Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter - Ska Brewing Co.

sommersb

Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Tasted On: 05-15-2013
Freshness: Maybe a bottling date of 02-22-2012, but its not clear
Packaging: 22 oz. bottle, pry-cap with wax
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Received in a trade

Appearance has a very dark brown beer, nearly black. You can see just a little through the beer when it is thinned out in the glass; otherwise it is opaque. The head is tan and fairly small, but still shows a decent amount of lacing and retention for a higher-ABV brew.

Aromas are of rich malt sweetness, chocolate, molasses and then dark fruits like figs. Very nice

The taste is malty first up, and has a big note of chocolate. I then get some coffee-like bitterness, dark cherries and oak. Overall rich and flavorful without much bitterness; hard to believe this has 60 IBUs!

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, full-bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The finish seems somewhat sweet, with some roasted coffee notes plus chocolates.

Overall just a wonderful beer I wish I had more of! Thanks to Cameron (TheBishopco) for the try!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 03:34:54 | More by sommersb

Pegasus

Texas

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

Appearance: Deep mahogany brown, vergig on obsidian, with a massive, dense, tan head with superior retention. Scattered patchy lacing adorns the glass walls.

Aroma: Prominent roasted malt, coffee, bitter cocoa, and chocolate.

Taste: Opens with roasted barley, bitter chocolate, which soon segues into cold coffee, later in the taste, dark fruit notes appear. Later in the taste, and particularly as the beer warms, earthy, smoky notes manifest. Finishes with a long, lingering bitter cocoa note.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, very pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A worthy example of an uncommon style, likely to please.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twenty-two ounce brown glass bomber with a pry-off crown, and a blue hot wax seal. Served in a Nwe Belgium Brewing chalice.

Sourcing: Purchased at Spec's in Texas in April 2013 for $6.99/22 oz bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 13:49:44 | More by Pegasus

srhoadsy

Florida

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served slightly chilled into a snifter.

Pours very dark, rich brown almost black with half an inch of airy light brown head that quickly recedes with light surface layer and lacing.

Heavy aroma of roasted nuts with a hint of coffee.

Tastes follows through the aromas. Roasted nuts, coffee and hint of bitter chocolate and dried fruits.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a sweet finish and aftertaste.

Overall a very nice beer. Sweet, nutty and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:50:51 | More by srhoadsy

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a dark brown almost black with a finger of dark beige head which left a nice amount of lacing behind. smells of chocolate, raisins, molasses, toffee, pecans, licorice.

lots of dark chocolate, roasty grain bill, licorice, very dark coffee beans.. dark and bitter. lovely.

medium body, silky smooth but a little thin for the abv. another very nice offering from ska brewery, much better than their steel toe and buster nut brown ales.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:37:14 | More by facundoCNB

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

I picked this up at a Binny's in Chicago while visiting family.

Served in an Olde Hickory glass.

A: Not black by any stretch of the imagination, but more like chestnut brown, with somewhat of a clear disposition. Kinda light for a porter. The head was less that 1/4 finger and settled on top of the liquid after a few moments.

S: Slight scent of yummy roast, but overall, there wasn't much here in the way of nose. No deep, dark richness at all.

T: The taste was good: Solid hop profile, some dark fruit, roast (without being a BBQ pork beer), infinitely bitter, but I actually thought that was a good thing in this setting.

M: The mouth was a bit thin and I hope Ska works on that. It seems to my mind that Smuttynose Baltic Porter is the standard here, and this one falls way short. Needs most creaminess. The lacing was only mildly splotchy.

O: Not bad at all. Maybe a wee bit too boozy, maybe a bit thin in the mouthfeel, but overall, I enjoyed my session drinking this while up late watching the Food Network.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 07:02:54 | More by Chaney

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a balloon glass.

After the beer settles, it's a dark black that oddly becomes visibly brown through the light. A light cream colored head recedes to a film, leaving a huge ring of enormous bubbles , thick and foamy, around the edge of the beer. Light lacing randomly appears on the glass.

The smell is about as vanilla as I've ever smelled in a porter, and it's pretty good. Also faint hints of licorice and roasted malts.

The taste is a bit ore smokey up front, a bit more toasty and burnt. The middle is bitter coffee with a slight vanilla follow-up. Sharp cheddar and hops in the finish.

The mouthfeel is sharp, dry, and not without an alcoholic burn on the throat.

