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Class Of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter
Deschutes Brewery
- From:
- Deschutes Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Porter
- ABV:
- 9.1%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 12.57%
- Reviews:
- 92
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 27, 2021
- Added:
- Apr 27, 2013
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 35
A quarter century ago a passion for craft brewing ignited across the country. Today, the founding breweries of 1988 have united to commemorate that seminal year with a special selection of beers. Every bottle is a portal to the renaissance of craft brewing. Each steeped in heritage and expert craftmanship. Enjoy this tribute to the class of '88.
From the brewers of the celebrated 'Black Butte Porter' and 'Edmund Fitzgerald Porter' comes this limited-run collaboration. Brewed with roasted and smoked malt for a rich chocolate aroma and subtle smoky flavor.
From the brewers of the celebrated 'Black Butte Porter' and 'Edmund Fitzgerald Porter' comes this limited-run collaboration. Brewed with roasted and smoked malt for a rich chocolate aroma and subtle smoky flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MattyG85:
Reviewed by MattyG85 from Minnesota
4.26/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.26/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice glass. Label says best by 04/30/14.
Appearance: Pours a dark blackish brown with hints of amber. Moderate amount of bubbles and about two fingers of beige head that slowly fade into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing.
Smell: A very roasty and smokey dark malt driven aroma. Dark roasted malts with a big scent of smoke. Hints of burnt caramel, biscuit, grains, burnt toast, dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, nuts, and yeast. Sweet scent of molasses and burnt sugars. Also a little hint of anise spice. Subtle earthy hops in the background with hints of grass. Very out front with the smoked malt. A pretty good smokey aroma.
Taste: Like the smell previews, a very smoke forward big dark porter taste with lots of burnt and roasty notes. Dark roasted malts with a big taste of smoke and notes of biscuit, grains, burnt caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, coffee, nut, and yeast. Sweet taste of molasses and other burnt sugars. A little taste of licorice anise spice. Earthy hops come in towards the finish with some notes of grass. A very smoke driven taste, but it isn't overwhelming. Taste is pretty good.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a moderate amount of carbonation. Rich, creamy, and fairly slick. Finishes dry. Alcohol heat is masked very well.
Overall: A very good smoked up imperial version of a porter. Both of the breweries involved make their own world class porters and as expected this turned out good.
Jun 16, 2013Appearance: Pours a dark blackish brown with hints of amber. Moderate amount of bubbles and about two fingers of beige head that slowly fade into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing.
Smell: A very roasty and smokey dark malt driven aroma. Dark roasted malts with a big scent of smoke. Hints of burnt caramel, biscuit, grains, burnt toast, dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, nuts, and yeast. Sweet scent of molasses and burnt sugars. Also a little hint of anise spice. Subtle earthy hops in the background with hints of grass. Very out front with the smoked malt. A pretty good smokey aroma.
Taste: Like the smell previews, a very smoke forward big dark porter taste with lots of burnt and roasty notes. Dark roasted malts with a big taste of smoke and notes of biscuit, grains, burnt caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, coffee, nut, and yeast. Sweet taste of molasses and other burnt sugars. A little taste of licorice anise spice. Earthy hops come in towards the finish with some notes of grass. A very smoke driven taste, but it isn't overwhelming. Taste is pretty good.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a moderate amount of carbonation. Rich, creamy, and fairly slick. Finishes dry. Alcohol heat is masked very well.
Overall: A very good smoked up imperial version of a porter. Both of the breweries involved make their own world class porters and as expected this turned out good.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by backblast from Alaska
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best before 4-2014 vintage and enjoyed on 2-25-2021.
Seems to have cellared quite well. Still has very nice savory smoke with hint of leather and malt sweetness. Dark fruit shows itself along with light bitterness and a light mouthfeel. A definite earthiness in aftertaste. A pleasant beverage.
Feb 27, 2021Seems to have cellared quite well. Still has very nice savory smoke with hint of leather and malt sweetness. Dark fruit shows itself along with light bitterness and a light mouthfeel. A definite earthiness in aftertaste. A pleasant beverage.
Reviewed by Offa from California
4.14/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I had this in 2014, from hand notes.
Black, small tan head steadily shrinks to foamy ring, wisps.
Aroma is smoked dried figs, chocolate, brown bread.
Taste, rich well-balanced roasty dried fig, chocolate, hints of tar, excellent full-bodied, not oily. Surprisingly easy to drink, wonderful. Slightly to sweet side.
Nov 04, 2018Black, small tan head steadily shrinks to foamy ring, wisps.
Aroma is smoked dried figs, chocolate, brown bread.
Taste, rich well-balanced roasty dried fig, chocolate, hints of tar, excellent full-bodied, not oily. Surprisingly easy to drink, wonderful. Slightly to sweet side.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.15/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the bottle into a glass
Brown/purple liquid.
Khaki head; strong lace.
Smoked peat nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Smoked ham & peat flavor; like an easy drinking Islay scotch. Porter flavor is a bit understated but this is up my alley.
Dec 30, 2016Brown/purple liquid.
Khaki head; strong lace.
Smoked peat nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Smoked ham & peat flavor; like an easy drinking Islay scotch. Porter flavor is a bit understated but this is up my alley.
Reviewed by dfillius from Iowa
4.19/5 rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed 2013 vintage bottle on 1/19/14 - best by 4/14
A: Dark brown, nearly black liquid. Just a ring of light tan head.
S: Smoke, slight bacon. Chocolate and some sweetness.
T: Subtle smoke, nice chocolate.
M: Not thick and chewy, but not fully thin either.
O: Nicely balanced easy drinker for how strong it is. I like it a lot. Nicely smoky and sweet.
Sep 27, 2015A: Dark brown, nearly black liquid. Just a ring of light tan head.
S: Smoke, slight bacon. Chocolate and some sweetness.
T: Subtle smoke, nice chocolate.
M: Not thick and chewy, but not fully thin either.
O: Nicely balanced easy drinker for how strong it is. I like it a lot. Nicely smoky and sweet.
Reviewed by bnes09 from Illinois
4.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Wonderfully smokey aroma and flavor. Not overpowering but well blended with the complex roasted malt character. Dark fruits and molasses coupled with medium roast coffee and dark chocolate. A perfect marriage of sweet, roasted and smoked.
May 22, 2015Rated by doom_deluise from California
4.5/5 rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
it was delicious almost a year past its "best by" date. i can only imagine how good it would have been last year.
Feb 07, 2015
Class Of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
402 ratings
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