thing going on with just a touch of barrel compliment. Medium-full body, medium carbonation, and a modest alcohol bite. Lower on the bourbon with more porter character showing, but has a nice balance.

Pours black with thin brown head. Some glass staining qualities. Nose is whiskey, prunes, fig, dark fruit, tootsie pop, oak. Flavor is smooth caramel and roasted malt, dry wood, mild bourbon, booze. Finishes dry.

Color: Black molasses Aroma: Strongly Vegetable at first, molasses Flavor: Vegetable and molasses initially, then molasses and chocolate on the mid-palate. Finish shows bitter chocolate, chocolate liquor and coffee. Comment: 2008 Brewer’s Reserve. A sharp alcohol bite momentarily showed on the mid-palate. From that point on it improved, resulting in a tasty finish. As it warmed, the vegetable notes receded and the molasses gain extended into the mid-palate and combined more with the chocolate flavors. Despite a few faults, I’d drink it again.

Bottle thanks to BMan1113VR. Pours a dark glass coating dark brown color with a medium brown colored head. Nose is wood smoke, vanilla, figs, and connecticut broad leaf tobacco wrapper from a cigar (sort of earth and chocolately). Taste is chocolate creme, cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, wet wood, and a delicious balsamic vinegar and confit of fig spread I recently had. Mouthfeel is soft yet syrupy, with a lengthy finish that is slightly alcoholic.

2008 bottle thanks to Americanbrew. Pours with a tan head and a black body. Aroma of wet wood, chocolate, fig, oak and vanilla. Taste is fig, tobacco, wet wood, chocolate and barrel. A touch thin on the mouth with a rich finish. Light bubbles.

bottle, dark chocolate color with a thin tan head, aroma of whiskey, coffee, sweet caramel, flavors are bourbon, coffee, vanilla, oaky, dry finish