Victory At Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter - Ballast Point Brewing Company

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.39/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-dark brown black with a nice tan head and decent lacing

S-vanilla, dark malt, coffee, chocolate, hint of sweetness

T-dark roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, light caramel, mild bitterness in the finish

F-medium to full body with mild to moderate carbonation, smooth and creamy

O-a great sipping beer, would make a great dessert beer, the flavors blend very well together

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 21:39:55 | More by MDDMD

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at Ginger Man.

Beer is black with a small tan head,

Vanilla is the strongest smell. it is actually somewhat overpowering, though nice. Some chocolate as well.

Tonnes of vanilla and chocolate in the taste. Roast malt and a bit of anise. The coffee is quite muted in comparison to the vanilla, which is very strong. Quite balanced, with a notable bitterness despite the inherent sweetness of some of the flavours. Very nice- truly a dessert beer.

Full bodied, moderately carbonated. Fairly thick. A bit creamy.

Overall, very enjoyable indeed. Reminiscent of DDC's Aphrodite, which I suppose is not surprising.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2013 01:15:17 | More by jrenihan

socon67

New York

4.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at The Good Life, Massapequa NY

A - Dark brown pour with a brown foam. Lacing on this is very nice streaks along the glass. Foam retention is pretty solid. This appears to be a thick beer.

S - Okay I love vanilla scents so this was simply awesome. The vanilla aroma was promounced, consistent, and gave a sweet, bakery cake smell. There is also a distinct smell of ground coffee. The malt profile on this smells sweet. This is a dessert beer.

T - A very sweet flavor that has sugar and vanilla frosting flavor. The is a slight bitterness of coffee that has an ever so slight anisette flavor of licorice. The complexity of sweet malts and these flavors makes this an enticing beer.

M - A bit heavier than most porters. Has a syrupy thickness as this hits the mouth. While I throughly loved this beer, it is not sessionable and I'd say it certianbly reuqires resetting your palate to taste more beer, or other foods for that matter.

O - A well crafted big porter that once again blurs the porterstout lines. For vanilla beer lovers this is a must try. Easily my favorite from Ballast Point and that includes Sculpin.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 18:12:50 | More by socon67

anteater

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle

A: rich super dark brown, almost entirely black with medium tan head and relatively high carbonation

S: vanilla hits the nose first followed by hints of coffee, the sweetness of the malt is rich and chocolately

T: the balance between vanilla and chocolate comes first and is the most striking aspect of this beer. the coffee flavor combined with slight bitterness and a tiny yet appropriate burn of alcohol takes over as the initial sweetness fades.

M: medium-high thickness, but offset by higher than average carbonation in this type of beer. i really like the mouthfeel

O: an excellent imperial porter, would recommend to anyone with the opportunity to try. it would be comparable to other imperial porters of this caliber without the addition of vanilla but i think the vanilla is what sets it apart.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 03:35:43 | More by anteater

Qwest_35

Florida

4.84/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

My first Victory! Pours a dark brown, almost black. The vanilla aroma on this beer is right up front, with a dark roasted cappuccino notes close behind. The flavor and mouthfeel of this beer is insane! Rich coffee with a sweet vanilla backbone, light hint of caramel, the hops are definitely present on the tongue as well, a really great porter! I can't say enough good things about this stuff! the alcohol is really well hidden and I am getting no bad aftertaste to boot. Overall a supremely tasty brew from Ballast Point, a bit pricey for a bomber, but I am not disappointed at all!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 00:35:43 | More by Qwest_35

yamar68

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been looking to try this beer forever, just never actively sought it out. But guess what? Hessian257 sent one my way in a mystery box recently!

Dark, dark, dark... nice half finger of creamy pale brown head. Great slick lace and cloudy beading beneath. Good looking stuff for sure.

Aroma doesn't wait for me to find it... mocha, oily coffee bean and bitter chocolate, mellow vanilla, some hazelnut and other nutty aromas. Loves it.

Big, bold blend of coffee, caramel, smooth vanilla, fudge... a bit sticky, bittersweet, maybe some berry notes buried in here somewhere. Delicious in every way.

