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Ballast Point Victory at Sea

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An imperial porter brewed with cold-brew coffee and vanilla. Rich, complex and warming — dark chocolate, espresso, vanilla and a hint of sea salt in a full-bodied, velvety base. One of San Diego's most celebrated dark beers.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcoffeechocolate
roasted
coffee
chocolate
vanilla
salty
dark fruit
Aroma
Powerful and inviting nose dominated by roasted malt, rich espresso, and dark chocolate notes with subtle vanilla undertones.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ballast Point Victory at Sea

◎ Appearance

Deep black to dark brown in color with excellent clarity and a dense, creamy tan head that persists throughout the drinking experience. The full body is evident in the slow, syrupy legs that cascade down the glass, indicating substantial malt character and alcohol content.

deep blackcreamy headfull-bodiedsyrupy legs

◌ Aroma

Powerful and inviting nose dominated by roasted malt, rich espresso, and dark chocolate notes with subtle vanilla undertones. A faint briny, sea salt character emerges beneath the coffee-forward aromatics, adding complexity and intrigue to this multi-layered bouquet.

roasted maltespressovanillasea salt

◐ Taste

Complex palate entry showcasing velvety dark chocolate and bold cold-brew coffee flavors that evolve into subtle dark fruit undertones and caramel sweetness. The mid-palate reveals earthy, roasted grain character with balanced bitterness (60 IBU) that complements rather than overwhelms, while warming alcohol presence enhances the overall richness without harshness.

dark chocolatecoffee-forwardbalanced bitternesswarming alcohol

◑ Finish

Extended finish with lingering coffee and chocolate notes that fade gracefully into a subtle salty minerality. The aftertaste is smooth and warming, with residual sweetness and barely perceptible bitterness creating a memorable, savory conclusion.

lingeringsmoothwarming
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
88
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C. Too cold mutes the roasted complexity that makes a good porter worth drinking slowly.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within 6–12 months for best results. Baltic Porters can be aged longer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Ballast Point Victory at Sea

More from Ballast Point Brewing

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

About Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Porter?

Porters are dark ales with 4–6.5% ABV and IBU 18–35. Roasted malt brings chocolate, caramel and toffee — medium body with a clean finish.

Finding a similar Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, coffee, rich character as Ballast Point Victory at Sea will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Porter beers in hopIQ →New to Porter? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →