Grand Imperial Porter - Browar Amber

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle into a Duvel tulip. Dated, to my surprise, 02/06. Is this really a six-year-old bottle that I picked up on a whim last week?

A: Black body, brown highlights; two fingers of frothy tan head. Good retention, light lace. Pretty good.

S: Yup, that smells ancient - but in a pretty good way. Sweet molasses, musty sherry oxidation, and an interesting, distinctive hint of gingerbread.

T: Sweet. Brown sugar, molasses, chocolate, and sherry. Really tasty up front, but the finish is cloying and musty - not a great combination.

M: Sticky but not thick, with a moderate amount of tingly carbonation. A little strange.

O: Interesting and enjoyable, but I do wish it came in a 12oz bottle instead of a half liter. A worthwhile experiment for $1.99.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 23:29:40 | More by woosterbill

TheSixthRing

California

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours jet black with cola brown edging. The head is a light cocoa powder brown, 2 finger thick and shows decent retention. Lacing is thin, but silky and with fair stick... then nothing after about 20 minutes.

Smell - Raisin and burnt, caramelized sugars make up the the front of the aroma. Earthy, grassy and with subtle hints of chocolate below.

Taste - Lots of sugar at the forefront. Caramel and toffee at first, then raisin finds it's niche. A touch of earthy coffee comes through faintly mid-taste, and lingers in the finish. Finishes with raisin sweetness and subtle heat.

Mouthfeel - Full-bodied with low carbonation. A touch syrupy; sticky. Finishes a bit flat.

Overall - I'd say this is a run-of-the-mill Baltic here. It's drinkable, does nothing to misrepresent the style, but there's nothing special or exciting about it. Highly doubtful I'd buy it again. Maybe a bit more sweet than it should be.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 07:35:39 | More by TheSixthRing

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Dogfish Head pint glass. Pours a cloudy, but semi translucent dark red brown. Half finger light tan head fizzed intensely and immediately disappeared leaving a tiny ring around the glass. Unusual carbonation behavior. Aroma of toasted malt, chocolate, vanilla and an unusual earthy fruit component. Flavor follows aroma, dark toasted malt, chocolate, vanilla with a hint of coffee. Odd fruit flavor in the finish like an herbal infusion of sour cherry. Light hops in the finish. Light to medium bodied. An unusual porter, with less opacity and body than most Baltic porters, but the toasiness and cherry flavors are good for a Baltic porter. The earthy fruit flavor in the finish does not fit as well. An interesting take on the style that I'm glad I had the opportunity to taste, but somewhat off balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:41:33 | More by LiquidAmber

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a half litre bottle into a brandy snifter. Stamped P.O. 1229.

A: Nice off-white head with decent retention. Ruby-black with merest hints of red in direct light. Scattered lacing.

S: Big, malty-fruity (figs, dates) alcoholic sweetness. A welcome hint of breadiness, molasses, and over-ripe banana. (Banana-bread maybe?)

T: Big, rich, and fruity. Like the other Polish 'Baltic Porter' I tried (Black Boss) this tastes much more like a BSDA than a Porter. Loads of malt, fruit, and very distant roasted malt. The endtaste is thick, spicy, and sweet.

M: Smooth, spicy, and fruity.

O: Great beer! Recommended; would have again. Not very porterish (at all) but still pretty nice. Perhaps the best Polish ale I've tasted.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 07:17:07 | More by AgentMunky

Drufus

Connecticut

1.3/5  rDev -64.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I am a fan of imperial porters and saw this one for $1.99 and couldn't pass it up. I wish I did. This beer was incredibly sweet and bitter causing me to make strange faces. It was so sweet and yet bitter at the same time, I thought I was drinking cough syrup. I probably drank 4 ounces before this beer became my first ever drain pour. Did I get a bad bottle????

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 16:58:42 | More by Drufus

scottfrie

California

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle into snifter.