Thanks Dave! Permanently ISO.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 23:36:01 | More by yamar68

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.31/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at The Ginger Man. Pours a pitch black color with a thin layer of light brown head. Some lacing. Smells great. The aroma is sweet coffee and vanilla with some smokey roasted malts and chocolate. The taste is a nice boozey mix of the coffee and sweet vanilla. Dark chocolate and roasted malts. More of the coffee and vanilla comes out at the end along with a nice warming alcohol presence. There's a lot going on here but it all blends well together. Slick mouthfeel. Overall, fantastic Imperial Porter that I need to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2013 01:43:42 | More by PicoPapa

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a thick, but damn near black into my over sized CBX glass with a solid finger of molasses colored head that dissipates within a few minutes to only a thin layer across the entire surface of the beer. Little lacing.

S - Ohhhh sweet vanilla dominates, which as fantastic. A decent roasted coffee aroma and some bittersweet chocolate compliment the vanilla well!

T - Wow, mostly superbly roasty up front, which relatively quickly transitions to a little sweet vanilla and decent amount of chocolate flavors. WHEN COLD: Fairly dry, alcoholy very roasty and resinous hoppy bitter finish lingers for a while. ONCE I ALLOW IT TO WARM UP to 55-60 its much smoother, and has less roasty/bitter astringencies.

M - Medium-full bodied, the bitterness makes this very drinkable for me, not super syrupy sweet at all, although it does have a thicker consistency medium+ carbonation for the style.

O - Wowzers, I just got 1-2'd. Thr smell definitely suggests vanilla bliss and I instead get a kick to the jaw of dry bitter bitter bitterness (and eventually some mild sweet flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 01:40:40 | More by MacQ32

BB1313

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoy by 11/26/13. 22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours pitch black with a khaki-mocha head that sticks out and leaves nice lacing. The aromas are solid and full of roasted black coffee and caramel malts. The vanilla seems to take a backseat in the aromas, but are in full force in the flavor department. Flavors are extremely bold and robust. The bitterness from the coffee dominates. There's a sweet cream like quality which really gives this beer a nice complexity. Chocolate syrup and coconut is in the mix. Hops are present, but subtle. There are hints of grapefruit every now and then in the nose and flavors. Bitter and there's a kiss of heat, but not boozy one bit. Mouthfeel is very creamy and fluffy, but extremely thick. It really works for the style and makes for an easy drinking beer. This is dangerously drinkable, it's very easy to drink and has enough complexity to keep you interested. It also gets better the more you get into it and as it warms up. Alcohol goes unnoticed.

Impressive beer right here. Second time having it. It has enough qualities that remind me of a porter, but stout lovers would obviously love this beer. Well crafted beer. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 01:04:15 | More by BB1313

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Premier Gourmet, 650ml into a tulip. Best by November 26, 2013.

Black body, lofty mocha head. Great retention and lacing. Beautiful vanilla, brown sugar and medium-dark coffee roast on the nose. A creamy quality to this as well. Heavy roast and dark chocolate on the palate, a creamy vanilla quality contributes a moderate amount of balance. Carbonation a tad high to begin with, but this is easily remedied. Medium full feel. Delicious, might have wet dreams thinking about this on nitro or hand pump.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 01:15:25 | More by liamt07

hosehead83

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from "bomber" bottle into a wine goblet.
Opaque black in color with a thick cap of tan foam.
Aroma-Dark roast coffee, subtle vanilla note;
Taste-Black patent malt, roasted coffee, vanilla ice cream, tobacco, black coffee/charred meat finish. Well-balanced, full of character, and very flavorfull. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 15:36:28 | More by hosehead83

AnotherImperial

Arizona

4.71/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I had been holding off on this beer, as porters are usually a bit light and thin for my tastes. Big mistake. This is, by far, the best porter I've ever had. The coffee is definitely the predominant flavor/aroma, but the subtle hints of vanilla perfectly compliment the beer. And, it has a thicker mouthfeel than I was expecting from a porter. This is a phenomenal example of the style, and simply a wonderful overall beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 03:46:41 | More by AnotherImperial

tectactoe

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Shared with Mike - thanks to GetMeAnIPA for sending this one my way. Pours a deep and dark obsidian-like color; very, very little brown on the edges with a solid, fine-bubbled tan head that fades much too fast. A quick swirl of the glass can coax it back, but only for a few moments.

