Churchill's Finest Hour 2012 - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

DarthKostrizer

California

4.68/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap during the release party

Look: Black and totally opaque with a 1/4 inch tan head and ok retention with some spotty lace

Smell: Chocolate roasted malt vanilla and bourbon very nice nose

Taste: Upfront you are greeted by what you expect, copious amounts of chocolate and oak and then the middle brings and nice vanilla sweetness and then the beer finishes with some brown sugar and bourbon. Exceptional

Mouthfeel: Full body and mild carbonation and slightly sticky

Overall: This is for me hands downt he best vintage so far. The beer is so well balanced and the flavors are just exception. Next time I am in San Marcos visiting friends I will make sure and order another bottle if there are any left.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2012 21:04:34 | More by DarthKostrizer

jegross2

Illinois

4.95/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewing the 2012 version of Churchill's Finest Hour from Port Brewing Company (Lost Abbey's alter ego). We cracked this one, in addition to several other big name goodies, to celebrate the end of the Illinois bar exam, my birthday, and Robbie Moy's birthday. I believe each year's batch is a different stout recipe.
Score: 99

2012 vintage bottle. Served in a plastic taster cup, shared with friends and enjoyed on 07/28/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Jet black color. Pours a thin layer of creamy dark tan head that settles to a ring around the glass. Good lacing, but average retention. 4/5

Smell: Huge notes of fudge, plus bourbon and brown sugar. Dark fruit and subtle vanilla as well. There is a very light roastiness to the nose, which also emits a hint of wood as the beer warms. What an absolutely smooth and inviting barrel-aged stout nose! 5/5

Taste: Like the nose, fudge dominates the flavor with a little dark chocolatiness too. The fudge flavor is thick and luscious, and it coats the tongue with lingering flavor. Layered on top of the fudge is the bourbon, molasses and a hint of coffee. Not tasting any wood. There is some sweet dark fruit flavor as well, but the dark fruit characteristics are more subtle on the palate than it was in the aroma. There is a faint hint of alcohol towards the finish that gives the beer a little kick without throwing off the balance or drinkability. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, minimal carbonation. Thick, viscous and slightly sweet. 5/5

Overall: A near-perfect stout that is easily one of the best that I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. It is hard to fault a beer like this for not being "pretty" enough, but that's about my only real criticism here. This brew is complex and smooth, and it lives up to the hype. I sincerely hope I will be able to try this one again in the future.

Recommendation: Seek this beer out.

Pairings: Cocoa-rubbed filet Mignon.

Cost: $25 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 20:55:19 | More by jegross2

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2012, big THANKS goes out to Scott (smarcoly) for hooking me up with this bottle. Served into a tulip glass.

A: Deep dark black, slightly dark brown on the pour but this is like motor oil coming out. Topped with a creamy, bubbly and quite actively carbonated tan head. A bit of lacing on the walls and only really a ring around the edges.

S: Big bourbon, wood, dark malts and then just tons of chocolate pouring out of the glass. Huge fudge notes, cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate and a faint nutty element. Such a complex and wonderfully smelling barrel aged beer.

T: Almost precisely like the nose. Dark malts lay a nice foundation and then plenty of barrel elements come in with touches of oak. There's a nice sweetness transitioning into the back end with more chocolate, fudge and cake. It's so rich and decadent but at the same time, completely balanced and drinkable. No heat whatsoever given the high ABV.

M: Well carbonated, perhaps a lot more than I'm used to or expecting for a barrel aged Imperial Stout of this size. It helps to break up the flavors nicely though and smooths things out. A bit less would have been welcomed, however.

I have to say, this is probably one of the best bourbon barrel Imperial Stouts I've had to date. The blending is so masterfully crafted and it's dangerously drinkable for 11% ABV. The chocolate and bourbon combination is unlike anything I've had in a beer before. Really exceptional stuff right here.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 00:46:01 | More by ShanePB

waltonc

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage acquired recently in a trade. Opened with Hobdul on his recent visit to Denver. Pours black with a nice mocha head into my Goose Island glass. Smell and taste are a well-balanced blend of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, and toffee. The 11% ABV is perfect too - not too boozy. Reminds me that beers like Uncle Jacob and Black Tuesday are obnoxiously strong. The barrel on this is very strong,while I think this is drinking incredibly well at the moment, I wonder if this will hold up well over time. I can't imagine it getting better,since it's already aged and tastes great.

