Barley John's Dark Knight Imperial Porter

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Upon BT's recent visit to Barley John's last weekend, I had the opportunity to try this beer, thanks to Dansting for sharing it with me. Holy shit. Incredible beer! And what the hell, 18%? Pours a hazey ruby brown colour. not much of a head. Instant smoke and bourbon on the nose. Ripe, fermented fruits and chocolate. Taste is perfectly balanced. Bourbon again, dark fruits, plum and black cherry, licorice notes. 18% is concealed well in the beginning with a little hotness in the finish.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

Hand bottle courtesy of Stine: Poured a pitch-black color porter with a small dirty brown foamy head. Aroma of bourbon is quite overpowering with some sweet malt notes also noticeable. Taste is overpowered by bourbon and I had a hard time picking-up other flavour. Body is quite full with alcohol from the barrel really coming out. I was a bit surprised as I was not expecting so much bourbon to come out in such fashion and I am probably not the biggest bourbon fan around.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 8

thanks to footbalm for the growler & for herbjones for pulling together the trade. This big brew pours opaque dark brown with little if any head, the initial aroma was of whiskey and cocoa. What I found important is that this beer really changes personalities as it opens up. We poured it straight fm the fridge, and the flavor was mainly alcohol and it wasn’t too impressive. However, letting it warm up allowed its complexities to impress you. The bourbon is a nice background flavor, it’s there, but doesn’t dominate. Notes of cocoa w/ hints of dark fruit dominate. Very nice.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Thanks Eric. Dark brown in color with a nice tan head. Rich malty aroma with some chocolate. Palate is thin. Dry finish. Enjoyable beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

OK, so it’s #16 on the site and one of the Top 3 beers I had at the VA/MD/DC Gathering. There is more going on in the glass then there are notes in my book, thats for sure. Highlights of this magnificent beer is the vanilla, bitter cocoa and roasted coffee. Since I am so freakin sick of oak and bourbon flavors, this was nicely done without being over the top.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

2004 bottle from growler. This Baltic Porter pours with a dark brown to black body topped by a thin head with some lacing. The aroma and flavor are great! They’re slightly sweet and malty with notes of dark fruit, a nice chocolate note and a little alcohol. Medium to full bodied, slightly tingly yet smooth.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Poured an opaque black color with a small off white head, light lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla oak, chocolate, roast raisins and other dark fruits. Taste was that of more chocolate, roast and vanilla, very light alcohol from the barrel aging was present. Velvety soft mouthfeel.