Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter - Grand Teton Brewing Co.

Florida9

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage

A: Black color; fully opaque. Forms a moderate-sized mocha colored head. Decent retention, light lacing.

S: Aroma is pleasant, but a bit muted. Roasted malts, espresso, chocolate. Molasses and raisin to a lesser extent. The aroma is moderately sweet.

T: Taste is surprisingly nice. Lots of chocolate. In fact the chocolate comes through far stronger than the coffee. Moderate sweetness. Milk chocolate, light coffee notes, sweet dark malts, dark stone fruit. Finishes with a ever-so-slight citrus hoppiness.

M: Full bodied, approaching heavy. Lower carbonation level is still appropriate for the style. Moderate viscosity with a moderate chalkiness. Mild bitterness.

O: This beer was a pleasant surprise. It was received as a gift and the only reason I opened it for was to make a batch of "stout" (or in this case, porter) brownies, but the beer itself was very nice. Nicely balanced with some strong chocolatey dessert flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 00:19:48 | More by Florida9

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The bottled on date is hopelessly smeared.

A: A finger of brownish head. Mahogany brown, clear only at the edges.

S: Definitely an "ale brewed with coffee." Not the most powerful and accomplished scent, but reminiscent of a certain coffee brown ale (Ode to Mercy).

T: Tasty, but subdued. It tastes much more like Wild Heaven's 'Imperial Brown Ale with Coffee' than any other Imperial Porter I've tasted. The foretaste is nutty malt, then a wave of cold, stale coffee with a biting, almost metallic tint to the finish. Plenty of sweet, chocolatey malts to round things out in the maintaste. The aftertaste is surprisingly neutral, with only a hint of muted coffee and burnt sugar to remind you that you've been drinking a coffee porter.

M: Far from bad -- and the coffee saves it from below-averageness -- but somehow it needs something a little bit...more. More viscous, more carbonated, more dry, more sweet...just something. A tad flat.

O: A good beer, which I enjoyed more perhaps than my review conveys. Recommended. Would drink again, if not purchase. A light-bodied, malty, nutty beer with added coffee.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 04:59:32 | More by AgentMunky

arizcards

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber from the Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa while visiting in late March for $8.99. Bottled in August 2011.

Beer poured a dark brown with a beautiful tan head upon the initial pour.

Nose is a pleasant dose of coffee beans.

Taste is coffee and hints of cocoa. There is enough hops to balance the sweetness.

Mouthfeel is full, nice and chewy. Very satisfying.

Overall this is a solid rendition of the Grant Teton Cellar series, one of the better ones!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 22:45:00 | More by arizcards

wethorseblanket

California

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle date 9/22/11.

A: Pours black with a 1-inch tan/mocha which slowly fades to the rim leaving splotchy and clumpy lace.

N: Roasted coffee, caramel malts, woody earth, grains. Faint vanilla, char/burnt and dark chocolate notes.

T: Follows nose with the roasted coffee and chocolate. Some nutty and bitter finish.

M: Full body and moderate carbonation. Creamy and silky smooth. Burnt and slightly acrid finish.

O: Very good and well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 04:38:46 | More by wethorseblanket

beagle75

Iowa

3.55/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Opaque dark brown color with one finger of diminishing light beige foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Hops and roast are in balance, with a combination of floral and pine qualities that are surprisingly assertive for style. Still, roast is represented with a mixture of grain, chocolate, and coffee.

T: Begins off-dry, with refined malt that is soft, dark, and very clean. Hop flavors are more pronounced into the middle seeming a bit affected by the acidity. Hop flavors become simple and predictable into the finish before husky roast is allowed to linger on the palate.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, slightly acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: Unusually hoppy for a coffee-centered strong porter, this beer is reminiscent of Sierra Nevada's various black IPAs that have come out of beer camp over the last few years. The point where it departs from any similarity to those other beers is in the mouthfeel, not coming close to their superlative textures. Otherwise it is a fine dark, hoppy ale that disguises its intended coffee component perhaps a little too well.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 23:51:08 | More by beagle75

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours mahogany with 2+ fingers of mocha colored head. Very good lacing & head retention

S: Coffee & chocolate

T: Follows the nose, charred grain in hefty quantities, some iron notes too along with woody hops. This drys out as it warms with coffee & more woody hops, a touch of dark cherry & plum too. Finishes dry with coffee & chocolate with woody & herbal hops

MF: Fairly chewy but lightly carbonated, carbonation smooths out as this warms

This is a well balanced coffee porter, I would like to see this in sixers or 4 packs

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 01:52:52 | More by russpowell

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured into a balloon glass. The beer is a rich dark chocolate black. A mocha colored head sits on top and dissipates to a ring around the edges with a thin film in the center. Sticky lacing is present. The beer smells really toasty and of dark burnt malts. The taste is very roasted, slightly smokey, and bitter. There's a faint coffee finish as well as a nice buttery, cocoa note. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and dry.

