Imperial Porter
Full Sail Brewing Company

Imperial PorterImperial Porter
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From:
Full Sail Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
7%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 9.05%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
29
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 23, 2014
Added:
Mar 01, 2002
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.75 by afsdan from Colorado

Apr 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by fivetime from Idaho

Jan 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Nov 19, 2012
Photo of hoser
Reviewed by hoser from Canada (AB)

4.17/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle thanks to Karl at Belmont Station and a 1997 bottle. Smooth chocolatey and just a hint of oxidation, smooth like chocolate milk don't know the ABV of this beer but sure seems dangerous, would love to have this fresh one day seems pretty amazing. Thin whisper of a head on out of one of my favourite pint glasses and I really don't like the Beer Advocate word count for ratings but love this beer.
Oct 25, 2011
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had this on tap at the Riverplace tap room in Portland.

The beer pours a very dark black color with very impressive head retention and lacing. The nose is somewhat muted, but I do get a hint of chocolate, burnt sugar and coffee. The beer is very impressive on the palate, with a soft, sweet, creamy presentation. However, there is some real iron in this porter, and the underlyng hops and alcohol makes itself known without becoming intrusive. The beer is rather warming and this is one beer that I'm surprised the abv. is not higher then that given. This beer has a very nice soft mouthfeel, but without being watery or too heavy. Very nicely balanced porter here. In any event, this beer is entirely too drinkable for an imperial porter, so caution is recommended.

A very nice beer from Full Sail.
Dec 11, 2007
Photo of PuckLSHS
Reviewed by PuckLSHS from Iowa

2.71/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
There are certainly a lot of reviews praising this beer, but I have to add one that just doesn't fit in with the popular opinion.

Had this one on-tap at Lucky Baldwin's Barleywine and Imperial Stout Festival and was looking forward to it. It poured a dark brown/near black color. Left about a 1-finger head and was rather nice in the look. That is where it stopped.

The taste and the smell were harshly sour and left nothing but a rude aftertaste in the mouth that could only be drowned by a better selection or English curry.

The mouthfeel was standard. Nothing amazing to report back. Good but nothing out of the ordinary.

For drinkability, this one would have gone down the drain if I had not had someone else order it. I enjoyed my Fred from the woods while I watched someone else do the dirty work.
May 15, 2006
Photo of MrNuggets
Reviewed by MrNuggets from Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Pours dark for a porter. Large brown head kicks appearance up a notch.
Something burnt in the nose. Huge taste! Flavor coming at me from all angles. Dark fruits and heavily roasted malt. Chocolate notes as well.
Silky smooth mouthfeel with a pleasant coco aftertaste.
Kinda burnt out on the big beers lately so no way I could handle more than one of these.
Oct 17, 2004
Photo of BierReise
Reviewed by BierReise from Florida

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz Bomber poured completely black with a tinge of ruby red at the edges and with a thick, fluffy mocha-tan head. Aroma rising up from my shaker is of roasty, smokey, chocolatey decadence. The body is actualy full for a Porter and much welcomed. The carbonation is crisp. The flavor is on the bitter side. Bitter chocolate, roasted charred malt, bready doughy malt and a slight fruitiness. Finishes only slightly dry. Overall one of the finest Porters I’ve had the pleasure of drinking.
Jul 02, 2004
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle obtained via trade with Skyhand. Thanks for the opportunity... 2003 Reserve, according to the bottle.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1 1/4" mocha/milk chocolate head. Brew is an opaque dark brown/black, and laced superbly. Aroma is filled with super malty, sweet scents, and maybe a touch of fruitiness, but I'm not sure about that. Taste is, wow, rich, chewy, chocolatey with a touch of coffee, and leaves the mouth with a slight fruit, possibly cherry, flavor at the outset. Amazingly busy, but the flavors work in great concert together. Mouthfeel is incredible, so smooth for the style, had to top the board. Drinkability is a tad bit lower, but not much, just on the possibility of the sweetness getting a bit too much after awhile, but the complexity keeps me wanting to come back.
Jun 30, 2004
Photo of beertaster13
Reviewed by beertaster13 from Washington

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is what I thought Stone Smoked Porter should be like, takes your breath away with each drink. If you are a porter or stout fan welcome to the massiah of porters. Pours a dark black hole with a frothy cream/mocha head that is at least 2 inches thick, settles down a tad but still breath taking. Lacing leaves mocha colors you want to lick off the glass. The smell is a combo of cappacino/espresso and smoked BBQ wood chips, malt sweetness and the ghiradelli dark chocloate tone. Imagine mixing chocolate with a coffee and adding malts and hops, then you got this beer in a nut shell. A thick robust feel and the roasted chocolate flavors tickle the tongue, the smokiness adds to the distinct flavor, the alcohol peaks through, not enough to unplease the palate. Exceptional. This is not a beer to drink on a hot summer day, instead it should be enjoyed after a meal, or cook with it, whatever you do cherish it, becasue it is the porter to end all porters. God Bless Full Sail for this creation.
Jun 11, 2004
Photo of BrewMan82
Reviewed by BrewMan82 from Washington

