Ballast Point Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter

Bottle at the release of Flaming Fury. Pours black with a medium tanned beige head. Coffee and vanilla abound. A touch of acrid bitterness keeps the coffee and vanilla from being overpowering and the result is delicious. Very smooth, and very tasty.

Bottle from Stefanje, iirc. Pours a nice black/brown with a dark tan head. Nose is peanuts, cordial cherries, ovaltine and roast. Taste jumps out like dark rum laced with cocoa and vanilla, finishing remarkably dry for as sweet as it is going in. Damn this is some fine stuff.

Amazing porter with tons of redeeming qualities. Large frothy brown head forms on top of a thick, black body which leaves plenty of hearty lacing. Abundant aroma of roasted nuts, vanilla, cherries, chocolate, and a great woody after scent. Sweet and creamy with a filling and sturdy body. Very malty flavor dominated by dark roasted goodness. Plenty of dark fruits with hints of black strap molasses, coffee and cream as well as a subtle chocolate flavor.

Sampled at GABF. This was one of the highlights. Black pour with creamy tan head. Aroma of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, light roast. Flavor is smooth: nice dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee. Really, really tasty. Smooth, delicious beer.

Sampled at GABF several times over and also at Boonville. This was one of my favorites at the ’fest. Pours black with a small creamy tan head. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and roast. Flavor is incredible with fresh, creamy, chocolatey mocha, vanilla, and some caramel and roasted malt. Great balance. This is pretty much to imperial porters what Sculpin is to IPAs. Medium-full body with a smooth palate, somewhat low carbonation, and only mild coffee astringency. Overall an amazing beer.

Bottle, thanks to alexanderj. Black pour with very little head. Aroma is strong coffee grounds, some bitter chocolate, and vanilla. Flavor is pretty acidic, mostly from the coffee flavor; vanilla is noticable, and there is just a sliver of sweetness. Bitter coffee aftertaste. I thougth the coffee was a little too overpowering in this.

Pitcher pour at 2009 GABF. Pours a tiny mocha head, over a black/brown (SRM 38) clear body....nose of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, minimal hop tones....taste heavy coffee, chocolate, cocoa with loads of vanilla....mouth feel thick heavy, carbonation added creaminess. A big, heavy, rich, satisfying brew. Tasting 9/26/09.

Bottle. Much thanks to danielcurtis81 for sharing on his wedding week. Pours pitch black the faintest brown edge and some fading bubbly beige head. Aroma is sweet roasted malt, coffee and vanilla, very inviting. Taste is relatively smooth and sweet dark malt, with a good vanilla flavor that almost leads to some oak and bourbon notes. Coffee component is nicely placed as well. Very nice porter flavor and style.