Class Of '88
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Class Of '88Class Of '88
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From:
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
9%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 10.97%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
198
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 29, 2019
Added:
May 20, 2013
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  11
Collaboration with Deschutes Brewing.

Imperial smoked porter
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by lighthabit:
Photo of lighthabit
Reviewed by lighthabit from Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
deep garnet red. weak head quickly dies to very minimal layer. no lacing to speak of.
smoke smell evokes sense of old world, hints of peat, malt, leather. taste mirrors nose, a bit thin. smoke is strong, yet fleeting. smoked beers aren't my thing, but this one is at least interesting. for someone wanting to sample a smoked brew, i think this would be a nice one to try before leaping into the crazy strong types. i would've liked to have a bit more complexity, some other flavors to work with the smoke. i tried to grade it based on what i think they were going for.

recommended and appreciated, even if it isn't necessarily one of my preferred styles.
Jul 01, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

4.07/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Based on notes from 2013. Had this on draft.
A: pours dark brown body with tan head with nice retention and lacing
S: meaty, roasty smell
T: smokey, meaty taste with some roasted aftertaste
M: medium bodied and pretty smooth
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; pretty good beer overall
Dec 29, 2019
 
Rated: 2.53 by Nyrangersgrrl from New York

Feb 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.38 by anon from California

Aug 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by OldGriz from Washington

Jun 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by cd34 from Illinois

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.48 by aussiebeer from Illinois

Apr 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by hockeyfighter19 from Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2015
Photo of spacecake9
Rated by spacecake9 from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
Very tasting porter. Not as smoky as I would have liked.
Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by SHerninko from Pennsylvania

Nov 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.8 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Oct 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by UrbanCaveman from Ohio

Oct 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by a_beckman25 from Michigan

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by whitenads from Michigan

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Skillz from Illinois

Jul 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by MichPaul from Michigan

Jul 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by esktime from Ohio

Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by ackeeper from Illinois

Jun 25, 2014
Photo of maximum12
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota

2.2/5  rDev -43.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1
Thanks to fiver29 for this bottle, which has been hanging around in my cellar for quite some time in a (I've not found) vain attempt to calm the smoke taste enough for my campfire hating wife. 22 oz. bottle that I (tried to) split with my wife.

Poured expertly by my youngest daughter, the pour is black like butte; I'm waiting for someone to make a clear porter (anyone remember Pepsi Clear?). Nose is heavy on the chocolate & smoke with an eau de toilette of sweet malts. Hershey Campfire.

Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter is indeed a 'bacon beer', as my wife would say. Smoke remains overwhelming even after a year in the bottle, like sticking your face into a smoker that's smoking smoke. Chocolate that's prominent in the nose retreats to virtual irrelevance, sitting right next to the malts. Light cream & an echo of bitterness barely show. Thick. Half of a bomber is going to be too much.

All smoke, all the time, there no subtlety, no complexity, nothing but a faceful of musty smoke. On the positive side, you could wave this beer around & frighten away mosquitoes for a good ten feet around. Too great breweries: one drain pour. Not good.
Jun 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Jun 15, 2014
Class Of '88 from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 198 ratings