Older Viscosity - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

beerceller99

Louisiana

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nov 2007 release. 375ml bottle. Black with a slight tan head. Huge bourbon nose with charred wood, blackened malts, and alcohol. Smooth, slick mouthfeel. Fantastic burnt malt, charred wood and whiskey vanilla flavors. Leaves a boozy whiskey taste on the breath to finish. A damn fine barrel aged brew. I ’m cellaring a couple bottles to see what happens here.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2007 18:55:27 | More by beerceller99

MiScusi

California

4.88/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Port/The Lost Abbey during the release 11/24/07. Poured into a 5oz flute glass, a black liquid with no head. The aroma on this beer was potent... I was able to get a really deep chocolate out of it with a woody alcohol character underlying it. The taste was chocolate soaked in oak. You do get a somewhat hot bourbony taste from it as well. The mouthfeel was incredible smooth making this beer a delicious sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2007 00:46:16 | More by MiScusi

bradford

California

4.9/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on cask at the Stone 10th. But the cask version of this was absolutely ridiculous. This isn't beer. There is no way you can classify this as beer. The alcohol was listed at 10% or 12% I believe, but this beast tasted like a shot of straight whiskey. And it was delicious. This was the beer I was most impressed with at the festival. It took me a good 10 minutes to finish my taster glass because I was so enthralled with it.
Apperance: Black. Pitch black with some floating chunks of what looked to be oak, and a spiraling oil spill-looking head on the surface.
Smell: Alcohol, oak, chocolate, some other good stuff.
Taste: Exceptional. I tasted a lot of bourbon whiskey, which I found to be most pleasant. I had to sneak my Designated Driver a tiny taste of this because he wouldnt believe me if I told him how outrageous this beer was.
Mouthfeel: Heavy, thick, viscous(hence the name), burning, awesome
Drinkability: The only reason I didn't give this behemoth a perfect score is becasue I couldn't see myself finishing a whole lot of this beer in one sitting.
Older Viscosity is one of those rarities that must be tried by any connoisseur of fine beers. This was an outstanding beer.

Serving type: cask

10-14-2007 21:22:08 | More by bradford

Crosling

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pitch black with a small, slowly forming light brown head. Very light aromas of butterscotch, cocoa, coffee and chocolate. Massive flavor, very intense and concentrated. Balanced, and definitely more malt accented than barrel accented. Much more chocolate, coffee, etc. comes through than the bourbon, oak, vanilla and coconut. Those barrel elements are still there, just lighter and in the back round. It’s a nice beer and I really like it. Personally, I’d like to see more wood character, but that’s just me.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2007 06:50:47 | More by Crosling

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle listed at 13.75% ABV. Despite tasting like a bourbon-aged RIS, it bourbon-aged Old Viscosity. And that difference dollar-wise: $60 bottle, tax, and tip at Beerbistro. And a 375 ml at that. Very dark, some creamy head, with aromas of wine and bourbon, coffee and roasted barley. Smooth, the bourbon had worked in to the taste profile and this reminded me of the 28-year old Kourage RIS I had last year, except less boozy in the nose.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2007 03:08:42 | More by northyorksammy

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2008 Vintage; Sampled May 2009
Very well carbonated, overly so even, as a careful pour produces a long lasting, two-finger thick, nicely browned tan colored head. The beer is quite black and opaque in color. This has a nice bourbon induced fruitiness and vanilla note to it in the nose. Dark chocolate mixes with concentrated sweet fig notes as well as some nice, distinct raisin notes and some toasted grain notes. Despite the dark color there is not a whole lot of dark, roasted grain notes; there is perhaps a touch espresso like roast sharpness, some burnt nutty notes. There is a nice, toasted coconut aroma here as well that ties the barrel and base beer notes together quite well.

The beer has a peppery, spritzy carbonation that is a bit too much for a beer like this. Fortunately some vigorous swirling of my glass is all it takes to release the excess carbonation; this really helps to smooth out the body. The beer finish has an acidic edge to it and a sharpness that is a bit too harsh for the creamy up front malt to drown it out; other notes of burnt broccoli and some heat and spiciness from the bourbon influence also pepper the finish. There are other, smoother, tastier, roast grain notes of toasted dark chocolate and nicely browned whole-grain bread. The coconut note from the aroma is here in the flavor as well.

Not bad, but wasn't quite as good as I was hoping. This is better than the original, almost flat batch that I first had and in all truthfulness is enjoyable, but I was expecting a bit more from this batch due to the recent buzz.

Sampled May 2007 @ Stone Bistro
The beer is quite still; it shows browned sherry colored notes around an otherwise blackened dark chocolate body and has absolutely no head. The nose has a very prominent bourbon-like aroma; notes of liquor soaked figs & cherries as well as notes of oak, vanillin, buttery wood and a smooth bourbon character are all part of the aroma. Despite how well this smells at this point after having a full meal, I can't quite help but think 'where are the beer aromatics.'

