Full Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Aromas of pure burbon alcohol, hidden behind that some hints of oak, vanilla, and some dark fruits. Dark black body decent cap with a little bit of lace, and its thick you can see it coating the glass, nice. Mouthfeel is thick, creamy, and viscous. Flavor is dominated by the burbon, a bit too much for me, but some random hints of oak, chocolate, burnt coffee, and a vanilla finish.

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

I can safely say that this was one of the best beers I have had this year (2009). I seemed to have strayed the dark path so far this year, so it was a welcomed drop of beer and a damned fine drop it was!! So far, both barrel aged beers I've enjoyed from Full Sail has been outstanding.

The beer pours out a delicious looking, chocolate brown/black colored liquid with a 1/2" thick tan head with tight bubbles. If the head were creamier with a little more staying power this this would be perfect, but as it is it's still great. Aroma is wood, bourbon, bakers chocolate, scorched sugar, black walnuts and a touch of coffee. Flavors had more wood, bitter chocolate, vanilla extract, coffee bean, and molasses all wrapped up by the beautiful, unmistakeable bourbon character that is just right. Highly recommended.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

2008 Release; Sampled September 2008
Pours into my 25cl tulip glass with a well browned, dark tan colored head that starts out three-fingers in thickness. The beer is quite black looking, though it does show flashes of ruby color if held up directly to the light. Wow, quite aromatic with a huge toasted coconut aroma, lots of vanillin, rich buttery oak notes. A touch of spicy, warming Bourbon notes come it at the end of the aroma along with a touch of toasted malt character and some faint, though sharp, slightly acidic, burnt malt notes. The beer plays a far distant secondary role to the barrel character here, luckily the barrel character is fairly smooth and the huge coconut note makes this quite interesting.

Flavors of vanillin and soft butterscotch up front yield to some browned malt notes in the middle and then some roasted, dark grain flavors that add a touch of sweetened coffee notes to the finish. This has a touch of saltiness and some perceived smokiness to it that at times seems like a peat influence; this nicely offsets the light sweetness that is accentuated by the malt and vanillin notes. The finish can have a warming, almost hot, Bourbon like bite to it, but at other times it has much more of a toasted coconut flavor to it as the vanillin and buttery oak notes combine in the lingering finish. While this is a sipping beer, I like that it has a certain lightness to it and certainly does note seem overly heavy.

I like the aroma on this beer, though it is certainly one dimensional in its barrel focus. It is actually a bit one dimensional in its barrel focus all around; it certainly works a bit more in the aroma, but on the plus side more of the base beer character comes through in the flavor, though it is still a reduced, secondary role. Interesting, but the Porter flavor are a bit too undefined for this to really work. Less barrel influence or more Porter character is needed to push this to the next level. Still tasty and enjoyable & certainly none of this beer is going to waste (I sense an adventure in blending coming on).

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

The body is a dark ruby black and a nice tan head tops it off. Big aroma with strong notes of vanilla, bourbon, chocolate and caramel. This is definitely on the sweet side. The strong smell of bourbon really makes this taste stronger than it is. The end result is something that reminds me of whisky-soaked brownies.

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

Dark black color. Small head. Aroma is malty, brown sugar and bourbon. A medium to full bodied porter. Malts are nutty, chocolate and fairly sweet. Lots of bourbon flavors, oak and smoke. Hops are slightly spicy. Nicely balanced. Very smooth. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

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

First thing I noticed was the wonderous whisky soaked aroma....butr a nice roasted malt profile is just underneath..very nice. Great looking ale..darkest mahogany with a lovelly "coffee n' creme" coloured head.Leaves gorgeous lacing down pint glass. WOW!!! what a marvelous flavour profil..first its the smooth , creamy chocolaty malts, then the great woody, smoked bourbon hits..wonderful..great aftertaste.. This beer is a dream on the palte..so damn silky smooth I couldnt believe it. Overall this is a fantastic beer..best yet from Full Sail..

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

Quickly becoming one of my favorite styles. I’d like someone to explain to me how a Baltic Porter isn’t a lighter version of an imperial stout. Blah, blah, blah chocolate. Blah, blah, blah coffee. Yeah, all that with a touch of cherries and smokiness. Real flavorful.

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

GABF2004... Poured a dark browncolor with a tan head. Roasted bourbon, chocolate and coffee aroma. Chocolate, fruit, roast, and bourbon taste. Creamy palate.