The aroma on this one is very tantalizing; heavy, HEAVY roasted coffee beans - I'm talking burnt, scorched, charred, ashy. These beans smell super roasted and super bitter. This plays off of a delicate sweetness induced from the vanilla aromas that hang in the balance. Might be a tiny bit of cocoa somewhere deep in the abyss, but any attempt to further sniff it out is just met with more and more heaps of coffee beans, roasted malts, and light vanilla. I've always been partial to bitter porters rather than overly sweet ones. The nose on this beer tells me that my bias may be in effect.

...and right I was - the aroma is a perfect indication of the malt assessment in Victory At Sea. From the moment the beer hits your tongue, your palate is pile-driven with an enormous roasted, charred, and borderline burnt flavor. Coffee beans, coffee beans, coffee beans. Imaging taking a hand full of French Roast coffee beans, scorching them in a skillet, then shoving them in your face. A little overboard? Maybe.... but you get the idea. The alcohol is also noticeable from the first sip to the last, but at 10% ABV, I have no complaints. Some lightly sweet vanilla coats each and every sip also, providing a tiny bit of balance to the bitter-roasted brigade. Some chocolate definitely comes out more upon warming, although it was nearly absent in the aroma. The aftertaste is a compilation of mild charcoal flavors with some ashy and dry bitterness - a "balls to the walls", unadulterated coffee bean roast. Medium-thick body with a decent amount of carbonation; mildly creamy and smooth.

Hell yes. Victory at Sea gives the roasty bitterness lovers more of what they crave. Such a roasted, charred, and bitter stout with lovely little sweetness interruptions to keep things interesting. Very pleasantly surprised by this one - great way to end the night.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 15:56:40 | More by tectactoe

falc0n2600

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very very dark in appearance with a smooth brown head. A nice coffee smell with much less of a coffee taste, which is my favorite kind of coffee beer. In fact, you are immediately shocked at how smooth an imperial porter can be before you're overwhelmed by perfectly sweet vanilla. I had this along with Flying Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo Porter and this was definitely the winner, although the Double Gonzo was the second-best imperial porter I've had. A lot of carbonation that makes the thickness of the beer stand out, with the sweetness balancing the thickness nicely. As the beer warmed up I really began to notice the hops, more so than any other porter I've had. As I finished all I could think of was the brilliant hoppiness.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2013 06:11:06 | More by falc0n2600

sukwonee

Washington

4.55/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Scott for this bottle!

This is probably my favorite "imperial" American porter I have ever had. The only thing is I am not sure what makes this a "porter" as opposed to a stout. Regardless, it's awesome.

A: Black body with half a finger of mocha tan head. Not much lacing.

S: Roasty malt, coffee, some sweetness. To be honest, it smells pretty straightforward. Coffee, dark chocolate. Not much vanilla noted.

T: Starts off bitter espresso, dark chocolate, some toasted nuts, some hops. Again not much vanilla. It's bold, lingering.

M: Thick. Perhaps it's even thicker than most imperial stouts.

O: I would described this as an imperial coffee/dark chocolate stout that is on the drier side. It's quite awesome. Highly recommended if you like espresso coffee.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 04:01:42 | More by sukwonee

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.31/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

bottle to HFS sniffer

A: very dark but not quite black though completely opaque with a thick mocha head that dissipates into a thick lacing.

S: So the first thing that hits you in the face is massive vanilla scent it is nice and roasty, but almost overpowering all the other smells. I can definitely detect the coffee and a few hints of malt but thats about it. Good, but not great.

T: follows the nose with the vanilla but not as strong as in the nose there is definitely a lot more coffee flavor i can almost taste the ground beans great combination of flavors very strong and extremely robust RIS taste in a porter.

