Dirty Old Man Imperial Rye Porter - Tyranena Brewing Company

Avagadro

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Special thanks to aasher for throwing this in as an extra.

A: Deep black, with a swelling mocha head upon the pour that is active and appealing.

S: Robust bouquet, with molasses, fire-roasted marshmallow, and anise.

T: Full flavored and deliciously roasty; this brew has the perfect level of sweetness to offset the bitter roast. Along with the flavors suggested in the nose, it also displays hints of spicy pumpernickel, and a touch of bourbon sweetness.

M: Full bodied without being sticky, and great carbonation to mellow the intense roast. Right on point.

O: I am happy to see a barrel aged brew that isn't incredibly boozy. The ABV isn't given, but I'd put it in the 5.5%-6.5% range. Great flavor, both in depth and breadth, and well supported by aroma and mouthfeel. This brew is incredibly well crafted, and is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 21:13:43 | More by Avagadro

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle. Served in a DFH Signature Glass, the beer pours dark brown with a 1/4 inch tan head that went away quickly. There isn't much lacing left behind on the glass. Aroma is caramel, chocolate, roasted malt and a bit of vanilla. It's a nice but slightly weak aroma. The taste is similar to the aroma, but luckily the taste is stronger. Unfortunately I still don't pick up much of any rye whiskey in the aroma or flavor of this brew, other than some vanilla. It's tasty, but I wish I could taste and smell more rye whiskey in this beer. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's coating and creamy with decent carbonation. I think it's a solid overall brew, but it was a bit disappointing. Maybe Tyranena should age more than just 40% of this in rye whiskey barrels in their next batch.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 23:01:34 | More by bluejacket74

auroracrisis

Kentucky

3.45/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into a Maudite snifter.

Pours pitch black with a 2 finger mocha colored head that dissipates to a collar of foam and some small bubbles on top of the brew. A bit of red around the edges of the liquid too. Had to pour a bit aggressively to get the beer to achieve this head.

The smell is a pretty dry combination of cocoa powder and caramel at first but once it warms up notes of black coffee and black liquorice become apparent. Not too much barrel in this, and not real spicy on the nose like other rye beers. Just smells like a normal porter to me.

The taste is a little better. Spicy cocoa with caramel, a bit of vanilla and bakers chocolate. Not too different than the smell really. Not terribly complex but you can tell it's a bit different than a regular porter.

Mouthfeel is pretty damn good. A little dry with low carbonation.

Overall, this is an average porter in my opinion. Nothing too special here but certainly not a bad beer. It could use a little more of the barreled beer in the blend.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 06:27:33 | More by auroracrisis

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black with no foam whatsoever.
The aroma is some chocolate, coffee, maybe a hint of the whiskey and wood with a hint of the rye showing through. Really a nice smelling beer with alot going on.
The taste is roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, wood and the rye all blends nicely
Smooth and creamy mouthfeel with slight carbonation, slightly thin. It has a realy nice taste and I would enjoy having another.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 00:00:03 | More by mikereaser

champ103

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another thanks to tjmodica for sharing the bottle.

A: Pours a near opaque black color. A small tan head forms that recedes to nothing. Not much lace either.
S: Toasted malt, chocolate, coffee are all there like a good porter. Then some wood comes in from the barrel, and once this warms a bit plenty of bready rye. Lots of depth in the nose.
T: Follows the nose with more of a roasted malt character. Chocolate, sweet toffee, and some coffee. Light wood flavors, and bread. biscuit and rye. Really nice.
M/D: A medium to full body. Low on the carbonation. Cream and smooth. Easy to drink. A great beer to sip on.

An excellent barrel aged porter. Both the wood and rye are there, but very subtle. Which complements the porter perfectly. Very nice, and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 23:49:17 | More by champ103

TheDTrain

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A ballsy craft from Tyranena! Medium bodied porter with a whole lot of character. Roast malts are the backbone of the aroma with great uplifting whiskey tones. Creamy feel with some heat. The whiskey/coco blend really bring it over the top. Although not as rye as I would have liked, still one of the best Tyranena's out there right now!

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 19:16:15 | More by TheDTrain

JLeege

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance- Pours very deep brown with a creamy tan head. Great retention, decent lace.

Smell- Toasted and lightly roasted malts. Caramel and rye. Subtle dark fruits a hint of maple syrup.

Taste- Follows the aroma very well. Rye, toasted malts, subtle chocolate and roast. A little rye whisky, with hints of vanilla and possibly cherry. I tad spicy I suppose.

Mouthfeel- Velvety smooth. Not sure on the ABV’s but there is no heat at all.

