Portsmouth Royal Impy Stout - Portsmouth Brewery

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Had last night, taken from my notes.

Pours a dark dark brown, essentially black color, about half a finger of a tan head, left some bits of lacing on the glass.

Smell is primarily roasted malt which aspects of chocolate and caramel, not picking up much dark fruit as I would have expected though.

Taste is dominated by the roasted malt, chocolate is the most prominent flavor after that, dark fruit or any type of wood aging is weak which makes this RIS a bit more straightforward, alcohol heat is present but for the most part is very well hidden, body is not as thick or viscous as others, carbonation a touch high but not distracting enough, not a cloyingly sweet RIS or one that pounds you with many flavors.

Overall, good but not great, definitely not something I would take the day off for as some might. I don't see this as replacing Kate in the hearts of beer geeks, but then again, no beer should really try.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2013 17:13:16 | More by deltatauhobbit

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.41/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

CooperEllis hooked this up in a surprise box!! John is one of the best traders out there!! Shared tonight with Buckeyeboy for an impromptu humpday tasting.

Pours thick with a long lasting brown head... great lacing.

Nose is the expected rich mix of melted chocolate, background dark malt and some licorice notes.

Flavor mirrors the aromas with some added dark fruitiness.

Body is pretty decadent with a lighter carbonation that adds to the smooth velvety mouthfeel.

Proper.

Thanks again John, your generosity will not go unrewarded.

4.25/4.25/4.5/4.25/4.5

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 04:50:12 | More by JohnGalt1

largadeer

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -19.5%

06-07-2013 19:49:30 | More by largadeer

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4/5  rDev -8%

06-07-2013 04:36:37 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

06-07-2013 04:36:25 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

LEdubs

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

06-06-2013 22:29:28 | More by LEdubs

EricDu

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

06-06-2013 04:38:52 | More by EricDu

atone315

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

05-11-2013 17:58:31 | More by atone315

thegerm87

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -8%

05-11-2013 14:37:08 | More by thegerm87

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

05-11-2013 04:27:59 | More by TonyTalon

mklisz

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-07-2013 20:09:56 | More by mklisz

caguiar

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

05-04-2013 17:37:29 | More by caguiar

smutty33

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

04-29-2013 14:31:54 | More by smutty33

stevec32

New York

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

04-16-2013 02:17:30 | More by stevec32

ChuckfinnelyBN

New York

4/5  rDev -8%

04-14-2013 19:50:12 | More by ChuckfinnelyBN

EnronCFO

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -13.8%

04-09-2013 00:18:30 | More by EnronCFO

wdarcy77

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

04-08-2013 01:40:03 | More by wdarcy77

Rekrule

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev -54%

04-07-2013 14:50:04 | More by Rekrule

TripelMark

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

04-04-2013 02:39:58 | More by TripelMark

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

04-03-2013 03:39:51 | More by jaasen64

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

03-30-2013 14:01:18 | More by outoffocus

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Special thanks to Camden for graciously volunteering to grab me a few of these bottles. Much appreciated buddy! Thank you for the opportunity.

11.16 oz stubby bottle featuring a delightful display of Royal Russian Midgets. Will they ever get their due?

Pours a very dark brown with some burnt reddish highlights along the edges and some soapy mocha bubbles to boot.

Smells of toffee, raisins, and molasses with a prelude of some nice boozy hots.

Rich and sweet from the starting blocks. Huge raisin notes and prunes charge head first into a cavalry of toffee laden ice coffee surprise. Melted dark chocolate along the back end gets swallowed up by a wave of tempered, yet focused, alcohol. I'm not sure if this is port barrel aged or there's some deep recess of my primitive bear brain that points me this way, the there's a grapeesque sweetness along the back end that lingers and lasts.

Feel is oily and supple with a nice weight that sits along the tongue and slides all along my tasting places.

This is really good. I really enjoy Kate and I really enjoy this as well. I am happy to have had the opportunity and should I not die along my next salmon raid, or perhaps during one of my long ass siestas in some far flung cave, I have another bottle just waiting for me. Thanks again Cam!

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 02:20:21 | More by BarrytheBear

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewery

A: pours pitch black, very little head as it arrived at the table. Agitation led to about a half inch of head. Thin rim of mocha head around the glass

S: lots of chocolate and a little coffee. Dark fruits and a little alcohol, fairly roasty. Floral hops noticable. Honestly does remind me just a bit of Kate.

T: follows the nose. Very balanced mix of mocha, dark fruits, hops - getting a touch of citrus- and complimentary alcohol. Big maltiness and fairly complex.

M: just about a full body, great smooth mouthfeel, just a touch of alcohol heat. Very pleasant finish.

O: while its not kate, its still a very well executed RIS that is reminiscent of Kate.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 22:54:47 | More by Satchboogie

Sean9689

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8%

03-27-2013 15:02:36 | More by Sean9689

s1ckboy

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -8%

03-27-2013 00:04:45 | More by s1ckboy