Twisted Pine Northstar Imperial Porter

Brewed by Twisted Pine Brewing
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Boulder, Colorado USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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Almost black with a cappucino like head, nice frothy lace. Heavenly aroma of roasted dark malts and grains, bitter chocolate, coffee, licorice, alcohol and others. Medium/thin bodied, active carb bite, flavors of roasted grain, nuts, cocoa powder, bit of sweet dark fruit (raison/prune), very smooth, drinkable, nice brashness thats addictive. Zingy hopsnap at the end finishes this baby nicely. One of the better porters out there IMHO. Flavors really come out as it warms.

UPDATED: SEP 18, 2006 Pours with an insane mountainous foam that settles into a rocky frenzy. Leathery nose, with mild hints of raisin, sour apple, caramel, and highly roasted malt, concord grape, meat, chalk, and mustiness. Initial airy and fizzy mouthfeel turns perfectly creamy toward the end. Very similar and mild flavors to Stone Imperial: particularly its roastiness, raisins, and chocolate, and subtle lacticity. Only a trace of oxidation. Interesting and extremely addictive tangy, chewy chocolate finish.

UPDATED: AUG 28, 2009 Super-dark burgundy-black. Big, lasting head. Superbly aromatic nose: strong chocolate and vanilla accents. Mouthfeel is slightly thin, yet smooth and chewy. Chocolatey, smokey flavors exude. Roasted multi-grain flavors with a black patent darkness. Kept my attention all the way to the end. Great beer to age, too.

Nearly opaque dark mahogany. Thick, frothy dark tan head. Heavy carbonation. Aroma of bittersweet chocolate, lactose, harsh black malts, dry walnut skins and a whisper of prunes. Bubbly, too bubbly on the initial sip. Remains a tad fizzy even after sitting for a few minutes. Bitter black malt twang mixed in with a dark crystal sweetness and minute lactose sourness. Medium body. Caressing notes of soft spices and condensed milk like sweetness. Seems fairly high in ABV, 8% or so, as halfway through this you are all warm and fuzzy. Powdered cocoa aspects blunt the carbonation as it sits and warms further. Leaves a coating in your throat, not sticky or cloying though, that makes you yearn for the next sip. Crystal sweetness nearly drops out towards the end. Finishes with a trademark oatmeal smoothness but a thinner body. Also leaves a prune juice dollop as it exits. Quite a filling brew. Not quite true to the Baltic Porter style but a satisfyingly flavorful Porter none the less.

UPDATED: NOV 16, 2005 2005 bottle (bottle is not labeled as such). Head is initially small, frothy, brown, mostly diminishing. Body is dark brown to black. Aroma is moderately malty (dark chocolate, roasted grain, caramel), lightly hoppy (flowers), with light notes of vanilla, raisin, alcohol. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Medium body, watery/creamy texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. I’ve slowly lost my enthusiasm for this beer over the years, but it’s still a nice little malty ditty when fresh.