Port Brewing Older Viscosity

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

12.7 oz bottle from South Bay Drugs and Liquor. Immediately after opening the bottle, I could tell I was in for a real big treat. Matter of fact I feel lucky to even have had a chance to taste this offering from the port. The nose is a robust and peculiar aroma of different elements such as vanilla, chocolate, dark roast malt, raisin and a notice of coffee. The flavor is strong with a well masked alcohol content but boasts a oak wood flavor combined with a dark malt and chocolate raisins. Interesting once it has been aged and shows minor resemblance to the original.

The beer is topped off with a creamy brown head. The body is nearly black. The aroma is caramel and bourbon, but not overpowering. The wood actually comes out as strong or stronger than the whiskey in the flavor. It’s a little dry. There’s a little smokiness in the finish. A little overcarbonated.

Poured a dark black color with a ring of tan bubbles that quickly fades to nothing. Aroma of roast, ash, chocolate, dried fruits, vanilla, bourbon, caramel malts, and alcohol. Taste of dark fruit, some tropical, sticky molasses, roasted malts, vanilla, and bourbon - alcohol. Stiff, and sharp, I like the Old Viscosity better.

1 year old bottle, batch 1. Lets just call this rating 1200. I had planned on it being so but then I drank too much and hit it with my backlog.

...and while on the subject of being a drunk, this beer definitely makes me feel like a boozehound. Because holy hell is this boozy. Someone pass the vodka.

Really, it’s not that bad -- but a cold, cruel bourbon dominates the aroma like gin in a martini. A thick, suitably viscous palate carries a sludgy, plummy chocolate syrup home. Pouring a droopy black with no head, this beer looks as punishing as it tastes.

I reserve 3.9 for beers that are just short of great, and this beer is just that. Though a delight to drink, the booze is just too hot to rank amongst the top.

375ml bottle acquired in trade with awaisanen (thanks!). Poured a dark black color with brown edges and a very small sized off white head. Aromas of bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and brown sugar. Tastes of bourbon, vanilla, wood, brown sugar, dark fruits, and chocolate. Bourbon is definitely there (good thing I used to drink and like bourbon). Medium alcohol in the finish.

Bottle. Pours a very black color with a small tan head. Roasted malty oak aroma with hints of chocolate and vanilla. Sweet malty oaky vanilla flavor with hints of chocolate, dark fruit and licorice. Long malty licorice finish with hints of bourbon in the aftertaste.

2006 bottle from awaisanen, thanks!. Pours a deep black with a smaller bubbly/creamy deep tan head that left some spotty lacing. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, oak, dark fruits, caramel, chocolate and some tobacco. Flavor of...you got it, bourbon, vanilla, nice caramel/chocolate malt mix, licorice and some brown sugar. The bourbon in this one is there for sure, but just adds to the complexity and smoothness of this already solid brew. For 12% ABV, it’s not really there, even with all the bourbon notes.

Big Wood Fest. Pitch black with big, dark head. Lots of oak and bourbon in the nose and taset. vanilla, chocolate and a large dose of alcohol. Awesome.