RateBeer
Score
9993
OVERALLStyle
Serve in Snifter

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Regional Distribution

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RATINGS: 338   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.84   SEASONAL: Winter   IBU: 65   EST. CALORIES: 285   ABV: 9.5%
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COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
After its initial release in February 2009, Top Sail was aged for about 10 months in bourbon casks from Kentucky. This extended aging presents aromas of oak, coconut and bourbon. Deep chocolate flavors warm to a full-bodied beer. Deep black in color, Top Sail Bourbon Aged Imperial Porter has a roasty malt flavor that is immensely drinkable and smooth. Very limited availability in 22oz. bottles and draught. ABV 9.85% IBU 65


3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
crizay (1050) - Brook Park, USA - MAR 20, 2008
Black pour, medium brown head. Aroma is oak and bourbon. Flavor is fudge, bourbon, lots of woody to this, some vanilla. Very dominated by the wood but is very chocolatey and the touch of bourbon is all balanced nicely. Some smoke in the background and even a dash of raisens. Nicely done.

4.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
Lukaduke (122) - Portland, Maine, USA - MAY 26, 2012
Pours a thick black with a tan film that settles around the rim. Aromas are all chocolate roasted malts with hints of oak,licorice and vanilla. The palate follows the nose but imparts a bit more of the bourbon and vanilla flavor then I had expected by smell alone. Its rich and creamy but more towards the medium body with the hint of effervescence... defining it better as a porter than a full fledged stout.

1
   AROMA 3/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 2/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 1/20
alalvarez75 (53) - New York, USA - MAY 25, 2012
I couldn’t be more disappointed. Thin, with zero flavor of the barrel, very forgettable. I was able to pick this up as a pricing error so I am not as mad as if I’d have paid the $14 it should have been. It was for me a drain pour.

4.2
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
abcfan (413) - New Jersey, USA - MAY 19, 2012
Pours black with minimal head. Huge oak and vanilla aromas. Very oily in the mouth with strong vanilla taste. Finishes sticky vanilla. Good stuff!

3.8
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
mbgrayson (374) - Anaconda, Montana, USA - MAY 18, 2012
Pours very dark brown, with minimal tan head. Aroma is rich, of oak, and malt. Taste is complex and delicious. The oak barrel aging is just right. Notes of bourbon, malt, and dark chocolate. This is a fine, premium porter. Tumbs WAY up!

3.8
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
TheBeerGod (4138) - Newport News, Virginia, USA - MAY 12, 2012
Bottle. Brewmaster Reserve 2012 - 9.5% ABV. Black bodied with a short, thick, frothy brown head. Nose is strong bourbon notes, oak, coconut, roasted malt, vanilla, molasses, and Irish coffee. Taste is big vanilla, oak, toasted coconut, roasted malt, chocolate, coffee notes and booze.Body is not and full and thick as expected. Medium with a soft, creamy carbonation. Moderate warming from the alcohol. Ends with more oak, toasted coconut, molasses, vanilla, roasted malt, dark chocolate and coffee.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
thornecb (3097) - Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA - MAY 11, 2012
Pours mahogany-tinged black into an English pint. Tan head with medium retention recedes to hug rim. Bourbon aromas. Thin with deep chocolate and deep dark bourbon front to back. Thin bourbon finish.

4.2
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
Onenote81 (902) - Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA - APR 24, 2012
Originally reviewed: 10/5/09. Vintage 2008. Split a bottle of this with a friend during a night of billiards and darts. Poured into my snifter. Pours a deep jet black with a thin tan head on top. Little lacing sticks. Smells of oak, vanilla, booze, chocolate, and hints of ginger. The mouth is creamy smooth. Coats the palate well. Big flavors of bitter dark chocolate mixed with a subtle creamy sweetness. Nice balance. The bourbon quality is definitely tamed down a bit, which I like. Not as boozy as their BBA Stout was. This is a really good beer that I’m am glad to have had the opportunity to try. Recommend.

4.3
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
ads135 (514) - Lawrence, USA - APR 22, 2012
Whooie! A great beer from a great brewery. Medium body, black as night with an off white head. Oak, whiskey, coffee, licorice...delicious. Sweetness of vanilla and coconut.

3.8
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
dmac (2660) - Toms River, New Jersey, USA - APR 20, 2012
22oz bottle shared by Jimmie. Poured a good looking pitch black body, medium denstiy, with an average sized foamy dark beige head. Aroma is great with strong boubron upfront, vanilla, chocolate syrup, touch of honey sweetness, very light charred notes to finish this off. Body is to thin, average carbonation, slight alcohol heat that lingers nicely. Flavor isn’t quite as good as the aroma. Notes of bourbon, darker toast, vanilla, dark chocolate syrup, some barrel as well. Good stuff.

4.3
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 17/20
GandGKevin (598) - Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA - APR 19, 2012
Wood, bourbon, roasted chocolate aromas. Bourbon chocolate cordial flavors. Overall a very tasty beer.


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