Overall, a very nice coffee porter. It takes a while for the coffee notes to emerge. Very drinkable at 7.5%. I'm glad I tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 15:53:14 | More by JuicesFlowing

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Cellar Reserve

Black with dark brown highlights at the bottom. Nice dark tan head with a little island of foam and a ring o' foam for all 25+ ounces.

Roasted coffee beans and roasted malts play well together in teh aroma. You get the REAL coffee bean aroma and coffee aromas imbued from the dark roasted malts. Notes of powdered dark chocolate as well.

Coffee grounds and bean flavors give off a somewhat acidic roasted flavor and mouthfeel overall. Dark, bitter chocolate and burnt pumpernickel bread make up a somewhat sweet finish. Easy to drink and flavorful. Not session, but the palate is oily, but not too oily. Just right for such a black beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 21:58:44 | More by scruffwhor

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage
Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- pours a nice black with a 2 finger cola head. Small blotches cling to the glass in rings.

S- roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and some light pine.

T- dark chocolate, bitter coffee, roasted malts and pine.

M- medium body and carbonation. Very drinkable with some creaminess.

O- nice porter with good coffee flavor. Could have a little more body to increase the mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 02:50:29 | More by kawilliams81

dbossman

Nebraska

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: This is a black beer with a large and fairly steady mocha-colored head and lacing is okay

S: Lots of coffee--roasted, dark coffee beans; some chocolate and dark fruits too but man, this is a rich and malty smelling beer

T: Obviously lots of coffee but the roasted semi-sweet malts balance out the bitterness; some slight alcohol flavors come out in the finish

F: Fairly creamy with a medium texture--a touch thin in the middle but enough of the beer sticks to the roof, making the texture nice

O: A solid coffee porter and though this borders on the stout territory, I like that many of the characteristics of a porter carry through even though it's so big

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 02:26:54 | More by dbossman

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle tried 27 Nov 2011. Served in the 0.4 L Ulmer Munster snifter.

Large brown head. Well carbonated. Very dark brown in color. Aroma of sweet milky coffee, roasty, some cocoa notes. Starts quite roasty sweet, becoming more burnt and roasty through the middle. Chocolate and coffee dominate. Touch of vanilla. Medium body, moderate ethanol. Becomes a bit more roasty and bitter in the finish. Aftertaste is roasty bittersweet chocolate.

A good nightcap for a fall evening.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 03:34:38 | More by htomsirveaux

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a tan head. Color is a deep brown black.

Aroma: a nice coffee roast with a decent amount of vanilla. Chocolate and caramel. Fairly sweet.

Taste: much like the nose but more coffee. A light roast with a lot of chocolate. Caramel and vanilla provide sweetness.

Mouthfeel: smooth roasty and creamy. Medium to full bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends dry.

Overall, this was an enjoyable coffee porter. Not overly roasted. Pretty drinkable. I dig it. Maybe the 750 packaging is exsessive.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 07:47:25 | More by mothman

sweemzander

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours pitch black. Some tan froth and lace.

(S)- A big burst of coffee grounds; freshly brewed coffee at that. Very subtle bits of raisin and cocoa.

(T)- Again, a big and full frontal assault of roasted coffee ground, raisin, cocoa, and very subtle molasses.

(M)- A smooth carbonation level and a nice balance for me. Tons of coffee in your face, but balanced well and not overbearing in any way.

