Twisted Pine Northstar Imperial Porter - Twisted Pine Brewing Company

whoneeds8

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a new belgium chalice black with a thin tan head. Minimal lacing. The smell is strong of both a carmel brandy and a little alcohol is evident. The taste is mellow for the strong scents, but it is very smooth. The alcohol that was apparent in the scent is not in the mouthfeel, which is very nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 00:17:25 | More by whoneeds8

Mora2000

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown/black color with a tan head. Aroma is dark fruit, roasted malt, milk chocolate and coffee. The taste is full of flavor, with all of the components that are in the aroma as well as a little bit of sweetness from the malt. Coffee is probably the predominant flavor, but there is chocolate in there as well. Very enjoyable. The alcohol is very well hidden, making this very drinkable. The beer has a medium mouthfeel, not too thick and not too thin.

This beer just became available in Dallas and will be one of my go to baltic porters.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 23:50:43 | More by Mora2000

BgThang

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beerwas recently distro'd in texas. Figured I would give it a try. This is a great porter. really full bodied and nice chocolate, coffee, roasted flavors come through.
I liek this one alot. Its almost an imperial stout. really nicely done.

I am looking forward to buying this beer more often.
The aroma is a little bit of dark fruits, coffee, and that of a nice imperial porter

I have another go to porter now

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 04:20:25 | More by BgThang

GregSVT

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep black with a dark khaki head that reduces to a small ring and leaves a small amount of lacing.

S: The nose is full of chocolate, dark fruit, and roasted malt aromas.

T: Taste is awesome with milk chocolate, cocoa, dark fruit, and loads of roasty malt. Great stuff and I can't wait to take another sip.

M: A bit thin at first but it coats the mouth with an oil consistency and lets the finish last for a while. If this was thicker I could have bumped up the score but this is the only bad part of this beer.

D: I could drink this all night and plan to buy this again. Not having the ABV is a bit annoying but I'm sure it's around 8%-10% being an Imperial Porter which would limit this to a bomber or 2 in a night.

If you love creamy, chocolatey, roasty porters this one is for you. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 02:36:53 | More by GregSVT

champ103

Texas

3/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a dark, opaque brown color. A small bubbly tan head forms that recedes in an instant. Light lace is left behind.
S: Roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate. An odd citrus hop aroma that does not mesh right with the roasted aroma. Also an odd mineral aroma. Not bad, just...odd.
T: More roasted malt than the nose. Chocolate and coffee again. Some alcohol, and mineral flavors.
M/D: A medium to full body. A little to much prickly carbonation though. The alcohol is noticeable. A bomber is a bit much for one person.

Just so so. Nothing special, but nothing bad. Kind of a run of the mill porter. It is worth at least a try though.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 02:13:13 | More by champ103

Rayek

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep chocolate brown. Almost black. A dense and rocky tan head starts strong and has excellent retention. A heavy lace is left behind.

S: Strong aromas of espresso, baking chocolate and even a bit of dark fruit. A mild mineral quality is in the background.

T: Bittersweet, with a lean to the sweet side. Chocolate, molasses, espresso and dark berries make up the bulk of the flavor. An earthy bitterness has just enough oomph to keep the sweeter flavors in check. A mild alcohol warmth adds an extra dimension. Finishes with a lingering earthy molasses flavor.

M: The super heavy body is dense and syrupy. Carbonation is a bit too high.

D: A definite sipping beer. Not the best pick for a cool late summer evening, but an excellent beer overall. Perhaps a good candidate for a winter time revisit.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 04:47:38 | More by Rayek

csmiley

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pours a very dark brown that borders black. An aggressive pour ends with little foam. The tan head is minimal at best. It only amounts to a thin cap on the brew and doesn't stick around for very long. Lacing is scarce. Appearance could probably be improved a little. Note: the second glass from the bomber looks a little better than the first - more head but retention and lacing are still minimal.

S - Subtle and nice. Chocolate notes come through first. A little smokey in the middle mixed with a dash of coffee bean. It finishes off with a sweeter aroma that is hard to pin point. Getting hints of brown sugar and maple syrup. Hey, sounds odd but it works out pretty well.

T - Now this is a porter that is put together very well. Flavor starts out with bittersweet chocolate and espresso. The coffee fades pretty quick and get replaced with some smokey additions. Chocolate turns to more of a dry cocoa flavor. Alcohol is barely noticeable on the tail end. Just like the aroma, it ends with a light sweet note that is hard to pick out. The flavor is knocking pretty hard on the door of 4.5 but just misses that mark by a hair.

