Churchill's Finest Hour 2011 - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

jampics2

Ohio

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

22oz bomber with silver wax into my Cantillon tasting tulip. Split with some great beer people while enjoying a summer evening on the deck. Non-infected 2011 version thanks to a great trader!

This beer looks great in the glass. It's dark black with just a hint, and I mean a hint of lighter color around the edges. Otherwise it looks like a dark night on the front lines of the war. A nice off-white crown caps this excellent looking beer and some lace is also noticed as I sip my way down the glass.

From the first scents, I could tell this was going to be something special. There's a huge fudge note from the malt, backed up with some caramel sweetness and just a hint of coffee roast. But the wood and the bourbon are the star of the show - as the sweetness subsides, the chocolate fades into wood, vanilla, toasted coconut shavings and really nicely integrated bourbon. Easily one of the best smelling American Stouts ever - up there with PVW Goose Island Rare.

The taste is also sensational. The beer lacked a bit of sweetness at first and seemed a bit heavy on the barrel, but something magical happened over the course of the tasting experience. A wonderful sweetness emerged that was so well defined and perfectly complex and palatable at the same time. Once the sweetness spiked in a chocolate, marshmellow and caramel peak, the bourbon and wood took over - again, in one nice, perfectly integrated wave of flavor. The bourbon, oak, vanilla and coconut notes are nicely integrated and just sensational. This seems like it was made for my palate. Just an awesome beer!!

The mouthfeel is creamy and the carbonation is just a touch too active. But we're really nit-picking here. This beer is awesome, really - I wish it was more available so others could enjoy it! In the meantime, I'll be in search - Permanant ISO! Just a sensational tasting experience, and one of my finest hours as well!

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 14:58:18 | More by jampics2

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

04-15-2013 07:08:01 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

xgeneralzodx

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

04-12-2013 00:46:21 | More by xgeneralzodx

StarRaptor

California

4/5  rDev -8%

03-05-2013 20:04:42 | More by StarRaptor

Pecan

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

03-05-2013 15:16:25 | More by Pecan

drewone

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

03-04-2013 07:39:51 | More by drewone

Gobzilla

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

03-03-2013 23:52:23 | More by Gobzilla

HopsintheSack

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

03-03-2013 16:01:52 | More by HopsintheSack

jpaulsen

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

03-02-2013 23:26:53 | More by jpaulsen

Hessian257

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

02-24-2013 05:41:20 | More by Hessian257

sil1

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

02-16-2013 22:14:26 | More by sil1

eawolff99

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

01-27-2013 14:42:00 | More by eawolff99

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.25/5  rDev -25.3%

01-09-2013 16:33:07 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

01-01-2013 07:20:30 | More by Kelp

HaveUSeenMyCellar

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

12-15-2012 20:08:03 | More by HaveUSeenMyCellar

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

12-08-2012 22:55:07 | More by t0rin0

GrumpyOldTroll

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -31%

10-31-2012 02:11:00 | More by GrumpyOldTroll

SanDiegoBeerLove

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

10-15-2012 20:29:25 | More by SanDiegoBeerLove

lakersfan16

Alaska

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

09-14-2012 01:10:46 | More by lakersfan16

Devi0us

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

06-29-2012 09:20:08 | More by Devi0us

jbuddle

New York

3.5/5  rDev -19.5%

06-04-2012 19:35:48 | More by jbuddle

GuisseppeFranco

New York

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

06-03-2012 16:33:21 | More by GuisseppeFranco

klipper

Michigan

4/5  rDev -8%

05-21-2012 02:01:43 | More by klipper

3Hops

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +14.9%

05-13-2012 03:52:08 | More by 3Hops

FosterJM

California

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

1273rd Review on BA
Bottle to CCB snifter
22oz Silver Wax

2011 Vintage

App- Bordering on a dark black, it had a multi-faceted brown color with a great density and sheen. A very nice head formed and was a bit puffy in nature. Good cling.

Smell- It was a nice stout with good aromatics, just a tad ashy for me. The oak was there with some grain and a little booze but much to much ash and char.

Taste- I enjoyed the beer. It was full of layers of dark roast and a bit of coffee. I didnt get much from the oak in terms of vanilla but had a good maltbackbone as well. The chocolate is the most prevalant note with a earthy woodchip flavor.

Mouth- A full medium body with a low medium carbonation. A bit creamy with a large bourbon aftertaste of booze.

Drink- A nice blend and collaboration. The barrel notes are large and tasty. Not overpowering but that ash just creeps up on ya.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 16:31:25 | More by FosterJM