The Seven Isles
Trillium Brewing Company
- From:
- Trillium Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 14.4%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.45 | pDev: 7.64%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 30, 2025
- Added:
- Mar 22, 2020
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
To celebrate our Seventh Anniversary, we've brewed a Port Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout that pays homage to what was once the original commercial wharf of our home city: the Boston Harbor. While there are 34 islands and peninsulas that comprise the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, The Seven Isles pays tribute to the seven Boston Harbor Islands that are readily accessible via ferry.
Having spent over a year aging in port barrels, this rich and exceptionally well-balanced imperial stout pours an enigmatic black with a depth of mild haze. The Seven Isles greets the palate with a fragrant red wine character, inherited from its time in oak, alongside nuances of brown sugar, dark chocolate, and creamy vanilla. A mouth-coating medium body and welcomed sweetness is balanced by a mild bite of bitterness. Gently warming, with a well-integrated alcohol presence, The Seven Isles remains mystifyingly drinkable at 14.4% ABV.
Having spent over a year aging in port barrels, this rich and exceptionally well-balanced imperial stout pours an enigmatic black with a depth of mild haze. The Seven Isles greets the palate with a fragrant red wine character, inherited from its time in oak, alongside nuances of brown sugar, dark chocolate, and creamy vanilla. A mouth-coating medium body and welcomed sweetness is balanced by a mild bite of bitterness. Gently warming, with a well-integrated alcohol presence, The Seven Isles remains mystifyingly drinkable at 14.4% ABV.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by hopley from Massachusetts
4.49/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Going on 5 years old, this stout is still awesome and dangerously drinkable. I typically like a little more barrel but with this one, the port barrel is really nice and mutes the otherwise stronger bourbon presence. A tad thin but overall a really nice beer.
Sep 30, 2025
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey
4.49/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark, almost jet black. Has a bit of that syrupy port wine character. Flavor is what elevates this beer. Deep red wine with chocolate that rises up from mid-taste to finish. Really delightful well-blended sipping beer that clocks in at 14.4% ABV, but I defy anyone to flag this imperial stout as boozy. A suitable tribute to Beantown.
Jun 05, 2021
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
3.52/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.52/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown appearance with a tight aromatic tan head with good retention, and decent lacing. Rich earthy port notes, with hints of vanilla and dates in the background. Thick body, medium carbonation.
Jan 05, 2021
Reviewed by Damian from Massachusetts
4.76/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.76/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Drank from a 25.4 fl oz (750ml) bottle purchased at Trillium Brewing Company, Boston, MA
Served in a tulip
The beer poured an insanely viscous, total pitch black. A small, finely beaded, mocha colored crown topped the shimmery, oily looking body, but it quickly dropped to a thin collar. Small droplets of lacing trickled along the glass.
The aroma was really interesting and complex. Quite sweet yet also fairly savory. Super malt forward. Nice melding of roasted and caramel malts. Big brown sugar presence too. Bit of raw cocoa powder. The port barrel was also definitely noticeable. Dark fruits were apparent. Raisins and cherries came to mind. Some red wine-like twanginess as well. Fairly boozy. Hint of vanilla.
The flavor profile was similar to the nose but perhaps even punchier. Uber malty and robust on the front end. Nice mix of deep roasted and sweet caramel malts. The port notes kicked in next. Like in the nose, dark fruits were apparent. Raisins and cherries perhaps. Red wine was also noticeable. Somewhat tart. Brown sugar appeared in the center. The beer finished with a big, sweet, boozy kick and some lingering, oaky tannins.
Outstanding mouthfeel. The body was incredibly thick and viscous but seemed a bit over carbonated initially. As the beer sat, the carbonation settled to a more appropriate level, and the body turned rich, frothy and slick on the palate. After a few sips, I could feel the sugars in the beer depositing a sticky film on my lips.
Most breweries today feel the need to throw a kitchen sink worth of adjuncts into their stouts, but Trillium’s The Seven Isles was perfect without any. The base beer was amazingly rich and robust, and the port barrels added sweet dark fruit notes and an interesting red wine-like complexity. Trillium really brought the heat with this release.
May 26, 2020Served in a tulip
The beer poured an insanely viscous, total pitch black. A small, finely beaded, mocha colored crown topped the shimmery, oily looking body, but it quickly dropped to a thin collar. Small droplets of lacing trickled along the glass.
The aroma was really interesting and complex. Quite sweet yet also fairly savory. Super malt forward. Nice melding of roasted and caramel malts. Big brown sugar presence too. Bit of raw cocoa powder. The port barrel was also definitely noticeable. Dark fruits were apparent. Raisins and cherries came to mind. Some red wine-like twanginess as well. Fairly boozy. Hint of vanilla.
The flavor profile was similar to the nose but perhaps even punchier. Uber malty and robust on the front end. Nice mix of deep roasted and sweet caramel malts. The port notes kicked in next. Like in the nose, dark fruits were apparent. Raisins and cherries perhaps. Red wine was also noticeable. Somewhat tart. Brown sugar appeared in the center. The beer finished with a big, sweet, boozy kick and some lingering, oaky tannins.
Outstanding mouthfeel. The body was incredibly thick and viscous but seemed a bit over carbonated initially. As the beer sat, the carbonation settled to a more appropriate level, and the body turned rich, frothy and slick on the palate. After a few sips, I could feel the sugars in the beer depositing a sticky film on my lips.
Most breweries today feel the need to throw a kitchen sink worth of adjuncts into their stouts, but Trillium’s The Seven Isles was perfect without any. The base beer was amazingly rich and robust, and the port barrels added sweet dark fruit notes and an interesting red wine-like complexity. Trillium really brought the heat with this release.
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.87/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.87/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours pitch black with a dense creamy brown foam head. Smells like port wine, oak barrel, dried fruits, red fruits, caramelized sugar, dark molasses, chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, with some earthy herbal pine. Tastes real balanced, vinous and roasty, dark chocolate, sweet red wine, port barrel, oak, dried fruits, red fruits, some smoke, roasted malts, dark molasses, caramelized sugar, mild vanilla, with earthy herbal piney hops. Feels thick, medium-full bodied, creamy with smooth moderate low carbonation. Overall a real nice port barrel aged imperial stout.
Mar 22, 2020
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!