Phase Three Pressed 2Pk

Phase Three Pressed 2Pk is a limited-release imperial porter from Phase Three Brewing Company, brewed at 12% ABV and sold as a two-pack. Aged on Tugboat coffee and vanilla, this dense, dessert-forward porter holds a 92 score on BeerAdvocate, underscoring its reputation among craft beer enthusiasts as one of the thickest expressions of the style available.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois  |  Style: Imperial Porter  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates out of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and has built a devoted following through small-batch releases that frequently sell out within hours of dropping. Pressed is an imperial porter conditioned on Tugboat coffee and vanilla, a combination designed to amplify the base beer's already formidable body. The result is among the most viscous and full-bodied coffee porters in current production — intentionally thick, rich, and unapologetically indulgent in its approach to the style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep chocolate syrup and freshly ground espresso lead immediately, followed by layers of brownie batter and a warm vanilla sweetness. A faint caramel undertone rounds out the nose.

Taste: The entry is dominated by milk chocolate and chocolate chip cookie sweetness, thick and coating on the palate. Mid-palate shifts toward brewed coffee and 75% dark chocolate, while a mildly bitter undercurrent keeps the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. The mouthfeel is remarkably full — creamy, slick, oily, and viscous in a way that recalls a blended frappuccino more than a typical porter.

Finish: Long and sticky, with lingering dark chocolate and roasted coffee that slowly fade into a subtle vanilla warmth. The body's residual sweetness carries through to the very end without turning cloying.

How to Drink Pressed

Pour Pressed into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to allow the full aromatic complexity to open up. This is a sipping beer best enjoyed slowly, not rushed. Given its dessert-like intensity, it also works in creative cocktail-adjacent applications: use it as the base for a Porter Float with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for amplified richness; blend it into a Beer-amisu cocktail alongside espresso liqueur and cream; or try it in a Black Velvet riff, layered with dry sparkling wine for a dramatic textural contrast.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer collector who values limited-release imperial porters
• After-dinner sipping as a standalone dessert course
• Sharing between two enthusiasts during a vertical tasting session
• Cellaring alongside other high-ABV dark ales for future comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pressed taste like? Pressed delivers a rich, layered profile dominated by chocolate syrup, brownie, and roasted coffee, supported by vanilla sweetness and a full, viscous body. The overall experience is intensely dessert-forward, often compared to drinking a high-end chocolate frappuccino.

How does Pressed compare to Founders KBS? Both are coffee-forward dark beers at elevated ABVs, but Pressed is an imperial porter rather than a bourbon barrel-aged stout, meaning it lacks the oak and bourbon character of KBS and instead leans harder into pure chocolate and vanilla richness. Pressed also tends to have a thicker, more viscous mouthfeel than KBS.

Is Pressed good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 12% ABV with a full, creamy body and complex layered flavors, Pressed is purpose-built for slow, contemplative sipping from a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature.

Where is Pressed made? Pressed is brewed by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. Phase Three produces all of its beers on-site in small batches.

What foods pair well with Pressed? Dark chocolate truffles complement the porter's cocoa intensity. Salted caramel brownies mirror and amplify the brownie and caramel notes in the beer. A rich tiramisu echoes the coffee and vanilla character. Smoked brisket provides a savory counterpoint to the sweetness. Aged gouda offers nutty, crystalline contrast against the thick, sweet body.

What sizes does Pressed come in? Pressed is sold as a two-pack of cans, consistent with Phase Three's standard limited-release format.

Is Pressed worth the price? Pressed positions as a premium, limited-availability imperial porter from a highly regarded small-batch brewery. Its 92 BeerAdvocate score, specialty adjuncts, and scarcity place it firmly in the upper tier of collectible craft beer, where value is measured as much by quality and exclusivity as by volume.

Why Pressed?

Phase Three built its reputation by producing some of the thickest, most intensely flavored porters in the craft beer landscape, and Pressed is a direct expression of that philosophy. The use of Tugboat coffee as a specific adjunct — rather than a generic cold brew addition — gives the beer a defined roast character that distinguishes it from competitors relying on less intentional coffee sourcing. With a 92 on BeerAdvocate and a release cadence that sees quantities disappear within hours, Pressed occupies a narrow space where critical quality and genuine scarcity converge. For drinkers who prioritize depth, body, and craft over accessibility, this imperial porter delivers exactly what the style demands at its highest level.