UPDATED: DEC 13, 2021 From the Bottle at Chris O's Pre-GBBF Shindig 30/07/2011 Chocolate aroma. Black rich and a little sweet on the palate. Honey and fruity orange flavours. A hint of dryness in a bitter chocolate roast finish.

UPDATED: APR 23, 2021 (Bottle) Black colour with creamy, beige head. Malty, roasted nose with black coffee, cacao, black rye bread, vanilla and milky chocolate. Malty, roasted taste with notes of black coffee, vanilla, chocolate, a touch of hazelnuts, hints of tar and a generous coffee bitterness in the finish. Full body, smooth and velvety mouthfeel. Just a touch of sweetness. Really tasty and well balanced with rich coffee and vanilla flavours. Very nice.

UPDATED: DEC 11, 2020 This opens with a beautiful symphony cocoa, some vanilla and maybe some dark fruit, possibly figs or dates. Additionally, there's undertones of earthiness in the mix. It's kinda peculiar as I've not smelled that in a beer before, but it works. The drinker encounters mouth texture that captures the essence of a the way a porter should, at least in my mind. For those of who are into porters, do yourself a favor and check out this one. I will also add that for a ten percent abv, the alcohol was well concealed. Would I buy this again? The answer is a resounding YES!

UPDATED: OCT 6, 2020 Black with a small head.Smooth chocolate and coffee flavours merge together with a slight rum/whisky flavour in the background.Easy to drink and classy. Only my second from this brewery but a very pleasant experience.

UPDATED: SEP 12, 2020 0,355 l bottle from Systembolaget some time ago. Like usually, Ballast Point beer was fantastic.

UPDATED: APR 27, 2020 660ml bottle split at a bottleshare (bottle sourced pre Constellation buyout). Pours black with a little beige head. Chocolate caramel & earthy coffee with vanilla hints. Still tasting fine for a near 5yo bottle

UPDATED: FEB 24, 2020 Reçue en cadeau... Cette bière est bien noire et ronde, avec une mousse brune moyennement dense... Le goût de vanille est parfaitement dosé, ainsi que le café (je n'aime pas le café). Une bière simplement et carrément exceptionnelle ;-)

UPDATED: FEB 22, 2020 Smell of chocolate, coffee. Black colour, brown head. Aroma of chocolate, mudcake, some ash and roasted malt. Sweet, lightly bitter. Plentiful carbon.

UPDATED: FEB 20, 2020 Keg at Downtown Johnny Brown’s, San Diego, CA on 21/03/2008. Another amazing Impy stout, with loads of liquorice, cocoa, rum and whisky notes.

UPDATED: OCT 28, 2019 Bottle in a trade with tfontana. Thanks Tom. Bottle date of 24 Sept 2018. Aroma shows me vanilla, earthy coffee, chocolate. Flavor is strong earthy coffee throughout with a mild lasting vanilla finish. Alcohol nearly masked. Shows plenty of warming after the sip. It’s been 5 years since I had the base Porter. Somehow this variant is different?
Earlier Rating: 8/2/2014 Total Score: 3.8
Bottle purchased at One Stop Market. Dark black with thin white head. Aroma is vanilla bean strong with light coffee hints. Nice.

Flavor is coffee first followed by a nice roasted malt character. The vanilla bean lingers well after the sip. Medium body with a bitter / dry texture. Chocolate milk that lingers in the body.Solid but I guess this bottle has a bit of age on it because the coffee bean is starting to get bitter and acidic.