Roebling Vanilla Espresso Imperial Porter

Roebling Vanilla Espresso Imperial Porter, an American Porter by Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House

Fast Facts
Beer
Roebling Vanilla Espresso Imperial Porter
Style
American Porter
Brewery
Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House
ABV
7.8%
Calories
234 (Estimated)
Commercial Description: Roebling Imperial Porter brings together Cincinnati coffee, Ugandan vanilla beans and raw, organic turbinado sugar into a big, rich, chocolate, espresso infused brownie of a beer that is as innovative as its namesake. Rivertown was asked to craft a beer for a community festival in 2011 which celebrated the 145th Birthday of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge linking Cincinnati, OH and Covington, KY. This Imperial Porter is inventive, unique, well balanced, strong, and has been created to be as timeless and remarkable as the Roebling Bridge, the man who dreamed big and the community that brought that dream to life.
Available
Spring
Rating

Roebling Vanilla Espresso Imperial Porter is an American Porter brewed by Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in a nonic pint glass from a bottle.

Appearance

The Porter pours a mahogany hue and is topped by a thick cap of tan-colored foam. The retention is short-lived and doesn’t leave behind any lace or residue.

Aroma

The roasted aroma has a slight sweetness to it that makes it smell like soy sauce.

Flavor

Hints of chocolate and raisin mix with brown bread and transition to a more pronounced flavor of coffee roast, soy sauce, and mild floral hops. More chocolate, dark fruit, and a hint of vanilla round out the finish.

Mouthfeel

Its feel is relatively smooth with a medium body and moderate carbonation. Finishes dryly.

Overall

The Roebling has a nice balance but the slight taste and smell of soy sauce are off-putting. Adequate presentation and feel. A relatively high ABV is masked well. Palatable but far from great.

The Roebling Vanilla Espresso Porter was revisited and this review was updated on March 6, 2018. The Porter was originally scored a 3.0 but has been downgraded to a 2.5.