Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter (Brewmaster Reserve 2010) - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

msmezher

California

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had Top Sail's Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter the other afternoon and was pretty impressed. I'm a sucker for barrel aged beers, I'm a big fan of whiskey and scotch and love a good oaky finish.
This aged porter pours black with dark reddish hues around the edges when held to light. Fairly carbonated for a strong aged beer, and a finger or so of head appeared as I poured.
In terms of flavor this beer presents strong roasted malts and coffee tastes. Very full flavored, without feeling too heavy and the 22oz bottle went down easily, and I wouldn't have noticed how alcoholic the beer was but for reading the label.

This is one to try and save, a very solid choice.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 23:15:12 | More by msmezher

KiMiRaiK

Washington

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-12-2013 02:54:04 | More by KiMiRaiK

shelby415

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

12-01-2012 07:38:29 | More by shelby415

scottypinthemix

5/5  rDev +31.9%

11-12-2012 22:59:47 | More by scottypinthemix

GOMECK

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

08-09-2012 16:09:14 | More by GOMECK

DavidST

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a tulip glass, unknown freshness. This pours a pitch black color with a large but short lived tan head. The smells are of bourbon, oak and alcohol, a little overpowering. The feel is medium to a little thicker. The taste is okay, it might need a little age, anyways I get a full coat of dark roasted malts, a mouthfull of bourbon, the alcohol is very present. Not bad though, and I do love these bourbon barrel aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 04:20:50 | More by DavidST

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the FW Invitational earlier this month. Nice gem, bringing a 2010 keg to the party. Poured black, good head, especially for being a bourbon barrel beer. Aroma was pretty deep, oak, bourbon, dark fruit fig, cognizant deep burnt and roasted malt.

Taste, wow, pretty smooth, not massive, but not a delicate beer either, puts itself firmly in the middle of substantial and warming. Good vanilla accompaniment. Sweet at times without going overboard (although that can be damn fine sometimes). Good thickness and consistency, neither sludgy nor thin, dare I say this is balanced, and not in the way people say their ipa is (i.e. to make up for the best part not being there or severely unrepresented). Chocolate well represented.

Drank this towards the end of the day at the festival, it was easy to taste, easy to drink, but not simplistic, and I knew with the amount of palate fatigue going on, this was pretty substantial. Would recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2012 23:43:48 | More by Beerandraiderfan

kaelingirl

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-09-2012 19:39:50 | More by kaelingirl

BeerAcolyte

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-04-2012 19:07:05 | More by BeerAcolyte

boralyl

Oregon

3.55/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a dark tan head with decent retention that leaves a little lacing. The beer is a dark brown-black with just a bit of light coming through near the top.

S - The aroma is very bourbon forward, along with some vanilla and oak. There is a little bit of roast present as well.

M - Medium in body with moderate carbonation. It's a little thin for the style.

T - A little bit of roasted and chocolate malt are up front. It's quickly followed by bourbon, a bit of oak and vanilla. The alcohol and roasted malts intertwine into the finish.

A good beer, but the barrel character is a bit too strong for the base beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 05:43:37 | More by boralyl

silentjay

Massachusetts

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

jet black with a smallish dark mocha head that quickly recedes to a thing spattering of film with some slight lacing left behind.

bourbon is definitely most dominant in the aroma. vanilla, wood, charred wood. nice, but one-dimensional.

very bourbony. slight molasses and chocolate. charred, but with a touch of vanilla and wood.
medium bodied. subtle carbonation, with a sticky sweet finish.

hmmmm. Not bad, but for the price and style I can see a few better alternatives. Not enough of a backbone to hold up to the bourbon barrel aging.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 05:37:09 | More by silentjay

PerHops

California

2.78/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2012 bottle to highball glass in hotel (no more room in suitcase).

A- Jet black. Half inch head dissipates into a pencil thin layer that hangs around just fine. Sporadic lacing.

S- BOURBON. A little hot at first, but then other flavors emerge. Vanilla, chocolate, toffee, toasty malts, more bourbon. I have a feeling this one is gonna be boozy. I probably should have aged it, but have no choice because I have a lot of other great ones to bring home.

T- Well, let's just say I'm glad I didn't open some of my other ones to save this. It tastes like bourbon with a splash of coke that has sat on ice for a long conversation at the bar. I could get into the nuances, but really it's not worth my time.

M- Medium to high carbonation makes this even lighter than it already is.

O-Not sure if it's the brewery, or the style, but I will not revisit this one, even with age on it. Dissapointed, but not shocked.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 01:56:23 | More by PerHops

davey101

Connecticut

3.03/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brewmaster Reserve 2012. This vintage was aged for about 12 months in KY bourbon casks and clocks in at 9.5% abv. 22 oz. bomber into a DFH signature glass.

A - Pitch black body that allows the slightest bit of light to shine through. Light khaki head dies down quickly to some edging and a small cap. Moderate lacing and retention with some lasting alcoholic legs.

S - A really great blend of vanilla and oak notes from the barrels, and some roasty malts, sweet milk chocolate, and coffee beans.

T - A real letdown. This seems watered down almost. Some light coffee bean, chocolate, and oak notes with a roasty finish. This is beyond boring. Its drinkable with a light to medium body, higher carbonation, and undetectable alcohol.

