No Rules
Perrin Brewing Co.

No RulesNo Rules
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From:
Perrin Brewing Co.
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
Ranked #7
ABV:
15%
Score:
99
Ranked #206
Avg:
4.49 | pDev: 7.8%
Reviews:
293
Ratings:
1,407
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 09, 2023
Added:
May 15, 2015
Wants:
  342
Gots:
  412
SCORE
99
World-Class
No RulesNo Rules
Notes: This 15% Imperial Porter was made with coconut and turbinado sugar then laid down and aged in bourbon barrels for several months. With a classic film reference weaved into the label art, we hope you enjoy this product as much as we did making it. A generous donation will be made to The Raider Project for each bottle sold to thank them for what they do for our Marine Veterans.

2015 = Green Bowling Ball
2016 = Purple Bowling Ball
2017 = Orange Bowling Ball
2018 = Silver Bowling Ball
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.53 by hopley from Massachusetts

May 09, 2023
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Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Yellow bowling ball I think means 2019. Tried in January 2023. Very boozy nose. Head was tan. Pour was darker than most porters, but don't let that scare you :) Taste is chocolate with coconut on the backend. While this is 15% it is a very smooth drinking beer. Well done!
Jan 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.93 by Grupatre from Michigan

Sep 07, 2022
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Reviewed by BigIronH from Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2021 on draft.

Pours a pitch black. Swirling gives way to thick oily alcohol legs, almost like what you would get swirling a dram of bourbon. Not much head, as expected for 15% but a pencil lead thin ring the color of hot chocolate sticks around for the entirety.

Nose is earthy sugarcane, burnt brown sugar, molasses, toffee, some cinnamon, and vanilla

Taste follows suit with the addition of barrel notes, however subtle. This doesn’t drink like 15%. Very easy drinking, oily, smooth, and full. Excellent example of the style and an over expression of what can be done with it. Glad to have finally tried it. Cheers.
Feb 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.75 by ryand14 from Michigan

Feb 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.34 by not2quick from Missouri

Jan 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.32 by rarapacz from Minnesota

Dec 31, 2021
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Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

4.31/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
draught
This is a 2019 Vietnamese barrel aged version.
Quite, quite dark brown, with a thin beige head. No light transmission here. Sweet bourbon and molasses, with some toasted coconut and toffee, in the smell. Slightly syrupy malt, toasted coconut and a bit of spiced toffee, in the taste, with a tiny bite that lingers awhile. Finish is a sweet dark malt and bourbon flavor.
Oct 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.38 by LumpkinBrews from Colorado

Oct 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by beermanben from Wisconsin

Oct 05, 2021
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Rated by bret27 from California

3.81/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2016 bottle courtesy of JohnnyHops.
Age hasn’t been kind to this brew. Will rate generously and re-rate when able to try fresher.
Aug 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.74 by Jcoleman4 from Ohio

Jun 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by Rkitchen from Michigan

Jun 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by GFK from Michigan

Jun 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.52 by Eyedoc27 from Illinois

Apr 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.49 by goleeoh from Michigan

Mar 04, 2021
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Reviewed by mjvlasic from Michigan

5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Interesting beer. Got lots of flavor- very untraditional yet outstanding. Would recommend if you like something out of the ordinary- yet absolutely excellent!
Feb 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by blackcloud from Alaska

Feb 26, 2021
 
Rated: 4.27 by mrmsmith from District of Columbia

Feb 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4.88 by WormGod from New York

Jan 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.61 by Scalawags from Michigan

Jan 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4.81 by Jim67 from Michigan

Jan 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4.7 by HopBroker from Washington

Dec 30, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by ajramirez1 from Washington

Dec 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4.54 by ChittyChambers from Maryland

Dec 04, 2020
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Rated by Tpb_65 from Michigan

5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Taste as sweet as it smells, gets better with every sip.
Oct 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4.34 by paresis from Massachusetts

Aug 05, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Jun 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by pepesylvia from Pennsylvania

May 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Gemini6 from Michigan

Apr 15, 2020
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Rated by Appearanceswc from Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Exceptionally sweet. Almost undrinkable.
Apr 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by Dharms from Pennsylvania

Mar 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.52 by Hopelessly0 from California

Mar 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by unclekeith from Alaska

Mar 01, 2020
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Reviewed by Wolvmar from Michigan

4.82/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Jan 2021 New Years Day
2019 vintage from pint growler filled at B&V. Poured into tulip glass.

