Roebling Imperial Robust Porter - Rivertown Brewing Co.

Brenden

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one is dark, almost black but that it lets a little brown peek through. The tan head that forms is small but tight, lasts for neither a long or short time, and leaves just enough spotting to be what I would consider slightly above average in appearance.
There's a bit of a roasted malts note going on here, which isn't traditional but that I do like. Otherwise, some dark cocoa nib comes through strongest. There's the faintest touch of vanilla sweetness that is hard for me to get at first. It comes out more strongly as it sits to counter the robust, malty sort of bitterness.
The body isn't as big as it should be, at an average medium, slightly lacking richness and depth as it goes. It may be that it's only got a bit of smoothness to it, that the carbonation is present but doesn't "move," per se, but whatever it is, it could use a bit more. Otherwise, this is the best or close to it that I've tried from Rivertown to memory.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:13:45 | More by Brenden

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +9%

05-19-2013 00:53:29 | More by jakeox

chippo33

Vermont

3/5  rDev -12.8%

05-17-2013 00:50:55 | More by chippo33

aasher

Indiana

4/5  rDev +16.3%

05-12-2013 13:23:49 | More by aasher

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3/5  rDev -12.8%

05-05-2013 12:13:17 | More by Gonzoillini

cmoses

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +38.1%

04-23-2013 15:17:20 | More by cmoses

Lanstrum

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%

04-18-2013 22:05:10 | More by Lanstrum

craftbrew502

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +16.3%

04-18-2013 00:14:45 | More by craftbrew502

osupuck19

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

04-16-2013 02:25:58 | More by osupuck19

ohiobeer29

Ohio

4/5  rDev +16.3%

04-15-2013 06:35:42 | More by ohiobeer29

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into tulip. Nice brown with tan head - slightly reddish hue. Awesome vanilla and slight chocolate roasty aroma.
Mild brown caramel and vanilla flavor...quite nice. Its a bit thin and lacking in body but drinks really easy. Its almost a very dark brown ale more than a porter, but is in general a pretty good brew. Not sure why such low reviews...maybe because its a little thin, but the flavor is there. For almost 8% abv, this drinks insanely smooth...feels like its 4%. I definitely reccomend this one...

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:10:28 | More by DrinkSlurm

Buckeye982

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

03-21-2013 21:21:36 | More by Buckeye982

BB1313

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours black with some brown hues, kakhi head that fades and leaves a little lacing. The aromas are subtle and full of chocolate malts, vanilla bean, and expresso. The flavors are full of black coffee and cream. This one has a solid sweetness to it, although remains somewhat bitter. The flavors are solid, but a little watered down. Mouthfeel is very solid. It's light, but fluffy and creamy. There's a refreshing smoothness going on. The active carbonation makes this an extremely easy drinking beer. The alcohol goes completely unnoticed. There's no way in hell I would've guessed this beer was almost 8% abv.

This is a solid beer, but nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 20:48:38 | More by BB1313

Eastside151

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

03-14-2013 02:03:19 | More by Eastside151

davemathews68

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +30.8%

03-11-2013 20:04:57 | More by davemathews68

hosehead83

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a "stubby" 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Ruby/brown in color, with a moderate head of thin foam.
Aroma-Roast coffee
Taste-Sweet vanilla bean, chocolate, coffee, underlying roastiness carries to the finish but not enough to counterbalance the almost cloying sweet vanilla. Dare I say vanilla bomb? Maybe not that bad, but man, vanilla seems to take over this brew"s flavor. More balance needed.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 17:48:28 | More by hosehead83

Nick_Foltz

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +30.8%

03-09-2013 11:24:42 | More by Nick_Foltz

zimm421

Ohio

3/5  rDev -12.8%

02-28-2013 19:29:38 | More by zimm421

HeyYoMar

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +9%

02-27-2013 00:52:48 | More by HeyYoMar

TasteTester

Ohio

3/5  rDev -12.8%

02-23-2013 00:08:13 | More by TasteTester

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Not a bad pour a 1/2 of mocha head that fizzes out rather quickly to just a mild lace ring. Color is a fairly dark amber brown with a red hue yet not pitch black like an imperial porter should be.
S - Smell is amazing with vanilla, oak, chocolate, sweet mocha like coffee.
T - Kind of muddled so I guess the smells were artificial. Fizzy chocolate cream meets some oak and citrus hops. Where is the dry yeast finish is this even a porter? Not offensive just not what I expected from the smell.
M - Kind of creamy with a chewy medium body. Pretty on par.
Overall I guess it's an alright porter reading the label it seemed like a weak porter with a shit ton of vanilla, coffee, and cane sugars added. Expect this going into it.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 01:31:21 | More by DrDemento456

Lukass

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +9%

02-11-2013 03:04:15 | More by Lukass

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +16.3%

02-03-2013 22:38:32 | More by RedneckBeerz

crytion

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

01-29-2013 12:17:44 | More by crytion

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.56/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Incredible vanilla cream taste exudes from Rivertown's Roebling Imperial Porter; so much so that the spice adds just as much to the balance of the beer as do any dark malts. But with the influence from that savory spice, a few inconsistencies occur...

Pouring a very dark brown, the beer shares lighter tawny brown highlights along the edges. It's arid, loosely-knit froth rises and then falls quite quickly, succumbing to the alcohol and oils of the beer that's more evident in taste. Void of lace, the beer instead shows light brandy-like legging. It's a rather still beer that takes on slight cask ale appearances.

Aromas a coffee, chocolate, and toffee are wrapped in a cocoon of vanilla that brings a highly succulent scent to the forefront. Both delicate and robust, the darker elements of the beer portray slight caution, but the allure of vanilla is so very inviting.

Chocolate and vanilla command the flavors while nuances of nutty Colombian coffee, walnut oils, bittersweet chocolate, and cola support the dessert-like taste and add moments of much needed complexity. Light woodish bitterness rides just beneath the flavors of dark and sweet and offers timid balance.

Medium-full in body, the beer's fast fleeting carbonation leaves the beer weighted and dense on the tongue. The medium residual sweetness is long and somewhat lumbering indefinite. Yet, the silky smooth vanilla cream textures offer soft velvety textures that makes the lack of dryness and creaminess much more forgivable.

With the beer's overall dull textures, it needs even more power, strength, and depth to pull off the sill appearance and flat mouthfeel. It could also benefit from backing off of the vanilla just a touch to allow carbonation to remain in suspension a tad longer.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:11:34 | More by BEERchitect