Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter - Laughing Dog Brewing

smalenberg

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smell - the coffee does not overwhelm, which is a great strength in this beer. There is caramel from the malt and a slight hint of cinnamon.

Appearance - rich dark and thick - almost syrupy (in a good way!), with a slight head.

Mouthfeel - silky smooth with the bitterness of black coffee coming in late on the back of the tongue.

Overall - Very good. Some sips the bitterness of the coffee can be a bit strong, but mostly very well balanced - evening out the sweetness of the heavy grain bill nicely.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 02:08:41 | More by smalenberg

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.35/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a perfect pint. 6/7/12 printed on date.

5.0 A: Black color. Two and a half fingers of frothy light brown head. Retention is very good for a coffee beer. Hell, it's be very good for any sort of beer this big. Glass covering lacing is left. Really impressed with this appearance.

2.5 S: The nose sure is strange. The strongest aroma is a tangy garbage-esque note. I can't think of any better way to explain it. I think that is what the coffee is supposed to be, but it fails quite well at it. It's be rancid coffee if it ever got labeled as coffee. Underneath that is a dry roastiness, chocolate, and caramel. Some sniffs I hate it, some sniffs I think it's okay, and other times I even kind of like it, which is why it gets a generous 2.5 here.

2.0 T: While I was a bit ambivalent about the nose, the taste pushes me stronger toward hate. The tangy caramel, tangy garbage flavor is more potent than in the nose and I wish it wasn't. I guess I should make a statement that this isn't infected, so here it goes: This isn't infected. Chocolate, dry roast, and caramel underneath again with a solid malty sweetness. This would be okay without the coffee/garbage that they added. Booze is well hidden.

4.0 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Nice creaminess to it. Other than the appearance, this is the best aspect of the beer.

1.5 D: A bomber of this is way too much to drink, but I don't drainpour, so I must persist.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 23:11:55 | More by DavoleBomb

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled 6/29/2012. Pours pitch black color with a nice 1-2 finger dense tan head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some good soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of dark chocolate, coffee beans, roasted malt, char, caramel, earth, light citrus, and herbal hops. Nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, caramel, toffee, toast, char, light citrus, earth, and herbal spiciness. Moderate roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Nice flavor balance with no cloying sweetness at all. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice imperial coffee porter. Nicely robust and balanced roasted flavors; and very smooth to sip on. I really have no complaints; very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 05:42:33 | More by superspak

harrymel

Washington

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 30MAY12

Buddy has always raved about this one since working at the brewery. Pours a dark brown with a transient quilt of mocha foam, which falls to an etched surface with a slightly rising central dome. Smells of coffee, leather, cocoa, some roasted and toasted malts and a hint of fig - nice nose. Really soft flavor up front, not nearly as assertive as I'd anticipated; the beer shares coffee with a sharp bitterness, some slight woody oxidation and hunks of cigarette, cocoa, and soil. Silky smooth with low carb at the medium on heavy mark of thickness. This is a pretty decent offering. I'd like a bit more coffee, which surprises me as I'm usually a hint only kinda guy. Wife would like this one quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 05:10:46 | More by harrymel

Ranz

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in a snifter from the bottle. The burnt-brown color was opaque and inviting. The chocolate and dark cherries on the nose prepared me for the influx of dark cocoa and roasted malt flavor. The beautiful blend and balance made this one shine through, and the creamy mouthfeel didn't disappoint. The finish was even a bit buttery, which I enjoy in a porter or stout. New favorite for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 02:28:09 | More by Ranz

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and nice lacing. The nose is about what you'd expect in an imperial coffee porter... I get considerable coffee, coffee grounds, dark chocolate and vanilla. This beer smells pretty darn good. The flavor profile replicates the nose, with the coffee ground flavor dominating. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, though I thought the beer a bit thin in the mid palate. Alcohol is otherwise pretty well integrated into the flavor profile, with at most a touch of heat on the finish.