M: Very thick but also extremely smooth and creamy which seems to be caused by the vanilla. Milkshake status for sure and the alcohol is well hidden

O: This is probably second only to everett in terms of porters for me this is smooth with tons of strong coffee and vanilla flavor exactly what I want from a porter especially an imperial one I highly recommend this beer

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 02:55:13 | More by Pinknuggets

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22oz bottle from Halftime.com. 8.99. Enjoy by 11/07/13, which I believe is one year after bottling. Served in a Burnt Hickory snifter.

Pours flat black with a finger and a half of fluffy vanilla head that leaves large sheets of lace.

Smells of charred malts, creamed coffee and sweet vanilla.

Bold coffee leads the taste followed by roasty malts, earthy bark, cherry skins, vanilla and resinous pine. A bit of an alcohol bite but it is blended in well enough to make this pretty easy to drink.

Medium body with fairly sharp carbonation. Long, dry bitter piney hop and coffee aftertaste.

This is a great imperial porter and great coffee beer in general. I've had this a few times and I actually think I prefer it after a year or two once the coffee has faded to let the vanilla through a little more. All in all, it's a worthy brew at any age.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 04:35:57 | More by ThickNStout

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours thick and black into my Founders snifter. A small, 1 finger head forms with the pour and retains well, dwindling down to a moderately thin film on the top. Lacing is tremendous as expected. Looks like a big stout in the glass.

S- Lots of dark, dark coffee here. Coffee is strong and slightly bitter on the nose. Sweet notes of the vanilla are also present, but definitely secondary to the coffee. Also maybe a hint of dark chocolate in there.

T- Wow. Dark, bitter coffee right off the bat. Probably the strongest coffee flavor I've had, whether in a beer or cup of joe. Coffee is dominant and bitter throughout, drowning out most to all of the sweeter vanilla flavor. As it warms, the coffee become more balanced with the dark malts. Ends with a coffee bitterness bite and aftertaste.

M- Thick and smooth going down. No detectable alcohol. Kinda heavy across the palate. Sits heavy in the stomach. Definitely a sipping beer.

Overall, this is a coffee bomb. A very good beer, but I find the coffee to be a little overpowering. Between the alcohol and heavy flavor profile, sipping is a must for this beer. Not as good as I had hoped, but still a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 01:38:55 | More by boilermakerbrew

Brad007

Vermont

4.63/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

She pours a pitch black, reminiscent 'o dark nights on a foamin' mad sea. thar's no woe fer them seekin' th' light here.

Vanilla bean, cream 'n cocoa greet th' nose. As it warms up, th' flavors increase in intensity. Mmm.

Vanilla compliments th' cocoa 'n coffee notes apparent here.

Despite bein' a baltic porter, it beats out a few imperial stouts bin had latel. extra spit shine finish. Lin'erin' vanilla, cream 'n cocoa flavors. It rivals Stone's Vanilla Porter in strength 'n despite th' fact that it has more alcohol, it never hits ye over th' head wit' it.

Easily one 'o me favorite baltic porters. th' use 'o vanilla adds to th' complexity.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 10:49:53 | More by Brad007

evanforbeer

California

4.65/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bomber.

Smell: wow. Vanilla, oily coffee bean, caramel,

Taste: wow. Follows with lots of rich fresh coffee bean and vanilla bean. A little caramel and some earthy/citrusy hops. Cocoa, a touch of cola, and finishes with some coffee and hop bitterness. Almost a subdued peach note from the hops under the layering of robust roasty coffee flavors. A real nice hop bite throughout underneath the fantastic coffee/vanilla.

Mouthfeel: thick, lightly syrupy with some carbonation and bite, very nice. A nice sipper but not a meal. Lighter than an imperial stout.

Overall: this is a phenomenal beer. Gotta have it.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 02:37:44 | More by evanforbeer

Ranz

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: Obsidian-black, this porter has it going on. In my stemless wine glass, it didn't create too much head, but the bubbles cling to the sides like the skeleton clutching its heart on the bottle. Speaking of which: great design.

