hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Tonka

Tap to rate

A deep, dark, velvety beer aged with tonka beans, cacao nibs and vanilla, with luscious layers of chocolate, vanilla, coconut, almond and bitter cherry rolling into rich dark malts. Tonka beans are the fruit of the South American Cumaru tree, which chefs use for its complex scent and its nut and fruit flavours.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatevanillanutty
chocolate
vanilla
nutty
malty
dark fruit
roasted
Aroma
The nose leads with rich cocoa and roasted malt, layered beneath creamy vanilla and tonka bean's distinctive almond-fruit character.
also:coffee
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Tonka

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany-black color with opaque density and minimal light transmission, characteristic of the style's high roast profile. The dense, tan head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a creamy visual texture.

deep mahogany-blackopaquepersistent lacingdense head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with rich cocoa and roasted malt, layered beneath creamy vanilla and tonka bean's distinctive almond-fruit character. Dark chocolate, bitter cherry, and subtle coffee undertones emerge as the beer warms. Coconut notes round out the aromatic profile, creating a complex, dessert-like bouquet without heaviness.

cocoa, vanilla, tonka beandark chocolate, cherrycoffee, almondroasted malts

◐ Taste

The palate is velvety and full-bodied, with chocolate and vanilla intertwining across the mid-palate before a pronounced bitter-roast finish emerges. Nutty complexity—almond and coconut—threads through each sip, while dark malt provides structure and slight dryness. The 45 IBU bitterness manifests as a clean, dry counterpoint to the sweet adjunct layers rather than a dominant force.

chocolate, vanilla dominantnutty, smoothdark malt, bitter finish

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering cocoa and roasted grain notes fading to a subtle bitter cherry dryness. Alcohol warmth (8.5% ABV) is felt but not harsh, supporting the beer's rich mouthfeel into the aftertaste.

long, warmingcocoa, cherry fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Tonka

More from Hawkshead Brewery

BA Brett Baltycki
BA Brett Baltycki
Baltic Porter
6.6%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Brodie’s Prime Export
Brodie’s Prime Export
Strong Ale
8.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Dry Stone Stout
Dry Stone Stout
Oatmeal Stout
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Hawkshead Bitter
Hawkshead Bitter
Ordinary Bitter
3.6%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Hawkshead Red
Hawkshead Red
Red Ale
4.2%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Hawkshead Rye IPA
Hawkshead Rye IPA
Rye IPA
5.3%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Hawkshead Tripel
Hawkshead Tripel
Tripel
8.1%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
ITI
ITI
Pale Ale
3.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

About Imperial Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial 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 Imperial Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, vanilla, rich character as Tonka will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →