On tap at Julian’s, creamily seductive floral-teased imperial porter (a worthy collaboration by respected Cali-Oregon-DC triage) stays as velvety and plush as its leathery moniker indicates. Herbaceous marigold-flowered calendula influence and sweet jasmine tease nearly lost below rich molasses-like avocado-honeyed black chocolate theme. Not unlike a hybridized lactic milk stout, its dark-roasted chocolate frontage and coffee-cocoa-toffee smackdown picks up syrupy maple sapping. Distant black cherry, raisin and fig undertones flutter far below silken mocha sweetness. Latent vanilla, marshmallow and anise niceties add further delicate complexity. In the bottle, rich vanilla-creamed dark chocolate frontage picks up bourbon whiskey smear, syrupy blueberry-blackberry fruiting, light anise influence, ashen hop char and well-disguised acetone astringency.
