Super Rocket V8 Imperial Porter - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

watermelonman

California

2.83/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

After ordering a pint of SN Super VA from the menu, I can only imagine that this is what I received. It arrived deep dark and slightly mahogany, minimal head and lace but that is appropriate for style.

Smells brought forth chocolate malt with a hint of bourbon and vanilla. Not bad, but in the taste it turned. Body minimal, this beer fell flat when tasted. The flavors simply could not live up to the look and smell. The mouthfeel had the slightly sharp quality I expect from stronger porters, but was simply lacking in substance.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2013 02:31:04 | More by watermelonman

JohnGalt1

Idaho

2.98/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I was told this is a bourbon barrel aged Imperial Porter.

Enjoyed at the Sierra Nevada Tap-Takeover in Bown Crossing... this one was at Bier Thirty... Inflatablechair and I hung out for a while sampling the brews.. I asked for a short pour on this one and got a full-on goblet.. Oh well, make the best of it. :-)

Pours black and murky.. dark tan head lasts forever... nice lacing.

Nose is pretty interesting... tons of char.. and then a deep raisin and lesser vanilla comes in...

Flavor has the same components, but a distinct phenolic element that I associate with bandaids... decent maltiness and roasty element that get blasted by the phenols especially with warmth.. a weird astringency on the finish doesn't add much either. Overall, burnt, charred, tar, burnt rubber note that takes over the normal dark fruits and caramel malts. Decent, but something is screwed up.

Sammy suggests "buggy barrels"... I don't think I would have a better explanation of the rubbery phenols.

The palate and carbonation are both about right.. medium body and a touch too many bubbles.

Not digging it at all... Glad I got the chance to give it a go, but not my cup of beer.

4/3.5/2.5/3.5/3

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 05:48:23 | More by JohnGalt1