A nice enough beer, but sampling it side by side with the GIBCBS... well, the qualitative difference is pretty remarkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2012 19:31:44 | More by johnmichaelsen

draheim

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650mL (bottled 5/30/2012) into a snifter. Pours a deep chocolate brown w/ a 1-finger khaki head that settles slowly to a thin collar.

Aroma is dark roasted coffee, bitter chocolate. Like a few coffee beers I've had, it has a burnt quality that detracts from the aroma. Takes on an earthy, nutty aspect as it warms.

Taste is strongly bitter. Roasted coffee and malt, dark chocolate, and more of that burnt character. Vanilla.

Mouthfeel is smooth, medium-bodied, bitter with a lingering aftertaste.

Overall a decent imperial coffee porter, but not one I'd go out of my way for again.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 05:19:39 | More by draheim

homebrew311

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

POured into New Belgium globe glass. Deep opaque black collects in the glass and forms a velvety cocoa colored head that retains well. Spotty lacing left behind, very nice appearance. Nose has bold and earthy coffee up front which pairs with molasses, licorice, and herbal hop character at the finish. The taste starts with the sweet molasses character along with some dark fruit and licorice. The bold waves of coffee make their presence mid palate which balances the sweetness nicely. The bitterness builds towards the end as some hops join the party. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy with low carbonation. Overall, nice brew, very rich and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 06:43:42 | More by homebrew311

Mora2000

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma has some chocolate and coffee notes, but is a little bit faint overall. The flavor is a mix of dark fruit and coffee. I get a lot of cherry and prune, with a good bit of dry coffee and chocolate notes. The coffee and chocolate is fairly well done, but both are a bit restrained in my opinion. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 04:25:19 | More by Mora2000

RobAtSGH

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on draft from a nitro-tap into a half-pint glass.

Appearance: very dark brown, black-coffee appearance with a creamy tan head. Adequate lacing and head retention throughout. The nitrogen pour really helps the head on this.

Smell: Fantastic smell, very inviting. Coffee, malt, chocolate. Lots of roasty aromas. Not terribly complex, though. Smelling it, you would expect a big, sweet beer with mocha flavors. Fortunately, what you get is even better than the aroma. The smell invites you to take the first sip.

Taste: Well balanced. This does not taste like a 9.2% beer. The alcohol sweetness is very well contained by the big doses of chocolate malt. Very easy to drink, with big amounts of roasted grain, malt, coffee, and cocoa flavors.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, slightly silky mouthfeel with a fine carbonation. The slight roasted malt bitterness and cocoa flavors coat the palate. Good body, and again well-balanced.

Overall: A really solid imperial-style porter. A touch more complexity in the nose and flavor, and this would be an unstoppable beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-30-2012 00:58:46 | More by RobAtSGH

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with tan head in snifter. Very oily appearance.

Smell is dark roasted malt, chocolate and caramel. Lots of coffee prescence as well.

Taste follows smell with lots of coffee and dark chocolates. Toffee, caramel and molasses there too. Very complex.

Mouthfeel is thick and oily. Very nice carbonation.

Overall this was excellent. Will be on the lookout for more.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 17:28:22 | More by TrappistJohnMD

rangerred

Tennessee

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter from a 22oz bottle.

Pours pitch black with just the tiniest fizzy head that quickly fades leaving a small ring around the edge of the glass.

Aroma is espresso and some cocoa. Also a tinge of roasted malt.

Plenty of chocolate and coffee in the flavor as well. Really reminds me of Terrapin wake and bake. A little roasted malt and dark fruit makes an appearance. The finish is a little on the thin side but also with a nice coffee-like bitterness. Alcohol is very well hidden and this is surprisingly drinkable.