A: Pours like black coffee with a huge but soft looking dark brown head. Head quickly faded into a wispy film and collar. Patchy lace.
S: Very sweet and roasted smelling. I get notes of roasted malts, char, caramel, honey, sugar and a hint of coffee. There’s something strange in there as well, kinda citrusy, earthy and vegetabley.
T: Better than the nose. Sweet and roasted again, with honey, candied sugar, caramel syrup, roasted malts, chocolate, charred wood and coffee melding together. The finish is sweet and sticky and the aftertaste is burnt but still sweet.
M: Fuller body, airy but smooth carbonation with a sticky and viscous mouthfeel.
O: I’m still not loving the nose but this tastes pretty good actually. Nothing earth shattering but a great drinking imperial porter.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 21:24:10 | More by scottfrie

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is almost black with a creamy tan head. Very nice sweetness with some mild roast, dark fruit, cola, and a bit of grain. The sweetness is excellent almost doppelbock-like. A bit of cola, some dark fruit, and like cocoa powder. Just a hint of bitterness to go with bread and toffee.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 18:24:03 | More by womencantsail

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Looks real nice right off the bat, black, extremely opaque unless you put it to the light you will see maybe a little tint. Light tan head maybe 2/3" off the body.

Smell: Smells like molasses and chocolate. Good but not flattering.

Taste; In reality drinking this beer it is all over the place, it is good especially with those that like a wine feel to their beer. It is sweet like a ruby (wine),

Mouth: This beer fails in its after-taste, feels like a shot of molasses or sugar hitting the back of your mouth that is just a little too much.

Overall: Good beer especially when you factor in the it costs next to nothing. It definitely is better even than some triple it price and on that note... Salud!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 19:09:41 | More by BlurryVisi0n

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. About a finger of tan head formed on a dark brown, almost black body. The head held solidly.

Smells of roasted malt, tinge of burnt barley, black licorice, and dry barn hay.

Milky taste, toasted barley, strong black licorice and dark chocolate. Alcohol in the breath at the end.

Texture is creamy and smooth. Low carbonation.

Extremely well made and balanced. A dark profile without left up. The licorice might be too much for some.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 02:08:41 | More by Fatehunter

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a bad deal picked this one up for 3 bucks for the 16.9oz bottle.

A - Very pretty looking porter. It was thick and creamy with a dark complexity and a 1/2 inch of mocha colored head that has some equally nice lacing.

S - Smells of mild espresso, a touch of bakers chocolate (which I never seem to get in many porters) and mild roast and smoke. Hopping is in their but this porter is definitely on the malty side.

T - First thing I noticed is that it was sweet rather than chalky the yeast are. This gave it more of a stout like quality giving way to waves of sweet dark chocolates and espresso beans. The finish does have a twang of citrus hops and a touch of drying making this one great porter.

M - Medium and chewy. ABV is perfectly blended.

Overall man these guys in Poland got the porter thing down. If I see this again I will be sure to pick up another. Quite possibly the best porter for your dollar.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 16:32:44 | More by DrDemento456

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sample: 1 bottle 2011

A: Extremely dark reddish brown, pours a small light brown head, moderate internal carbonation

S: Quite sweet smelling, espresso, chocolate, caramel, traces of vanilla, rather fragrant

T: Cocoa, caramel, heavy espresso, sweet but with a nice balance, some smokey qualities, a bit tangy, dessert-like

M: Quite smooth, nice consistency, mocha aftertaste, a bit too lingering, also quite drying on the palate

O: A very mocha-forward porter, well balanced, smooth, and rather fragrant

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 04:57:03 | More by MatthewWilde

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Grand Imperial Porter, bomber poured into a Jackie O's tulip.

A: Dark dark brown, with a tan head with low retention and light lacing.

S: Kind of light for a Baltic...its nutty for sure, dark chocolate, burnt caramel, some fruity notes from a hop or yeast ester more than likely, earthy hop notes as well.

T: Chocolate and caramel malts, toffee as well, burnt caramel, graham cracker, nutty flavors reminiscent of a Brown Ale, as well as some bitter earthy hops.

MF: Medium body, soft carbonation, no alcohol presence.

O: Really not roasty enough for me as a porter, nor burnt/smoky enough for a Baltic. Interesting malty offering, though its definitely not bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 14:16:05 | More by Scotchboy

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a Blue moon pint glass.

