State Pen Imperial Porter
Santa Fe Brewing Company

State Pen Imperial PorterState Pen Imperial Porter
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From:
Santa Fe Brewing Company
 
New Mexico, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
10%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 10.4%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
36
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 06, 2014
Added:
Apr 26, 2008
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rye726:
Photo of rye726
Reviewed by rye726 from Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle #376 poured at 50F into a wine glass.

Near black color with a dark tan head. Settles to a thin cover. Nose is of a mixture of malts and has some dried fruit aromas to it. Dates, figs and raisins. Rounding it out is a very nice oaky presence. The taste is similar, but not as impessive. Dark fruits, earthy oak tones and some young alcohol flavors. This definately could use a few years to it. The body is full with ample carbonation. A very drinkable brew. Not the most complex, but quite good.
May 07, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by SmellsofMahagony from Texas

May 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by SkeeterBoganski from Colorado

Mar 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by drummermattie02 from Texas

Feb 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Dec 28, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks for sharing, Tim.

The pour is dark brown in color with an off-white head. A strong roasted malt aroma along with a nice bit of dark chocolate. There’s some sweet dark fruit aroma and a hint of wood and bourbon. The flavor isn’t quite as good as the aroma, but still enjoyable. Mild to moderate barrel character with roasted malt, dark chocolate, and dark fruits. A touch of vanilla and molasses type sweetness, too.
Jul 16, 2012
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3/24/2012

Shared by Tim at Kill the Cellar day, thanks!

A: Near black with an enormous beige head. Great retention.

S: Lightly smoky with a savory presence. Some metallic notes blend with earth and oxidation. Cocoa is pervasive. Lots of oak.

T: Soft cocoa and dark chocolate notes meet subtle roast and a graceful level of oxidation. Light bitterness and evident oak.

M: Upper medium body with high carbonation.

Overall: Much better than Bourbon Barrel Aged State Pen.
Mar 25, 2012
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to Drew for sharing this bottle at last night's tasting. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours near black with a small tan head and some sparse lacing on the way down. The nose brings some heavy chocolate and roasted malt. The flavor has that nice chocolate presence as well, with a bit more balance between that and the backing malt. Medium body with a bit boozy with average carbonation. Worth a try.
Feb 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by TasteTester from Ohio

Dec 31, 2011
Photo of Hojaminbag
Reviewed by Hojaminbag from Colorado

4.42/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
GabrielM sent me this bottle in the 2010 Secret Santa BIF. Thanks Gabe.

State Pen Imperial Porter has a dark brown body that is mostly opaque, with a light brown head that is big and rocky. Both retention and lacing are impressive.

The aroma kind of caught me off guard, it smells more like a dessert wine like port or bordeaux than beer until a large roasted malt scent comes through in the finish.

After trying the normal state pen porter, I did not think the imperial version, which is two years old, would be any good. I was wrong, because this beer is excellent. Up front the vinous qualities that I noticed in the aroma return, bringing dark fruit, grape, some sweetness and a good bit of wood. A little bit of tobacco and smoke linger in the background also. My first impression is that these are port flavors, but I realize now that this beer was aged in Bordeaux barrels, which accounts for the wine flavors. Regardless of exactly where these flavors come from, they are great, especially when paired with the huge roasted malt profile that follows them, balancing the beer out and making sure that it is not too sweet. A little bit of dry chocolate and coffee team up with the roasted malt. The finish has a bit of faded hops in it.

Good mouthfeel, full body and the carbonation has stayed strong over the last two years.

This is a great beer. The balance between the wine barrel characteristics and the porter flavors is fantastic, and I wish I had more of this to drink. It would have been nice to try a fresh bottle also, but something tells me this one got better with age.
Dec 31, 2010
Photo of DaveMarner
Reviewed by DaveMarner from New Mexico

4.92/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
poured into a tulip glass

A - Dark as night with a good half inch brownish head.

S - Very nice. Chocolate, espresso, and some smokeyness to it.