Overall, a really good beer from Laughing Dog. While it is very much like other beers in this style, it is one that is worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 01:01:13 | More by rangerred

champ103

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours nearly opaque black with a bit of brown around the edges. A minimal beige head forms, and recedes to nothing in a second. A dense and viscous liquid.
S: Big roasted malt up front. Acidic and acrid coffee. Bread and biscuit, light chocolate.
T: Roasted malts are up front with a nice balance with the coffee and chocolate flavors. Bread and biscuit. Pretty standard, but enjoyable.
M/D: A full body with good carbonation. Crisp, but smooth at the same time. Easy enough to drink. The alcohol is not noticeable, and a nice sipper.

The best I have had from Laughing Dog so far. I do enjoy it, but nothing that really sets it apart from others in the style. Locally at that. Still something that I would say is worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 23:48:07 | More by champ103

kemoarps

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer pours an opaque black with a little tan head that dissipates, but leaves enough lacing to make a pretty little pattern on the glass...

Nose is primarily coffee grounds... like an old sweater that keeps getting warmer with age. There's a little caramel malt and dry cocoa.

The taste is mostly the same, primarily drip coffee and cocoa.

It's kind of like drinking a cold cup of black coffee, but a little sweeter and more... beer-lier. That doesn't sound that appetizing, but it is delicious. Get it.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 16:52:13 | More by kemoarps

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Date of 5/24/12

Pours ebony with 3 fingers of mocha head. Stellar lacing & good head retention

S: Coffee & cocoa

T: Coffee & dryness up front, a touch of roastyness, minty hops & dark chococlate up front. Roastyness & a touch chicory as this warms, a touch of boozey warmth. Finishes roasty, with woody dryness, plus some nice chocolate notes

MF: Medium bodied, slight carbonation, becomes somewhat creamy as it warms

A super solid coffee porter, glad I got to try this

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 04:31:46 | More by russpowell

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours a dark black with a light tan finger of head. Good retention.

S- semi-sweet chocolate and dark caramel blend with rich aromatic coffee bean. This a balanced mocha smelling mothah!

T- great balance between malt sweetness and coffee like roast. Semi-sweet chocolate and stick burnt caramel again blend with rich smooth coffee with cream and malt roast. Like drinking a mocha latte. Sugary finish with a lingering chocolate in the aftertaste.

MF- smooth creamy mouthfeel with a medium dense body. Soft well placed carbonation

D- great drinkability

Overall a very well made coffee porter!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 02:05:35 | More by Viciousknishs

mntlover

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours black some red around edges when held to the light. Nice fluffy darker tan head

Aroma is lots of chocolate with good coffee notes some roast underneath it all, nice smelling.

Taste is just like the nose nice sweet malts roasted, big chocolate with coffee lingering into the finish. Sweet almost more of a chocolate porter but does not push into cloying is pretty balanced. 9% really plays no factor as its well hidden.

Mouthfeel seems a little light for a big porter but carbonation is on light side and makes it smooth.

Overall an enjoyable brew tasty sweet chocolate followed by bitter coffee whats not to like.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 02:08:14 | More by mntlover

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours extremely dark amber with a small tan head that dissipates quickly. The beer exhibits very little head retention and almost no lacing.

S: Aromas of dark chocolate and coffee dominate.

T: Flavors of chocolate malts with a bitter coffee finish. The flavors of the coffee are more subtle than one might expect but that makes it more pleasant.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and very smooth.

O: Could easily be substituted for the normal espresso that is often served with dessert and would pair very nicely with rich and chocolaty desserts. Very drinkable and hides the alcohol very well.

Serving type: growler

01-30-2012 16:14:20 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is jet black in color and poured with a thin mocha-colored head that quickly dissipated, leaving a thin film of bubbles covering the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: The nose has moderately strong aromas of dark chocolate and becomes stronger as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has a rich mixture of chocolate and coffee flavors along with balanced hints of bitterness and sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is well balanced because the underlying hops help to keep this beer from becoming overly sweet or malty. Considering its strength, the alcohol is well hidden from the taste of this beer. It starts to resemble a stout when the beer warms up.

Serving type: growler

01-30-2012 03:47:02 | More by metter98

legalpete19340

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Came to the bar a very dark brown with a solid one finger of head that stuck around and fell half way through.