(D)- A great coffee infused beer. Not too strong or bitter, but just really puts out a classic coffee smell and taste. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 04:38:38 | More by sweemzander

SHODriver

California

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

A: Pours a deep brown but black in the glass. No light is getting through this monster. A very small tan head makes a brief appearance
S: Smells of coffee, dark chocolate and roast malt
T: plenty of coffee on the palate with some chocolate flavor and roast malt character to try and provide some complexity. semisweet chocolate aftertaste with another dose of coffee.
M: a little thin but on par for a porter with ample carbonation to keep things lively on the tongue
O: A delicious blend of beer and coffee. This is going to be very enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 00:46:21 | More by SHODriver

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 01/07/12 notes.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one inch oflight tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of roasted malts, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, toasted malts, and earthy notes.

t - Tastes of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, toasted malts, and cream.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth, pretty easy to drink.

o - Overall a nice porter. Coffee isn't super strong but it is there, and it is easy to drink. A very nice porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 18:15:00 | More by mdfb79

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Stopped in a little liquor store in Hays, KS during my pheasant hunting trip to close out the season. I was not expecting to find much in terms of craft beer so I was rather suprised to find this on the shelf! 750 ml bottle that reads bottled on 9/22/11. Poured to a pint glass. The beer pours a deep rich black with dark brown edges when held to the light. A 1 finger tannish colored head with some retention and lacing. The aroma is a thick coffee that you can almost taste through your nose. Also a good amount of roasted barley. Nice aroma. The flavor follows suit with a surge of coffee and espresso flavors right out of the shoot. Big flavor. The roasted malts provide a delicate background to the coffee, but are dominated by the flavor. Mildly bitter, which hints of chocolate as the beer finishes. Medium bodied. Overall the coffee really drives this beer. I am not a huge coffee fan but can appreciate the complexity it adds to brew like this. I enjoyed the beer and would happily pour another glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 14:31:12 | More by hopfacebrew

schwaeh

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sent as a mystery beer by scotchboy, he removed the label.

A: Mystery beer pours out a gravy brown then goes pitch black once collected in my glassware. It has a real dense mocha head that recedes quite slowly. Good lace for a dark beer.

S: This has a great depth of roasted malt and chocolate malts in the nose. Coffee bitterness is notable here, but seems as if it was once more prominent--a bit faded but still there. A nice earthiness is encompassing things adding something to set this apart from most porters. Chocolate and coffee grow stronger as it warms.

T: This is malt-tastic, they are very assertive and create a real nice depth of flavors. Roastiness leads things just as most porters but the chocolate really contends strongly. I get some smoke along the way which helps further smooth the ash out. The more this warms, besides getting more chocolaty, I get some faded pepper spice, almost like some year old Hunahpu's.

M: Heavier-medium body with creamy carbonation. This stuff drinks great while maintaining tons of flavor.

O: This feels like a big bad porter with more going on than most of the ones I've consumed. I really like the coffee, earth, and hints of spice. The malt bill crosses the Eddy Fitz path with Founders porter, in other words, the best of both worlds.

Thanks a lot Dan. Hopefully I get a fresh go at this next time, I can't wait.
Edit: Why in the hell was this a "brewed once"? That is disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 19:13:18 | More by schwaeh

MasterSki

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled September 22nd, 2011. Served in a tumbler.

A - Tan foam settles to a thin cap and a few spots of lace. Very dark brown body, with lighter glints at the fringes.

S - Not as coffee-forward as I was expecting. Light vanilla, some mild fruity coffee acidity, roasted malts, and a bit of baker's chocolate sweetness.

T - Taste has more espresso flavor to it, with a bit of that fruity coffee element to it. There's also some mildly astringent black malt, resulting in a charry and bitter finish. Definitely less sweet than the aroma suggests.

M - Some zesty carbonation, medium body, but no obvious alcohol. Very dry and roasty texture, with a lightly sticky finish.

D - I think the coffee has faded a bit in the past few months, as I remember liking this a bit more the first time I had it. Grand Teton recommends drinking this within 12 months and I'd agree with with them. A solid coffee porter, but there are a lot of superior offerings out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 16:11:47 | More by MasterSki

hardy008

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark black with a 3 finger milk chocolate head with nice retention and plenty of lacing. The aroma has coffee, dark roasted malt, and cocoa.

The taste has coffee, cocoa, dark roasted malt, earthiness, and a small amount of caramel at the end, as it warms up. Mostly bitter, but the caramel at the end provides a little sweetness.

Medium bodied with average carbonation and a bittersweet aftertaste. This is a nice, smooth, and easy to drink porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 03:33:17 | More by hardy008

Beaver13

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, dated 9/22/11. Pours an opaque black with a creamy light brown head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is roasted coffee and chocolate with some burnt notes.

