Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter

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

Pours deep black with a thin tan ring of a head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is rich, dark coffee with molasses with flavors to match and includes chocolate and licorice. Smooth.

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

This is a solid black porter that makes me think of Dr. Pepper because it has so many flavors. It's one of the few Imperial porters I don't find to be bitter. The aroma is full if every kind of hints and notes that exist.

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

Pours black with a very thin tan head ringlet that dissipates quickly. Predominant flavors of chocolate and coffee. Nice and well rounded, definitely worth a try.

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

Strong aroma is oily and smoky with tones of roast coffee and molasses. It pours a nearly opaque sable with a thick, fine-bubbled, fairly persistent dark tan head. Smoky flavor fills the mouth with burnt wood, roast coffee, unsweet chocolate and a hint of licorice. Oily texture is fizzy and lively, leaving a smoky, tingly, woody finish. Recommended!

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

This was a fine Imp. porter for sure, aroma of cocoa, expresso malts with some fruit hiding in there as well. Big black body with a nice dark tan cap that left good lace. Flavor was nice, but a little of a let down in comparison to the aroma. Roasted coffee, and cocoa up front with a alcohol presence that faded into a bitter, slightly citrus finish. Overall a good imp porter thats worth a spin.

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

i'm pretty sure this is still the best FS beer I've ever had. it had a great body, aroma, flavor...very stoutish. great balance of malt/roast and hop bitterness.

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

2007 Release Sampled December 2007
A vigorous pour produces a frothy, tightly beaded, initially three-finger thick, brownish tinged, dark tan colored head that sits atop an opaque, basically black colored brew. The head leaves some delicate lacing as it slowly recedes. Distinctively fruity smelling (though not dominantly), aromas of concentrated raisin, fig, brandy like notes and perhaps a touch of cherry are all here, though they have all been slightly burnt. Concentrated malt aromatics contribute the noticed fruit notes, but it also produces notes of dark chocolate, black coffee and huge toasted malt aromatics. The aroma is so smooth and so rich and satiating; I am quite impressed how rich, yet not overly burnt this beer smells.

Slightly sweet, but not nearly as much as I had expected. The beer has a medium fullness to it that is not quite rich. Ample roasted malt flavors of black coffee, slightly acidic espresso, bitter dark chocolate, and a burnt grain husk character all play a big role. At times this reminds me of a coffee liquor (though one that is not all that sweet). Some dusty cocoa notes, warming, almost hot, alcohol that combines with that roast acidity in the finish contribute to some disjointed flavors. Not quite as rich and smooth as I was hoping it would be; at times a really good chocolate flavor & aroma are noticeable, but at other times it can be overwhelmed by slightly harsh / sharp notes.

The flavor is more roast / burnt dominated than the aroma and is not nearly as smooth. I have a hard time distinguishing this from a strong stout, at least based on the flavor. After my nose has acclimated a bit, even the aroma becomes a bit harsher. Still a tasty beer and it definitely hits the spot when looking for a big, darkly roasted malty beer.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

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

Poured a dark brown small head. ARoma was of black licorice and chocolate. Flavor was much the same roastedness to it, dark fruits Solid beet not overly complex, but very very good.

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

Dark as night pour, with smallish head and lacing. Aroma was chocolate and coffee. Strong roasted malts, high bitterness, coffee and chocolate...alcohol flavor was prevalent and burning, not in a total pleasant way. The problem was the astringent acidity that went along with it. Good, but not great. Thanks to eaglefan538 for sharing.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

Bottle from Topps in Tempe. The pour was dark deep brown-black, very thin initial head, no lacing, only spotty bubbles on the glass edges. The aroma was roasted choco-coffee, bubblegum, licorice. The flavor was roasted choco-coffee, bubble gum, licorice, faint dark fruits, all with a dry, lightly bitter finish. A very nice brew, wonderfully blended, nothing sticky about this one, yet very full of flavor, diverse, smooth.