Same as prior but this time appearance was much better. Huge tan head, tons of thick lacing. Same great smell, taste and feel. About as close to perfect as I can imagine.

Feb 2020 Review
2017 vintage from pint growler bottles at Barrels & Vines 18 months or so ago. Poured into a pint tulip glass.

Basically the same review as in the past. This is an incredibly delicious candy bar masquerading as a beer. Appearance is probably the only weak point. Huge coconut, cinnamon, toffee, chocolate, bourbon nose and taste. ABV is well hidden; this one can get you into trouble. Super creamy moist. Still pretty much my favorite beer ever except for the high ABV and, now, taproom only distribution.

June 2018 Update
Had a 2017 vintage from a 16oz growler poured recently at Barrels & Vines.

Very much the same as original review with cinnamon a bit more pronounced, slightly less alcohol but every bit as good as I remember. Maybe even creamier than I recal. A great beer. Have a few more 2017 in the cellar. Can’t wait!
Didn’t get any 2018 as it was taproom only release which wasn’t practical for a SE MI beer lover.

2017 vintage (orange ball).
Pours a dark brown with a small head that took some work. Minimal lacing, low carbonation.

Sweet smell with a delicious aroma I can't place. Maybe toasted coconut (which I don't normally like) with brown sugar. Definite booziness but very smooth nonetheless.

Sweet right at the start but chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, other spices combine with bourbon and oak. One of the more complex and wonderful tastes I've experienced. Maybe a bit on the sweet and boozy side but I love it. Gets better as it warms.

Mouthfeel is amazing. Substantial complexity with low carbonation that suits me just right. Like the taste, it gets better as it warms.

Overall, one of the best beers I've ever had. Definitely a bit sweet but not overdone. The sugar and bourbon alcohol mix perfectly with chocolate, spice, vanilla and cinnamon.

Can't wait to age a bottle and drink another!
Feb 23, 2020
 
Rated: 4.71 by browniewithnuts from Pennsylvania

Feb 19, 2020
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Reviewed by CHickman from New York

4.42/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2016 vintage with the Purple Bowling Ball on the label, it pours pitch black color with a small tan/mocha colored head that faded faster then normal and left minimal traces of lacing. Nose is full of oak, vanilla, bourbon, dark chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, light soy sauce, dark fruits and chocolate milk. I didn’t detect any coconut but still found this to be very complex and enjoyable to inhale.

Flavor has a lot more dark fruit, toffee and sweetness to it like black cherry soda along with brown sugar and a melted Heath Bar. It almost borders on cloyingly sweet, but that aspect helps hide the 15% ABV. Like the nose I got of barrel or oaky notes, vanilla, bourbon, dark chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, light soy sauce, more dark fruits, cocoa powder, candy and chocolate milk. None of the coconut advertised on the bottle, but a dynamic profile that was a lot more balanced than I expected. A tad bit thin, even for a porter, and while it’s overall a very impressive brew it’s too sweet to drink a bomber by yourself as I struggled having it alone. A definite dessert beer to share with a few other beer lovers.
Jan 12, 2020
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Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota

4.6/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Perrin No Rules 2018 Imperial BBA Porter, 15% ABV. Pours black with a ring of bubbles. Nose is coconut, chocolate, and brown sugar. Taste is quite sweet brown sugar, caramel, chocolate, bourbon, and coconut, with no bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall world-class.
Dec 29, 2019
 
Rated: 4.52 by Duffman79 from Connecticut

Dec 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.39 by TP2MSU from Michigan

Dec 08, 2019
No Rules from Perrin Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 99 out of 100 with 1407 ratings