T - Amazing. It still has a touch of hops initially and then evens out to a lot of chocolate and some espresso.

M - A very pleasant amount of carbonation. It feels like a cool shot of creamy espresso rolling through my mouth.

D - Very easy drinker. Let's just say it left me wanting more.

It's been a while since the last time I had this and it really seems to be aging really well. I will definitely be having this again soon.
Dec 15, 2010
Photo of amcmaho1
Reviewed by amcmaho1 from New Mexico

4.77/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The main reason i'm reviewing this beer is because it was subjected to a refrigerator that was far too cold, resulting in this thing literally blowing it's top (a year too soon, but i'm not really complaining). The bottle was #814 0f 3708, and held onto by myself since early July. To get to drink it now is a real treat...

Appearance: There is no real head on this porter (possibly due to the carbonation loss from it's getting too cold in the fridge and 'popping'). No lacing in the snifter, only a small amount of very small carbonation bubbles. A beautiful dark brown to crimson coloration, letting very little light permeate.

Smell: The immediate smell is definitely of chocolate. There is a beautifully delicate sweetness which gives the aroma great body, without being too overpowering. The malt backing helps in bringing a roasted character, subduing some of the sweetness; though this beer is strongly favoring the darker fruit and chocolate taste.

Taste: Initially, the taste reminds me of a bittersweet chocolate covered raisin; in that there is an initial tartness, as well as a slight bittering. Still though, the chocolate dominates the palette in a very pleasing way; leading me to believe that this beer would be exceptional in pairing with a dessert; or simply as dessert.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is a bit hard to pin down exactly. I'd have to say that it's rather on the thin side, which would make sense with the ABV%, although there is a slight chewiness which is exciting and intriguing.

Drinkability: In being somewhat overzealous, i'll have to say that the drinkability is high. Although, i feel it is a beer to be celebrated, and shared amongst close friends (i had hoped to save it until christmas,but i'm actually quite glad i was "forced" to enjoy it sooner).

Congrats to the Santa Fe Brewing Company on a great Imperial Porter!
Nov 12, 2010
Photo of GabrielM
Reviewed by GabrielM from Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I've had this brew many times, so I figured it was appropriate to review it. Poured into a tulip.

A - pitch black with a nice brown head on top that lasted a good couple of minutes.

S - really awesome! Chocolate is the first to hit the nose, followed by coffee, then some brown sugar, vanilla and maltiness.

T - even better than expected! The first to hit the palate is slightly bitter espresso, which leads to semi-sweet chocolate, a lot of roasted malts and an oaky vanilla finish.

M - perfect carbonation, creamy sweetness and nicely balanced flavors make this a real treat.

D - I could sip this all night, but slowly so the 10% ABV doesn't sneak up too quickly. There aren't many left unfortunately, so I'll have to keep it to special occasions with the closest of friends.
Oct 24, 2010
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue V:

Brewed as a part of their "The Big Beer Series" dedicated
to their 20th Anniversary. Hand printed bottle # 1215 of 3708.

Sooty black color, one of the slowest dissipating heads we've ever experienced, with some sporadic sticky lacing on the glass. Smells of light fusel alcohol, clean oak, brown sugar, Griotte chocolates and lastly, an unwavering neutral yeasty note. Creamy almost viscous full body with a lush smoothness. Estery from the alcohol which comes across with mellow banana and dark cherries. Sweet maltiness has a long drawn out flavor with levels of cake, wet charcoal, toasted bread, mild coffee and chocolate. Minimal hop bitterness aims to balance, the oak jumps in to help with a fresh oaked character that feigns a slight tobacco flavor. Bone dry finish with some lingering alcohol and oak.

Let this beer warm up to cellar temp if not a cool room temp to drink, letting all of the flavors blossom. A sipping beer, and very sippable at that, a perfect beer to end a long night off with. Happy 20th anniversary Santa Fe Brewing Co.!
Sep 10, 2010
Photo of twiggamortis420
Reviewed by twiggamortis420 from Texas

2.81/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
750 mL bottle #881/3708, 2008 was the year brewed, for their 20th Anniversary. Pours a jet black color with a thick and dense cap of light brown foam. Lacing is nice and plentiful. Good looker.