Overall, a good imperial porter to dissect and think about. The vanilla notes are really well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 01:07:18 | More by JuicesFlowing

tdm168

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at World of Beer Raleigh

A - black with a thin lacing of brown, bubbly head

S - roasted malts, faint citrus

T - chocolate, creamy, bitter, roasted malt, citrus

M - medium to full bodied, smoother, perfectly carbonated

This is a delicious, complex, rich, highly drinkable beer. I've been down on Ska lately, but I'm glad I came across this beer. It made me a believer again. This is definitely a beer worth looking into for anyone who likes stouts.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 02:00:39 | More by tdm168

TBoneJones

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours pretty darn close to pitch black. A minor head quickly fades. Ample lacing stays around briefly before sliding away.
The smell, I like this and it's cherry/chocolate. Not overpowering in any way I might add.
Taste is a bit of cherry and then some burnt cocoa kicks in.
A milky, choco-cordial taste, and then more of a powdery, almost paper-like taste at the end, along with some alcohol burn and a bitter hop flavor, the latter being something I prefer to be more absent in darker brews.  
Overall something new to try, I definitely have never had a "baltic" porter prior to this. Worth looking at I'd say, and now that I have a taste of this variety, I look forward to trying others (ie Alaskan, Smuttynose). Not sure I'd revisit this one again though.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 03:05:46 | More by TBoneJones

beer2day

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sat in the back of the beer fridge for longer than I probably should have left it, but here goes ...

Near black pour with only the faintest hint of light showing through. Thin 1/4 finger of dark tan head. Not much retention, but nice thin sheeting of lace.

Nose is dark fruit, chocolate, roast coffee, and burnt wood. Nice hop profile in there, too, bringing in citrus tones on top of all the other flavors.

Taste is fairly mellow with more of the dark fruit and darker chocolate. Plums, figs, raisins ... and a rich dark chocolate flavor. Lighter coffee and a tobacco note in the finish.

Feel for a porter is very strong. Stands up well to the flavors.

I'll get this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 03:02:07 | More by beer2day

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown with a tight mocha head that leaves rings of lacing.

Smells of deep roasted malts.

Tastes of the malts mostly with a little bitteeness. Malts lead off with notes of coffee, chocolate, and some deeper charcoal notes. I don't find the charcoal note particularly pleasant. Some roasted bitterness comes through and blends with a little earthy hops.

Mouthfeel is medium with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is pretty solid, but the charcoal notes are a little much for me.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 02:48:10 | More by ocelot2500

DavidST

Texas

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a tulip glass, unknown bottle date but this has been in the beer cooler for a while. This pours a mostly black color with light causing brown edges, with a short lived tan head which leaves a lacing. The smell is more sweet than I was expecting, the smells are of roasted malts and milk chocolate. The feel is medium. The taste is pretty good a little sweet and not as much roasted malts as I like low hop bite.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:06:41 | More by DavidST

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Friar Tuck's in Savoy, IL
Best by 2/22/12
Poured into a tulip glass

Ska's Ten-Pin imperial porter is a sweeter take on the style, perhaps lager yeast used instead of ale, as is sometimes the case in these sweeter varieties. While I appreciated the beer's roasted flavors, I thought the ethanol was too apparent in both flavor and feel, and that the aroma was fairly subdued. While I might be willing to try another of these when very fresh, I'm not sure I'd seek one out otherwise.

Pours a 1.5cm head of small and medium-sized bubbles, fairly dense, that descends at a fairly fast pace, eventually settling to a thin ring around the glass with a few sparse, small islands of foam atop the body. As the head descends, it leaves some spotty lacing along the sides of the glass. Body is dark brown to black, opaque, with no visible carbonation (except for directly under the perpetual ring of foam). Light does not penetrate the beer to allow for highlights or other effects.

Aroma of roasted malt, very mild "vanilla coffee" artificial flavor, and some prune-like esters. Not a bad aroma by any means, but I would appreciate it if it were more robust and bold.

Tasting opens with notable roasted malt along acrid sweetness as associated with roasted malts. Mid-palate brings out further dark malt sweetness and some prune-like fruit esters, with roasted characters diminishing somewhat. Back of palate sees ethanol mingle with roasted malt sweetness. Aftertaste of lingering roasted malt char. Overall, tastes acceptable, but too much ethanol showing through in an 8% imperial beer, and also a bit too sweet for my taste.

Beer is medium bodied with lightly spritzy carbonation, helping this foam up slightly on the palate. Resultant mouthfeel is slightly tingly, but smooth and well-flowing. Noticeable ethanol burn on tongue, throat, and in nostrils, which takes away from the experience of the beer: I've had larger ethanol beers that exhibit less of its presence. Finishes dry, with a mild sustained lingering heat from ethanol.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 19:49:46 | More by falloutsnow

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bomber into snifter...

