Smoke Jumper Smoked Imperial Porter - Left Hand Brewing Company

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle courtesy of grub. Bottle is from 2006.

Pours an opaque and cloudy dark brown, almost black, few reddish highlights in the edges, medium sized light tan head forms, few lace spots, solid ring around the glass. Smell is neat, smoky, caramel, chocolate, roast, floral, brown sugar sweetness, a bit of jerky, smoky chocolate sugary goodness, a bit of lactose too. Taste is chocolate, toffee, lactose, smoky jerky, some alcohol, brown sugar, some floral hops, earthy, some oak, bitter finish, real nice and smoky, light bit of oaky sourness. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with medium carbonation, some warmth, real smooth. Smoke is very well done in this one, plays well with the chocolate character. Great stuff, thanks Russ!

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2008 01:27:11 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a very dark chocolate brown, almost black color with very fain mahogany edges when held to a light source and a two finger frothy coffee colored head. Excellent retention, only sloly fading into a lasting cap that coats the glass with patches of soapy lacing.

Extremely smokey roasted malt aroma with hints of bitter dark chocolate, burnt toast, campfire, butane and BBQ bacon. This beer smells incredibly smokey but the roasted and sweeter chocolate malt notice are still present.

This beer is actually better balanced than I expected. I was expecting a complete smoke bomb but there was a nice sweet silky chocolate malt and lactic creamy presence to balance things out. This thing is still heavy on the smoke flavor with hints of burnt toast, roasted coffee/espresso bean, BBQ, bacon, charcoal, butane ans ash. Not acrid though! There's also some slight caramel and hazelnut adding to the complexity and balance. The ABV is very well masked and in addition to the balanced flavors makes this beer dangerously drinkable. Dry smokey finish. Awesome and highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 00:00:24 | More by corby112

glid02

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a dark brown color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of smoked malts, even more so than most smoked porters - sausage and jerky come to mind. As the beer warms roasted malt notes waft out as well as dark chocolate aromas.

Tastes good. The smoked malt flavors aren't quite as intense as the smell would have led me to believe, and are counteracted nicely with roasted malt flavors. Again, as the beer warms the roasted malt and dark chocolate flavors assert themselves more. Ending is mildly bitter with a touch of smoke. I would not have guessed the 9.2% ABV.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I had no problem finishing the glass and could have another.

Overall this is a tasty smoked porter than can hang with the best of them. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2009 03:20:35 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The pour from the caged and corked 750ml bottle is deep brown to black in color, the head a nice chocolate brown, as it erodes, and the lace forms a thick and glutinous curtain that obscures the glass. Start has a rich deep burnt grain aroma, hints of hops and malt, a bit of smokiness also present, Top is light to moderate in feel and the rfinish has a good hop presence with a pleasant acidity, fairly dry and a nice Porter overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2007 21:37:11 | More by Gusler

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a deep burnt mahogany with a dark sandy colored head that was foamy and moderately lasting leaving a patchy, clumpy lacing on the way down.

S: light charred woodiness, smokey pine and light bacon hints.

T: The initial flavor yielded a beautiful deep roasted chocolate malting and roasted grains which was dry, smokey with some dried pine hopping. The flavor was rich with a light sweet burnt malting coming though adding some sweetness. There was some bacon and nice minerality to the palate as well which lingered in the fade. A great example and ranks up there with the best of the smoked beers Aechet Schlenkerla.

M: dry, creamy and full while leaving a light smoked malt coating behind. Really nice.

D: Next to Aecht Schlenkerla one of the finest smoked beers ive had. A truly wonderful drink which would pair well with a smoked porterhouse steak and potatoes.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2008 22:57:44 | More by beerthulhu

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Gazing directly into the beer is - God forbid! - pretty much how I'd imagine things would look being stuck in a house fire. Everything is sooty and visibility is virtually nil.The head itself is like a giant, ever-lasting puff of smoke; its russet colour gives the impression of tarnishing despite that its form and lacing could not be any more embellished or ornate.

Like all good Imperial Porters this one has plenty of roasty maltiness and bittersweet chocolate; unlike most others, however, this one smells as though it was bottled during a forest fire or conceived over an open-fire pig spit. Smells of suckling pork, campfires and kindled wood sound unsuitable for a beer but they are, in fact, surprisingly enriching.

Using smoked malts in a beer is awfully similar to using bold spices in a recipe - a little can go a long way and if you use too much you risk obliterating all your other ingredients and overwhelming most peoples' palates. Some people, of course, simply can't do smokiness, they just plain don't like it. Not me though! I love it (provided it's implemented wisely).

Which means I only love it provided I can still make out the flavours beyond it. In this case, there is still a healthy and easily perceived maltiness that, having survived the smokiness, goes on to imprint flavours of honeycomb toffee, nutty milk chocolate, molasses and caramel tarts (proving that toasted malt can coexist alongside smoked malt!)

