Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter - Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from undated bottle to mug the beer arrives a dark opaque brown with deep brown edges in the light, a nice 2 finger off-white/light mocha color head with good retention and lacing. The nose is a bled of roasted barley and caramel sweetness, hints of dark fruit, and perhaps a heat from the alcohol. The beer starts very much the same way with a smooth creamy malt roast after which the dark fruit and caramel warm the beer up a bit, finishes with a lingering roast. Mild bitterness and hides the alcohol well. Medium bodied and creamy, this is a good beer. Overall, a treat, very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 01:46:11 | More by hopfacebrew

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -2%

05-18-2013 22:02:12 | More by Photekut

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Huge thanks to beersndrums for this one!

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic pint at cellar temperature.

L – Deep brown, nearly black color with a huge 4-finger bubbly, tan head. Really nice retention as the head fades down into a half-finger of froth that sticks around for most of the experience. There are some wisps of lacing.

S – Mostly sweeter aromas including raisins, black cherries, and cocoa are apparent, but a nice amount of roasted malt is there, too.

T – It starts off sweet with cocoa, raisins, black currants and cherries, and a touch of vanilla and eventually progresses to a dry, bittersweet roasted taste with coffee and dark chocolate notes. This is really tasty.

F – Medium-to-full-bodied with average carbonation, a sticky, mouth-coating, and velvety-smooth feel, and a bittersweet and dry finish. Sweeter flavors like chocolate and dark fruits linger the longest. There is a very subtle and smooth throat-warming sensation from the alcohol.

O – This is a really nice porter. It is not very complex but it is very true-to-style and very tasty. I love the thicker mouthfeel that almost borders on stout territory, and it is insanely drinkable for 8% ABV. If I hadn’t known, I would’ve guessed it was around 5-6%. I’m really glad that I got to try this one. I’m glad I have another offering from Thomas Hooker (Liberator) in my fridge. I’ll have to check out more from them when I’m back up in New England. Thanks, Jared!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:28:23 | More by BlackBelt5112203

zillo043068

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%

03-11-2013 20:45:28 | More by zillo043068

jefftuck47

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

03-04-2013 23:34:02 | More by jefftuck47

bcsbeer

Florida

4/5  rDev -2%

03-04-2013 19:02:22 | More by bcsbeer

tmars13

2.5/5  rDev -38.7%

03-03-2013 18:00:56 | More by tmars13

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

02-18-2013 21:10:56 | More by DIPAFAN

oldedog

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -2%

02-16-2013 03:01:24 | More by oldedog

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I poured this bottle into my tulip glass. There was very minimal head on the initial pour. This is a pretty dark beer. You can get some light through this one, but not much. The coloring is borderline stout... I know the dividing line is more than that. Guiness still has to figure that out.

I like the smell coming off of this one. There is a clean coffee smell with quite a bit of roastiness. It really works well when you breathe it in. The flavor is almost all coffee. It plays well across your pallatte. I think this made for a very good sipper.

I recommend picking this one up. I think it is a very good example for a porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 20:36:19 | More by ummswimmin

tobelerone

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%

01-10-2013 05:13:49 | More by tobelerone

sendbeer

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

01-05-2013 05:50:01 | More by sendbeer

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Snagged a bottle of this for 1.75 at the House of 1,000 beers.

A - Pours fairly black a touch thin with a 1/4 inch of mocha head that pulls back to a sticky lace ring. Seeing some floaties in the glass I assume it's a tad old.

S - Mild roast, touch of coffee, and really sweet milk chocolate. No detectable hops or chalky yeasts.

T - Really nice dark chocolate hit in the front, leading to some respectable roast/coffee, then fades out to a rather sweet finish of cocoa nibs. Tasty stuff.

M - Medium bodied, slightly chewy, easy to drink.

Overall a nice step up from the lager dopplebock. I would buy this again!

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:55:23 | More by DrDemento456

getmeabeer

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

12-12-2012 03:20:28 | More by getmeabeer

anelson86

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

11-18-2012 22:26:34 | More by anelson86

cruzmissile72

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

11-17-2012 22:37:50 | More by cruzmissile72

seplo

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -2%

10-30-2012 18:51:21 | More by seplo

slim2043

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

10-07-2012 01:26:16 | More by slim2043

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a dismal head with no head or thin layer of foam. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or visions of carbonation.

Smell: Roastiness, chocolate, dark fruits, smokiness, and some booze on the nose.

Taste: All of the above plus some vanilla and subtle bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, boozy, silkiness, full bodied, very little carbonation, and warming burn on your palate.

Overall: Solid porter. Minus the lack of head and carbonation, this beer is still good.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 06:46:36 | More by Flounder57

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a chilled pint glass.

-Appearance 3.5: Poured out a gemy black color; slightly translucent. Very small, khaki head formed and dissipated into a filmy swirl.

-Smell 3.5: I smell a deep, toasted grain bouquet with barley highlights. The smell is thick and makes me think that the taste of the beer will be over the top as a result. We will see.

-Taste 4.0: Front is earthy and slightly tart with a cloying and subtle sweetness. Middle is a big barley kick, with some smoky grains in the background. Finish is slightly smoky, and has some residual sweetness and some more of the barley. Aftertaste is long, hoppy and smoky.

-Mouthfeel 4.0: Excellent carbonation. This brings out so many elements of the flavor profile. If only more brewers would learn this crucial component.

-Overall 4.0: Very good "Imperial" porter. It does have a few drawbacks, namely the fact that it is basically a "dubbel" porter and the taste certainly reflects this: a porter on steroids. Also, the alcohol content tends to sneak up on you and kick you in the shorts. Still, the brew certainly exceeded my expectations, and I would unreservedly recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 21:46:27 | More by BeerDocT

RoryOMoore

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

08-24-2012 04:57:15 | More by RoryOMoore

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

08-18-2012 22:37:22 | More by djrn2

RMoeNay

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -2%

07-15-2012 23:19:53 | More by RMoeNay

chrispoint

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -26.5%

06-01-2012 16:52:05 | More by chrispoint

mdebonee

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-31-2012 18:36:41 | More by mdebonee