Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter - Laughing Dog Brewing

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.54/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Sammy, 650ml into a tulip.

Black body with a brown head. Film of retention. Nose has fresh roast, light sourness and mild chocolate. Tastes of coffee beans, lightly sour again and bitter chocolate. Light feel, tartness persists. Good coffee notes, but this wasn't all that complex in any regard. Not something I'd pursue again.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 15:49:50 | More by liamt07

Eeroomnhoj

Virginia

4.24/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Better than I expected. I thought the coffee taste would be too much but it isn't overbearing. I'm not sure though if I would want to drink a few of these, but one or two would be good. This is definitely a winter bear, dark and heavy for a cold night. Interesting taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 02:10:37 | More by Eeroomnhoj

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great appearance, big bubbly head on dark body, with some reddish highlights. Lacey. Smooth mouthfeel. Some horse on grass in the residue. Coffee but not all coffee, or acidic. Vanilla and chocolate. Some sourness. Decent drinkability. From Champane's Cellars.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 04:12:47 | More by northyorksammy

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber poured into a mug...

A: Nearly opaque black with a khaki-colored head and lacing...

S: Astringent coffee notes hit first, with a moderate roasted character and malt presence. A touch of smoke to boot, and a bit of mocha and burnt caramel.

T: Follows the nose; roasty and gritty espresso, and even the suggestion of some burnt malt? Flash of dark chocolate (bakers chocolate even) and dark/burnt caramel. Dry and bit bitter.

MF: Astringent mouthfeel with a moderate body and medium carbonation. A bit thin...

O: Definitely has that cold-pressed coffee feel to it, but the astringent notes aren't as pleasant as I remembered...previously reviewed this one on-tap and liked it...maybe some age caught up to it? Not sure, but definitely not as good as I remember. Still a drinkable coffee porter though IMO.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 19:46:15 | More by Scotchboy

Minkybut

Virginia

2.78/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this high powered beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer poured very black with a tan head. Not impressive though. The beer smelled like perfume, fake like. The taste of the beer was bitter chocolate but just too much alcohol. Note much could get through that 9.2% burn. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 17:06:08 | More by Minkybut

ChubbyVA

3.38/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a nice black with thick brown head
S-medium coffee with toffee & cocoa undertones.
T-nice coffee flavor, subtle undertones, alcohol well hidden. When cooler, additional prominent flavor up front that I can't identify. Fades on warming... Maybe due to other flavors coming in....anyone else help?
M-disappointingly thin
O-good beer for the price

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 02:06:22 | More by ChubbyVA

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.23/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

22 ounce bottle - $6.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

9/14/12 printed on the label's side.

Appearance: Pours a black body with a tall, long-lived, tan-hued head.

Smell: Roasted malts, coffee beans, and some slight, underlying acrid, tart-scented unpleasantness that grows a bit more revealing as it warms.

Taste: Roasted malts, a slathering of dark chocolate sauce, with some underlying burnt grains. Then, unfortunately, it comes a taste of tart, sourish, puckering rancid fruit which hits midway and greatly hinders the taste from here on out. Drying, rank, yet still coffee-ish on the fi--DRAIN POUR. I'm tapping out, friends.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-high carbonation.

Overall: Anubis, Anubis, Anubis... This beer dredges up some old Siletz beer memories.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 22:59:56 | More by ChainGangGuy

Rizalini

Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber bottle into my Stone goblet...

A - Pours a very dark brown color, with a thin brown head that disipates very quickly, leaving a slight right.

S - The smell is very coffee dominant, slightly sweet. Some chocolatey cocoa notes as well.

T/M - The taste right off the bat is thin and a little watered down. Burnt malt backbone, with a coffee finish. There is a slight mocha-coffee aftertaste. Thin mouthfeel, average mouthfeel.

O - Very easy to drink at 9%, the alcohol is hidden very well. But the taste does fall a little short. The aroma is very inviting, but the taste is a little disapointing.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 05:57:24 | More by Rizalini

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 picked up at the COOP tonight for about $7.. poured into my slim tulip... dark tan head atop a perfectly black brew... Nice lacing and retention..

Good coffee as expected meshes with some dark cocoa and just enough malty residuals to deliver the nose and make it interesting.

Flavors are all there, but sorta fall short.. nothing really crosses any benchmark.. light cocoa and decent coffee bean flavors.. there could possibly be a bit more of everything and especially some maltiness that really delivers the malts and the beans.

Body is light given the ABV... needs more UUMMMPPPH!

Despite my above negatives, this is a pretty damn good brew.. Big Boned Coffee Porter for less than $8? Needs work, but I will buy again.

4/4/3.5/3.5/3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 05:48:20 | More by JohnGalt1

woemad

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber purchased at Huckleberry’s in Spokane for $6.49. According to the label, this was made with Evans Brothers Artisan Coffee. I’m guessing that’s a coffee roaster indigenous to the Sandpoint area. Also according to the label, this was bottled on August 30.

Poured a super dark brown that defied all attempts to pass light through it. Big, mocha-colored head that receeded after a few minutes. Lots of lace.

There’s a coffee-ish aroma, but it’s not a big, overbearing one, and it shares the limelight with some chocolate and brown sugar notes.

The taste starts off with a bitter coffee zap, but it’s quickly matched by a sweet, chocolaty note that keeps the bitterness in check. There’s also a bit of pipe tobacco in the background. Things finish with a mild dry note.

The body of this beer is between medium and full, leaning more towards full. The carbonation is spot-on. Thick, sticky and creamy mouthfeel.

Laughing Dog scores another home run with a very tasty, coffee-infused porter that seems like a slam dunk for the fall, yet it seems it was released in the summer. I would definitely drink this again, but I’m glad I waited until October, as it just seems a better fit.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 20:03:04 | More by woemad

smalenberg

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
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 -38.8%
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 +4.2%
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 -5.5%
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 +15.4%
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

draheim

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
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 +3.6%
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 -6.8%
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

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.4/5  rDev +14.6%
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 -1.6%
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

kemoarps

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
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%
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 +1.6%
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 +2.9%
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

dpianka

Connecticut

4.46/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

date of tasting: 4/16/2013
place of tasting: Barley Vine - Bristol, CT
beer: Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter
brewery: Laughing Dog
brewery location: Ponderay, ID
type: Ale
style: American Porter
abv: 8%
ibu: 33.6
glass: mug w/appearance test in tasting glass
temperature of beer: 55F

Appearance: medium roast espresso in color with a frothy freshly stained and varnished american oak head. carbonation? who knows, can’t see that shit through the darkness.

Smell: like the schoom on espresso, huge caramel and fresh coffee grounds

Taste: hello caramel popcorn, nice to meet you. Oooops, dropped you in my french press dark roasted slightly red berry fruity coffee. Oh yes you are yummy.

Mouthfeel: creamy, sensual, slight hop/carbonation tinge but I like it that way

Overall Impression: a great coffee porter. Sweet malty, caramel, coffee, all the good stuff you would expect from a coffee porter with a perfect hop balance.

Food Pairings: charred steak, strawberry shortcake, sweetpea ravioli with a deep lamb sausage tomato sauce

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 13:26:24 | More by dpianka