Imperial Smoking Mirror (Rum Barrel Aged)
Quest Brewing Co.

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From:
Quest Brewing Co.
 
South Carolina, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
9.6%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 9.87%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
18
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 20, 2018
Added:
Jan 11, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
Imperial Smoked Porter aged for 8 months in Cruzan Rum Barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Immortale25:
Photo of Immortale25
Reviewed by Immortale25 from North Carolina

4.49/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Funky Buddha Brewery snifter. No freshness date.

A- Pours a 99% opaque black color with a 1/4 inch light brown head that retains a bit before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a thin ring around the edge of the glass. Semi-resilient lacing leaves a thick ring behind.

S- Lots of the rum barrel coming through but it's controlled enough to not be unpleasant. Notes of caramel, raisin and brown sugar.

T- The combination of rum barrel and roast somehow equates to a fruity aspect at first sip. Notes of apple are perplexing yet welcome. The roastiness finally comes through in the aftertaste and there's also a vanilla tone layered over top the whole profile. Quite drinkable for the ABV, though it ends up being a slow sipper due to the barrel character. The barrel seems to be suppressing the smoke, which is fine by me. I still feel like there's a fruit note I'm detecting but not honing in on...pineapple! It tastes like pineapple! It's fantastic!

M- Slightly creamy with medium-low carbonation and a full body.

O- I've never had a barrel-aged dark beer actually accomplish a solid pineapple flavor like this does. It even comes through in the aroma. Absolutely remarkable. I must say, Quest has got it goin' on. Everything I've had from them so far has been exceptional. Hope they keep up the good work.
Mar 19, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.72/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours fudge brown with no head ; somewhat leggy

Smell: Smoked chocolate and caramel, ensconced with rum barrel tones; hints of tart blackberry

Taste: The tart blackberry element juts forward, overwhelming the other flavors that were prominent in the aromatics; while it is hard to detect the chocolate and caramel, the smoked character and the rum barrel both emerge, after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low carbonation

Overall: Hard to believe that the infections picked up in this and the non-barrel aged versions of this beer were intentional, which is a real shame, as there are some nice elements; the infection adds an interesting dimension but doesn't make it a great beer by any stretch
Jul 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Oct 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by HopBelT from Belgium

Jan 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.94 by lupercmda from North Carolina

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Nov 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by Cynic-ale from Texas

Aug 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.56 by CB2maltygoodness from District of Columbia

Jul 28, 2015
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4.07/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
So, where does a South Carolina brewery find rum barrels? It really doesn't matter, but those pirate days of nefarious Caribbean trade has never fallen out of favor for these folks who layer their acclaimed strong porter into those sugary, spicy, boozy rum barrels.

Their dark porter turns tawny about its margins and still after the abundance of carbonation dissipates; leaving the center deep in tarnish brown. But its high aromatic display sells its rum character high as its coffee and chocolate seem to play a secondary role but with that unmistakable smoky overlay. Tart cherry, oak and vinous red wine play solemnly on the nose while its taste is of burnt toast, scorched toffee and molasses.

But the middle saturates with toasty, coffee, smoked cocoa flavors that arrive slightly ahead of a vinous barrel souring that's slightly balsamic, cider and lime. Thereafter, its the oaken booze, sour tendencies and dry molasses taste that swirl in an obviously unintended matrix but also a complexity that proves quite charming and welcoming.

With a return to sweetness late, the beer's medium-full body resists the cut of acidity and treks on with malty flavors leading the way. Chocolate, campfire and molasses outweigh the vinous grip but seem to embrace the boozy warmth that frame the beer's waning moments with an aftertaste of chocolate and red grape remaining.
Jul 03, 2015
Photo of WOLFGANG
Rated by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

3.51/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Brewshare.062715
Jun 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by Lucoli from New York

May 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.3 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

May 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.37 by evilcatfish from Missouri

Apr 23, 2015
Photo of BirdsandHops
Reviewed by BirdsandHops from Oregon

3.72/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours black with two fingers of light brown head that fades into a frothy ring with a little lacing.

S: Roasted malts, sweet chocolate, a bit of coffee, vanilla, caramel, and some tart and slightly sour aromas reminiscent of sour cherries.

T: Roasted malts and char up front before a heft tart and slightly sour flavor again reminiscent of sour cherries. Some vanilla, bitter cocoa, oak, and a touch of rum come through before a lightly boozy finish.

M: Thick body with low carbonation, this beer is thick and creamy without being too sweet.

O: An enjoyable beer overall, though the tart/sour notes lead me to believe that it might be infected. So far, the infection doesn't really detract from the beer, but I'd like a bit more rum presence.
Apr 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by EigenBeer from Florida

Apr 03, 2015
Photo of Dreadnaught33
Reviewed by Dreadnaught33 from District of Columbia

3.46/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
So this reads like a funky or sour porter, not much smoke but reminds me of smoke from the oak in a way but not in a great way. No carbonation at all. Rum seems to just make it muttled, yet still has some interesting tastes to it with some cedar wood notes to it as well. Not very composed and off putting in some ways, hard to drink.
Mar 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.66 by vancean2 from Colorado

Feb 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.67 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Jan 31, 2015
Imperial Smoking Mirror (Rum Barrel Aged) from Quest Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 18 ratings