Port Brewing Older Viscosity

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: American Strong Ale
San Marcos, California USA

On draft at Capones. Pours a clear dark brown colour with a slight beige head. Interesting aroma of maple syrup, dark fruits, oak and vanilla. Flavour is the same as the aroma. Has the flavour of maple cough syrup. I understand this is highly rated but I did not enjoy it.

2009 bottle. no pop when uncorked, this pours completely flat. it’s brown-black and fairly thick. aroma is of charcoal, bourbon, malt, chocolate milk, coffee, figs, roasted nuts, and smoke. flavor is sweeter, more chocolate milk, with a harsh alcohol front, biting middle and long bittersweet chocolate liquor finish. the harsh coal elements persist throughout (should have aged it?), and this isn’t really beer, but it’s interesting. not sure how to rate something that looks, smells, and tastes like liquid charcoal. also, body was disappointingly thin given the description of "sludge", but had a rich velvety smoothness.

Bottle 375ml. @ DØE Tasting, Fox & Hounds, Holstebro.
Clear dark brown color with a average to large, creamy to frothy, good lacing, fully lasting, light light brown head. Aroma is roasted, chocolate, coffee, light burnt, cocus, red wine - bourbon, wood - vanilla, driied fruit. Flavor is heavy sweet, light light red wine acidic and heavy bitter with a long duration. Body is medium to full, texture is creamy, carbonation is soft, finish feel is light moderate alcoholic - bourbon. [20090929]

At Brouwer’s Cafe in Seattle as a special treat from @trevor211 at my US homecoming. The pour is beautiful with a nicely subtle head. Nose is very boozy, and bourbon, wood and smoky chocolate. Tastes exactly like bourbon was poured on top! Leathery and full taste, but the body is remarkably light. flavor is there but the whole package is a bit under wrought. Not my fave but impressive, up there with the big bourbony stouts buts not complete.

My Bottom Line:
Vanilla-like bourbon notes add depth to this strong ale’s molasses-bearing malts, as surreptitious miso notes brush roasted and chocolatey flavors. This is one serious creation.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam surrounds the darkness.
-The body is marvelously rich yet never tiresome. Gum-lickin’ good!
-Alcohol heat is emboldened by the barrel flavors.
-Carbonation is rather low, which works with the wealthy but calculated dextrins.

Bottle.

Cask Stillage from the Jug at the GABF, Colorado Convention Center 26/06/2009 Vanilla and bourbon aroma. Dark coloured strong in alcohol and malty with a little dryness in a warming bitter finish.

20091120 Thanks to Dickinsonbeer for this big black brute. What a punch in the face this beer is. Hugely delicious, potent, goes great with Rachel Ray and 30 Minute Meals. I don’t know if that’s true, but Paul insists. Great use of the bourbon and wood.

Bottle. Pours a deep brownish black with a wine-like ruby highlight and no nead- very low carbonation. Aroma is fresh bourbon, caramel, chocolate, toast, roasty, nuts, leather, earthy, alcohol, licorice, woody, vanilla,. Flavor is mineral, chocolate, bourbon, vanillla, oak, toast, sweet brown sugar, molasses, and alcohol. A bit messy and nothing working together very well- alcohol is high, still hot, and not mellow- unsure of the year, but I thought it was older, but seems pretty fresh- and typically undercarbonated compared to some other bottles I have had in the past. OK