There is also, slouching but still standing after two long years in the bottle, a bitter, earthy, almost spicy-green taste of zestful American hops. Talk about balance. And you'd think at 9.8% that warming would pack a heavy punch of alcohol, but no, instead we are treated to previously withheld notes of espresso, wild mushrooms and yet more chocolate.

Cheap beers are rarely creative and the creative ones are even more rarely cheap; I don't recall this beer being too expensive but I'm sure whatever the brewery asks for it is a fair price. Drinking it gives you the sensation that what you're ingesting is something remarkably special and the feeling it leaves you with is one of pure satiation and content.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 01:18:41 | More by biegaman

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown, almost black with a moderate head. Very nice campfire aroma- not like bacon as some smoked beers. Less unctuous in aroma and dryer. Similar in the taste. Very big smoked flavors andd some sweet malt as well as some moderate roastiness. Not super complex, but very satisfying. Slightly chewy and sweet in the mouth. One of Left Hand's best beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2009 01:50:18 | More by Georgiabeer

mactrail

California

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark and stormy with plenty of suds. Pleasant mouthfeel with fine carbonation. Rich but not sticky.

A modest smokiness with a touch of bacon. Dark roasted malt with some charred notes. A hint of sweetness behind the dry smoke and coffee. Woody, like barrels. Fairly sharp after a few sips. Sprightly on the tongue. An interesting balance of alcohol, smoke, and malt, with a little bitter aftertaste. A very sippable dark brew. Strong but mellow.

From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Philnor Liquor in Lakewood.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 04:38:27 | More by mactrail

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ebon and inky with a thick lush cap of finger high tan foam. Lacing is in broken blobby sheets attaches like shadows to the glass.

Aroma isn't as jumpy as I thought, but it does emerge quickly across the air with a tangy, smokey, roastyness soaked with a good dose of milk chocolate.

Taste jumps right into some well rounded roasty tones, nicely mild, earthy, within a mid-ranged darkness. Firm, milky, smooth, texture filled with a milk chocolateyness, but getting beyond that is the signs of the fire with some smokey tang filling the area quickly as it gains a wind of girth in the middling areas, then cinders into a complexing finish that adds a touch of vanilla, caramel, and a welcome relighting of milken chocolate and bits of dark tanged bacony smokeyness. Enjoyable tone, length, texture, and flavor mixture the whole way thru.

Body is creamy smooth with a well balanced tang of roast and smokey tones as it stays within the walls of a medium bodied milky roundedness. Finish has a complexingly dry smokey finish with all sorts of leftover roast, slightly burnt things, smoke tang, and chocolate.

Smoke Jumper is one very solid porter that'll light up anyones palate with a nice balance and mild play of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2010 00:59:24 | More by tavernjef

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich opaque sable that is just a shade or two from black; head is tan and fairly thick but none too persistent. Strong aroma is smoky and oily with a firm overtone of fine coffee and hints of molasses and caramel. Rich flavor has roast coffee core with touches of molasses, unsweetened chocolate and burnt caramel and just a touch of hops. Texture is smooth and a little syrupy, somewhat tingly, leaving a slightly sweet mocha finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 20:21:45 | More by Cyberkedi

largadeer

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22 oz bomber as an extra from Sparky27, thanks dude.

Appearance: Uncapped with a sharp tssk and then poured into a tulip. The liquid is pretty damn black and opaque when held against the light, with three fingers of reverse-cascading tan foam resting on top.

Smell: Big bacony smoke, roasted toasted grain and a dash of coffee. Smells well attenuated and rather dry.

Taste/mouthfeel: Up front woody campfire smoke with a big malty base to back it up. Dry on the whole, pleasantly roasty, and lighter in body than I would have expected from such a big beer. The finish brings out a bit of spicy licorice and warming alcohol, but this is fairly drinkable overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2009 01:44:37 | More by largadeer

avalon07

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from a bomber to a pint glass. Had a jet black color and a thick consistency. There was a huge, tan-colored, long-lasting head. Average lacing.

S: A smoky aroma to say the least, with hints of malt and hops as well.

T: Tasted of roasted malt, a little chocolate, a hint of coffee, and the ubiquitous smoky quality. The flavor is closer to a stout than a porter, but that's not a bad thing. A big, focused, enjoyable flavor.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a slick finish. Medium- to full-bodied.

O: You enjoyment of this beer (and others like it) depends entirely on your love of the smokiness. If you like it, this is a beer for you.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 13:26:18 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark mahogany out of the bottle and sits almost completely black in the glass with a creamy one-inch head that recedes slowly to a cap.