The beer is quite still tasting / feeling as is expected after it visibly not having any carbonation. Still it has a thick enough body to feel viscous and the carbonation is not missed to much. Rich bourbon flavors dominate the flavor profile as do flavors of buttery oak (which are quite big here) and a touch of vanilla. Somehow, despite the dominance, the barrel / whiskey character is not too over the top for this beer.

This beer is much smoother than the regular version, which at times seemed on the verge of unbalanced; this instead is a great after dinner sipping brew. The oak flavors in this brew integrate really well with the bourbon notes; it is hard to tell at times which is which (considering bourbon is oak flavored this makes sense); spicy oak notes, buttery wood and vanillin may all contribute to the perception of bourbon overtones.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2007 22:39:09 | More by Gueuzedude

IntriqKen

California

4.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured almost black with a smallish head of tan bubbles that melted very quickly to merely an outside ring.
Aroma is totally, completely, all about...oak...hints of alcohol, but the rest is totally oak and very, very woody.
Taste is very much bittersweet dark chocolate and again the oak barrel aging comes through. Chocolate...oak...alcohol...chocolate...oak ... alcohol.
May very well be too one dimensional for many drinkers but I loved it. The three predominant flavors are the ones I love the best.
Aftertaste is surprisingly clean and fresh.
I'm definitely going to enjoy the rest of this tiny 375 ml bottle.
BTW: metallitone1 , you rock! Thanks for the beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 02:46:33 | More by IntriqKen

Westsidethreat

California

4.83/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Into my oversize Riedel snifter it goes. This glass is reserved for only the finest beers.

A: Pours thick like soy with almost no carbonation what so ever. Really, no head on this one. Just an oily dark beige wash atop with an ultra fine ring around the sides.

S: Balanced bourbon, oak, vanilla, Belgian chocolate, gasoline esters and graham. Wow.

T: Starts off with sturdy bourbon notes with trace wood across the front of the tongue. The chocolate starts of smooth and chalked full of vanilla, hazelnuts and marshmallow. Immediately after the swallow a spark of powdered cocoa and more vanilla/bourbon come to attention. So much is happening at this moment, the flavors are really hard to pinpoint. Massive alcoholic vapors leap towards the nasal cavity bringing substantial amounts of roasted French roast in a press, dark cherries, prunes. As the aftertaste juts forward, a hidden toffee comes to the forefront with licks of licorice and molasses.

M: Full bodied and smooth. A bit hard from the bourbon aging though.

D: Wow, this might just be the best barrel aged beer on the market. Simply delicious and entirely satisfying. Highly recommended for any stout or barrel aged beer lover.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2007 05:12:24 | More by Westsidethreat

billvon

California

4.88/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is by far the best stout I've ever tried. It tastes like a "finished" version of Lost Abbey's Old Viscosity - the bourbon-barrel aging really works for this beer. It pours like, well, old motor oil, with little head. Carbonation is very mild. Taste is dark chocolate with a little hint of bourbon. The chocolate becomes more pronounced as the glass warms up, and the aftertaste lingers for a long time with just a little hoppiness. It's a heavy, chewy beer that you can't drink a lot of in one sitting; I'm glad they didn't put this one in 750ml bottles.

About the only real competition this one has is something like Alesmith's Speedway Stout - but Older Viscosity is a bit more complex and mature.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2007 20:28:01 | More by billvon

WeisGuy

New York

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to metallitone1 for this bottle. 375ml corked and capped bottle, just like the picture.

a - black on the pour with no head whatsoever

s - big burnt malt and bittersweet chocolate aroma along with some bourbon, some oak and vanilla in there as well, slight alcohol, as the beer warms up, smells almost like straight bourbon, maybe more like a bourbon and cola

t - big bourbon flavor right up front, lots of oak as well, some bittersweet chocolate in the body, finish is more bourbon and oak along with some vanilla, alcohol notes, long finish

m - a bit too flat for my taste, full-bodied but totally devoid of any carbonation action in the mouth

d - I'm glad Port put this in a 375ml bottle, because this is a sipper, treated this almost like fine bourbon sipping for quite awhile, but I could sip on this all night

Very interesting beer. Big bourbon/oak flavors and very rich. Well worth seeking this one out.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2007 02:38:02 | More by WeisGuy

hoppymeal

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with ruby hues, a small handful of oily looking reddish brown bubbles, not enough to call it foam really, crowd together and slowly dissipate. Aroma is rich with a nice big booziness. Sweet dark chocolate cake, some leather and a nice smokiness and woody aroma. Taste has good bourbony quality, the dark chocolate sweetness is mid taste but fairly faint. There is also a good dose of soy sauce like saltiness. The finish is comprised of a very nice alcohol warmth and a good dose of woody tasting dryness. Medium to heavy in body. Hints of the regular viscosity but much more bourbony. A very nice aroma and taste, the leather and soy qualities from the barrel ageing is quite nice and the woody dryness is a great finish. A very finely crafted beer, sipped on this one as long as I could make it last.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2007 01:39:07 | More by hoppymeal

tanarm

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Loosened the cork and an almost inaudible *poof* was all I got. Pours like motor oil, solid black, with tan colored bubbles, no real head at all. Smells strongly of bourbon and oak. Bubbles are clinging to the sides and barely moving.