4.12/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours pure black with a frothy cafe head. Smells sweet, with a chocolately malt scent. The first taste is very rich, tastes almost syrupy. The initial taste is quite full, and goes down thick and slow. Coated my throat all the way down! It is very strong with pronounced bitterness at first, but mellows out nicely for a balanced and smooth finish. The aftertaste is fresh and smooth, inviting another sip. I'd drink it again!
Mar 28, 2004
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Color, full black, as dark as the devil's pajama bottoms, with a luscious, creamy, toasted cocoa-brown cap of froth atop, leaving lace. Aroma: absolute perfection, lush, creamy, notes of chocolate and bitter roasted espresso beans. Quite a snootful, this, I never wished my nose to leave the glass.
Brief bitterness at first, slightly rough and gritty, like I like my porter, really. Then mellowing, softly slipping from the palate, but always leaving some flavor behind. Great burst of coffee flavor in every sip and gulp. Body as full as can be, with an impressively pleasant finish. Just enough hops, loaded with tasty malt, chewy and staggeringly substantial, the mouthfeel's the motherlode, but it's still delectably drinkable. Further on in, notes of caramel and toffee peek up to provide additional pleasure in the tasting, as if more were needed, though we'd never turn any away, of course.
Damned tasty, thoroughly enjoyable, outright delicious.
A brew I'd like to return to again, but for this first sample, much thanks to prAna!
Feb 20, 2004
Photo of Elemental
Reviewed by Elemental from Oregon

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
pours nice and dark with a thick brown head that quickly dissapates. it has a wonerfrul dark brown color. a nice big hoppy and malty aroma that complements the malty/hoppy taste. its a big taste with lots of flavor and a bite towards the end. very smooth and tasty. overall a great porter that is nice and flavorful.
Jan 17, 2004
Photo of PhantomVodoo
Reviewed by PhantomVodoo from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Dark brown to black in color with a solid brown head.
Aroma of chocolate, coffee and roasty malt. Slight vinegar as well.

Taste shows chocolate, roasty malt and coffee notes. Very smooth. Nice balance between sweet and bitter. Slight vinegar notes in the taste as well.

Good mouthfeel.
Very drinkable for a big porter.

There was some crusting under the cap, plus the mild sour notes so I'm wondering if I didn't have a bad bottle; and yet this beer was still darn good. I'd definitely like to resample this one and see how the 2 compared. Unfortunately, it's not easy to come by.
Dec 21, 2003
Photo of woemad
Reviewed by woemad from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bomber purchased at Huckleberry's in Spokane for $3.39. It poured a very dark brown with a thick dark tan head. Very gratifying sheets of lacing dripping down the glass. The smell of this is of dark chocolates, coffee, and figs. There's a little caramel sweetness hiding amongst the rich, bitter flavors. This is a very tasty porter. The figginess and chocolaty flavors really come to the fore. This isn't as thick as some porters I've consumed, but it is rather filling. This, combined with the relatively high alcohol content (which isn't noticed in the taste), would probably rule this out as a session beer. Still, this is a great porter, and I hope it leaves my stomach still wanting my dinner!
Dec 19, 2003
Photo of Crosling
Reviewed by Crosling from Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours black with a rich bubbly tan head. Nice head retention and lacing throughout.

The aroma is full of chocolate, dark caramel, roasted grains and coffee.

Flavors consist of burnt chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, toffee, and toasted malts.

A real "robust" porter. This is how beer is supposed to be!
Dec 01, 2003
Photo of RoyalT
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan

4.12/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance – Dark ruby black with a decent head that went down rather quickly.

Smell – Big coffee and chocolate aroma with cherry sweetness. This one smells bitter and full of itself.

Taste – The cherry and coffee flavors really come out at the taste. The chocolate is more of a modest compliment. The roasted malts are there as well. This is a bitter porter with some big flavors.

Mouthfeel – Full in the mouth and creamy smooth. It is also a bit on the dry side. Very refreshing.

Drinkability – This was damn good. The flavors were big, the body full and smooth, and the refreshing nature of this porter helped it go down nicely.
Nov 29, 2003
Photo of Gusler
Reviewed by Gusler from Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
As this “Bad Boy” sits in the glass a raven color with deep garnet high lights and the head Herculean in size, creamy in texture and a beauteous dark tan in color, as it evanesces a thick and glutinous blanket of lace forms to smother the glass. Deep roasted grain aroma with hints of coffee, sweet malt, quite fresh and crisp a real pleasant nose to be sure, start is thick malt and slightly sweet, top full and rich in its feel to the palate. Finish is meek in its acidity, the hops powerful in their spiciness, slight alcohol bitterness at the bone dry after taste, seems to me with a little more body you could call this an Imperial Stout, a great drinking beer for a Friday night to end the workweek, “Woo Hoo”!
Nov 15, 2003
Photo of beerguy101
Reviewed by beerguy101 from California

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2003 vintage. Eclipse black color. Medium tan head. Aroma is rich roasted malts, chocolate and coffee. This is the thickest pouring porter I think I have ever tried. A full to medium bodied porter. Malts are deeply roasted, chocolate, burnt toast and coffee. Hops are a touch grapefruity and spicy. This beer is a little silkier and creamier than I would expect from a porter. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is dry with a touch of peat. Aftertaste is slightly bitter and slightly choclately.
Oct 09, 2003
Photo of StevieW
Reviewed by StevieW from Florida

4.73/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Another 22 bomber bottle compliments of the now mythical BelgianBum. How can one guy have so many great beers lying around his house ?

Dark, murky, brown or black depending on your mood. Edges have appropriate touches of ruby color. The head settled perfectly down to a creamy full chocolate brown cover. Creamy and dense. Perfection in a glass. Rich smells of toffee, touches of carmel, chocolate and touch of hops.

Combination of flavors is remarkable. Black molasses, coffee, creamy chocolate malt. Thick, rich, chewy malt flavor. Ovaltine chocolate goodness. Hints and whispers of roasted carmel, toffe, and slight chocolate covered coffee bitterness bounce around and then dull you into submission. You can't get enough of this stuff after a while.

Medium to full bodied, no oily or slickness. Just a chewy full bodied, full chocolate malt flavors with a heath bar mixed in. Very good. You ache to have this stuff again.
Oct 09, 2003
Imperial Porter from Full Sail Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 29 ratings