Nose is thick and chocolaty with a hefty dose of fruit - both light and dark. Touch of smoke, first thing that came to mind was Duck-Rabbit with the thick smell and heavy fruit.

Taste is out there, thats for sure. Rich chocolate is thick and creamy with cedar wood notes and burnt BBQ ribs. Roast is a little bitter without much help from the faded hops. It's a big, big beer with the ABV still noticeably hot. This one is interesting, but not quite to my liking - too much fruit, very alcoholic and the roast is bordering on being acrid. I could see this being good to some out there, but I am not really digging it, glad I shared the 750. The age of the beer might be starting to get to it as well.
Jun 27, 2010
Photo of jbsteiny
Reviewed by jbsteiny from Hawaii

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thank you to the staff of Telluride Bottleworks for recommending this -- they only had two bottles left -- wish I'd bought both of them. This one was numbered 3672 out 3708, and I feel honored to have been able to try it. Split with two friends while we brewed an Imperial Porter, so that was pretty perfect too -- gave our beer something to aspire to.

Dark chocolate color with a thick, almost milk chocolate-colored head. Good retention. Aromas of chocolate, coffee, smoke, and anise, maybe somewhat tempered by the cold temperature of the beer -- it never got a chance to warm up :) Tastes much the same, but richer. Every sip was so good. Very smooth, well carbonated (actually a little too bubbly for me, but I guess you need it for such a big beer), and the alcohol was totally hidden. As I said, I wish I had another right after it. Excellent work, Santa Fe. Happy 20th!
Apr 23, 2010
Photo of Flashsp2
Reviewed by Flashsp2 from New Mexico

4.42/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Santa Fe Imperial Porter into Stone IRS glass (2008 vintage, sampled
March 2010).

Deeply dense black body with a thick mocha brown head. Nice retention
and lacing.

Anise, licorice, dark fruit, alcohol, roasted coffee, pine, chocolate, tobacco.

Oh that's good. Oak, tobacco, dark chocolate, licorice, apricot,
softly sweet with a mild piney bitterness that provides a perfect
balance.

A medium heavy creamy body with a low level tiny bubbled carbonation.

Easy drinking and greatly softened with age. I'ma clear out the store
next time I'm in Albuquerque.
Apr 07, 2010
Photo of caresville
Reviewed by caresville from New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
received this awesome brew from twiggamortis420 in a recent BIF, big thanks!! very impressive beer, easily one of the best porters i have ever had the opportunity to try.

a- as close to all black as possible with a nice sized fluffy mocha head, great lacing and even some carbonation in there.

s- roasted malts, light coffee, lots of chocolate and some dried fruits in there.

t&m- beautiful on the palate, silky and easy on the tastebuds. moderate and mellow doses of milk chocolate, licorice, coffee beans, and just the right amount of roasted malts.

d- its a heavy hitter for sure and catches up quick, easy on the boozyness for 10% and heavy on tastebuds. easy to fall in love with this one for sure.
Mar 09, 2010
Photo of taxguyjase
Reviewed by taxguyjase from New Mexico

4.46/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Appearance - A rich, smooth black brew. A mocha colored, foamy head tops the beer, which also has a really appealing, rich "bubbly" look. The head doesn't dissipate and is just pretty to look at- 5.0/5.0

Smell - Lots of coffee and dark cocoa in the nose. Enough aroma to enjoy, but not too much to overpower. 4.0/5.0

Taste - Wow! Rich, powerful flavor. Coffee, dark chocolate, some alcohol, woody flavors. Some bitterness too, but enjoyable 4.5/5.0

Feel - Thick and coats the mouth. 4.0/5.0

Drinkability - Well, let's put it this way - we went out and bought another one. 5.0/5.0
Feb 24, 2010
State Pen Imperial Porter from Santa Fe Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 36 ratings