No Rules
Perrin Brewing Co.

No RulesNo Rules
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From:
Perrin Brewing Co.
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
Ranked #7
ABV:
15%
Score:
99
Ranked #211
Avg:
4.49 | pDev: 7.8%
Reviews:
294
Ratings:
1,414
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 13, 2024
Added:
May 15, 2015
Wants:
  341
Gots:
  412
This 15% Imperial Porter was made with coconut and turbinado sugar then laid down and aged in bourbon barrels for several months. With a classic film reference weaved into the label art, we hope you enjoy this product as much as we did making it. A generous donation will be made to The Raider Project for each bottle sold to thank them for what they do for our Marine Veterans.

2015 = Green Bowling Ball
2016 = Purple Bowling Ball
2017 = Orange Bowling Ball
2018 = Silver Bowling Ball
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LambicPentameter:
Photo of LambicPentameter
Reviewed by LambicPentameter from Nebraska

4.15/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Enjoyed out of a 22 oz brown bomber with no bottling date that I noticed, but given the style and the fact that this was only released a few weeks ago, I'm not terribly concerned. Time to see if this one lives up to the crazy buzz that's been surrounding it--poured into a large brandy-style snifter.

Appearance (4.25) - Pours a dark cola color from the bottle that becomes a fairly matte black-brown once it is all collected in the glass. If I hold it up to the light, I can see those same cola colored notes on the edges of the darker body. Atop sits a finger toasted marshmallow colored head that looks somewhat pillowy and only retains for a minute or so before turning into a ringlet around the edges of the glass. No lacing to be seen whatsoever, but some faint legs are present for a bit when the glass is tipped.

Smell (4.25) - There is a considerable sweetness on the smell that contains therein pleasant notes of coconut, brown sugar, and faint cinnamon. I'm really enjoying the gentle intertwining of the coconut and cinnamon, which both come through in a subtle and balanced manner, but I must admit a little trepidation at the fact that I can't really detect any alcohol (for a 15% beer no less!) or the contrapuntal notes of roast and bittersweet chocolate that are quintessential to the porter style and might serve to offset the sweeter elements. But for now, I'll put such worries aside and enjoy the delicious smell of this dessert beer.

Taste (4.0) - Initially, the wonderful balance of coconut and cinnamon that were previewed by the smell makes for a great first impression. Coconut and cinnamon are two of my favorite ingredients in a beer, but I think this is the first time I'd ever had them side by side in one beer. However, as I work my way through the glass I begin to get fatigued by the increasingly cloying sweetness that I can only assume comes from the use of the turbinado sugar. It seems my initial reservations about the smell lacking any elements of booziness or roasted char flavors have been realized, as I really want another flavor profile to cut through the confectionary melange from the coconut, sugar and cinnamon. The sweeter profiles all but drown out the barrel-aging; I'm sure there are some notes of vanilla and caramel, but it's hard to pick them out of the crowd. With some warmth, the sweetness is tempered a bit as the booze comes through more, but it's still sweet enough that I decide to cap my bottle to finish the second half the following night.

Mouthfeel (4.25) - Carbonation is on the low side of moderate and the body is medium-heavy in thickness. I wish it were a bit thicker, because I can't help but wonder if it would support the sweetness a bit better. The end result is a nice feel that gives the impression of slickness at times.

Overall (4.25), a beer that I enjoyed quite a bit while simultaneously coming away disappointed. It starts off so well, but becomes maddeningly monotonous as you work through the bottle. 22 oz was simply too much for me to finish in one sitting, but I can imagine that this would be a huge hit at settings where you only get 5-6 oz at a time. There are some excellent things going on in this beer, but it certainly was a lesson for me in Too Much Of A Good Thing. I will definitely be sharing my other bottles rather than taking them to the face like I tried to do with this one.
Aug 31, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Feb 13, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by sd123 from Georgia

Aug 11, 2023
Photo of Franziskaner
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri

4.44/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black in color with no light penetration. Fingernail of brown around the rim and covering half of the top. Moderate, soapy lacing. I smell milk chocolate, coconut, and bourbon. I’m tasting dark chocolate, bourbon, and coconut. It’s deceptively silky smooth for the ABV.
Aug 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.32 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Aug 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.8 by JAWS from New York

Jun 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.94 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Jun 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.53 by hopley from Massachusetts

May 09, 2023
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Yellow bowling ball I think means 2019. Tried in January 2023. Very boozy nose. Head was tan. Pour was darker than most porters, but don't let that scare you :) Taste is chocolate with coconut on the backend. While this is 15% it is a very smooth drinking beer. Well done!
Jan 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.93 by Grupatre from Michigan

Sep 07, 2022
Photo of BigIronH
Reviewed by BigIronH from Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2021 on draft.

Pours a pitch black. Swirling gives way to thick oily alcohol legs, almost like what you would get swirling a dram of bourbon. Not much head, as expected for 15% but a pencil lead thin ring the color of hot chocolate sticks around for the entirety.

Nose is earthy sugarcane, burnt brown sugar, molasses, toffee, some cinnamon, and vanilla

Taste follows suit with the addition of barrel notes, however subtle. This doesn’t drink like 15%. Very easy drinking, oily, smooth, and full. Excellent example of the style and an over expression of what can be done with it. Glad to have finally tried it. Cheers.
Feb 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.75 by ryand14 from Michigan

Feb 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.34 by not2quick from Missouri

Jan 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.32 by rarapacz from Minnesota

Dec 31, 2021
Photo of Pivopijak
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

4.31/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
draught
This is a 2019 Vietnamese barrel aged version.
Quite, quite dark brown, with a thin beige head. No light transmission here. Sweet bourbon and molasses, with some toasted coconut and toffee, in the smell. Slightly syrupy malt, toasted coconut and a bit of spiced toffee, in the taste, with a tiny bite that lingers awhile. Finish is a sweet dark malt and bourbon flavor.
Oct 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.38 by LumpkinBrews from Colorado

Oct 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by beermanben from Wisconsin

Oct 05, 2021
Photo of bret27
Rated by bret27 from California

3.81/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2016 bottle courtesy of JohnnyHops.
Age hasn’t been kind to this brew. Will rate generously and re-rate when able to try fresher.
Aug 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.74 by Jcoleman4 from Ohio

Jun 30, 2021
No Rules from Perrin Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 99 out of 100 with 1414 ratings