A- Pours very deep brown, almost black in color. Has a light brown head that goes away in a quick minute leaving not much behind.

S- Aroma is of coffee, struesel, toffee, roasted barley and a tiny bit of cherry. Very interesting complexity on aromas found, all of which lend a nice subtle balance; nothing is overpowering.

T/M- Very smooth and non-invasive flavor. Roast is just incredibly subtle and pleasing. Has a minimal dark fruit (raisin and fig) taste. The roast is covered up by some caramel sweetness. Medium body, but low carbonation.

O- I love the different flavors and the way this beer comes together, I just wish it was more bold. Everything was delicious, but it was also subtle. I dont want my 8% porters to be this subtle- still a tasty delight though.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 14:23:18 | More by TheGordianKnot

Durtdiggler

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Black as oil, poured from bomber bottle into snifter glass, very little head and retention.

Hints of molasses, subtle roast and coffee but definitely on the sweeter side as it should be. Pronounced esters but not very complex.

Very sweet though a clean finish but didn't blow me away for an imperial. A typical porters have had more profile than this beer. The molasses, bourbon, slight burnt overtones-want them to come through more.

Mouth feel is a bit flat and uneventful, almost a bit syrupy.

I did like it but no way is this an imperial profile porter. I love Ska Brewing but this one left me hanging on an uneventful sip.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 23:37:06 | More by Durtdiggler

womencantsail

California

2.9/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Thanks for sharing, Rich.

Pours dark brown in color with a small khaki head. Not an overly impressive nose. Despite being watery, it displays an impressive amount of metal and an acrid roastiness. A little bit of chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee. The flavor is not quite as metallic, but the flavor is similarly lackluster. Some old chocolate and a little bit of coffee to go with the roasted malt and bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 01:44:35 | More by womencantsail

DragonsDeath

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had to try this after having Ska Brewing's Decadent I.P.A
Serving Wax sealed 22oz dinner bottle fridge temperature poured into 16oz pilsner glass.

A.Poured very dark almost black coffee color, no head or lacing to follow.

S. Smoke, coffee, and a hint of chocolate.

T. Rich dark coffee, kind of smokey.

M. Medium bodied, not much carbonation, smooth going down.

O. This Porter is not bad to have finished off the day with.
Was easy going down, and doesn't leave to bitter of an after taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 06:57:56 | More by DragonsDeath

blakelive784

Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

1 pt 6 fl oz waxed bottle served in a pint glass, reviewed live:

A - Pours a nearly black color with a tan 1 finger head. The head is decently thick, but retention is pretty bad, even considering the abv.

S - Roasted barley, smoke, cream, faint coffee and some light spice. A mild aroma (maybe too mild).

T - Follows the nose closely. Roasted malt foundation with artificial smoke, some cream, plum and evident, spicy alcohol. The balance is totally skewed in this one. Not built too well. I have to ask: Why deviate so much from the original Ten Pin?

M - Medium bodied, slick and wet. Even if the flavors were there this body couldn't support it.

D - An inferior offering, even to the original. I won't be having this again, especially when the original Ten Pin is better. Simple, unbalanced, and the ABV is entirely too present.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 22:33:06 | More by blakelive784

Phelps

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a shaker pint at Flanny’s.

Dark chocolate brown with barely noticeable ruby highlights. The very thin khaki head becomes a millimeter-thin ring.

Sweet and chocolatey nose. Crumbles of cocoa, cotton candy and alcohol. Not complex, but decent.

Booze, molasses, cocoa, dark chocolate and light hints of toast permeate the flavor. More burnt notes flow in at the finish. It almost tastes like it’s barrel-aged — there’s a lot of booze in here.

The very smooth, creamy body is just a delight to move about. Very gentle carbonation breaks the beer into a bit of fizz as it moves. Fairly tongue-numbing.

