Grande Cuvée Porter Baltique - Édition Spéciale Vieillie En Fût De Bourbon - Les Trois Mousquetaires

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.01/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Bottle (2011 version): Poured a deep black color porter with a large brown foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma if a complex mix of dark chocolate notes with light traces of vanilla and some clear notes of Citra which brings out some notes of dill that that work that well. Taste is also a weird mix between some black chocolate and light dry roasted malt notes with some very subtle trace of vanilla which clash with green hoppy notes of Citra with underwhelming notes of dill. Body is full with somewhat of an oily texture and good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. I ma probably going against the grain on this one but way too much Citra for my taste which kind of doesn’t hold well against the black chocolate and bourbon notes. Also the second use of the bourbon barrel leaves very subtle notes of bourbon which could be more pronounced.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 13:51:31 | More by Phyl21ca

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Volo's Cask Days 2011, listed at 60 IBUs.

Pours almost completely black, with only the slightest suggestion of violets/burgundy at the edges when held to the light. Moderate brown head composed of some dense bubbles. Nose has some bourbon, with more dominant barrel character in terms of vanilla and oak. Dark fruits in the form of prunes, with some anise and herbal notes (which I can only compare to rapini - for anyone who knows what that is...). Taste is an improvement, but not by much; more bourbon, dark fruits and chocolate notes. Herbal notes (rapini again) as well as anise. Bourbon and some alcohol in the finish. Medium heavy body, with a light tartness in the finish that I'm not fond of. Certainly different than the bottles that I've experienced (it's one of my top rated beers as well), and I'll certainly review and edit this review once I sample the bottled version of this.

Serving type: cask

10-31-2011 22:48:18 | More by liamt07

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage.
Thanks to Hoppypocket for this bottle.
Poured in to brandy snifter.

A - Poured a very dark brown and settled black with a very thin film of medium brown head.

S - Massive barrel aromas up front - bourbon, oak and vanilla. A brandy-like aroma is also present along with some chocolate and roast. The barrel notes dominate the nose.

T - Barrel flavours up front - bourbon, vanilla and oak. Some brandy flavours come through as well. Chocolate, cherries, molasses and charred oak are also present. The barrel qualities are not as dominant as the nose suggested but they do stand out.

M - Medium body. Light carbonation.

O - Tasted side-by-side with the regular 2010 version. The barrel aging covered up a huge roast profile that was present in the regular version. Almost two completely different beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 01:56:55 | More by TheSevenDuffs

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep brown near black, soapy tan head with light lace. Smell is rich with bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, herbal notes as well, some chared notes came and went as well. Taste is roasty, oak comes out with bourbon notes, lightly herbal almost anise like flavours, chocolate, some vanilla, mild bitterness with a chocolatey finish. Lightish feel, light carbonation, medium body. I really liked this, I opened a bottle of the 2011 base beer of this last week and prefered this to the bottle, though I did like this much more than Liam did.

Serving type: cask

11-03-2011 12:23:27 | More by peensteen

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage 408/700 750ml cored and caged bottle poured into tulip 25/12/12 ho ho ho, cheers pappat444 for this big want

A black body with deep cola edge, the thumbs width of foam is pretty dark but doesn't very long and leaves no lace

S chocolate syrup, coffee, dark fruits and the barrel is strong, vanilla, smokey bourbon and a little wood, very faint booze and teriyaki as it warms and just a little molasses. It's been a while since I had the regular version but I cant imagine it smelled as good as this, I'd believe this spent a year in a barrel the bourbon notes are strong yet mellow, I think some age worked well on this one

T a little toned down compared to the smell but not enough for a lower score, more smokey notes and a little sweet caramel and espresso with some dried fruit, the roast is a little darker in the mouth

M thin for the color but I suppose its a lager after all, mellow carbonation and a long char, teriyaki aftertaste

O the smell was near perfection, and it tastes great I'm surprised this one hasn't gotten more love from the few BA's lucky enough to try it

another big thanks to Patrick for shipping this gem my way, a nice Christmas treat for this naughty boy. I know the regular version is one of my highest scores ever but I can't justify that score today even though I may prefer this version. My palate and rating methods are slowly changing

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 21:17:44 | More by wordemupg

PeerlessMark

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was my favourite cask beer at Cask Days 2011 hosted at Hart House. As black and velvety as the bottled version but aged and conditioned in a bourbon cask. It was more complex and sweeter thank the bottled version and was one of the first casks to run out on the day.

It had very little carbonation and only a brim of head after the pour. Smelled astonishingly good and didn't disappoint in all other areas. Was a real treat to enjoy this very successful cask.

Serving type: cask

12-28-2011 13:47:42 | More by PeerlessMark