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Victory At Sea - Coconut
Ballast Point Brewing Company
- From:
- Ballast Point Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Porter
Ranked #124 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #9,660 - Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 11.69%
- Reviews:
- 154
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 20, 2023
- Added:
- Feb 15, 2013
- Wants:
- 36
- Gots:
- 100
This Coconut Victory at Sea takes our popular Imperial Porter to another place. We added sweet roasted coconut to our robust porter brewed with Caffe Calabria coffee and vanilla, the perfect complement to this beer’s subtly roasty intensity. A favorite at our annual Victory at Sea Day, but it’s worth enjoying anytime you need to be transported.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JakerLou:
Rated by JakerLou from New Hampshire
3.71/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dec 27, 2016
3.71/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dec 27, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
4.13/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
November 12th, 2016 - I love Ballast Point's Porter well enough, but the Coconut version is even better. It's extremely rich, but rewarding with some patience and slow sipping. First, it's a gorgeous beer, with a pocked head textured like a dry lava field. But the smell introduces itself with a signature firmness, rich with coconut and coconut oil. Like a fine cigar, it's worth smelling this brew for awhile before dipping in. The flavor is much the same, rich and better enjoyed slowly, and supported by a heavy, unctuous palate. Absolutely delicious, but I feel like I'm going to have to roll into bed.
Jul 20, 2023Reviewed by zac16125 from South Carolina
4.38/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle into a wine glass
No bottling dates (reviewed are probably close to a year old though; just found my notes this was reviewed a long while ago)
A: Opaque black, 3 plus fingers with of light tan head, good retention 4.25
S: Aroma is very nice, quite sweet. Lots of chocolate, lots of vanilla, lactose like cream. Coconut is very subtle although certainly present. Great nose. 4.25
T: Taste is excellent, more Coconut then the nose. Like the nose the chocolate and vanilla are prominent. Fair amount of bitterness to round it out. Really well done. 4.5
M/D: Mouthfeel is fairly smooth, medium body, ABV completely unnoticeable and very good drinkability. 4.5
O: Overall, a really good beer. I think regular VaS is excellent and the subtle Coconut added nicely to this one. Way better than the peppermint variant by the way. 4.25
Oct 23, 2020No bottling dates (reviewed are probably close to a year old though; just found my notes this was reviewed a long while ago)
A: Opaque black, 3 plus fingers with of light tan head, good retention 4.25
S: Aroma is very nice, quite sweet. Lots of chocolate, lots of vanilla, lactose like cream. Coconut is very subtle although certainly present. Great nose. 4.25
T: Taste is excellent, more Coconut then the nose. Like the nose the chocolate and vanilla are prominent. Fair amount of bitterness to round it out. Really well done. 4.5
M/D: Mouthfeel is fairly smooth, medium body, ABV completely unnoticeable and very good drinkability. 4.5
O: Overall, a really good beer. I think regular VaS is excellent and the subtle Coconut added nicely to this one. Way better than the peppermint variant by the way. 4.25
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.52/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.52/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
22oz. bottle
Pours black with maroon brown highlights and a dense creamy tan khaki colored foam head. Smells like sweet fruity coconut, dark fruits, plum, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, dark roasted malts, caramel, toffee, molasses, with herbal earthy hops. Tastes like charred roasted malts, baking chocolate, dark roast coffee, some dark fruits, sweet toasty coconut, caramel, vanilla, toffee, molasses, with bitter herbal earthy hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy and slick with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a nice imperial porter with coffee, vanilla and coconut.
Sep 03, 2020Pours black with maroon brown highlights and a dense creamy tan khaki colored foam head. Smells like sweet fruity coconut, dark fruits, plum, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, dark roasted malts, caramel, toffee, molasses, with herbal earthy hops. Tastes like charred roasted malts, baking chocolate, dark roast coffee, some dark fruits, sweet toasty coconut, caramel, vanilla, toffee, molasses, with bitter herbal earthy hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy and slick with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a nice imperial porter with coffee, vanilla and coconut.
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
4.16/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a Founders Brewing Co snifter
A: Pours dark brown with a mahogany hue and a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little spotty lacing.
S: Roasty, char, coffee, and a little dark chocolate, solid hit of toasted coconut, vanilla, peppery spice, hints of bourbon, and brown sugar and almost maple like sweetness.
T: Roasty, earthy, bold coffee, some char, and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate, toasted coconut definitely comes through, vanilla, peppery spice, hints of cinnamon and molasses, some brown sugar and toffee, and an almost bourbon like tone from the bit of alcohol that peeks through as it warms.
M: A little on the fuller side of medium body, moderately lively carbonation, slightly creamy, with a little alcohol warmth though not unpleasant.
O: This is one of those bottles I kept saving for the right night without ever really knowing when that would be. 4 years later, I guess that night is tonight.
I wasn't sure how well it would have held up, but I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. The coffee has definitely gone a bit peppery, but the coconut, which in my experience can fall off fairly quickly, still shines through. Overall it's a very solid variant on a legendary imperial porter. Now I'm curious to know how it was super fresh. Hopefully they'll brew this one again.