Body is fairly thick, carbonation is adequate, and it's an overall excellent beer. If someone wants to trade another bottle to me, shoot me a BM.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 23:57:31 | More by waltonc

abrand

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Small sample poured into tasting glass

Pours a jet black. Appears as oil. Not much head is visible with the small pour. Smells of burnt coffee and dark malts. Some sweetness to the pour as well. Taste is somewhat alcoholic but a nice sweet finish. Plenty of chocolate and coffee. Mouthfeel is thick. Overall this was delicious. So glad I got to sample

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 01:38:33 | More by abrand

writerLJBerg

Oregon

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

22oz courtesy of HopHead84. Thanks! Took a nice full pour of this since I brought it to a tasting.

A: Pitch black with a quarter inch mocha head. Slides off the glass.

N: Lots and lots of fudge. A little bit of prune. Caramel, vanilla, plenty of well integrated bourbon.

T: Sugar, bourbon, chocolate. Plenty of ground coffee. Alcohol is evident but it doesn't detract. Some sweet cherry and molasses.

M: Coating and decently thick.

O: Really glad to try this. Big and round and sweeping. A full snifter is more than enough, so I was glad to share with some BA's.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 02:46:34 | More by writerLJBerg

SubpoenaDeuces

California

4.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer has a deep hateful pallor of rich spent motor oil, viscous and viscious. the coating is intense and imparts generous sheeting on the glass.

The smell imparts a mild brownie batter sweetness but the real show is in the dark pitted fruits, plum and figs with currants all up in the mix, would have liked to have a bit more coffee and/or roasted malts, but now we are just nit picking the torque curve of a GTR.

The taste is incredible and all aspects of the flavor are balanced and well integrated. there's a nice warmth with some chocolate and slight charred oak, I get a bit of a Zero bar sort of marshmellowy campfire aspect going on that is incredible.

The carb is dead on given the flavor profile of this beer and doesn't steal the show, the mellow character is just right and hits all the zones with generous coating.

This is incredibly drinkable and it was not uncommon for others to seek out several pours. very recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 20:00:49 | More by SubpoenaDeuces

claaark13

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Darkness snifter at 52ish degrees. Thanks Cory. Very pumped about this one.

A - Very dark with a creamy tan head. Foam is thick but slowly, goes down to a thin cover. Doesn't stick all that well.

S - Chocolate, woody caramel. The woodiness isn't quite the strong oak that I'd expect, and it blends well with the caramel. A little bit of booze is evident in the middle.

T - Cocoa comes out at first, slight amount of roast with oak, and then the vanilla. The vanilla shines in the finish. Smooth throughout, nowhere near as boozy as the '11 at about 10 months old. There is a slight amount of warmth after the finish, certainly in the throat.

M - Medium body, feels good with the carbonation.

O - Improvement over last year. I really like this a lot. I'll round it up to a 4.5.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 01:14:28 | More by claaark13

tarheels86

California

4.3/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

651mL copper wax 2012 ed thanks to Emily! Pours deep black. Medium, spritzy reddish head. Awesome savory, tawny bourbon nose: malted milk balls, rendered fat, smokey bacon, dried guajillo pepper. Wow. Taste is lighter than Serpents Stout, tangy, rich dark chocolate, butter, lactic semisweet chocolate, cocoa butter. Palate is not sticky sweet or even dense- very fluffy and light with mega cocoa butter. Awesome. One of the best barrel characters I’ve experienced. Classic. 11/8/2012 9/4/8/5/17=4.3

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 21:32:53 | More by tarheels86

ZX6Chris

California

5/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-A black empty void that will suck your soul in if you stare too long. Looks flat but bubbles spring to life with a swirl of the glass.

S-Milk chocolate, coffee and a light barrel character.

T-Milk chocolate, sweet Bourbon, vanilla and a little oak in the background.

M-Medium body with ample carbonation.

