Black Marlin Porter - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Ballast Point Brewing Company

brew3crew

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

At tap at churchill's for bear republic night...

A dark black body with a tan head that sticks around

S-nice mellow Bourbon mixed with maltiness that KS very nice

T-really bourbony with a very, very thin body. Disappointing. Smooth bourbon tthough. Or I should say at least

M-medium body and smooth

O- mediocre. Sigh

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2011 03:19:20 | More by brew3crew

Zbeetleman

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-15-2013 03:38:54 | More by Zbeetleman

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-17-2013 06:43:18 | More by spycow

jasewaaang

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

12-05-2012 05:50:32 | More by jasewaaang

whallgren

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

12-04-2012 00:57:56 | More by whallgren

fox227

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

11-07-2012 14:17:18 | More by fox227

t0rin0

California

1.5/5  rDev -61.5%

08-20-2012 02:38:58 | More by t0rin0

MasterSki

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to FlandersNed for the hookup. Served in a Cigar City snifter.

A - Giant tan foam settles to a thick cap and splotchy lace. Dark brown body with a hint of transparency at the edges.

S - Reminds me a lot of BA Token - buttery, with notes of cola, nuts, brown sugar, toffee, and light bourbon.

T - Taste is similar, with cola, toasted grains, butter, and some fruity notes. Seems mildly infected.

M - Medium-light body, lower carbonation, slightly grainy texture, and some surprising alcohol warmth for a 5.9% porter.

D - Not very good. I struggled with my 4oz pour, and if this had been any higher in ABV I would have been tempted to pour it out. Not sure if the infection was at the growler level or something systemic.

Serving type: growler

06-29-2012 16:57:21 | More by MasterSki

timwardjr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

06-15-2012 19:10:46 | More by timwardjr

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Sierra Grille.

Poured into a snifter just about black, 1-finger beige head, nice retention and lace.

Smell is good, bourbon noticeable but quite mellow, nice roasty and chocolate porter notes, good strength overall.

Taste is great - bourbon is a little stronger than in the scent, still pretty mellow overall but at a good level and very flavorful. Melds very nicely with porter which delivers dark chocolate, roastiness, black coffee with some light vanilla sweetness and oak. Bourbon intensifies a bit with warmth but great balance.

Kind of a weak mouthfeel, doesn't feel full enough, just kinda sits there.

Other than the mouthfeel this is very nicely done. Bourbon and oak are at a perfect level, the porter brings great flavors for the low ABV and isn't overpowered. Definitely would like to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 14:50:25 | More by Chico1985

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap and served in a snifter, the beer is a dark almost black brown coloring with ruby highlights and a slight ring of film on the surface. Aromas of oak and earth, with coffee bitter and vanilla sweet highlights. Flavors are heavy and smooth, with a darkly sweet and boozey highlight from the barrels that impart a touch of wine characteristics. Rich bourbon laces throughout the brew, with some slight coffee bitterness. The aftertaste is rich, sweet,, and balanced. The body is solid enough to support the flavors, but light enough to avoid overpowering. Smooth, clean, and slightly bitter finish. Tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 22:14:55 | More by GarthDanielson

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

06-04-2012 07:36:05 | More by standardcherry

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Teresa's Next Door this past weekend.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and considerable lacing. On the nose, I get considerable bourbon and vanilla, interspersed with light coffee and dark chocolate. This beer smells great, and happily, the flavor profile is every bit as good. Once againn the bourbon and vanilla seemeed to dominate, though I get considerable dark chocolate and light coffee as well. Also, while moderately sweet, the sweetness is not overdone, with just enough hoppy bitterness to balance the sweetness perfectly. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a fairly long finish, and while this beer is not at all heavy or tiring on the palate, I was surpised by the 5.9% abv. The richess in this beer leads one to believe the alcohol is higher than that.

An altogether excellent beer... one of the better porters I've had in some time. Good stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 13:30:21 | More by johnmichaelsen

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

$7 at Gulu Gulu, Salem MA. We brought our puppy to the bar for the first time.

Black with dark brown edges. Retention isn't great but does leave a foamy smear down one side of the glass.

Burnt caramel and fruit aspects of bourbon dominate the aroma. Jelly bean shell sugar and Backwoods cigar vanilla too.

Taste again is dominated by raw bourbon aspects. Some warm, dark malt flavor in back without an roastiness.

Not a bold enough beer to stand up to the bourbon.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2012 10:44:48 | More by donkeyrunner

kojevergas

California

2.53/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Served on draught into a 5 ounce taster glass at Ballast Point's taproom. Cost was $2.00. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours no head at all. Colour is a solid nontransparent black.

Sm: Light bourbon tone. Hints of chocolate. A simple light strength aroma.

T: Clean chocolate with a bourbon tone. The chocolate isn't particularly rich. Dark malts comprise the foundation. Weak and not at all full bodied. Imbalanced. Not bold like I'd expect from a bourbon aged beer. Built decently. Boring and dull. Not at all experimental. Lacking complexity and subtlety.

Mf: Nicely smooth and wet, suiting the flavours nicely. A bit thin. Could use cream. I'd prefer it a bit more dry. Too watery.

Dr: Drinkable but simple and boring. I won't get it again. Might be better aged for a few years, but a polished turd is still a turd. Fans of the style should look elsewhere.

Low C-

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2012 23:06:26 | More by kojevergas

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: black in color with a short 1/2" head.

Smell: roasted malts, vanilla, and a hint of bourbon comes through to the nose.

Taste: follows the nose as roasted malts and vanilla were dominant. The bourbon and dark fruit flavors were a bit more muted. Bitterness was nicely balancing here.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Smooth throughout with a long lasting aftertaste.

Overall: not a bad drinking beer. This was nice change of pace for the usually mild mannered porter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 21:01:22 | More by Gavage

arktos

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-04-2012 14:10:32 | More by arktos

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery. This is an easy drinking barrel-aged beer on the lower end of the ABV spectrum. Dark brown, nearly black color, with a modest head that nonetheless has good retention and lacing. Aroma of roast malt and char, as well as bourbon, vanilla, and a general woodiness.

Smooth, moderately sweet, with a fair degree of balance between the roasted and bourbon characteristics. Faint sweetness and a touch of bitter hoppiness mingling with vanilla in the finish. I didn’t find the oak or whiskey notes to be at all dominant. Actually they felt rather subdued. Nothing really stood out or overshadowed anything else, which was fine, but in the end didn’t make for a particularly memorable beer. Certainly good but nothing I would go out of my way to try again.

Medium bodied with moderately high carbonation. I usually prefer my porters with a bit less of a spritzy mouthfeel but this fell short of being overly prickly.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 13:37:00 | More by tobelerone

hoops61176

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -23.1%

01-16-2012 16:48:47 | More by hoops61176

shangwang

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at Craft Ale House

Served with a fairly thin layer of creamy tan head, body was deep brown-black, lots of shimmering tiny bubbles on the sides of the glass. Smelled slightly vinegary sour, hints of booziness, sweet vanilla, some burnt notes. Tasted strongly of roasted malt, with notes of coffee and chocolate, and s slightly sweet fruitiness towards the end of the taste. Also got a little hoppiness as well. As far as mouthfeel, the beer was a medium weight, slightly creamy, with a zip of carbonation to it.

Overall, a tasty porter with hints of bourbon. Definitely worth a try, and I would seek it out again, but it didn't blow my mind like some of BP's others do.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2012 14:09:29 | More by shangwang

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep brown body. Medium sized khaki head. Spotty lacing. Lively carbonation.

S: Smooth, mellow bourbon notes... booze, vanilla, oak. Also a bit of chocolate and roasted notes.

T: A slight fall off from the nose. The bourbon is a bit hidden and roasted malts take over. Hints of chocolate and a pinch of coffee.

M: Moderate body, easy drinking with appropriate carbonation levels.

O: A nice porter. Ultimately, I am not sure how much the bourbon helps other than providing a bit of depth to the nose.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 05:08:23 | More by callmemickey

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

01-01-2012 13:27:18 | More by dbrauneis

bkny27

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

12-10-2011 21:41:03 | More by bkny27

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2.6%

12-07-2011 04:19:00 | More by HopStoopid120

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

32 ounce growler pour-$12.99 @ DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY

Pour is darn near black, under 1/4 inch of dark tan head, that stays just a moment then is a thicker film, uneven collar and ample sultry webs and sheets of fine lace.

Vanilla and faint burnt malts in the nose.

Tasty and easy drinking porter, with more vanilla, more dark malts, milk chocolate, some wood/smoke in the background. Barrel aged character quite muted.

Enjoyable and quality offering, happy to be able to give this one a try.

Serving type: growler

12-07-2011 01:06:36 | More by Billolick