Apr 09, 2020A: Pours dark brown with a mahogany hue and a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little spotty lacing.
S: Roasty, char, coffee, and a little dark chocolate, solid hit of toasted coconut, vanilla, peppery spice, hints of bourbon, and brown sugar and almost maple like sweetness.
T: Roasty, earthy, bold coffee, some char, and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate, toasted coconut definitely comes through, vanilla, peppery spice, hints of cinnamon and molasses, some brown sugar and toffee, and an almost bourbon like tone from the bit of alcohol that peeks through as it warms.
M: A little on the fuller side of medium body, moderately lively carbonation, slightly creamy, with a little alcohol warmth though not unpleasant.
O: This is one of those bottles I kept saving for the right night without ever really knowing when that would be. 4 years later, I guess that night is tonight.
I wasn't sure how well it would have held up, but I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. The coffee has definitely gone a bit peppery, but the coconut, which in my experience can fall off fairly quickly, still shines through. Overall it's a very solid variant on a legendary imperial porter. Now I'm curious to know how it was super fresh. Hopefully they'll brew this one again.
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
3.13/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.13/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22oz bomber. Cola colored ale with a foamy brown head. Aroma is a ton of coconut reminiscent of sun tan lotion; some chocolate, coffee, and dark malt. Sweet coconut is all over the palate; chocolate, grain, mild roast, toasted grain, coffee, vanilla, and earthy hops add some complexity - but coconut is overbearing. Fuller body, ample carbonation, sweeter finish. This was not as good as expected.
Jan 03, 2020Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From the bottle, it pours a dark brown with a light tan head that reduces to a thin layer with islands and lacing. Coconut heavy in the nose. In the mouth, it is coconut alcohol and malt. Nice!
Aug 10, 2019Reviewed by Reef from South Carolina
3.87/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle coded 17217
Opaque mahogany admitting light only at margins, 2mm of tan, fine bubbled head from a standard pour, full ring and partial cap
Smell: Coconut domination, chocolate, coffee, vanilla also but minor players
Taste: Coconut, sharp espresso, cocoa, slight astringent medicinal or vegetal note
Feel: Oily, medium bodied, slight alcohol heat, low carbonation
Overall, enjoyable, but not superior to regular Victory At Sea, May be an old bottle, coffee flavor was muted.
Aug 04, 2019Opaque mahogany admitting light only at margins, 2mm of tan, fine bubbled head from a standard pour, full ring and partial cap
Smell: Coconut domination, chocolate, coffee, vanilla also but minor players
Taste: Coconut, sharp espresso, cocoa, slight astringent medicinal or vegetal note
Feel: Oily, medium bodied, slight alcohol heat, low carbonation
Overall, enjoyable, but not superior to regular Victory At Sea, May be an old bottle, coffee flavor was muted.
Reviewed by flipper2gv from Canada (QC)
3.17/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
3.17/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
A: Pours a bit paler than I expected with a dark brown / black color with a decent sized creamy looking cappuccino colored head and decent retention. Lacing is good too.
S: Right off the bat you get a metric ton of coconut notes. It's so intense it almost feels artificial but I could believe it's all natural. There are decent amount of vanilla notes in there too and some milk chocolate. I know there should be coffee in this but I don't smell it much. Super dessert like, almost Southern Tier levels.
T: Taste is definitely not as sweet as I expected. You get a ton of roasted coconut notes, vanilla, chocolate and coffee but it's all very dry and pasty. Some medicinal and grassy bitterness from the hopping. I really expected a ton more residual sugars in this and it would have made sense but this beer leaves me quite confused at to what were its objectives.
M: Body is straight up too light for the genre, the ABV and the notes. The carbonation is too lively too. It's a pretty big disservice to the beer.
O: This is okay I guess. The idea of making a coconut vanilla coffee porter makes a ton of sense if it's going to be a dessert like beer. This is not the case here. The beer is too dry and has a too light mouthfeel to make sense with the rest of the notes. Still, it's definitely drinkable.
Apr 14, 2019S: Right off the bat you get a metric ton of coconut notes. It's so intense it almost feels artificial but I could believe it's all natural. There are decent amount of vanilla notes in there too and some milk chocolate. I know there should be coffee in this but I don't smell it much. Super dessert like, almost Southern Tier levels.
T: Taste is definitely not as sweet as I expected. You get a ton of roasted coconut notes, vanilla, chocolate and coffee but it's all very dry and pasty. Some medicinal and grassy bitterness from the hopping. I really expected a ton more residual sugars in this and it would have made sense but this beer leaves me quite confused at to what were its objectives.
M: Body is straight up too light for the genre, the ABV and the notes. The carbonation is too lively too. It's a pretty big disservice to the beer.
O: This is okay I guess. The idea of making a coconut vanilla coffee porter makes a ton of sense if it's going to be a dessert like beer. This is not the case here. The beer is too dry and has a too light mouthfeel to make sense with the rest of the notes. Still, it's definitely drinkable.
Victory At Sea - Coconut from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
637 ratings
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