Port Brewing Old Viscosity

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: American Strong Ale
San Marcos, California USA

Exteme dark black pour with medium sized dark chocolaty tan head. Nose is huge on chcolate and caramel malts, with a big roasted note carrying from beginning to end. Some descent dark fruits mixed with very minimal hints of cherry. Very smooth going down a bit sweet and potent on the alcohol but it is a real treat.

Bottle from Capone’s, and I have one cellaring. Pours ebony with 1-finger, long lasting brown head. Aroma of dark malt, roasty chocoff, molasses, plum, slight blackberry. Tastes rich and roasty dark malty, with a huge opening dark chocolate flavor, coupled nicely by the malt bill, with some black licorice, molasses, bourbony, plum, and blackberry notes late. Gets a bit hot at the end, and retains a dense, complex mouthfeel throuhgout. This one is outstanding.

Old Visco. What a brew indeed! Strong resemblance in flavor and appearance to an impy stout. Not quite as thick. Super inky pour, decent sized tan head. Some, not much, lacing. Coffee, baker’s chocolate, vanilla, mascerated plums, a subtle port wine hint and charred wood on the nose. Oily body. A silky smooth montage of flavors...espresso and cream, cocoa powder, cinnamon....I’ll let it warm a bit. The warming time brings out a chocolate covered cherry finish. Not as hoppy as an impy, but it is detectable, nonetheless it is strongly overpowered by a welcomed sweetness coupled with an ashen dryness. Hell, I don’t think Starbuck’s could come up with anything this good. If you find, buy it, buy it all !

Growler from Port ’s San Marcos brewery. Very dark brown pour. Head the color of coffee with just a splash of cream. Thin, sticky lacing that glides slowly down the glass after each tilt. Nose is all sourdough bread with a little underlying cherries and malty sweet molasses. Lots of small bubbles, but with a surprisingly watery feel to it, but not in a bad way. Results in a very downable high-alcohol brew. I can’t get over the yeasty bread smell in the nose as it warms in the glass. A little raisiny-coffee-chocolate roast combo in the malts. No shocker there for the style, but still very pleasing. Just a hint of balsamic flavor there as well. Less alcohol in the finish then expected, a little dry. Really a nice experience overall.

pours a dark oily black .. . some roast and old oil aromas .. . some burnt caramel, and light non roast espresso notes .. . like a burnt peice of leg of lamb... a tasty brew, with the slightest kiss of smoke .. .

Dark pour, black with a small tan head. Aroma of oak, chocolate, malt, apples, and plums. Flavor was magnificent with oak, chocolate, malt, honey, and hints of dark fruit. The finish was smooth and light; surprising given it’s darkness and heaviness.

Sampled at the 4th Boulder Strong Ale Fest. The beer poured a nearly opaque, dark brown color with a trace, frothy, off-white, mostly diminishing head. The aroma was malty with heavy notes of roasted grain, cookie and caramel, moderate notes of toasted nuts, molasses, chocolate and coffee; hoppy with a light note of herbs; yeasty with light notes of cellar; moderate notes of vanilla and moist, lush, fresh banana bread. Nummy! The flavor was heavily bittersweet with a long, moderately sweet, heavily bitter finish. The body was full, the texture was velvety and the carbonation was soft.

This is as good as a dark ale can get. Reminds me of Dogfish Head IBA, but with a little different flavor - the hops really take center stage in this one. It has a dark, rich, creamy texture and notes of coffee, chocolate and malts. This stuff is excellent!