Aging in my cellar: Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
By jason on Aug 21, 2007 in Aging Badly, Porters and Stouts, Reviews
Name: Gonzo Imperial Porter
Brewer: Flying Dog
Style: Porter
Cellared On: August 3rd, 2007
Original Tasting: August 18th, 2007
Wow. I just had the best porter of my life on a hot August afternoon. Who would have thought?
I poured this black gem of a porter into my pint glass and watched a lacey toffee-colored head form. Smells of roasted malts and coffee greeted me as I took my sip, and what a sip it was.
This beer just has amazing flavor. I tasted notes of coffee, caramel, roasted and even a little burnt malts all balanced very well. This beer is so easy to drink, I was just blown away. There’s a hoppiness to this brew I wasn’t expecting, and it made for a very pleasing finish. I was expecting a much heavier body here, it’s surprising thin for such a big porter. I hardly tasted any of the 9.5% alcohol. I would get messed up in a flash on this if I was drinking more than one. It’s instantly become one of my favorites.
Six Month Tasting: February 25th, 2008
Here’s a beer that’s just sliding away. The bold flavorings have faded much more then I would have expected. The hops are nearly gone, and the roasted/burnt malt flavors are meek shells of their former selves. Bitter coffee/espresso is still there, as well as a chocolate flavor I didn’t really notice before.
I don’t want to be too hard on this brew because it’s still enjoyable to drink, it’s just not up to the standards of it’s earlier self.
Cellar Outlook: With high alcohol and a favorable style, it should keep well. Unfortunately, it’s such a well made beer and perfectly balanced right now, I think it’s already in it’s prime. I’m not sure it has anywhere to go but down.
Six Month Outlook: I hate it when I’m right. I think this brew is done - I’m not sure of where any improvement would come from.
Next Tasting: August 2008
It’ll be interesting to see what your next tasting is like. Reading the dogfishhead website, they put Brett wild yeast in this beer, which may over time begin to lend a more sour flavor to the beer due to the conversion to acetic acid.
Robert Baumann | Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
Hi Robert. I took a look at that page, but I can’t figure out if they just added Brett to that one batch of beer they were sending out to the competition, or if they’re putting Brett in all the Gonzo’s. Either way, it’s definitely going to make for an interesting tasting down the road!
Thanks for commenting!
jason | Jan 28, 2008 | Reply
Interesting. I’m currently enjoying 06 vintages and am wondering how much longer they’ll go. I’m no fan of Cascade, so “young” Gonzo hits me like many american ales…overhopped. After two years the citrusy, piney, thing is fleeting, leaving the wonderful roasted coffee notes to dominate. Slices through a spoonful of vanilla ice cream perfectly…great site, keep it up!
D | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
I cellared this beer for just two months. My original tasting I felt the hops were too much. It overpowered the experience and hid much of the maltiness. Then after two months I tried it again and what a difference. The hop bomb had calmed down considerably and made this much more enjoyable. Good to know that aging it further might not improve it much more.
Chipper Dave | May 15, 2008 | Reply