Imperial Tanilla Porter - Knee Deep Brewing Company

SHODriver

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured into a snifter because this is a big beer... pours black with a very minute tan head after a vigorous pour with minimal retention as it recedes to a small collar around the glass
S: smells of vanilla and chocolate along with a bit of molasses
T: chocolate and vanilla dominate with a little bit of coffee and some bitter roast malt flavor. slight nuttiness at times. a bit of alcohol as well but not much. swallow brings more vanilla, chocolate and the alcohol makes a bigger appearance
M: about on par for a porter, kinda thin feeling for a dark beer but that's what I expect. soft carbonation almost isn't there and the beer is kinda close to flat but not quite.
O: pretty solid, it drinks pretty well and has some good flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 04:49:12 | More by SHODriver

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Had the regular version so when I saw the imperial version, I knew I had to tick it. 22oz. bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter.

Pours a .5 finger light cream colored head with poor retention. Lacing is spotty and sparse but with good stick. Beer is opaque black but rather thin. Average.

Nose is chocolate, lactose, roasted malt, and cocoa. Nicely sweet and creamy. Aromatic too. Pretty good.

Opens roasted malt, liquorice, and chocolate. Lactose sweetness and creaminess in the middle with some fresh dark fruit and more cocoa and chocolate at the end. Finishes sweet candied sugar with a similar aftertaste. Decent.

Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation. Thin and filmy in the mouth and aggressive and bubbly going down. Accented finish with a pretty clean aftertaste. A bit too thin for an imperial porter.

A pretty middle-of-the-road beer overall. This isn't a lot different from the regular version. A bit sweet and the body is just way too thin. I wouldn't really revisit this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 02:53:51 | More by SpeedwayJim

moonknight31

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-19-2013 17:05:42 | More by moonknight31

thebouch01

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-13-2013 14:48:11 | More by thebouch01

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

04-06-2013 18:21:40 | More by t0rin0

MastaShonuf

California

4.25/5  rDev +13%

04-05-2013 13:53:10 | More by MastaShonuf

ralphw56

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +13%

03-23-2013 23:53:31 | More by ralphw56

heavenlyStash

California

4.25/5  rDev +13%

03-19-2013 05:32:57 | More by heavenlyStash

Pinche_Oso

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

03-17-2013 01:53:42 | More by Pinche_Oso

grrrah

California

3.89/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

22oz. in to a tulip

A: Pours a dark brown with thin tan head that dissipates quickly. Not as dark as some of the other reviews.

Smell: Dark chocolate and vanilla. Nice but somewhat faint aroma.

T: Iike the smell. Vanilla with a little less cocoa. Kinda wish it was a little stronger. Had higher hopes after enjoying the regular Tanilla, but this is too similar. The 10% is well hidden.

M: Medium body, but somewhat light for an Imperial.

O: Nice beer, may buy again if at a good price. I'm a big fan of Victory at Sea, and was hoping this would come closer to that. Comes up short, but still enjoyable enough to warrant occasional purchase.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 06:00:45 | More by grrrah

Twan22

California

2.5/5  rDev -33.5%

01-26-2013 02:53:22 | More by Twan22

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

01-20-2013 03:35:08 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

cletusdog

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

01-17-2013 04:07:04 | More by cletusdog

ElSid

California

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#42

Bottled Date: None

A: Pitch black which is almost light impenetrable but there seems to be a faint occasional glimmer which comes through when held up to the light. The off white head builds slowly with the pour and fades to a moderate lace on the glass.

S: Roasty, smooth with strong qualities of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee with several lumps of sugar which bring well balanced sweetness to the overall nose. The vanilla is better described as a fire burnt marshmallow and the sweetness at times can be raisin-like.

T: The palate is round, balanced with similar offerings noted in the nose: vanilla, smoke, cocoa, espresso, raisins, and brown sugar. There is an earthy, sappy bitterness which begins in the mid palate along with burnt brown bread which builds and fades throughout. The finish is dry with a warming bourbon feel.

M: Somewhat thin for an Imperial Porter but good smoothness and appropriate carbonation.

