Cryptus Portus
Cigar City Brewing
- From:
- Cigar City Brewing
- Florida, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
- ABV:
- 11.7%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.25 | pDev: 4.47%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 08, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 09, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
El Catador Season 10
The "Hidden Port" of Muscat lends its name to a grape varietal and to this Barleywine-Style Ale aged in barrels previously used to age muscat and sauternes, two of the most flavorful and beguiling desert wines known to ow brewers (of to ancient Romans , for that matter).
Raisin, orange blossom, toffee and tobacco mingle on the nose. Rich and velvety on the palate, pronounced notes of dessert wine compliment the base beer's multilayered flavors of molasses, bread crust and chocolate-covered toffee. Light alcohol spiciness and pronounced wood tannins help cut through the formidable body of this double barrel-aged treat.
The "Hidden Port" of Muscat lends its name to a grape varietal and to this Barleywine-Style Ale aged in barrels previously used to age muscat and sauternes, two of the most flavorful and beguiling desert wines known to ow brewers (of to ancient Romans , for that matter).
Raisin, orange blossom, toffee and tobacco mingle on the nose. Rich and velvety on the palate, pronounced notes of dessert wine compliment the base beer's multilayered flavors of molasses, bread crust and chocolate-covered toffee. Light alcohol spiciness and pronounced wood tannins help cut through the formidable body of this double barrel-aged treat.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MJSFS:
Rated by MJSFS from Florida
4.33/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 11, 2019
4.33/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 11, 2019
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.26/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Excellent head production and very good retention all things considered. Body is very dark and a prune skin-like purplish brown.
Wonderfully fruity barleywine nose: brown sugar, fig, raisin, toffee, caramel grain, red grape, oak, boozy liquor, leather. Rich, a touch sharp, inviting, and even a little intimidating.
The interplay of malt, yeast, aged hops, and barrels is rather unique; I'm having difficulty placing the flavor notes. A rum-soaked chocolate-covered raisin, perhaps. Port, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, alcohol heat, toffee, raisin, prune, leather, tobacco. It's not overly sweet, but sugary sweetness is a component, as is a rich deep maltiness.
Obviously a big beer; a slow sipper. Not remotely harsh, however.
Feb 01, 2021Wonderfully fruity barleywine nose: brown sugar, fig, raisin, toffee, caramel grain, red grape, oak, boozy liquor, leather. Rich, a touch sharp, inviting, and even a little intimidating.
The interplay of malt, yeast, aged hops, and barrels is rather unique; I'm having difficulty placing the flavor notes. A rum-soaked chocolate-covered raisin, perhaps. Port, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, alcohol heat, toffee, raisin, prune, leather, tobacco. It's not overly sweet, but sugary sweetness is a component, as is a rich deep maltiness.
Obviously a big beer; a slow sipper. Not remotely harsh, however.
Reviewed by cjgator3 from Florida
3.94/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle poured into a snifter. Bottling date of 5/19/19 etched on the neck of the bottle. Dark fruits, grapes and sweet floral notes make up the nose. The palate is sweet, smooth, a touch of tartness in the finish.
Apr 17, 2020
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana
4.38/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Muscat and sauternes barrel-aged barleywine... right up my alley. Pours a fairly dark-brown with a purple tinge to it, and a full finger of head. Raisin, leather, oak, and tannins on the nose, joined by some juicy scuppernong grapes on the palate. A bit of sharp alcohol sting near the finish, but otherwise, quite a tasty treat. Unique, even among other wine-aged barleywines like CBC's Arquebus.
Mar 01, 2020
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota
4.65/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.65/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Thanks to El Cat for churning out some killer beers, even if the 10th iteration was a bit of a letdown. 22 oz. bottle split with my wife.
Arrives a dark, muddy brown with a gilding of arterial red (good god that was pedantic). The nose is caramel dominated by the sweet wine of the barrels. Which I like.
Cryptus Portus brings back fond memories of Portugal - specifically, the port. I ike port, & port likes me. Although I know it’s a different wine, this drinks like a port. Big, echoing sweetness up front with a minimalist barleywine center of toffee, dehydrated fruits, cherry, with wood & a wine-like bite on the finish. Rich, sweet, intense. I could drink this like the Twins could use another starter.
Unique enough that my descriptors don’t do this beer justice – just another world-class barleywine from Cigar City.
Nov 05, 2019Arrives a dark, muddy brown with a gilding of arterial red (good god that was pedantic). The nose is caramel dominated by the sweet wine of the barrels. Which I like.
Cryptus Portus brings back fond memories of Portugal - specifically, the port. I ike port, & port likes me. Although I know it’s a different wine, this drinks like a port. Big, echoing sweetness up front with a minimalist barleywine center of toffee, dehydrated fruits, cherry, with wood & a wine-like bite on the finish. Rich, sweet, intense. I could drink this like the Twins could use another starter.
Unique enough that my descriptors don’t do this beer justice – just another world-class barleywine from Cigar City.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!