Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter

Brewed by Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Bloomfield, Connecticut USA

Imperial Porter? Seems to be a strong stout, but I guess that fits. Full-bodied and rich flavors with a good mix of malts and hops.

2006 swingtop

Kudos to jjpm for sending this my way in a recent local for local trade. I like searching out new baltic porters as I discover them. Everyone tries their hand at imperial stouts but fewer explore this style. Overall it was excellent though I don’t think I will pick up any more in trades.

Aroma / Appearance - The viscous black body eminated chocolate, raisins, wet earth and red wine. The entire package was not unlike a hot oatmeal cookie with chunks of chocolate chips embedded within.

Flavor / Palate - The immediate taste of ginger snaps and oatmeal was very pleasing. Next came cocoa, vanilla and a slight peppery transformation. For the style it was not very aggressive and as a result very easy to drink. It did turn towards the end of the bottle to become a bit warmer. Just entering this rating makes me wish I had a glass in front of me.

Bottled in 2006

5/10/2008: Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter pours a dull, dark cola brown color and has a really frothy tan head that is long-lasting and creates some nice lacing. Aroma includes dry roasty malt, over-ripen berries, deep red wine, and touches of chocolate. The flavor is toward the sweeter side in the front paired with roasted malt and smooth milk chocolate. It become more dry and slightly bitter (like dark chocolate bitter and coffee beans) toward the finish along with a very slight ashy quality. The dichotomy creates a great balance for this beer. No alcohol can be deciphered in amongst the flavors. This beer is medium to full-bodied and has a velvety texture. Overall this beer is good, but not great. It seems a bit weak for an Imperial Porter.

500 ML flip-top bottle ($7.99) from Derosier’s in Freeport, Maine. Rating #203 for this beer...

Bottle at Jannik - thanks to Puzzl for the trade. Black - light brown head. Blood, metal, butterm burned, coffee, berries, chokolate, coffee. And a lot of metal !!!!Very sorry - but this is not very good.

Cloudy muddy brown with a white-ish beige head. Mocha, cocoa, caramel in the nose. Very roasty, bold and coffee-like. caramel sweetness; chocolately. Has a spike of pleasant roasty astringency - ample bitterness. Medium bodied, smooth texture and moderate carbonation. Very good.

Bottled. Hazy and very dark brown in colour with a medium sized tan head. Kinda soft mouthfeel with notes of malt, berries, chocolate, coffee and a somewhat heavy notes of metal. Not well balanced.

Vintage 2003, one-liter swingtop bottle... Pours opaque black with a two-inch dense head of tan. Ripped sheets of whipped foam cling throughout the glass. Damn nice. Aromatics are filled with rich cocolate, fudge batter, and black forest cake. Hints of licorice, dark rum, and Kahlua step forward as it warms. The mouthfeel is creamy, lucious, and oily. Crushed velvet in a glass. The pallet is laced with rich, dark chocolate, cocoa nubs, heavily roasted malts, and light char. Alcohol is minimal and barely warming. Finishes with a lingering chocolate syrup note and a hint of anise..... Incredibly drinkable for such a big beer, and the only signs of it’s five years of age is the depth of complexity.... Wowza.

Pours dark brown with a foamy beige head. Malty aroma of roasted coffee, chocolate and caramel. Flavor similar to aroma once again dominated by roasted coffee maltiness, chocolate, caramel and toffee.