The aroma is awesome, smells like hickory smoked sausage. There are some chocolate malts and coffee floating around in the back but the smoked meat aroma dominates.

The taste has a sweet dark malt flavor up front before the smoked meats take over and leave a boozy smoke-filled finish.

The mouthfeel is smooth with lots of smoke and slightly dry in the finish.

This is a great smoked beer, and one that has plenty of smoked character without being overpowering. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 03:50:41 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2006 vintage 750ml bottle

Nice sandy beige after a good pour into my snifter. Pours a very dark brownie hue with claret to mahogany stain highlights. BBQ smoke dominates the nose, but there are some hints of sweet malted milk balls. But very faint. Smoke, smoke, and more smoke. The start and middle sit heavy wth liquid smoke flavor. It isn't until the finish that you get some roasted malt notes. Hints of creamy caramel chocolate and just a dash oily hops to help cut through some of that smoke. What lingers is a smokey, bitter chocolate. The smokey favor lingers so long due to the oily texture of this beer. Alcohol also helps cut some o the thick smokey fog and bring forward that malted chocolate flavors. This is a beer to finish the evening with. Don't ty and drink any other beer ater this, if you can after you a full 750ml by yourself. I would like to try this with a steak with a good dash of black pepper.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2008 04:37:45 | More by scruffwhor

dirtylou

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle, split/shared on christmas day post-highland black mocha stout

appearance: dark as night, rich chocolatey cap with strong retention and creamy lacing

smell: rich dark chocolate, bacon, smoked meats, alcohol soaked dark fruits

taste: big time porter - rich dark chocolate, smoked meat, peat and other earthy flavor, roasted coffee, dark roasted malts, boozed covered plum, raisins and dates.

mouthfeel: rich and rubust, creamy with a boozy bite

drinkability: ok

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 20:29:43 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 1/2 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, smoke, slight alcohol, and slight dry hop. Fits the style of an American Porter. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt, dry hop, sweet malt, alcohol, slight smoke, and slight hop. Overall, good appearance, body, and aroma. I would have liked a stronger smoke presence, but still a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2012 15:19:27 | More by Tone

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown color, almost black with a thick, creamy dark tan head. Foam recedes slowly to a nice coating.

Nose is a very nice mix of pipe tobacco, rauchbier-esque smokiness and chocolate. There is some dark fruit in there for sure, most akin to raisins. Good, bold nose that I am (surprisingly) enjoying more than Stone's smoked porter.

Smokiness is very prominent, which I like and can never get enough of. Roasty malt and dark chocolate flavors round out the profile nicely. It leaves a deep toasty and hoppy bitterness on the back of the tongue. Full flavored beer, and yet very well balanced. Bottle does not have the ABV labeled, but it tastes pretty high. I am not getting a whole lot of the juniper flavors, but maybe not all of the pine notes are attributed to the hops. I was looking for an excuse to get this out of my cellar, as most Left Hand Beers have not aged well. In this case I believe this one could benefit from another year or so...not that it wasn't delicious now, cause it is! Great job Left Hand, quite possibly the best beer I have had from them.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 21:15:39 | More by twiggamortis420

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

this is as smokey as any rauchbier ive had, definitely the most smokey american made beer ive had. it pours really dark brown, dark chocolate color, with a yellowish tan head an inch high. the nose is crazy, like a bonfire, or like smoked bacon or something, meaty and woody, dark malts, vanilla, and burnt toast. the flavor is totally dominated by the smoke, its nice over a huge porter that can stand up with all that flavor. the malt profile is awesome, and the alcohol isnt really there at all. its got a long bitter finish, with some detectabe hops happening. mouthfeel is lovely as well, really creamy in texture, its a nice contrast to the sort of rough around the edges flavors. carbonation isnt bubbly, but its bright, makes the beer quite drinkable. i enjoyed half the bomber, and put the other half into a pot of bison chilli, and found the results to be great. its a perfect beer for that application, and a nice one to drink with foods like bbq and roasts. world class.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 20:41:12 | More by StonedTrippin

nickfl

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Just under one finger of medium brown head on top of an opaque, black body. The head dissipates quickly and leaves little lace.

S - Strong smoked malt aroma on top of a base of caramel and coffee malt with notes of bacon and minty, spruce like hops.

T - Thick smoke up front with chicory and coffee over a low note of dark chocolate. The herbal coffee flavors intensify through the middle with some notes of cinnamon and pine hops. Finishes with increasingly strong chocolate favors and more smoke balanced by moderate hop bitterness. The thick smoke coats the palate and remains long after the beer is gone along with flavors of chicory, caramel, and chocolate covered bacon.