Overall- I wanted to be blown away by this one. Rye aged in rye whiskey barrels, that’s one of my top 10 fantasies! Solid beer, but I was hoping for a bit more. I wish the rye was more predominant and added more of a spicy character to this, but that’s just me. Overall, another solid beer in the BGW series.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 03:19:59 | More by JLeege

billab914

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish snifter. It poured black in color with a thin tan head barely covering the top of the beer. It left some decent lacing on the sides of the glass as I drank it as well.

The aroma mixes the boozy whiskey with some darker chocolate and bready, rye flavors. A little bit of a roasty flavor comes out as well. Everything mixes pretty nicely actually and the chocolate really seems to compliment the whiskey.

The taste is pretty big on the chocolate flavors. At first I get more of a milky, sweeter chocolate flavor. That starts to fade into more of a bitter-sweet, cocoa, chocolate flavor midway. The whiskey gives it a little underlying booziness that compliments it very nicely. A bit of the bready, spicy rye flavors come out in the finish. Very nice flavors to it overall.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being below average. Overall it was a very nice beer. I really liked how the whiskey complimented the chocolaty porter characteristics. The rye was a nice addition as well. Very solid beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 01:24:42 | More by billab914

adman08

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours almost black with a creamy brownish head.
Excellent lacing on the glass.
S-Aromas of chocolate and coffee, fairly light.
T-Outstanding flavors of chocolate, coffee, a hint of vanilla from the barrel aging, Fairly sweet.
M-Creamy and thick, sticky.
Overall, this beer is outstanding. The barrel aging adds some vanilla flavoring and some of the creamy smoothness. Surprisingly drinkable. It's like drinking a liquid brownie with a hint of coffee.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 02:22:03 | More by adman08

wschmit

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle into a perfect pint.

A: A viscous, maple stream pours silently into a dark, clear body of deep brown, slightly red hue. A bit of mocha head fades quickly to a collar of negligible height.

S: For something called "Imperial" porter, I was skeptical, but the nose is spot on. A really thorough roasted smell, like just-spent coffee grounds. The rye whiskey comes through after my nose adjusts to the coffee. Very pleasant.

T: Taste pretty well mirrors the smell. In addition to roasted malt, there's a slightly sour taste, and just a bit of whiskey--would like a touch more, to complement the coffee.

M: There's a bit of heat to this, but it feels quite nice with the fairly viscous, low-carbonated body.

O: Really well executed. "Imperial" made me expect a booze bomb--an ABV would be nice, btw--but this doesn't feel very strong alcoholically. A fine brew all around--hits all the porter notes, and then goes a bit beyond them in a positive way.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 03:35:20 | More by wschmit

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dirty Old Man

Pours amber tinted brown and settles black with a fingers worth of light tan colored head.

The nose offers some roasty aromas up front with some chocolte filled alcohol. There is some vanilla and brown sugar scents as well, probably from the barrel aging.

The taste is much similar to the nose but multiplied. The roasted malts are very bold and then the bourbon cloak of vanilla and butterscotch lingers throughout.

The mouthfeel is very rich and oily, with a prickly carbonation kick at the finish.

Overall, another great brew from Tyranena. The Brewers Gone Wild series is awesome and hasn't let me down yet.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 04:04:49 | More by ChugginOil

aasher

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This just arrived so it was a must buy at the end of the work day. It pours a medium bodied midnight black with a light, dark khaki head that dissipates within a minute or two and laces the glass. For a porter I'm surprised even at how dark it is. It smells of dark roasted malts, caramel malt, rye (but not whiskey), and light alcohol. It has a musty aroma to it too, kind of like a garage after a rain. It's not bad, just worth mentioning. The flavors are a nice milk of milk chocolate, bitter chocolate, dark malts, and light whiskey. The whiskey is subtle. Altogether everything is really well blended. This beer is exceptionally smooth. It's medium bodied and velvety smooth. It's perfect really for the style. I'm convinced that Tyranena can do no wrong in their Brewers Gone Wild series. This further confirmed my thoughts.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 03:58:38 | More by aasher

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

aggressive pour into a snifter glass.

Appearance: dark brown to black in color. Mocha brown head and solid lacing that sticks to the glass.

Smell: Coffee, whiskey, and rye.

Taste: Slightly bitter coffee that is balanced by sweet tastes of whiskey and vanilla. Even the rye is a player, with subtle hints lingering in background. Hints of dark chocolate or bittersweet chocolate. The bitterness continues through entire taste of the beer, but it stays balanced with the sweet flavors of vanilla and whiskey. Bitterness does not overwhelm at any time.

Mouthfeel: Smooth smooth beer! Moderate carbonation and almost a full bodied beer, but moderate body for sure.

Overall: Tyranena is brilliant with Brewers Gone Wild series. They pack so much flavorful into these beers in this series that are smooth and balanced. It is the essence of what wisconsin beers are all about. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 04:57:07 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

jslot38

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: From the side, chalky black. From the top has a few brown hues around the side. Barely any head, just a ring around the edges.