O: A well crafted porter with vanilla beans, which adds a nice layer of interest to the nose and palate. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming which lends an easy-smooth drinkability to the brew. Enjoyable and worthy of future purchases.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 09:20:11 | More by ElSid

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

12-30-2012 05:52:28 | More by DrunkinYogi

arash1000

California

4.25/5  rDev +13%

12-27-2012 06:33:53 | More by arash1000

Beerandboards

New Mexico

3.05/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got this as a nice extra in a trade. No date I could find.

Poured into a pint glass

A - pour produces a 2-3 inch foamy tan/brown head. Reduces pretty quickly to a thin crown. Black, but not completely opaque.

S - smells of chocolate, vanilla, some roasty notes. Didn't really jump out at me right at the front, nor when it was allowed to warm up.

T - dark chocolate, roasty malts, some vanilla. Some others have noted the vanilla being overpowering, but I didn't get that. In fact, thought it could have used a little bit more. Overall, very easy to drink, hid the ABV well, had no problems or complaints. Nice tasting beer.

M - medium to thin. My personal taste is for a imp porter to be a bit thicker. This score lagged because of that. Nothing bad or wrong, just personal preference.

O - a nicely put together porter. I thought the flavors were balanced well and it was quite easy to drink and enjoyable. Would have it again if it had the chance, would love to have it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 06:23:31 | More by Beerandboards

metter98

New York

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is near black in color and has only traces of red near the edge of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a quarter finger high tan head that died down a bit and eft lots of wispy lacing on the glass and a collar around the edge of the edge the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of chocolate and vanilla beans in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell except that it also has some notes of espresso beans.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I thought that this porter had a nice balance between the flavors of chocolate, espresso, and vanilla beans.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:19:00 | More by metter98

tbeq00

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%

12-21-2012 05:17:36 | More by tbeq00

RangnaR

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

12-17-2012 16:39:38 | More by RangnaR

Kaymord

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

12-12-2012 22:48:48 | More by Kaymord

WesM63

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%

12-10-2012 06:37:17 | More by WesM63

Dope

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown. Large foamy light brown head. Fades ridiculously slowly. Great head retention. Excellent fluffy wall of lacing.

S: Mild roasted malt with a bit of chocolate and coffee. Nice vanilla mixes in and sweetens it up, almost overpowering the roasted malt. Get a bit of nearly-burnt toastiness, like pretzels. Lightest bit of dark fruit in there too.

T: Smoke, some char and vanilla all mixes together up front. More char, chocolate and the vanilla is turning sweeter and stronger here. Finishes with creamy vanilla, almost marshmallow-like at points. Finally, hints of bitter char and smoke stand alone and linger in the aftertaste.

M: Full bodied, very smooth and creamy.

O: A really tasty porter. The vanilla is quite strong and honestly it does overpower the roasted malt and smoke a bit. Having said that, it is a nice sweet and creamy vanilla and is absolutely delicious. I'll call it even. Tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 04:13:47 | More by Dope

Jasonrm72

Colorado

3/5  rDev -20.2%

11-23-2012 00:17:49 | More by Jasonrm72

kojevergas

California

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are fairly high; this brewery is growing on me. 10% ABV confirmed. 48 IBU. Cost was $7.49.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm considerably over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a half finger khaki colour head of nice thickness, decent cream, and mundane retention (~25 seconds). Body colour is a solid nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visible. Opaque. No bubble show.

Sm: Vanilla, roast, coffee, and cacao. An average strength aroma. Dark malts.

T: Vanilla, dark malts, cacao, chocolate, some roast, and caramel. Well balanced and built, if a bit simple for the style. No alcohol or yeast comes through. The vanilla should be stronger; Victory at Sea this is not. Complex and enjoyable.

Mf: Smooth, wet, nicely thick, and well carbonated. Good thickness. Suits the flavours generally well.

Dr: Quite drinkable. Hides its high ABV quite well. I really like it. A good brew from Knee Deep. I'd definitely try this on-draught. Not as good as other beers in the style, but a solid effort.

Pairs well with spicy food - especially habanero salsa and nachos.

B

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 05:03:47 | More by kojevergas