Full Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Hood River, Oregon USA

Color: Black molasses Aroma: Strongly Vegetable at first, molasses Flavor: Vegetable and molasses initially, then molasses and chocolate on the mid-palate. Finish shows bitter chocolate, chocolate liquor and coffee. Comment: 2008 Brewer’s Reserve. A sharp alcohol bite momentarily showed on the mid-palate. From that point on it improved, resulting in a tasty finish. As it warmed, the vegetable notes receded and the molasses gain extended into the mid-palate and combined more with the chocolate flavors. Despite a few faults, I’d drink it again.

This is absolutely one of the best beers ever to be and ever will be produced by Full Sail. Not to mention one of the best barrel aged beers I have ever tried. This has a great character you have come to expect from a porter, lots of dark fruits and chocolate, but it also has a great bourbon character. Wood, boozy notes, with vanilla and butterscotch, with just a bit of vinous fruit notes in the finish. RIch, smooth mouthfeel.

Black with foaming white head. A full serving of mollasses in taste and smell. Full uthfeel, great with food.

I can safely say that this was one of the best beers I have had this year (2009). I seemed to have strayed the dark path so far this year, so it was a welcomed drop of beer and a damned fine drop it was!! So far, both barrel aged beers I’ve enjoyed from Full Sail has been outstanding.

The beer pours out a delicious looking, chocolate brown/black colored liquid with a 1/2" thick tan head with tight bubbles. If the head were creamier with a little more staying power this this would be perfect, but as it is it’s still great. Aroma is wood, bourbon, bakers chocolate, scorched sugar, black walnuts and a touch of coffee. Flavors had more wood, bitter chocolate, vanilla extract, coffee bean, and molasses all wrapped up by the beautiful, unmistakeable bourbon character that is just right. Highly recommended.

courtesy of fishingnet. Pours dark brown. Aroma bourbon, malty, light roast and chocolate. Taste, malty, bourbon and oak wood though light in flavor, some chocolate. Abv was noticeable, but the finish remained weak

Draft at the hood river brewery. Very good. Oak and boubon with a nice dose of smoke.

Vintage 2004... Had been saving this one bottle for a mini-vertical when Full Sail released a new batch. I didn’t figure it would be four years! Pours opaque black with a one-inch head of dark tan foam. The frothy head subsided quickly, leaving a few traces of dotted lacework. Aromatics are amazingly vineous. A smokey chocolate base, with a winelike, boozy bourbon following through. Slightly charrish and oaky, with ripe fruits and espresso grounds. Slickish and smooth mouthfeel. Liquid velvet. Carbonation is on the low side and adds some creaminess. A blast of rounded bourbon, dark chocolate, and espresso lead off the pallet. Warming on the exhale. A red wine vineousity follows closely behind the bourbon, and oaky tannins bring on some dryness. Finishes with tannic red grapes, bitter chocolate, and lingering mellowed bourbon. Wowza. A tremendously complex and sophisticated brew. Amazing vineousity which I was not expecting. Let’s see how the 2008 compares...

draft @ bigwood fest - jet black with thin head; roasted aromas almost blocked completely by the bourbon aromas; drinks smooth and thin with mild aromas and obvious bourbon hints again; seemed more like a good porter spiked with bourbon rather than a beer aged in bourbon; same kind of feeling as a few other porters i tried this night