Ballast Point Victory at Sea (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Nitro, RBSG Fri evening. Medium tan head, brown-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, Bourbon, bittersweet chocolate, roast, light vanilla. Taste is moderately sweet, milk chocolate, some Bourbon/vanilla. Creamy medium body.

On nitro-tap at Capone’s. Served in a mini snifter. Pours near black with a really nice head that goes from light tan to nearly white at the top. Beautiful nitro head. Some spotty lacing on the way down. The nose immediately carries a ton of vanilla with some nice chocolate notes in the background. As it warms, a nice bourbon character and mild oak presence take hold. The flavor isn’t quite as complex or integrated as the nose -- and doesn’t contain nearly as much vanilla -- but it’s still quite nice. The bourbon takes on the dominant role with some chocolate and light vanilla backing. Mouthfeel is uber-creamy and nicely carbonated. Really solid effort, and I’m glad I finally got to try this one, which has been on my radar for quite some time. Serving type: nitro-tap Reviewed on: 06-12-2011

On tap at Capones and Devils Den during beer week. Pours a frosted glass greyish black, with medium sized milky head. Tons of lacing. Aromas of sour whiskey, wood, cocoa, peat. Taste is a velvety smooth chocolate bourbon flavor with the addition of vanilla beans, and a whiskey barrel richness. Awesome beer that had a little kick but overall was very balanced. Wish the aroma was a bit more layered but I really cannot complain about trying one of my favorite porters barrel aged.

Opaque black with a creamy, nitro, white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla, bourbon, roast, smoke, and cocoa. Taste of roast, smoked malts, and cocoa, with vanilla, wood, and bourbon in the finish.

On tap at Capones. Inky brown with a whipped beige head. Nose is mocha and hay. Thick and foamy, as expected with the nitro. Taste is chocolate, bourbon and vanilla pod; oddly vegetal to finish. Base brew overshadowed by the barrel and nitro.

On tap at Capone’s...on nitro. Poured a deep brown (almost black) color with a very small sized off white head. Aromas and tastes of lots of bourbon. Yep this one was about the bourbon. Vanilla and chocolate too, but lots of bourbon. Good thing I really like bourbon.

On tap at Capone’s. Served in a teeny weeny glass...because it would be impossible to consume larger quantities. When cold, I could smell some coffee in the nose and actually taste some too. But when warmed, forget it. Bourbon, bourbon, bourbon, bourbon, bourbon baked beans and bourbon (without the baked beans).

Cask. Rating #21. Dark black pour. Great aroma, vanilla, bourbon and some dark fruitiness. Very smooth, more bourbon and just really outstanding. (1744)

On tap at Urge in RB/Poway on the Tap Takeover night. They had 25different brews from Ballast Point that day. Just absolutely lovely. A perfect mix of chocolate, coffee, malt creaminess, and smooth alcohol. I’d really like a keg of this to go, please.

First this beer was fantastic! But I’m not sure it is better than the regular release version. It pours black with a brown head. Smells mostly of oak, bourbon, and chocolate, with hints of vanilla and roasted coffee. Taste is massively bourbon and oak. The chocolate and vanilla are present but the coffee was almost completely subdued. If I didn’t know it was in there I’d say I couldn’t taste it. Still quite complex and a pleasure to drink.