Smell: Very nice whiskey notes, vanilla is very up front. While this is the predominate aroma, it does not overwhelm.

Taste: Has a level of tartness (almost fruitiness) found in traditional porters. Mingles well with the vanilla and chocolate flavors. Not totally what I was expecting, but its very balanced and nice. A bit of sweetness from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is nice, has a silky smooth feel. Very good. For a barrel aged porter, this is extremely drinkable. I looked over and was surprised to see that I finished 3/4s of this during the review.

This is a very good example of a barrel aged beer that is well balanced, and really takes on the whiskey flavors well.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 00:24:15 | More by jslot38

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks again to shir0045 for this one.
Pours a deep brown lighter ruby highlight's around the edge. Hard pour created a huge two inch light brown heading. Some tremendous globs of lacing everywhere.

Smell at first has very big lactic chocolate notes. A nice warming liquor aroma is a quick second followed with a beautiful blend of rye bread and some decent bourbon characters. Amazing aroma's.

Taste start's out with the heavy hitter big dark malts with a chocolate liqour taste that lingers throughout the tasting. Nice spicey finish. Somewhat a letdown from the big aromas I was getting in the nose.

Mouth is mid-full bodied almost there to the big boy range but not yet.Extremely smooth with a perfect watery to chew ratio. Very good carbonation for this type of beer (whiskey barrel aged)

This one was a dousy I liked it very much.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 21:36:08 | More by TheFightfan1

bushbeer75

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz brown bottle not dated

Tyranena Dirty Old Man from the Brewers Gone Wild Series poured dark brown - almost black. A hard pour produced a 2-finger foamy tan head that held very well and formed rings of foamy lacing around my tulip glass. The nose was dominated by dark chocolate, coffee and toffee with rye whiskey in the background. The [burnt] flavor is of dark chocolate, woody and finishes with light rye whisky spiciness. The body is medium to full, with a smoother mouth feel and light carbonation. Flavor really comes through as the beer warms so don't consume too cold. Dirty Old Man goes well paired with barbecue potato chips.

Label reads: 40% malt beverage aged in rye whiskey barrels - 60% malt beverage. It sure would be interesting if they transposed the percentages [60% aged in rye whiskey barrels] - nonetheless, a very drinkable and flavorful American Porter. Well done Tyranena!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 23:13:43 | More by bushbeer75

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a La Fin du Monde tulip. Bought at Woodman's in Madison WI for around $10 a four pack. No bottled on date. Purchased in early February 2011.

Apperance: Pours jet black, with very minimal head. Small lacing, that does not stay around long.

Smell: Great coffee aroma's. Roasted oak, sweet vanilla notes, and nice rye spice.

Taste: Great rye, roasted porter flavor. I like the use over un-aged and aged Porter, the mix is great. The un-aged Rye spice really comes through, and the nice vanilla oak aging mellows it out. Coffee comes through on the back, I really like the nice roasted flavor.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation is relatively low, therefore coming across a bit flat. Even after warming, the moutfeel lacks a tad.

Drink and overall: Overall, a nice beer. Nothing too great, although very enjoyable. I like the idea of a rye porter, and aging in Rye casks. Give credit to the breweres on this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 02:00:51 | More by MarcatGSB

thetomG

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice deep brown color with a layer of tan head that leaves lots of spotty lacing around the glass. Vanilla, chocolate and rye come through on the nose with a gentle hint of booze.

Flavor follows the nose nicely, but with more boldness all around. The whiskey flavors are nice and smooth - a sentiment I can relate to all aspects of this beer.

Mouthfeel is great as well - smooth, smooth, smooth!

Easy to drink and very enjoyable, this is a beer I'd highly recommend to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 01:55:59 | More by thetomG

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to seeswo for the opportunity to try this one. Pours two shades shy of black with a thin band around the edges of the bowl. No head or lacing on this one, just a slightly oily slick across the surface. Big barrel-aged nose, a trace of booze/ethanol - extremely sweet, with aromas of brown sugar, molasses, a slightly vinous quality and raisins and prunes. Taste is more subdued than suggested by the nose - dark chocolate comes out and the barrel-aged quality dissipates. Some roast is also expressed as the brew warms. All this on a rich and malty backbone. Mouthfeel is medium-light (but closer to light), with a slightly oily/slightly watery consistency. Carbonation is light and even with a little dryness at the finish that seems attributable to the alcohol. A solid brew - not my favorite from this brewer, but quite good and with a well-hidden abv.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 01:40:41 | More by Jwale73

AwYeh

California

3.78/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into 16oz snifter; big thanks to seeswo for sending me this in the Black Booty 2011 BIF. I'm a big fan of both rye beers and porters, so I really appreciate it.

A: Black/dark brown with a half finger of tan head which dissipates fairly quickly. Spotty lacing.