S: Vanilla and Guatemalan coffee beans, both roasted, hit first. There's a slight alcohol pungency here, too. Spicy malt is just present enough as well. This thing is a winner.

T: My God this thing is fantastic. The roasted malt and coffee beans invite the alcohol singe which follows, and it ends so smoothly with the vanilla bean and caramel profile. If I didn't read the label, I would this this were a stout, maybe even imperial.

M: Creamy, lush, decadent; the syrupy quality still has some nice carbonation to balance it out.

O: It's so good that I can't decide to sip and enjoy or pound it and go buy another. I will certainly make another trip to the store and buy a few for storage. This has easily placed itself as a new all-time favorite.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 23:12:59 | More by Ranz

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle into tulip

A - Solid black with a solid finger of tan-brown head that sticks to the glass beautifully and lingers for ages. Really impressive.

S - Massive vanilla and coffee, plus a beautiful roasted malt base. Tiny hint of booze that doesn't detract. Some sweetness.

T - Oh my. The vanilla is magnificent. The coffee is dark and bitter but slightly sweet. There is a serious dark chocolate component that adds complexity. The deeply roasted coffee and the roasted malts work well together and are balanced by the sweetness and cocoa bean.

M - Medium-full body, smooth and fulfilling and with a slightly drying finish.

O - Overall a wonderful experience and one of the best beers I have had in a while. From teh first whiff I knew I'd love it, and it didn't let me down one bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 22:40:07 | More by greenmonstah

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

No bottled on date to be found, just an enjoy by 11/06/13 (which I found a little strange, I would think this beer would be good for aging?). $9.99 at Wegmans in Downingtown, PA. Pours motor oil black and quite viscous into a tulip with chestnut hues at the edges of the glass when held up to the light. An aggressive pour leaves a little over 2 fingers of tan head that hangs around for a little while before receding to a cap. Leaves a patch of lace here and there.

Smell is a wonderful amalgamation of fresh coffee, vanilla, and roasted malts with just a touch of earthy hops and a little sweetness.

Starts out with some bitter espresso in the front, then segues nicely into roasted malts, sweet vanilla, milk chocolate, and black coffee. Some earthy hops come in mid-palette and into the finish, along with some roasted malts, coffee and a touch of vanilla bean to cut the bitter/roasted flavors. A little alcohol warmth in the chest as well. Really nice stuff.

Rich and slightly chewy with low carbonation. Smooth, but a bit of a sipper that packs a little heat. The vanilla really pops as the beer warms and adds great complexity and sweetness, especially in the finish.

Truly a remarkable imperial porter. Big roasted malts and bold coffee with just the right amount of vanilla sweetness to balance it out. Quite possibly my favorite porter. Definitely recommended!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 00:56:09 | More by cjoc83

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz-er, enjoyed at a recent tasting. Thanks again daryk77!

Poured into a nonic glass. Black, with a generous inch of tan head that settles into a thick ring with a thin layer of foam. Icicles and sheets of lacing. Great looking brew.

The nose on this is a bit one dimensional, but damn its a fine smelling dimension to be in. Sweet vanilla coffee and plenty of it. The coffee is particularly dark, bordering on espresso, and there's a sweetness to it which probably speaks to the brew's booze strength.

Wow, is this a bitter coffee porter. Holy mother that is some good roasted coffee. The vanilla and cream provides an excellent counterpoint to the bitterness of the coffee, which helps this brew go down incredibly well.

Great thickness to the brew, nice carbonation. Creamy and damn easy to drink.

Awesome coffee porter, highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 05:18:34 | More by JohnnyBarman

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage. Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a 8 oz snifter.

A- Pours black with a 1 finger mocha head. Big trails and small blotches of lacing remain on the glass.

S- chocolate with very nice coffee aroma and some vanilla.

T- chocolate, roasted malts, big coffee blast with the vanilla shortly behind, with some bitter roast at the finish.

M- medium body and carbonation. Very smooth and lighter but in a good way. No clue this was/is 10%

O- great porter. Coffee and vanilla really make this beer and drinks very well for a 10% beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:23:06 | More by kawilliams81