S: Lots of fresh baked whole wheat bread. Coffee and a sharp dark chocolate note push through briefly.

T: Very malty smooth brew. Coffee pushes through and then falls giving way to a very oaty, chocolatey note. This swells and falls to a nutty and toasty bread sensation. The finish is mild.

M: Damn its good. Thicker than medium and extremely creamy with just the right amount of fizz. Its a velvety creamy smooth sensation. Amazing.

O: Very interesting and solid brew. The coffee and oat flavors push through a modest malt backbone. Highly drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 04:06:20 | More by legalpete19340

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Prime 16 into a DFH goblet.

A: Black body with ruby highlights; on top is an inch of creamy tan head that recedes at an average pace and leaves nice lace.

S: Coffee dominates, with a bit of chocolate filling in behind. Pretty simple, very enjoyable.

T: Coffee again shows up right away, with some chocolate and lovely graham cracker sweetness following close behind. I love it, but unfortunately it dies out in a rather weak finish. I would expect more intensity and continuity from a 9% beer, but weakness ≠ badness.

M: Rich, luscious full body with equally decadent carbonation. Velvety and delectable.

O: Great beer. I wish its finish weren't quite so light, but otherwise it's terrific.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2012 01:57:59 | More by woosterbill

TechTriumph

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler obtained from Whole Foods; Poured in a pint glass.

A - Nice one inch creamy mocha colored head with good retention; Essentially pitch black in color; Pretty good web of lacing around the glass

S - Aroma of roasted coffee beans, some cocoa nibs, and just a hint of vanilla beans with milky-like sweetness; Rich chocolate comes forward more as the beer warms

T - Good showing of roasted coffee beans, but that's not all I detect in the taste for sure; Presence of chocolate, nutty, and toasty characteristics with a faint hint of vanilla as well; Noticeable hops of sweet and floral flavors blend well into the overall mix; Some sweetness up front that turns a little bitter into the finish

M - Moderate carbonation; A notch above medium bodied; Semi-dry finish; Nice and smooth mouthfeel after the intial zest of carbonation

O - As my first brew from Laughing Dog, I thought this was very pleasant and quite smooth. The nose had a good amount of coffee aroma, but the taste had more of a balance between the coffee, chocolate, toasty, and roasty flavors. I thought the hops worked well in the flavor formula too. I'm glad I was able to enjoy a few glasses of this beer, which couldn't have come at a better time with the weather turning very dreary and bitter cold.

Serving type: growler

01-06-2012 02:15:21 | More by TechTriumph

argock

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap in a 10 oz mini-imperial clear glass tumbler at Beer Run (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Opaque black with dark brown edges and short cap of beige tightly bubbled head with icicled lacing.

S: Light coffee aroma with caramel and dark malt with a short touch of sweetness

T: I like that the flavor is not overwhelmed by the coffee flavor but rather accentuated by it. The maltiness is barely sweet, which is on-target for this style. There is little to no roast character which is also good for a porter. The porter component could use a touch more malty personality, but all in all, this is a nice brew with well-hidden alcohol.

M: Too thin but not watery for the style.

O: A pretty nice brew, but the body needs more work to give the malt flavors a little more of a boost.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 14:21:45 | More by argock

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

an offering from Laughing Dog at the 2011 Capitol City Oktoberfest in Shirlington, VA.

A: very dark brown. darker than most porters. a dense head that looks inviting and chestnut in color. great lacing.

S: vanilla. coffee. roasted and chocolate malts.

T: a very sweet sugar comes across the palate initially. the coffee flavor is well intertwined with roasted malts that it is not terribly discernible. more of it into the finish, but like i said earlier not crazy coffee flavor as i expected.

M: very silken mouthfeel. medium bodied.

D: a good porter. however a lot of the flavor and mouthfeel drinks like a stout. a milky sweetness backed with a silky mouthfeel. like i said, i was expecting more of a coffee blast, but otherwise a tasty brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 02:01:24 | More by Jimmys