UPDATED: DEC 11, 2020 This opens with a beautiful symphony cocoa, some vanilla and maybe some dark fruit, possibly figs or dates. Additionally, there's undertones of earthiness in the mix. It's kinda peculiar as I've not smelled that in a beer before, but it works. The drinker encounters mouth texture that captures the essence of a the way a porter should, at least in my mind. For those of who are into porters, do yourself a favor and check out this one. I will also add that for a ten percent abv, the alcohol was well concealed. Would I buy this again? The answer is a resounding YES!

UPDATED: OCT 6, 2020 Black with a small head.Smooth chocolate and coffee flavours merge together with a slight rum/whisky flavour in the background.Easy to drink and classy. Only my second from this brewery but a very pleasant experience.

UPDATED: SEP 12, 2020 0,355 l bottle from Systembolaget some time ago. Like usually, Ballast Point beer was fantastic.

UPDATED: APR 27, 2020 660ml bottle split at a bottleshare (bottle sourced pre Constellation buyout). Pours black with a little beige head. Chocolate caramel & earthy coffee with vanilla hints. Still tasting fine for a near 5yo bottle

UPDATED: FEB 24, 2020 Reçue en cadeau... Cette bière est bien noire et ronde, avec une mousse brune moyennement dense... Le goût de vanille est parfaitement dosé, ainsi que le café (je n'aime pas le café). Une bière simplement et carrément exceptionnelle ;-)

UPDATED: FEB 22, 2020 Smell of chocolate, coffee. Black colour, brown head. Aroma of chocolate, mudcake, some ash and roasted malt. Sweet, lightly bitter. Plentiful carbon.

UPDATED: FEB 20, 2020 Keg at Downtown Johnny Brown’s, San Diego, CA on 21/03/2008. Another amazing Impy stout, with loads of liquorice, cocoa, rum and whisky notes.

UPDATED: OCT 28, 2019 Bottle in a trade with tfontana. Thanks Tom. Bottle date of 24 Sept 2018. Aroma shows me vanilla, earthy coffee, chocolate. Flavor is strong earthy coffee throughout with a mild lasting vanilla finish. Alcohol nearly masked. Shows plenty of warming after the sip. It’s been 5 years since I had the base Porter. Somehow this variant is different?
Earlier Rating: 8/2/2014 Total Score: 3.8
Bottle purchased at One Stop Market. Dark black with thin white head. Aroma is vanilla bean strong with light coffee hints. Nice.

Flavor is coffee first followed by a nice roasted malt character. The vanilla bean lingers well after the sip. Medium body with a bitter / dry texture. Chocolate milk that lingers in the body.Solid but I guess this bottle has a bit of age on it because the coffee bean is starting to get bitter and acidic.

UPDATED: SEP 28, 2019 A pleasant discovery in Palm Springs early this year, the weather is cool enough now to try Victory At Sea. I have the Teku glass out, why not. Dark liquid for sure, a full, tan head. Quite the scent, there’s a blast of chocolate, pecans and coconut. The drink finally, my, that’s large. The darkest chocolate you’ve ever had, sourdough bread, fudge without the sweetness, walnuts, malt, vanilla, some booze. Quite the experience.

UPDATED: SEP 23, 2019 From a 355ml bottle on 23/9/2019. Pours a dark dark brown with a small head. Has a truly lovely strong vanilla flavour with lots of coffee in the background. Flavour wise there's chocolate, caramel, vanilla and masses of coffee. Sweet but has a decent whack of roasty bitterness which balances it out beautifully. Has a slick, creamy palate, with moderate carbonation. Cohesive, complex, magnificent.