A- Dark black with a slight ruby tint when held up to the light. Has a light brown fluffy fat head. Rises quite well after being poured. Very rich looking.

S- Breadiness with cocoa and chocolate nib notes. Very reminiscent of a chocolate pastry. Slight bitterness from hops.

T- The start is chocolatey sweet and malty. There is a slight breadiness that occurs mid taste with some light graham cracker notes that mesh nicely with the notes of chocolate caramel and brown sugar. Has a faintly bitter hop finish.

M- Richly carbonated. Medium to heavily bodied. Slightly syrupy but the carbonation adds a crispness.

O- A very rich nice porter that can't be beat for the cheap price tag. Doesn't have to much to it to really make it stand out but good nonetheless. Would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 04:28:07 | More by Zachtheporter

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours ruby-tinged brown with a large, quickly fading head.
Nose shows roasted malt, chocolate liqueur, booze, soft vegemite.
Flavours are less roasty, much sweeter. Lots of toasty melanoidin malt and faint chocolate. Too sweet for my liking though.
Could use much more carbonation, very syrupy body.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 10:35:59 | More by CrazyDavros

BillHilly

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served at 55 degrees in a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours chocolate obsidian, 1 finger head, nice lace retention and yeast activation on etching.

S: roasted malt, molasses & carameled sugar

T: Massive malt front, followed by a candied sugar, almost no hops - not sure how old my bottle is, might be a factor.

M: Nice viscosity, solid carbonation, slight syrup residual

O: Glad I drank it, curious on this beer after 3-5 years as there seems to be a lot of residual sugars in my bottle. This beer should hold up for 5-10 years.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 02:55:35 | More by BillHilly

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I don't exactly know why any of the Polish Baltic Porters are so reasonably priced (Okocim, Zywiec, Black Boss, etc), but if this one is of a similar quality, it's another bargain and I think I'll go pick up a case and cellar it. Grand does the black and murky thing well enough and hits notes of coffee, licorice, and sweet dark fruit. Alcohol becomes more prominent as it warms.
Good enough start to me.

The taste seems like a step down from some of your better Polish Baltics. The cloying sweetness is almost overpowering, and there is a chalky quality to the flavor that impedes the otherwise pleasant tones of baker's chocolate and dark fruit. Alcohol is also an irritant, as it strangles the finish despite mellowing in the aftertaste. Not something I would try again with so many easier to drink, more refined, Polish Baltics available at a similar bargain price.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 04:55:58 | More by daliandragon

rootbeerman

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: pours black but appears clear and red around the edges. Has a thin tan head.
S: very sweet roasted malt, with some nuttiness chocolate light coffee. Also a light bit of smoke.
T: seem like a cross between a heavy malt Bock with a chocolate and coffee porter.
M: sweetness is a little on the sticky side. Decent carbonation which helps some of the thickness.
O: price wise this is an amazing beer, was $2 and some change. I think it could be more of a porter and less Bock but it is good.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 05:40:45 | More by rootbeerman

GeoJ

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle as part of a "Make-Your-Own" 6-pack, poured into a pint glass.

Nice, dark color typical of a porter, 1-finger head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is pretty strong on the alcohol, dark chocolate, blackberry (currants?) ... really interesting.

Taste pretty much follows the aroma, a lot sweeter than I expected. Almost wine-like. To my palate, it is a VERY complex brew - There is a LOT going on here. Mouthfeel was thinner than I like from a porter, but by no means bad. Paired very nicely with some Russian and Lithuanian cheese, along with some freshly baked rye bread. Didn't want to pair it with a garlicky Russian sausage I had lined up - that wouldn't work, at all.

The back of the bottle label states "Perfect with gourmet desserts, and especially dark chocolate" - That's for sure.

Glad I tried it - Will get some more to spring on my unsuspecting, porter-loving friends!

