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

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On tap at oakquinox. Pours black with no head. Aroma is an amazing excess of vanilla and coffee wih some Bourbon and dark chocolate. Flavor is all of the same goodness. Bitterness might be a bit much, and coffee is more muted, but...wow. full bodied with light carbonation.

Tap at our second BP stop of the day! Dark pour, tan head. All the aromas of the regular VaS are noticeable, but they take a bit of a back seat to the barrel notes. Nice fudgy, coffee, vanilla, bourbon, oak, caramel, toffee...rich and delicious.

Nitro at Ballast Point Linda Vista

Appearance: Pours a jet black with a modest sized creamy cap of tan.

Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, graham cracker and wood.

Taste: Woody bourbon, vanilla, caramel, tannins. Finishes boozy and roasty.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and thick.

Overall: An amazing treat. The beer without the barrel aging is pretty phenomenal, the bourbon barrel takes it to new heights.

UPDATED: MAY 13, 2010 A: The pour is just about black as night with a finger’s worth of mocha colored foam on top. S: The vanilla aroma is even more pronounced and intense than the regular version (I didn’t realize that was possible). Though the coffee is a bit subdued, the bourbon, oak, roast, and chocolate notes really give this a great nose. T: Once again, the vanilla is incredibly intense and really defines this beer. The bourbon, oak, and subdued coffee are nice compliments to it and there is a sweet chocolately flavor as well. The bourbon really comes through as this one warms up. M: A very full bodied beer with a soft, smooth, and creamy carbonation. D: I suppose my only complaint about this beer is that the coffee has died out a bit too much for me. I only say this because it’s one of the things that defines Victory at Sea. That said, I wouldn’t turn down a taste of this.

This is nitro on tap at Aces and Ales. Pours black with a creamy tan head. Smell of vanilla, oak, and cherry. Delicious flavor of malt, vanilla, and fruit. Alcohol is very warming. Finishes thick and creamy too. Deliciously toasted. A top brew!

Draft in a snifter at Capone’s during PBW 2011. Pours hazy jet black with tan head. Nose was heavy black patent and chocolate malts, cacao, molasses, walnut, oaky, spirity bourbon, vanilla. Tasted rich, a bit hot, with a large malt bill, cacao, a pronounced oaky bourbon element, some spirits, vanilla, and a level of hops in the backend. Good complexity.

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.

Tap @ Stone Oakquinox. Pours black with a creamy beige head that left some nice lacing. Big nose bursting with coffee, vanilla, bourbon and a touch of booze. I think this might be even better than the regular version.

On nitro at Toronado. Black with a creamy tan head. Bourbon chocolate bourbon vanilla bourbon and coffee aroma and taste. Excellent.