Yes, you read that correctly. Along with Brick and Mortar Porter, High Gravity Bongwater is one of two beers Kettlehouse Brewing Co. brewed to celebrate the passage of Montana’s House Bill 400 which increased the amount of alcohol allowed in beer from 8.75% abv to 14% abv.  Kettlehouse has long been famous for its Olde Bongwater Hemp Porter which is a classic robust porter with a twist – a slight nutty flavor that comes from the addition of Hemp seeds, about a half pound per 16 gallon keg. High Gravity Bongwater is a imperial version of the original and weighs in at 9.5% abv.

Served in a 9 oz snifter glass, it is dark brown/black with a light tan head.  It does not have a pronounced aroma, but the taste was excellent. I detected a slight smokiness with fairly strong roasted malt flavors.  There is a big mouth feel and a bit of an alcoholic note, but not as much as you might expect.  The first time I tried it I found it to be quite different than the original Bongwater with much more pronounced roasted malts – so much so that I considered calling this one an imperial stout rather than a porter, as Kettlehouse categorizes its. The second time I tried it about two weeks later, I detected much more of the chocolate undertones and less roasted malts and found it to be squarely in the imperial porter category.  It was probably my taste that changed, not the beer.  It doesn’t really matter what category it is in. Just call it delicious.

Name: High Gravity Bongwater Imperial Porter
Brewery: Kettlehouse Brewing Co., Missoula, MT.
Style: Imperial Porter.
Color: Very dark brown to black.
Packaging: draft at the Myrtle Street location.
Stats: 9.5% abv, ? IBU.
Bought: Kettlehouse Brewing Co.
Ruling: Four out of Five Hops. Excellent imperial porter with great roasted malt flavors.