O - Great nose with a boring taste. Perhaps I was hoping for a thick and hearty stout, but the porter notes seem rather tame and the barrel aging hasn't helped all that much.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 06:18:17 | More by davey101

FishPondManager

Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Pours a deep black with a one finger head. A soapy consistency that fades to a thin layer.
S - Raisins, dark cherry. Bourbon is prevalent, along with the booze. Not the best.
T - Bourbon right off the bat. Sweet, oakey notes follow next. The malt and slight bitterness don't show up well.
M - Mouthfeel is nice and creamy. It coats well. Too bad the flavor is a miss
O - One I'm glad I didn't have to pay for. Received it as an extra when I bought a bunch of bottles. Probably won't try again. Plenty of better options at the price.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 01:36:08 | More by FishPondManager

piclee

Washington

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-04-2012 01:44:40 | More by piclee

ucsbmullet

Colorado

5/5  rDev +31.9%

03-01-2012 04:37:19 | More by ucsbmullet

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap @ Bittercreek Alehouse, Boise ID. Served in a snifter.

A: Pours an opaque deep dark brown, with a brownish-tan head, decent lacing and alcohol feet.

S: Lots of smooth vanilla and balanced bourbon notes, dark malts, chocolate, light oaky notes, toasted coconut and wood. Pretty nice, I think some age has smoothed this one out.

T: Taste follows the nose, with a light but present alcohol burn, lots bourbon flavors, touch of burnt caramel mixed with the vanilla and oak notes, toasted coconut, lots of chocolate as well. Finishes with a flash of a bitter burnt flavor.

MF: Medium to full bodied, creamy, spot on bitterness and a touch of dryness, light carbonation.

O: Pretty nice, I like this a bit better than Black Gold. Pretty drinkable, good array of flavors, and a present but not overwhelming bourbon presence. I did I side-by-side with the 2012 offering and they are very similar.

Serving type: on-tap

02-29-2012 22:23:13 | More by Scotchboy

JustinQ

California

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

:NOTE:

I HAD THE BREWMASTERS RESERVE 2012 VERSION.

BOTTLE SAIS: AFTER IT'S INITIAL RELEASE IN FEB. 2011, TOP SAIL WAS AGED FOR ABOUT 12 MONTHS IN BOURBON CASKS FROM KENTUCKY. TOP SAIL BOURBON AGED IMPERIAL PORTER HAS HINTS OF CHOCOLATE, FIGS, AND OAK. CHEERS!

9.5 ABV

Serving Type: 22 oz bottle poured into snifter

Appearence: Totally opaque in any angle of light that i could get. Nice head on the beer. looks like a dark stout.

Smell: Strong notes of bourbon, no hop aroma, Maybe a background hint of malt

Taste: Roasty, Oaky, Not strong on the bourbon flavor but there is complexity from the oak. Very woody.

Mouthfeel: Very carbonated and dry. maybe more of a ripping dry bitterness then carbonation co2 bite.

Overall: Damn good beer, im usually not big on Bourbon aged beer but this one is definantly good. If i can find another bottle i will be sure to throw it in my cellar.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 03:56:37 | More by JustinQ

QuadrantThree

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-28-2012 02:27:59 | More by QuadrantThree

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Strong bourbon, vanilla, malt and dried fruit. Hint of candy.

S - Sliver of red around the edges, nearly non-exhistant dark tan head.

T - Mostly a weak bourbon. Vanilla and raisin. Hint of a dirty water type taste in the finish.

M - Meduim coating with fleeting tingle on sides of tongue.

O - It had a ton of potential, but fell very flat.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 18:39:16 | More by biglite351

cougarbait

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

02-20-2012 18:47:29 | More by cougarbait

EricCioe

Montana

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This pours a very deep brown with a little head rising and falling with a bit of lace. On the nose there is an immediate but not overpowering bourbon note with some oak and vanilla in there too. I wonder what the base beer smells like. In the mouth the bourbon is dominant with acetone, some roasted malt, and oak behind it. The body is thin, much too thin for the style, with a long, slightly hot finish.

Overall, this is an example of a brewery not being able to balance the beer with the barrels. The thin body makes me think maybe this beer wasn't such a great target for barrel aging in the first place.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:37:12 | More by EricCioe

johnnyboy76

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

02-19-2012 06:52:49 | More by johnnyboy76

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Very porter like in color. Deep black. Poured about a finger head of fairly dark cappuccino head. Head sticks around for a while and produces some good lacing.

S - Very bourbon. A lot of vanilla as well. Is there cocoa there? I think so, but very faint.

T - Starts off a little sour. Bourbon and vanilla show up as well as some chocolate. The hops are a bit much right now, I would like to see them cool off a bit. Just a little alcohol burn on the back-end.

M - I try to keep in mind this is a porter, but the barrel aging makes me want something thicker. Too thin. Carbonation is pretty average.

O - A little one dimensional, but not bad. I like bourbon flavoring so this is good. Can't see why we need a thinner barrel aged beer, but its not bad by any means. Could see this as a nice dessert beer without the bitterness on the end.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 03:28:52 | More by RuckusDu

CoryR

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

02-01-2012 04:53:24 | More by CoryR