The flavor is chocolate malt, leather, and coffee with a burnt aftertaste. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with low creamy carbonation.

Overall, this was much better on draft than in the bottle (split the difference with the rating numbers). Draft had more bright coffee with sweet chocolate balance. Some weird leather and burnt notes in the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 06:12:07 | More by Beaver13

Treebs

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle, bottled on 9/22/11. Served in a mini tasting snifter.

A: Pours a solid black body with dark brown edges. A thin khaki head forms quickly on the pour and leaves just as quick.

S: Pure ground up coffee beans with a touch of roastiness in there for good measure. Quite dominating.

T: The taste is more of the same with the coffee been and espresso flavors hitting you hard in the beginning, but there is some nice roast in there with a hint of bitter chocolate to give it another layer of flavor.

M: Medium bodied, slightly thin in nature, with decent carbonation. I expecting a little more body with an imperial porter like this.

O: The coffee dominates throughout the whole experience so if you don't like coffee, or think it's just "OK", the I would recommend you stay away from this. It's decent and I'm glad I got to try it, but I probably wouldn't want to have it again. Slightly one dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 16:06:15 | More by Treebs

bitterbeerguy

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wake pours a dark color that passes light only if I hold it up to one. Has an off brown color that looks like toasted marshmallow.

Smell is primarily coffee and oak. Surprising since it is not an oak aged brew. Hints of toffee as well. Just the faintest sour smell at the end.

Taste was nice. Coffee and toffee. I was disappointed with the finish though, left me wanting something more.

Overall I am not sure if I would grab this one again, but with the price I probably will.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 18:47:00 | More by bitterbeerguy

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle given as a gift by my brother.
Bottled on 9/22/11.
Poured into a US pint glass.

Standard pour produces a ~2cm head, made up of medium-sized dark tan bubbles, which declines over a minute or two to a thin ring around the glass. Small waves of lacing are left along the glass' sides. The body is dark brown or black with amber highlights, both in an out of light.

Aromas of roasted malt, sweeter chocolate/brown malt, dark chocolate, blackberries, and some coffee. Not an overwhelming amount of coffee for me in this one, but some other seem to get more of that particular aroma.

Taste was quite good, with well-balanced amounts of chocolate, coffee, fruity esters, and dark malt flavor. Not as roasty as a stout. Advertised as a coffee porter, that is exactly what you get.

Body was medium-heavy, which I would have expected to be a bit heavier as this is an "imperial" porter. Carbonation was at about a medium level, giving this a fairly crisp mouthfeel. Finish semi-dry.

Overall, an enjoyable coffee porter, could use a bit "bigger" or "heavier" of a mouthfeel, and perhaps some more robust notes in the flavor, but still quite good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 02:39:18 | More by falloutsnow

claspada

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice deep dark brown color with a small light brown head that quickly fades into a small cap of bubbles with a few spots of lacing around the edges.

Aromas begin with, you guessed it, tons of heavily roasted coffee, the a touch of chocolate joins the party, but this is a huge coffee forward aroma. A touch of roasted barley, but it's pretty indistinguishable with all the coffee. Just a touch of caramel in here as well as it warms. I love the smell of fresh coffee, and this one hits it right on.

The tastes begin with, as expected, a huge blast of coffee and tons of roasted flavors. Decent amount of bitterness here as well, can't really tell if it is coffee or hop induced. No reallt hop flavors are distinguishable. Just a bit of chocolate and some caramel as well, but it really takes a back seat to the coffee flavor.

The mouthfeel is medium to heavy bodied with medium to low carbonation, which works incredibly well for a coffee forward beer. Dry and roasty on the finish.

Overall this was a great after dinner/coffee beer. Really a tasty beer, but it doesn't have the depth to really make it an amazing beer. Still very enjoyable. Definitely worth a go for fans of coffee beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 14:01:50 | More by claspada

bbb099

California

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

A - Pours black with dark red hue accompanied by a foamy tan-colored head.

S - Coffee and roasted grain aroma, not exceptionally strong however.

T - Hints of coffee, slightly acidic, but the main flavor consists of the dark and roasted malt flavor.

M - Average carbonation. Medium to light bodied.

O - Better than your average porter. One of the better beers from Grand Teton.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 02:07:58 | More by bbb099