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.

Notorious full-bodied ‘coffee vanilla’ flavored dark ale seamlessly combines complex mocha, anise and hard liquor adjuncts. Creamy molasses-smoked black chocolate malting drapes roasted coffee bittering, rich vanilla bean extract, chewy cookie dough yeast, gooey black licorice sinew and dark whiskey-toned bourbon-burgundy snip. Tertiary coconut, cacao nibs, hazelnut, espresso, cappuccino, pecan and marshmallow illusions reinforce mocha theme, picking up mild jalapeno-like peppering along the way. Betters French vanilla coffee.

Silken pureed Italian plum influence buried beneath brutish mocha fruited Cascadian Dark Ale (a.k.a. Black IPA) tendencies. Stove-burnt coffee, dark-roasted chocolate and cocoa nibs affect pine-charred cola-pecan-hickory nuttiness as well as murky pinor noir-wined purple grape, black cherry, fig and date illusions. Distant charcoal burn picks up dewy earthen din at dried fruited finish.

Straightahead Baltic-styled strong porter anchored by Blackstrap molasses-embittered mocha dryness. Pine-sapped ashen wood tones, fudgy chocolate caking and dark caramel shading drape vinous port-wined dried fruited cavern to resinous earthen bottom. A tad thin by the carob-powdered Baker’s chocolate-like finish. 

Respectable mocha-bound dry body placates powdery dark chocolate with caramel-roasted brown breading and dark-spiced hop resin. Dried-fruited black cherry, purple grape, prune and plum undertones pick up Blackstrap molasses sinew. Sarsaparilla, cola nut, hazelnut and vanilla illusions hide beneath.

On tap at Zeppelin Hall, Belgo-American hybrid ale ‘brewed with chocolate and kriek’ stays robust to creamy mocha finish. Chewy chocolate sweetness outdoes dark cherry influence, picking up coffee-soured vanilla, molasses, oatmeal cookie and hazelnut influence above dry hop char. Tertiary chocolate cake, raisin bread and plum illusions add depth.

Sturdy milk chocolate entry picks up maple-sapped molasses sugaring, contrasting hazelnut-pecan-cola nuttiness and peat-smoked black peppering to soured dark cherry finish of aggressive sienna-hued full body. At its foundation, mild double espresso milking picks up cedar-burnt pine singe and IPA-like grapefruit bittering, deepening mocha tenacity of dark roasted caramel malting.

Marvelous mocha-bound full body retains advertised ‘salty licorice’ spell beneath hazelnut coffee sweetness and French roasted coffee urging. Burnt-sugared black chocolate, vanilla, cola, maple and molasses undertones plus nutty fudge reminder contrast lemon-twisted espresso souring.

Glorified whiskey-barreled version of full-bodied ‘Gonzo’ pleats cedar-seared bourbon boozing with sweet chocolate-vanilla richness, syrupy molasses-smoked opulence and milked coffee residue. Mildly creamy velveteen texture reinforces heavily lactic flow and charred oats base. Chocolate-caked cocoa powdering surrounds expansive burgundy, sherry and blackberry brandy ethers. First-rate slow sipper recommended to all porter-stout aficionados.

Creamy mousse-headed mahogany-bodied Baltic porter coalescing mild hop-charred coffee roast with bittersweet black chocolate malting gains resinous pine essence. Molasses, hazelnut, walnut, and espresso infiltrate cocoa bean finish. Earthen peat backdrop deepens rich mocha theme.