Pumpelly Imperial Porter
Granite Roots Brewing

 

16 oz can, from Evan, dated 12/6/20, into Goose Island Nonic Pint.

A bold chocolatey body comes forth with a creamy light brown head of 2 fingers. It slowly recedes and leaves generous lacing.

Aroma is chocolate teddy grahams, slight chocolate dust, slight brownie, milk balls, and a little bit of cherry tootsie pop.

The flavor has depth but really dials back on the sweetness (personally I could have gone for more here). Chocolate shavings, suggestions of hazelnut, some caramel popcorn, and some herbal hops. The cherry tootsie pop note comes back here as well.

Feel is a little thin but not bad, still pretty medium bodied with the perception of creaminess. The alcohol heat registers pretty well to my palate, with a soft carbonation and lingering heat. My can says 8.3%, but it definitely has the heat of an 11%'er.

Overall, a decent porter. I didn't get the madagascar vanilla beans touted on the side of the can, but I don't doubt they used them, as this has the characteristics and depth of a beer that has some purposeful age. Not sure I'd revisit, but it was a fun trial.

Light creamy head, rich nose of roasted coffee and chocolate. Mouthfeel is very dry which in this case actually lets it down slightly as it prevents you from picking up all the flavors from the beer, still I get the dark roasty malt and very subtle chocolate, coffee and vanilla. Can't believe this is 11%, drinks like a 5% beer.

Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass.

Listed as "quad" version of their regular Pumpelly porter. Minimal head creation, but with a classic tan color and one finger appearance. Settles to a good creamy crown, on top of a very dark walnut nearly black body.

Real nice aroma. Deep hints of dark chocolate, a thick vanilla in the mix, and quite a bit of nutty like sensing char quality. Hints a little milky sensing also, but with a thicker presence possibly.

Palate takes some getting used to. Fairly fleeting wet body even for a porter, but has a very odd tasting palate. Lots of berried like ester and wine flavor, not quite hinting infection, but some nice little grape to raspberry like wine fruit almost. Hints faint chocolate and roast notes, and a light touch of porter roast on the finish that suddenly brings back the hint of actual style. Prickly. A little jarring.

Not a bad beer, but for an Imperial porter, things seemed to go in unexplained territory? I this Belgian yeast to imitate a Belgian Quad? Perhaps that’s what I am getting. If that is so, maybe it's not I feel the best partnership.