Bagby's Last Stand - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

UCLABrewN84

California

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad in Carlsbad, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, wood, and bourbon. Taste is much the same with an alcohol kick and a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is really tasty and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 01:08:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

nanobrew

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

a: Black with a very tan lacing around the edge of the glass

s: mainly bourbon and a strong chocolate nose. Small hints of vanilla

t: The bourbon is fairly strong tasting, but not in an intense heat way, very smooth. Some bitterness and herbal notes come in from what I suspect are the hops, which is a pleasant surprise from a blend of bal aged beers. This gives the beer spiced rum notes, which I find very enjoyable. There is also a lot of chocolate, and a little bit of vanilla and oak.

m: Sharp carbonation which helps with the drinkability. There is a little alcohol burn, but very good for the style and ABV. Overall a creamy and smooth, this beer goes down really well

o: I wish I could have had more than the one glass. Though this beer makes for a great sipper, it is also an easy drinking beer.

Cheers to Bagby and all the great things he has done for PP and SD. May his future endeavors continue to kick ass

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2012 19:28:51 | More by nanobrew

largadeer

California

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I heard this was pretty good, so I flew down to San Diego for a few hours to tick it.

Appearance: Dark crimson body with a low level of carbonation.

Smell: Vanilla and dark fruit (dates, prunes), bourbon -bals with a smattering of brandy. Brown sugar, faint booze. Smells absolutely delicious.

Palate: Leather and tobacco, dates, vanilla and sweet, toffee-like bourbon, a touch of cocoa and roasted malt. Medium-full body with low carbonation. An interesting blend of flavors - comes off as a barleywine/imperial stout hybrid, reminiscent of Firestone 10.

Overall: Another excellent beer from some of the best brewers in the world.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2012 22:22:55 | More by largadeer

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Toronado San Diego.

Pours a dark brown color with a one finger off white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Streaks and large spots of lacing left behind.

Slightly boozy aroma with a subtle barrel prence and a decent balance of roasted malt, dark fruit and spice. Some toasted oak and bourbon sweetness along with some pepper, vinous dark berries and a slight medicinal character.

Medium bodied with a nice balance of barrel character, dark fruit, zesty spice and sweet malt notes. There's some nice bourbon flavor but it isn't hot or overpowering, allowing the other notes to come through. Underneath the bourbon there are hints of vinous dark berries, peppery spice, roasted malt and alcohol sweetness. I'm also picking up a syrupy, medicinal character but it's subtle and doesn't affect the flavor too much. Pretty complex and nicely balanced with a well masked ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 02:10:32 | More by corby112

Thingus

California

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap in a 8 oz. pour...

Appearance; pours a dark, dark brown, with cola colored edges, very minimal pale brown colored head that quickly dissipates to leave decent lacing and a slight ring of bubbles...

Smell; jumps right out with raisins, dark fruit, chocolate, and a slight prune kind of sweetness...

Taste; taste follows the smell quite closely (I'm definitely not complaining about that!) with the addition of fresh cherries, and a slight sweetness. Chocolate, and raisin (and am I getting notes of bourbon?) come in strong, and the layers slowly develop with each sip...

Mouthfeel; light full body, with minimal carbonation.. Smooth in the mouth, and goes down very easily, with a juicy sort of finish...

Overall; get this while you can, an absolutely fantastic beer... I don't know how long this will be around but absolutely worth trying!! A fantastic Last Stand Mr. Bagby, I can't wait to see what you turn out in the future!

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 21:26:31 | More by Thingus

womencantsail

California

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Multiple glasses enjoyed at Pizza Port Carlsbad.

Pours black as can be with a thin layer of tan head. Intense barrel aromas all around. Lots of vanilla which goes really well with the chocolate. Plenty of liquor flavor as well as some molasses, a hint of licorice, and caramel. Sweet vanilla, chocolate, caramel, and molasses are amazingly intense. Tons of liquor and barrel, too. Though multiple types of spirit barrel were used, the flavor of bourbon really comes through. Full bodied with medium carbonation and smooth feel on the tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2012 22:55:38 | More by womencantsail

billshmeinke

California

3.98/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a baby shaker glass.

Dark dark brown, almost black. Ring of off white head that doesn't leave much lacing behind.

Smells of chocolate, raisins, plumbs, figs, some roast, brown sugar, and bourbon.

Tastes of loads of dark fruit (raisin/fig/plumb) with caramel and brown sugar, not to mention some spicey oak, and tons of bourbon.

Mouthfeel is big, heavy, thick, touch hot, but the alcohol is pretty well hidden.

Kinda like older viscosity meets an old ale. I dig it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 22:24:08 | More by billshmeinke

notchucknorris

California

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad

A: Black with a thin light brown colored head.

S: Lots of bourbon, dark fruit and some whiskey. Some caramel as well. Really full aroma.

T: Diggin it. A great blend of bourbon, raisin, chocolate and some roasted malt. Silky smooth and very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2012 23:59:27 | More by notchucknorris

ehammond1

California

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On Tap

Pizza Port
Carlsbad, CA

Black as can be with a thin dark brown head that eventually leaves small spots of stick down the glass.

Very nice aroma, especially as it warms. This aroma is quite reminiscent of Firestone Walker's anniversary series beers and Parabola, without the huge amount of coconut and vanilla I find in those beers' aromas. There's more chocolate, roast, wood, and bourbon in here, along with some chocolate. Best at room temperature.

The flavor follows similarly, though a bit sweeter than I would have expected. The chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and coconut flavors lead the way, with big bourbon and wood accents. Very nice.

Medium to full mouthfeel with low carbonation. Zero alcohol presence.

An incredibly nice blend. I'm sad to see Bagby go, but at least he left us with this gem before all was said and done. Good luck, Bagby, on your next challenge.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 15:40:59 | More by ehammond1

HopHead84

California

4.58/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1/3/2011

On tap at Toronado. I'm told this is a surprise blend of seven barrel aged Pizza Port beers done by the brewers of the various Pizza Ports for Jeff Bagby to commemorate his time at Pizza Port.

A: Black as jet with a finger of light brown froth.

S: Bold caramel notes blend with bourbon and a strong vanilla profile. Oak accompanies milk and dark chocolate. I get a faint nuttiness with evident coconut that really comes out with warming. Brandy is light.

T: An even blend of caramel and toffee accompanies a big vanilla presence. Bourbon is pronounced and there's a light almond-like note with restrained chocolate. I'm not sure of the ABV on this, but the flavor gives no indication as whatever is there is well hidden. Oak is somewhat drying in the smooth chocolate caramel bourbon finish.

M: Full in body with upper medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth and sticky.

Overall: A very nice blend. I like this a lot more than the 15th Anniversary Strong Ale Blend. The quality here reminds me of what the Firestone Anniversaries used to be.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2012 02:39:54 | More by HopHead84