Great Lakes Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter

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

22 oz bottle best by 4/29/14. Pours dark brown with a medium creamy tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet roasted chocolate malts and some leathery smoke and a little dark fruit.

The flavor is sweet chocolate malt with some roast and peaty liquid smoke. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, a little sweet but nice roast and peaty liquid smoke.

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

A little sweeter chocolate and caramel character than expected and a little less roasted barley and coffee. The smoke is done very well. Medium bodied and smooth, especially at 9%.

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

On tap at Sugar Maple, surprised to find it on tap so late in the year. I have to believe there is a strong Big Butte influence here and then you throw the smoked malt on it and its a winner.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Warning: the appearance and aroma ratings skew the average! Incredibly dark with ruby highlights, served with no head. Aroma reminds me of delicious sweet lotus tea. Disappointing flavor, though: very mild smoke, a little bitterness, some sugar and alcohol, and something like camphor. Everyone at the table had a glass, and no one came away satisfied. It's decent, but there are much better.

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

Hearty smoked malt content wrapped around a chewy leathery richness. All malt with hops only providing a balance. More assertive than I thought it would be, very smoke forward. Rich and robust, hearty and filling. Dark brown body with a collapsing tan head.