Nefarious Ten Pin isn’t bad — just a little too sweet and a little too boozy.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 22:57:48 | More by Phelps

coldriver

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber pours opaque black, head and lacing a bit underwhelming. I smell roasted malt, tobacco, and alcohol. Taste doesn't seem quite in harmony - brown sugar, alcohol, and roasted malts, with very light coffee, chocolate, and citrus hops. Creamy mouthfeel, rather wet finish, and unpleasant aftertaste. I had high hopes for this one but overall it was a dissapointment.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:03:03 | More by coldriver

match1112

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -30%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

when i poured this i thought i was pouring a pepsi. has that cola colored body with a short whispy head that fizzes out. smell is below average for a porter, let alone an imperial one. i gotta try real hard to find anything in there, but sure enough there is some roasted aromas. taste is pretty weak as well for an imperial. mostly over roasted malts with some liquid smoke added. has a medium body with less than average carbonation and a dry smokey finish. will not buy again or recommend anybody else buys either.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 03:58:37 | More by match1112

ABVerageJoe

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Poured a coffee color with a sizable khaki-colored head which left significant lacing.

S - Surprisingly not very potent. Smells like a freshly opened box of cracker jacks with roasted malt and a hint of the alcohol.

T - Tastes like complex toffee malt, brown sugar with chocolate and I'm glad that the hops can be tasted through it, which I've come to expect from Ska Brewing. As it warms you can expect a little bit of the alcohol to shine through along with some plum.

M - Surprisingly smooth and lighter than I would expect from a porter, let alone an imperial. As i moved it around my mouth it felt as though it coated my teeth with a certain undesirable graininess.

Overall - It is a decent and tasty brew, but I don't think it measures up against other "Imperial Porters". It was tasty, but I would not buy it again and would rather drink some Modus Hoperandi from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 03:20:24 | More by ABVerageJoe

HardTarget

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black glass holds a thin head of tan bubbles.. A bit of lacing, nothing serious.

Smell: Roasted grain, bready yeast, earthy hops.

Taste: Rich flavor, deep malt soaked base gives a sugar in your coffee balance to the roasted alcoholic hop leaf.

Mouthfeel: Rich, viscous, oily and chewy.

Overall: Porters tend to be hit or miss for me, baltic / imperial goes the right way. Rich body, heady alcohol, good flavor, no flaws, good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 03:15:21 | More by HardTarget

TheAlamoWrocker

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This will be my 50th beer review and the last for my Fall University semester. A Baltic Porter that will be nice for the cold rainy weather that I have outside.

Reviewed December 16, 2011. Poured a 650 mL bottle, blue wax best by 10/20/12, into a Mug.

A: Poured a glorious two fingered tan head. Body is beautifully black, just like how expect my porters.

S: That coffee and chocolate smell is amazingly nice and blended, plus some sweet toffee. The alcohol could be picked up which seems kinda odd for being a 8%.

T: That coffee taste is amazingly sweet. It feels as if it carries an RIS taste. The chocolate pairs up nicely with its coffee companion. This definitely feels pretty acidic on the tongue, alcohol comes through moderately as it warms up.

M: This is a nice easy drink to take down. It feels nice and full bodied with the carbonation being light.

O: This is one of those beers that taste better at cellar temperature rather than being served at its recommended serving temperature. It's a simple porter that doesn't feel Imperial in anyway, no real punch that puts it above the bar.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 02:04:04 | More by TheAlamoWrocker

GregSVT

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz waxed bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a dark brown, black in the glass, with a nice light brown head that fades to a ring and leaves a touch of lacing on the glass.

S: The nose has big aromas of chocolate, dark fruits, vanilla, and a slight cherry/grape note. Smells great and right up my alley.

T: The taste is a bit less impressive than the nose. There are light notes of cocoa, dark fruits, and cherries. Slightly sweet and a bit roasty.

M: The feel is super creamy and on the lighter side of medium bodied.

O: The nose was exciting but the flavor was a bit of a letdown. Mouthfeel is nice and creamy but a bit lighter than normal. I'd like to see this one a bit stronger and fuller bodied.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 03:59:32 | More by GregSVT

UTCengOwl

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Saw this at Mr. G's for $6.50. Figured that for the price, it wouldn't be a bad pickup. I like things from Colorado and I thought Modus Hoperandi was ok so I picked this up. Probably won't do it again. Served in a Great Divide balloon glass... maybe a bit warmer than I should have.

The beer pours with a bit of a thin tan head. Meh on that, but at least the body is solidly dark. Somewhat redeeming, but the beer still looks lifeless to me.

The nose... damn... solventy. Hothothot. Having a hard time finding much else other than booze. I'd like some non-boozy depth, please.

The taste is better. Smoky. Some sweetness. Drying hoppiness. Kind of slick on the tongue. Still a bit thin and dry from what I'd look for, but not bad.

How did the nose become so offensive? Whatever it was, the nose prevented me from enjoying this beer. Don't think I'll pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 23:29:32 | More by UTCengOwl