Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter - Ska Brewing Co.

Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.

BA SCORE
86
good
-
315 Ratings

rAvg: 3.83
pDev: 11.75%
Reviews: 222
Hads: 93

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Ska Brewing Co.

Colorado, United States

Style | ABV
Baltic Porter | 8.00% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (217), on-tap (5).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (24) | Events (0)

Reviews

Sort by: Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Show Hads:

« first ‹ prev | 1-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | next › last »

Reviews by falloutsnow:

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

More User Reviews:

GRG1313

California

4/5 rDev +4.4%

05-21-2013 05:16:19 | More by GRG1313

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