M - A thick, slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - This beer is not at all lacking in smoke character and, unlike some American smoked beers, it is in fact ever bit as smoky as a Bamberg Rauchbier. For some this might be a bit much, but in my opinion, it makes for a very flavorful and rich drinking experience. The underlying porter is clearly well made with a nice malt character and some noticeable hops as well. A nice stout, I am sure this would pair well with just about anything you would want to put along side of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 05:25:39 | More by nickfl

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle from 2008. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours very dark brown with an inch frothy tan head. Head retention is good, lacing is excellent. The aroma is roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, and of course lots of smoke. The taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of molasses and hops. There's also a lingering bitter coffee finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit creamy, dry and has moderate carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's very smooth and easy to drink. I think this is a very good beer overall, if you like smoked beers then you should like this one. I'd definitely buy this again and recommend it to others.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 23:49:35 | More by bluejacket74

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.85/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle. Pours black with a super thick tan head. Aroma of smoked meats, roasted malt, piney hops. Flavor of smoked meats (light smoked meats, not as smoky as I'd like) and a sweet malt finish. Palate is not as robust as I'd like but this is pretty tasty. Not my favorite smoked, but up there.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 14:24:18 | More by LilBeerDoctor

blackie

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Vintage 2006

appearance: Pours a freakin' huge fluffy light-mocha head that takes quite awhile to recede enough for me to take a sip. Nice lacing already marks the foamy recession down the sides of the glass. Nice retention, too. The beer itself is very very dark in color, with only some reddish-brown hues coming through.

smell: Wonderfully smoky meats and charred hardwoods upfront, quickly followed up by dark cocoa and a touch of lactic sweetness. Just a touch of espresso, dirty and woody. A good porter just really lends itself well to a good smoking. The medium roast malts and the smoke blend together extremely well, and give an almost creamy aroma. A nice, earthy and piney hop aroma and the slightest twinge of ethanol.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is high, and helps balance out the fullish body, giving a falsely light mouthfeel. Pretty smooth overall...nice.

taste: Smoked malts dominate the flavor, closely followed by medium roasted barley and dusty cocoa. Flavors of smoked meats and hardwood, as I might have anticipated from the aroma. The hop flavor is somewhat hidden behind all the roasty, smoky activity, but it is still there. A healthy bitterness comes in well after the swallow, and lingers with smoky malts well into the finish.

drinkability: Easy...delicious and interesting enough to keep me sipping. If I weren't reducing stock for my upcoming BA Anniversary bombing, I'd pick one up for the cellar (might have to go through with it anyway). The ABV is very well hidden. I rated this as more of a Smoked Beer than as an American Porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2007 03:53:16 | More by blackie

alexgash

Connecticut

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle. 2008 bottling.

Very dark chocolate brown with a small, dark khaki head. Some lacing. Nice mix of smoke and malt sweetness on the nose. Campfire, sweet smoked meat, peat, dark chocolate, coffee, and dark fruits blend together effortlessly.

Roasted barley, Tootsie roll chocolate, and herbal coffee/hop bitterness up front. Dark fruit sweetness and smoky, peaty malts follow. Some dark chocolate folds into the mix too. The sweet campfire/meat smokiness melds perfectly with the sweet malt and the roasted bitterness. Bittersweet finish, with lingering smoke, roasted coffee, and dark fruit. Full-bodied with a thick, chewy feel. Delicious! I love that this is the official beer of the National Smokejumper Association!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 01:59:12 | More by alexgash

GClarkage

California

4.22/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

09/07/09- Purchased at Sun Devil Liquors in Mesa, AZ.

Presentation- 22oz bottle, 2008 Vintage. Poured into a Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Off black colored pour with a 3/4 inch head, some decent light patches and trails of lace left behind.

Smell- A good amount of rauch-like smoke, some dark chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee buried beneath.

Taste- Wow, I am really opposed to smoked beers in general and this one is really good. Some smoke, not a ton, but just the right amount to compliment the dark-bittersweet chocolate malt base. There is a slight bit of coffee as well.

Mouthfeel- Smooth with a medium carbonation level. Smoke adds quite nice in the aftertaste with the sweet chocolate malt.

Drinkability- Tops on my list for a smoked brew. Would purchase again...and that is saying alot coming from me.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2009 15:26:50 | More by GClarkage

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A big THANKS to Tilley4 for this awesome extra!

750ml corked and caged 2006 bottle conditioned. The cork came out very smoothly with a loud POP!

A - black brew poured into a tulip glass. A huge head of foamy tan bubbles rose over the top of the glass. All that head finally settled to a thick layer, leaving some good spots of lacing.

S - burnt mesquite wood chips fill the nose.

T - rich, roasted malts, flavors of chocolate and coffee with a smokey kick.

M - full bodied, creamy, smooth.

D - a sipper and a damn good one at that!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2008 23:55:36 | More by JoeyBeerBelly