M - On the fuller side of medium bodied with a very light carbonation level. Finish starts out pretty dry and ends with a little bit of sweetness that really just compliments dry aspect of the brew. Very well done.

D - Drinkability is very good for this brew. Alcohol is hidden quite well. All the good characteristics of a Baltic Porter are present in most categories. Taste and mouthfeel are where this brew really excels. It comes in bombers but that is no problem at all for this beer. I would gladly have another Northstar if I had the chance. Granted, the look of the brew could use some tweaks but it really does well in all other areas. Glad I got the chance to try it out.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 03:00:42 | More by csmiley

wagenvolks

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber passed around at a BA tasting event in Austin. Thanks to JDV for the share!

Pours a rich, robust black body with a well-retained custard head. Chocolate everywhere in the aroma; an almost tootsie-roll like sweetness complements the cocoa.

Flavor starts off with molasses and lots of chocolate, giving way to bitter roasted malts, earthen hops, and a hint of spicy nutmeg and booze. Mouthfeel is creamy and finishes smooth, with a well-carbonated body that adds to the drinkability. Not quite sure if this is really a "Baltic Porter" as its listed--not enough dark chocolate and fruits. It more likely belongs in the straightforward "American Porter" category, even with the upped ABV. Overall, this was a nice introduction to Twisted Pine for me. Their Imperial Porter is rich, delectable, and drinkable. Definitely a brewery to watch out for in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2009 02:55:36 | More by wagenvolks

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark brown, nearly black in color. Smell is very roasted malts and nice deep, dark chocolate. Taste is more of the chocolate, roasted malt and some molasses. This is a very good porter. Medium to full on the mouthfeel. This has many characteristics of a stout. This is well done and very flavorful. Good porter.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 21:48:18 | More by FtownThrowDown

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber pours light mahogany with 1 finger of brown head. Some lacing & a bit of head retention

S: Chocoate, booze & molasses

T: Chocolate with booze up front. Iron & a hint of mocha follow. Roasted grains & hot booze dominate the finsh

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation.

Drinks a bit slow, but a nice Baltic Porter that needs some aging

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2007 07:19:59 | More by russpowell

Beaver13

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle. Pours a very dark brown with a smallish brown head that quickly diminishes to a collar that laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet lactic chocolate and some dark fruits with a little hops in the background. As it sits, alcohol comes out.

The flavor is sweet chocolate, lactose and grains with a little dark fruits. It has a crisp finish, but negligible bitterness. The alcohol is well-hidden. The mouthfeel is pretty full with light carbonation.

Overall, an OK imperial porter. It's a bit too unbalanced on the sweet side - almost like a milk stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2007 06:52:18 | More by Beaver13

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Another of the many fine brews I scored in the secret santa from Mentor. Thanks man! I am sampling in a snifter at cellar temp. The beer pour a pitch black with no light escaping through the other side. A large spongy and creamy tan head foams up 3-4 cm easily and fades slowly to a robust surface layer. Aroma is toffee, chocolate, brown sugar and molasses. Some citrusy, (lemon) hops and also faint roasted malt.
The first sip reveals a silky smooth texture and very fine yet tingly carbonation that gently rolls over my palate.
Flavor is choc sweet up front with caramel and toffee mixing with a roasted malt hit nicely. The flavor is all malt and finishes chocolate/coffee bittersweet, like a mocha. Very smooth and easy to drink. Wish I could get more of this very nice brew!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2005 01:39:03 | More by sulldaddy

cncbofh

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour as black as night.

Received a 4.0 on appearance due to an almost non-existent head. Poured aggressively and still nothing...

Taste was exceptional. Roasted chocolate malts... very sweet, creamy and chewy. Had a milky smooth feel in the mouth. The alcohol was very well hidden. Hops, bitterness, and sourness were all present, but hardly noticeable and were all overpowered by the intensely sweet malts.

This was an excellent beer. Warmed me up while watching the snow fall outside.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2004 22:06:52 | More by cncbofh

Crosling

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Dark brown in color with a moderate sized tan head. Poor head retention but the lacing wasn't as issue.

Smelled of molasses, toffee, almonds, chocolate, coffee and a hint of raspberries.

This beer starts out nice. The mid-palate gets a little worse and then the finish is just plain poor. A thin body with poor mouthfeel.

A pretty poor offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2003 06:16:23 | More by Crosling