Superfly (Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter)
7venth (Seventh) Sun Brewery

 

Many thanks to moose3285, who sent me this bottle before I knew what a fine brewery this was. 375 ML bottle split with my wife, who loved the place as much as I did when we visited in March. Wish they'd build a wing two doors down.

The pour isn't porter-like at all: looks like a dull, rusty barleywine with enough carbonation to make water look boisterous. No idea what type of barrels this was aged in, but the heavy sweetness is more like brandy than anything else. tons of vanilla. The beer? Something of a mystery.

Superfly has more barrel than hobbit-filled wood bobbling down the River Running. Taste still runs towards brandy in the mouth though I see everyone else talking bourbon: perhaps the brew is morphing, or my mouth is full of pus-filled sand. Big old malts punch the barrel sweetness, then I pucker up for the wood of the barrel; wow. Dry as the iron holding the barrel together; I actually think my mouth has shrunk a few cubic millimeters. Strong vanilla, herbal tang, toffee. Flat, but who cares? Could have easily drunk the entire bottle myself.

This is only a bob & weave away from being an excellent beer. Beautiful use of the barrel that's really held up well if this bottle is two plus years old...even if it isn't a porter in any sense of the word. Very good.

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle courtesy of Don...thank you for the opportunity!

Pours a tawny muddled brown with some rusty highlights. From the get-go, I'm having trouble believing this is a porter.

Nothing about the nose cries porter either. Scorched brown sugars, fiery plums, raisin and booze.

Taste mimics the nose, but the booze just comes crashing down like my self esteem in middle school.

This really isn't very enjoyable at all. Mislabeled as a porter....a sub-par old ale?....and completely overwhelmed by cheap tasting barrel and harsh alcohol. Drinks like a beer twice it's size. Ugh..I can taste a headache here. Davy Jones lockers, ahoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to my friend Carly for bringing this one back from the brewery. Served fresh.

Pours a murky dark brown with very low visibility. No sign of a head nor any lacing. Light bourbon is the first whiff, closely followed a warm, dry roasted coffee. The scent of oak lingers heavily over all of it, giving an overall effect of dust and char. A sweet syrupy aroma starts to develop as it warms, reminiscent of honey. Clearly a porter in style - it is light in body and rich in flavor. The body is almost cola-like - effervescent and slightly syrupy without any heaviness. Flavors of the charred wood, roasted coffee, and bourbon blend nicely without anything dominating too much. Good, solid beer with enough interest to enjoy.