Kate The Great
Portsmouth Brewery

Kate The GreatKate The Great
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From:
Portsmouth Brewery
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
12%
Score:
100
Avg:
4.53 | pDev: 10.38%
Reviews:
496
Ratings:
933
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 14, 2022
Added:
Apr 07, 2005
Wants:
  2,619
Gots:
  165
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by angrybabboon:
Photo of angrybabboon
Reviewed by angrybabboon from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This review is a combination of notes taken 7/1/08, 3/22/10, and memories burnt into my mind from 4 bottles ranging from 2008 - 2011 (and some on-tap). Most recently updated on 4/28/12, from a 2012 bottle.

Note: 200th review posted to BA, I've been waiting to write this for a while

Note 2: No amount of rambling will do justice to this beer, so I'm going to attempt to be concise. I will likely be revising this in the future.

Appearance: Pours dark brown, slightly viscous-looking - head is a beautiful tan color, doesn't stick around forever, but the ring of carbonation that sticks around leaves great lacing

Smell: Simply intoxicating - a number of distinct aromas - burnt coffee, chocolate malts, baker's chocolate, dark chocolate, molasses, and dark fruits (figs, grape skin), and some burnt port, a touch of wood - some hoppy aromas (when fresh), and they add a herbal/spicy character that blends with the dark malts - rich, complex malts, a beautiful blend of roasted malts, burnt malts, and cake-like sweetness

Taste: Beyond perfection - a complex harmony of bitter, burnt tones, somewhat sweet, candy-like tones, and some spiciness from the hops - dark, burnt malts - definitely burnt, but not excessively charred - dry, baker's chocolate, as well as sweeter, semisweet chocolate - roasted coffee - some incredible dark fruit flavors, perhaps from the port, which also adds a touch of tart - some sweetness that is reminiscent of a spice cake, as well as toffee - just breathtaking overall - the taste itself really comes in stages, with some rich sweetness at the start, chocolate in the middle, and a gloriously roasty aftertaste - definitely some variation from fresh to aged, but a 5/5 regardless

Mouthfeel: Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Kate - heavy, but not sludgy - insanely smooth - nicely carbonated (actually varies batch to batch) - absolutely, stupidly, and mind-blowingly drinkable

Overall: No other beer has caused me so much joy (and so much pain)

Having the opportunity to drink Kate the Great is simultaneously one of the best and worst things to ever happen to me. The good things are outlined above... The problem with this beer is that it's so good that it has cast a shadow over every stout I've had since the summer of 2008. Nothing is as good as Kate. And this beer is so f--- hard to get. I've waited in line for so many hours. It's an unhealthy relationship. It's become the prototype for why I hate hype. To summarize, I absolutely love and absolutely hate everything about this beer.
Dec 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4.33/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle pour into a tulip glass.
2012.
L: dark brown color with minimal light beige head
S: molasses, raisin, tobacco, caramel, espresso
T: follows the nose
F: moderate to light body
O: so good, would have loved to have had it fresh
Sep 14, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by HOPTOMIC_BOMB from California

Mar 23, 2019
Photo of Vicirus
Reviewed by Vicirus from Massachusetts

3.92/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2011 bottle, drank on 7/28/18

Sent to me by an incredible trading partner and friend to celebrate the birth of my son. Drank with my father who got me into this “hobbie” when gave me two KtG in ‘11 right after they were released. Thanks Marcos!

Still a beautiful poor with a creamy tan head that lingers for a few minutes before dissipating. The smell is a big drop off from when it was fresh unfortunately. Picking up some red wine and bakers chocolate, but fairly muted. Some red wine, espresso, dark chocolate, light soy sauce in the taste. It’s thinned out but it was never a thick stout from what I recall. Very dry on the back end. Overall, very happy to be able to revisit this one after so many years and life experiences. It held up better than I had hoped, and easily was a 5/5 when originally released.
Jul 29, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by hopkrid from Florida

Jun 08, 2018
Photo of M-Fox24
Reviewed by M-Fox24 from New Jersey

4.09/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pour is simply black, with an off-white head that’s a few centimeters high. Strong retention with conceited lacing

S: Elements of soy sauce, dark fruits, leather, and smoked tobacco with soft vinous tones. There’s an earthy and spicy circumference with further notes of brown sugar, chocolate brownies, coffee, roasted malts and barley

T: Soy sauce prevalent, but not compromising with intricacies surfacing: raisins, plums, berries, sherry/port, bitter yet fudgy chocolate with caramel malt, vanilla, oak, leathered espresso

M: Medium feel, average carbonation – creamy, chewy, smooth complexity

O: A contrast of soy sauce, yet the age isn’t fully jeopardized given the roasted malts and notes of chocolate covered brownies, vanilla turbo shot(s), caramel, leather, tobacco, some plums and cherries
Jan 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Jul 23, 2017
Photo of Ahappyhiker2
Reviewed by Ahappyhiker2 from New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2011 bomber.

I shared this with friends, as they had purchased this for me years ago when I graduated from college. This honestly was amazing. I'll admit I hyped it up to a certain point, but it exceeded my expectations.

I had this beer in 2012 when it was fresh, and it disappointed me. I thought it was just your average Russian Imperial Stout and was lacking the aroma and flavor that I was hoping for after hearing about all the hype. Luckily I got mine through trade, cause if I went through a lot to get that bottle, I would've been pissed.

When this is aged for six years though, it's remarkable. It's probably the smoothest Russian Imperial Stout I've ever had, and the flavor made me want a lot more than a 1/3 of a bottle. Tons of chocolate, which I didn't expect after being aged this long.

Sadly, this is retired. If you can get a bottle, I highly suggest it.
Jun 27, 2017
Photo of dleiner
Reviewed by dleiner from New York

4.39/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
'11 bottle opened on 5/20/17. Great beer with unbelievable mouthfeel. Be sure to let this warm up, slightly oxidized. If you have this, you should open it now! Definitely not going to get better...
May 21, 2017
Photo of pisano
Rated by pisano from Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2008 vintage - holding up amazingly well. what a treat!
Nov 07, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.63/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Comes in super pitch black with a mixture of that beige and cherry cola colored head on top. Aroma was lots of earthy, soy, tobacco like notes.

Plenty of dark fruit notes, more raisin and soy, kind of sweet. Does have a mouthfeel that absorbs the alcohol quite nicely.

I really never understood why this one was so loved. Its pretty basic stuff, just had a low bottle count, special release kind of thing furthering the hype of a decent beer along Dark Lord lines.
Apr 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by Resuin from Massachusetts

Feb 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by my_knew_craft from Massachusetts

Feb 24, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by YvesB from Belgium

Feb 22, 2016
Photo of mschrei
Reviewed by mschrei from Illinois

4.54/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Trying a 2011 and 2012. The 11 was better due to a much larger presence. Both vintages are Amazing visually. Strong sweet smell. Molasses chocolate malt creamy taste. Damn glad I got to try this.
Feb 12, 2016
Photo of MattMorin
Rated by MattMorin from Illinois

5/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
2011
Nov 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.49 by JohnnieNepal from Michigan

Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by Beersmuggler from Michigan

Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by tectactoe from Michigan

May 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.88 by RobertColianni from Pennsylvania

May 10, 2015
Kate The Great from Portsmouth Brewery
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 933 ratings