Deschutes Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter

This beer is brewed and bottled at Deschutes in Bend, Oregon, and done in collaboration with the Great Lakes Brewery of Cleveland, Ohio. It is part of a celebration of 25 years of brewing by several breweries of the "Class of '88." This is 9.1% ABV and made with smoked malts.

The beer pours an extremely dark mahogany brown with hints of ruby and garnet. There is a short head of off-white to very light brown foam. The aroma is dark roasted malt, sweet, tangy and smoky like peat smoke. The taste follows the aromas, sweet dark roasted malt, a light mineral tang, and a dense smokiness, almost salty, like strongly smoked bacon. The bottle says a subtle smoky flavor, but you could make barbecue sauce with this beer.