O-Fucking delicious. Its so tasty now I'm not sure if I should age it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2012 19:27:24 | More by ZX6Chris

TK5150

Maine

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

A- Pours black with a fizzy small brown head that recedes to a ring around the glass. Alcohol legs on the glass.

S- Bourbony oak, vanilla, molasses. Slight chocolate. Not the most massive aroma.

T- Bourbon, oak, vanilla, coffee, dark fruits, with slight chocolate mousse and heat on the finish. I didn't pick up on as much chocolate as everyone says there is in this beer, which was a bit disappointing. Enjoyed it a little less as I got towards the end of my glass (though I still enjoyed it).

M- A little too carbonated for my liking for an imperial stout. Light side of full bodied. Somewhat smooth.

O- A very nice imperial stout. Reminds me A LOT of GI Bourbon County, but not as good. If given the choice, I would definitely have Bourbon County over this. While I really like this beer, I gave up too much in trade for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 01:20:07 | More by TK5150

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into my Lawson's snifter. Thanks to Dan (totoropanda) for this one!!!

A: WOW! Beautiful black beer with a nice brown head. Leaves beautiful lacing as the head recedes.
S: A lot of bourbon and oak. Apart from that I can smell a tiny bit of vanilla but that's it.
T: I can taste tons of bourbon at the first sip. After that I feel coffee, chocolate, vanilla, oak and dark fruit! It has a bit of heat from the alcohol but the sweetness/chocolate/everything else balances it out. As this warms the taste gets even more amazing. The heat dies down and everything else comes to play. WOW this is an amazing BA stout.
M: A bit over carbonated for my taste. Leaves a huge, sticky feeling in the mouth.
O: Sweet and boozy but damn good! Great mix of bourbon and chocolate! This just tied up there with BA Speedway and FW Parabola as my favorite BA stouts! Definitely worth looking out for! Outstanding beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 09:35:10 | More by standardcherry

SDDanC

California

4.95/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at anniversary party. Pours jet black, no head. Appears slick and heavy. Nose contains burnt marshmallows and wood. Smoked wood. Alcohol burn is present, underneath a minute sweetness. Taste is much comparable; great whiskey character upfront that meshes with a heavy chocolate and smoked oaked. Again there are some burnt mallows. Mouthfeel is thoroughly sticky, but slight thin and oily. But it does not suffer from that aspect. Great carbonation level for its intese flavor profile.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2012 19:46:34 | More by SDDanC

Vanlingleipa

California

4.88/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Tasted at the release party in March, 2012 and again at the pub in Oct., 12

10/12 Bottle poured into a snifter at Churchill's Pub

Excellent fresh and has done nothing but get better in the past six months.

Ridiculously smooth, the slight edge of alcohol tasted earlier this year now blends seamlessly with the warmth of the chocolate and malts. This beer creates one of the fullest mouthfeels that I've experienced, making every single of those 10,000 tastebuds of mine very happy. If this brew had been released in the thousands of bottles like Black Tuesday, I'd have a case for aging and another for the supping.

My advice: do what is required to acquire a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 23:08:12 | More by Vanlingleipa

islandboi8204

Hawaii

4.43/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage split two ways.

Pours black, viscous with a small light brown foam.

Smells of bourbon, cocoa, toasted coconut, dark chocolate. Also some vanilla and caramel sweetness. Notable booze.

Tastes similarly to the nose, but a lot less boozy than I was expecting. Smooth bourbon, oak, chocolate, caramel and coconut.

Full body with plentiful carbonation compared to other big stouts. As a result, it is less thick and viscous than I was expecting from the pour.

After missing out on bottles at the release, I'm very glad I was able to a few through trade. It will be interesting to open another bottle later down the road for comparison, as this is very delicious and very drinkable right now.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 14:38:29 | More by islandboi8204

deathcharms

California

4.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

CFH Release 2/3/12

A: Black as black can be with a thin lace of foam at the crest.
S:Tons of chocolate and very roasty. I got a faint coffee waft from this but not overpowering.
T: Again very heavy chocolate and a good roasting flavor. Very good balance between the barrel and the beer.
M:Light and playful, was a very easy beer to drink.

O: Way better than both bottles I've had of CFH '11. Open em now or wait a few years, either way this batch is phenomenal.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2012 20:59:49 | More by deathcharms