S: Roasted malts are prominent here, along with some woody and slight nutty flavors. A bit of sweet whisky, but not as much as I was considering, even considering that only 40% of the beer made it into the whisky barrels

T: Roasty malts really dominate the flavor here; there's a bit of rye, but not as much as I was expecting considering that this is a rye beer aged in rye barrels... at least until the beer warms up to about room temperature. Vanilla does seep in a bit as the beer warms, along with a bit of coffee and dark chocolate. I recommend drinking this one starting at about 60º and letting it warm to room temperature to fully enjoy it.

M: Thin body for a barrel aged porter, without a notable finish. A smooth beer, but I'm looking for something heavier, more syrupy, and sticky to really keep the rye/whisky finish around for a while. Little carbonation, almost flat.

D: Even if my other scores weren't outstanding, this is a very easy beer to get down; considerably high for something (partially) barrel-aged. Wouldn't mind having a pint of this at the bar with some friends- it contains a lot of the qualities of great beers, without really putting everything together. Definitely worth a try; it could easily be someone else's favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 09:20:30 | More by AwYeh

brewmudgeon

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dirty old man

a 4-4.5 motor oil with a very short rusty tan head. spotty lacing.

s 4.5 roast and malt sweetness are evident, rye bour5on much less so, but it's there in intermittent little wafts. improvement with warming. another bottle 4/11, the aroma seems more complex and inviting.

t 4-4.5 sweet roasty malt followed quickly by a roasty twang. apparently only 40% of the beer was put into barrels. maybe the cheap bastards should have put 100%, and left it there til it was ready, then maybe they'd have had something extraordinarily good on their hands. on second tasting 4/11, the whiskey, while tempered, is more pervasive. everything really comes together in this one, though in sort of a mild, welcoming way.

m 4-4.5 big bodied, chewy and viscous (like motor oil, again) but it's pierced a bit by a somewhat sharp carbonation. do like how big and chewy it is. rare that i consider deducting points for a beer being TOO big in mouthfeel.

d 4.5 sure it's good if you like a typical porter evaporated until it's thick and briefly housed in the general vicinity of rye bourbon. ok, it's good, very good. and very drinkable. sometimes i like my bourbon stouts/porters to reek of the spirit, damnit, so i was initially disappointed.
on the plus side, the coffee flavors are subdued and everything is melded together, if a bit blurred. drinks like a beer with age on it. hey wait a minute, how old is this stuff?? bought it barely a week ago and the store had plenty, but now i see "brewed once"--in 2008? wow. i wonder how different it was fresh.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 02:28:18 | More by brewmudgeon

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

GLASS: Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 50 degrees
BOTTLED ON: 04FEB08

This is a deep, dark, brown colored liquid. Very close to black. A very thin head of foam covers the surface, not much more, but it sticks around, which is nice. Lacing is in sticky, medium-sized strands.

Nice chocolate notes and some cocoa powder come through. Light notes of dark coffee beans. Good traces of rye spiciness. Good oak and whiskey presence is still here.

The rye whiskey notes have begun to fade somewhat. It's still present, just much more mellow than when it was fresh. It's actually much better integrated, at this point. It blends much more evenly with the chocolate and coffee notes brought about by the porter, as well as the spiciness from the rye.
Very tasty and well-balanced.

This is medium-bodied with a medium-to-high carbonation level. It has a touch of 'prickliness' to it.

This is still tasty and drinkable, but I don't think that I'd hold onto it much longer (if I had anymore, that is). I think that it's at it's peak now and is about to start declining. Just my opinion, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 22:16:31 | More by coldmeat23

BeerLover99

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: deep black with faint choc. brown up to the light, one finger head, and some damn fine lacing.

S: malt, roasted nuts, oak, chocolate, maybe licorice.

T: smokey scotch velvet with chocolate and coffee taste, hint of bitter at the end, but so subtle.

M: medium, creamy full body, with average carbonation.

D: Not a session beer, but delicious and fun to share. I would recommend this to porter or stout fans.

VERY NICE, WORTH TRYING!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 22:00:01 | More by BeerLover99

tpd975

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a rich deep dark black with a tan head. Wonderful retention with thick chunks of lace.

S: Aromas of rich roasted malt, bitter chocolate, wood, coffee, and a touch of whiskey.

T: Nicely charred. Rich chocolate more bitter than sweet but there is some candy brown sugar and toffee sweetness as well. Fresh brewed coffee and old oak. Hints of whiskey and a bit of dark fruit.

M: Medium in body, smooth, good carbonation.

D: Good I like this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 21:51:35 | More by tpd975

arboristfish

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a black color with a tan head that fades fast. The aroma of this beer smells of booze, caramel and roasted malts. The flavor is earthy with a faint hint of booze. There is also a flavor of caramel and chocolate. The mouthfeel is thick, and overall is a drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 02:48:34 | More by arboristfish