The taste is malty and bourbony up front, with a little vanilla in the background. Dark chocolate covered cherries? The body is so thick, it coats the whole palate with intensity. There is some hop bitterness that cuts through after about thirty seconds after you swallow. Some licorice in there. The vanilla lingers last, believe it or not, about a minute after I've swallowed.

I have been saving this for almost 3 months and am more than pleased with the outcome. The only beer I can compare this to is the Firestone 10th Anniversary brew. This is a very complex brew, and I wish I had a better palate to give it the review it deserves! Not one to drink everyday, but this is a great one. I need to move back to California...

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2007 01:41:54 | More by tanarm

Boto

Connecticut

4.85/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

375ml corked bottle: Thanks to Vac for sending me this gem. This one pours an almost syrupy dark brown color. No light seems to get through. There is about zero head on this one. There is definitely bourbon to the nose of this one. Some oak and vanilla notes also. Maybe even some cherries also. Very silky texture on the tongue. The taste has notes of coffee and chocolate up front, but a whole lot more is going on here. The bourbon is only slightly evident, and the alcohol is all but hidden. Some fruits and toffee also try and come through, but this one definitely has a complex and exquisite taste. This is superb!!!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2007 19:53:23 | More by Boto

CharlesDarwin

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Originally reviewed November 26, 2006. Poured at Port Brewing Company. Rich vinous aroma, dripping with syrupy Italian real marachino cherries, dark with caramelization and balsamic. Deep dark brown, with a caramel orange fringe and little head. Carbonation is a little restrained, but will come with time. Bright refined caramel corn flavor, along with toasted marshmallow and hazlenut creams. A very syrupy and rich presentation, but gentrified with the older oaky tones and a vinous quality that lends sophisiticatin to the sometimes brash leading edges. Sweeter, too, but not cloying or longing, as it leaves a crisp cherry finish. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2006 19:14:39 | More by CharlesDarwin

scottoale

California

4.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This version of the Old Viscosity was one of the tastiest strong ales at the Pizza Port SAF and becoming one of my true favorites and it is barrel aged and boozy.

Still in it's young stage, thus a hair low in carbonation at this point, it pours virtually black with the head trying form, but not just yet. Some nice brown bubbles are sittin in till the carbonation builds a bit. This OV comes in a very cool looking 375ml brown glass bottle (imported from France) with a new label and is corked/caged...a classy presentation. ABV is listed at 12.0% and it's all of that and some good (micro) reading on the back of the wrap-around single label.

The smell...simply put, deliciously devine. Sweet bourbon soaked elixer of toasty malt, black licorice and liquor. The taste is even more so with a sweet chewy malt and big body filling your palate. Dark ripe fig, prune, black licorice flavor that twists to a chocolate and coffee goodness, finishing warm, complex and satisfying...yet reeling you in for more. This stuff tastes fantastic

The mouthfeel is very velvety smooth and creamy full...highly drinkable and strong. I highly recommend this one and it's going into my beer hall-of-fame top ten and will remain there.

A must try if you like your ales strong...I know I do !

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2006 13:30:39 | More by scottoale

grumpy

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Well, this is a quandary. Old Viscosity is listed as an American Strong Ale by this site, but I sampled it on tap last weekend at Liar’s Club in San Diego, and the Port Brewing tap handle said it is an Imperial Porter. Does this beer vary in style with different incarnations? Then, I see Older Viscosity at the San Diego Strong Ale Fest VIP tent, and was told that offering was a bourbon barrel version of Old Viscosity. That’s what my taste buds told me, as well. It was a very yummy beer, tasting exactly how one would expect it to taste, compared to the regular brew.

The previous reviewer’s notes made no mention of bourbon effects. Was I handed the wrong beer? There were several bourbon barrel beers there. Now I want to go back and sample all those beers again! ;-)

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2006 19:25:55 | More by grumpy

SacoDeToro

California

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the 10th Annual San Diego Strong Ale Festival.

The beer was a dark coal black with no head.

The aroma of the beer was of roated coffee, intense malt, licorice, and alcohol.

The flavor of the beer was intesely malty. Chocolate, coffee, chewy malt, and notes of licorice made up the bulk of the flavor. The hops hit towards the finish and helped balance out some of the sweetness of the beer.

The carbonation was very low. I could've done with a tad more, but the overall flavors were outstanding. The mouthfeel was heavy and almost oily thick. This beer coated your mouth with mad flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2006 05:51:44 | More by SacoDeToro