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 00:10:12 | More by GeoJ

Reidrover

Oregon

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Euro style 500ml bottle from "Lifesource", S.Salem. $2.45 Very very classy bottle presentation. Deep deep black beer with a very nice frothy,bubbly tan head. Fine dark,deep dank coffee,toast,dark chocolate,fig aroams assault the nose,pickin up some cream, and slight funk..very nice. Sweet side of Baltic Porter here..sweet with creamy undertones and figs/date fruitiness,bitter coffee after taste. Ok on the tongue..slightly less than expected but that enhances drinkability. Good beer for a cheap price..thinking this would be an excellent Christmas dinner dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 03:12:58 | More by Reidrover

pattermj

Texas

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Second time I have had this beer, rather happy with it for the price.

A- Dark brown, poured into a pint glass the head disappears quickly leaving just a black. Not as dark as many stouts but definitely darker then some porters I have had.

S-Cherries, chocolate are the strongest, slight fig bit maybe my nose is being weak tonight

T- Cherries, chocolate, coffe, vanilla, raisins. Slightly sour, almost made me think it had early signs of infection.

M- Very light, no thickness at all. Good for a porter, would have been disappointed if it were a stout

O- If price were a category this would be scoring much higher, it is a well made, distinct beer, but not perfect or exciting. Just a good beer

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 01:02:57 | More by pattermj

Thickfreakness

New York

4.3/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Deep, dark burnt toast color. No light showing thru, not even along the edges. A one finger dark brown head dissapates rather quickly and leaves very little lacing.

S- Chocolate covered cherries, fresh brewed black coffee, raisins, figs, vanilla and burnt marshmallows. It has a little bit of earthiness and citrus hop as it warms up. This is fantastic!

T- Exactally what the nose tells you!!! Raisinettes, twizzler's cherry nibs, DD coffee and smores! Has a touch of dried fruit sourness, smokey malts, cocoa and some fresh scraped vanilla bean. Has a bit of Dr. Pepper to it... really cool!!!

M- Thinner than I would like, but the flavors roll all over your tongue and whisper sweet nothings to you! Really creamy and soft!

O- At $2.99 a bottle... this is fantastic! I could drink this all the time! Such depth of flavors! This is one damn fantastic porter that everyone should try! I am really impressed!

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 03:36:43 | More by Thickfreakness

Elimination

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A pitch black pour with a white head

Smell of a bit of Swiss chocolate and espresso. Really not bad can't detect any particular yeast tastes

Tons of chocolate on the taste. A bit of mocha in the background quite A surprise really

This a great import as far as a polish porter which I am never interested in. Quite good

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 04:21:47 | More by Elimination

SykDoc

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. It pours a brown color that is almost opaque when held to the light. A 2 inch mocha colored head forms and reduces to a nice lacing.

The aroma is uniquely dark fruit and a bit of milk chocolate.

The taste has again that nice dark fruit combination with a milk and chocolate components. Just a bit of alcohol.

The mouthfeel is a medium bodied but comes across as thin if it is too cold. Carbonation is moderate and there is a mild chocolatey bitterness that lingers.

Overall, this is an interesting beer. Some portions seems quite strong and others more average. It is a reasonable baltic porter that I would happily try again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 04:04:34 | More by SykDoc

emerge077

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Second bottle from Gene's. "PO.02.05.2/2" printed on the back label, your guess is as good as mine.

Poured into a tulip it generates a three finger head of tan mocha tinged foam, leaving random arcs of lacing stuck inside the glass. Eventually the foam breaks up after 5 minutes, creating a floating island of skim in the middle.

Sweet cocoa and prunes in the aroma, a little dull and oxidized, but still pretty noticeable.

Cocoa, milk sugar, prunes, chocolate syrup, malted milk balls. Smooth on the palate, light bodied with mild hints of roast. Fairly sweet, on the verge of cloying, but not overly so. Pretty good, i'd try this again but for my money Zywiec and Okocim make better porters.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 00:06:01 | More by emerge077

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle. PO 3/5. A gusher.

It pours a dark black with ruby on the edges and a foamy tan head.

The smell is basically chocolate milk with some dark fruit.

The flavor continues this flavor. I think this is a beer that would appeal to a large audience. It is mildly roasty and mostly just like a really decadent chocolate dessert or cake.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 04:30:18 | More by crossovert