Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter
Well I'm new to this, have an undeveloped palate, and this is the first porter I've ever tasted. I usually stick to IPA, something to keep in mind when looking at my review. After pouring (the cork was an ordeal let me tell you) I immediately notice how complex it LOOKS. The liquid is a deep opaque brown, and the head light tan on top, has a mahogany color on the sides of the glass. The smell is astounding (for me at least) not even a hint of beer as I know it, smells more of liquid chocolate, with a hint of bourbon, and a few other scents that I can't identify, this is shaping up to be a very complex beer. Ok, the first sip confirms this beer is, in fact, extremely complex. I don't have a developed palate yet, but if I had to point my finger at anything it would be chocolate, with something almost fruity and a bit sweet, nothing like the grapefruit bitter of an IPA, but not sugary either. This beer is leaving my mouth a bit dry, with lingering tones of chocolate and perhaps some espresso, it's hard for me to tell with so many flavors happening at once. There are more flavors that build and harmonize off each other than I can begin to hint at, and it makes for a wild ride. As I continue sipping this while writing, I'm noticing a definite bitter after-taste, nothing huge, but there, lingering on the sides of my tongue. The beer is warming up now, and the bourbon is coming through for me now, and I have to say, this beer really floors me. If you have the opportunity to pick a bottle of this up, try it, even if the style doesn't suit you, it's a completely different experience from any other beer I've had.