Decadence 2007 Imperial Porter
AleSmith Brewing Company

Decadence 2007 Imperial PorterDecadence 2007 Imperial Porter
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From:
AleSmith Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
10%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 8.63%
Reviews:
111
Ratings:
135
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 09, 2015
Added:
Apr 02, 2008
Wants:
  61
Gots:
  10
No description / notes.
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Ratings by CrellMoset:
Photo of CrellMoset
Reviewed by CrellMoset from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750 mL gold foiled bottle courtesy of a great midwestern trader - thanks! Poured in to a 22 oz. snifter.

Appearance: Pours a seared dusk, a dark but not opaque looking gloom, smoky but not dull. Direct light doesn't assist with translucence, and merely renders the rim a nice beer bottle brown. A mildly aggressive pour yielded a good finger and a half of head, fizzy and alcohol retarded, but this one had enough surplus carbonation to allow a good half finger of creamy foam to stay atop this beer for probably longer than it should have. At the end though, it all fades away, leaving a wispy collar and little else - glittery, running sheets of side lace try desperately to cling but fail, and the swirl of fog atop the surface of this one at the very center of the glass are the only things that disturb an otherwise very still body.

Aroma: Bright and porter-like, if there ever was one. A lot of caramel notes mingle well with toast and molasses in an equal balance of sweet and dry, complimented by hints of stone fruits, peach and bright cherry. The alcohol burn is actually hidden surprisingly well, for a style that's not particularly known for its enormous flavors and aromatics, even at this one hits room temperature. Very much an imperial porter.

Taste: Very much an imperial porter again, but better. Sweeter than the nose smelled, with a great amount of variety and vivid flavors. Fudgey cocoa is first and foremost among the flavors, decidedly malty in its profile, though I would believe you if you had told me with a straight face this was brewed with a chocolate addition. It's complimented by a slew of earthy toast notes as well as some brighter, sweeter malty notes - dark toffee and caramel. Faint flashes of dried apricot and fresh cherries mingle with astringent malts and darker notes, equal parts port and sherry, perhaps with just a hint of oxidation. Alcohol burn isn't a burn, more of a tingle, or a sizzle, and the entire brew is decisively flavorful.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and even throughout, both when fully carbonated (likely due to the thickness) and when nearly dead (likely in spite of the thickness). A little oily and definitely on the heartier, thicker side of things, though it works well with the sweetness but also the amount of carbonation and the relative thinness (porter-like thinness).

Drinkability: My first impression is that this is a very authentic Imperial Porter, if such a thing can have authenticity. That is, it takes in every regard like a porter should taste, just ... bigger. So many beers that label themselves as such are really just imperial stouts, so it's refreshing to see someone get it right. My second impression is that I'm excited to find out what this one tastes like after a year or so in a bourbon barrel - about to pop it now. The 10.0% is remarkably well hidden, and indeed, if you like porters, this is probably the quintessential beer for you. Thrilled to have the chance to try it.
Feb 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by SocalKicks from California

Nov 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by BDeibs from Colorado

Jan 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by GRG1313 from California

Aug 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SD0430

Jul 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by GClarkage from California

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by ShanePB from Pennsylvania

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by KAF from Iowa

Jun 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by kscaldef from Oregon

Jun 10, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by Rhettroactive from Virginia

Dec 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by siege06nd from Virginia

Dec 14, 2013
 
 
Rated: 4.25 by Photekut from Tennessee

May 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Azrael

Feb 08, 2013
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Cost was $26.00. 750ml brown glass bottle with foiled over standard pressure cap served into a Guinness stem-goblet in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery, style, and aging. 10% ABV confirmed.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

Yields a satisfying 'tsk' of carbonation upon opening.

A: Pours a one finger rich khaki colour head of nice cream and thickness, and decent retention. Body colour is a solid nontransparent jet black. Opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Lacing is fair. Looks pretty standard for an imperial porter.

Sm: Hints of oxidation, caramel, dark malts, and cream. A limited aroma in terms of being evocative, but generally appealing. A moderate strength aroma. Hints of toffee and oak.

T: Toffee, caramel, oak, traces of vanilla, dark malts, traces of pleasant slight oxidation (which strangely complements the oak), and lightly toasted malt. Nicely balanced and tasty. Well layered and enjoyable. I quite like it.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Nicely thick. Good carbonation. Good palate presence.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable, but not worth its hefty pricetag. A very solid imperial porter, and one that's held up well. Hides its ABV well. I wouldn't get it again. It'd be a great offering at one third the price if it were regularly brewed. Another solid offering from Alesmith.

Low B
Dec 31, 2012
Photo of Gobzilla
Reviewed by Gobzilla from California

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: poured very dark brown almost black with brown highlights and a half finger of head that left some good frothy lacing sticking to the glass.

S: plenty of chocolatey goodness present in the aroma with caramel vanilla sweetness, signs kf booze lingering in the backgroun with some roastiness and hints of dark fruits as well.

T: like the nose suggested the chocolate component was there upfront on the palate alongside caramel, vanilla, toffee sweetness, mild coffee coming through, good roasted malts, well balanced booze and a touch of dark fruits.

M: the brew was medium to full in body with a good amount of carbonation which had a roasty, semi boozy, sweet, mild dark fruity and creamy finish.

I: I was really impressed on how it has held up. It's still tasty and would definitely have another.
Dec 01, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by beerpadawan from California

Aug 27, 2012
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a  dark chestnut brown color with a one finger beige head that slowly settles into lasting ring.  Sporadic spots of lace left behind.

Slightly boozy aroma with subtle smokiness.  Nice toasted character with sweet and roasted malt notes. Lots of chocolate malt sweetness along with caramel and toffee countered by earthy hops.

Slight viscous, medium body with a good balance of roasted and sweet malt notes along with some earthy hops and sweet booze.  Lots of chocolate with hints of toast, dark chocolate, toffee, caramel and hazelnut.  Velvety and well masked ABV make this deceptively drinkable  Subtle heat toward the finish but not as strong as the nose suggests.  This beer held up really well.
May 17, 2012
Decadence 2007 Imperial Porter from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 135 ratings