Baltic Porter - Uncommon Brewers

Offa

California

4.88/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this cask-conditioned at the Toad in the Hole, Santa Rosa. It is a rich, very strongly flavoured, yet complex, balanced, and very smooth Baltic Porter. It has clear Baltic Porter qualities yet also its own character.

It's blakc with a big brown head, slowly shrinking to a foamy ring and wisps but leaving only weak traces of lace.

The aroma is strong and pungent, but pleasant, complex, and balanced. It is richly fruity with dark, rich fermented, stewed fruit (prunes, figs, etc.), brown bread, hints of rum and molasses, dark chocolate.

The taste is similar. It's very rich and strong and pungent, restrained just before becoming truly intense, with a lot of rich complexity, and very full-bodied, well-rounded, and very well-integrated. It has strong, fermented, caramelized fruit, dark dried figs, prunes, etc., fermented ginger bread with black-strap molasses and hints of bdark toast, rum, dark chocolate and coffee, all interplaying harmoniously. The feel is rich, oily and extremely silky and smooth, with a little liveliness nevertheless. It's hints at its alcohol and one can easily guess from the robustness, etc., that this is pretty high, but the alcohol itself is well-hidden. This is a wonderful strong porter, very rich and complex yet incredibly balanced and well-integrated. It's amazingly easy to drink despite its strength and robust flavour.

Serving type: cask

04-22-2009 22:40:03 | More by Offa

Monalenard

Illinois

3.29/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

pours black with a giant cola head with big bubbles to match that quickly dissipate to leave a brown, actively fizzy right. No lacing. This carbonation is the number one reason that i usually hate porters (i don't really have a number two reason). However, that is the style, so i'm not sure what i expected. The nose is pretty nice, you can sense that there is going to be an alcohol burn not unlike that of a dark scotch ale-loch down comes to mind. Subtle to medium hops, toasted malts, vanilla, maybe a little coffee or its just a confusion of the toasty notes and the vanilla. either way, quite nice. Taste, goddamnit bubbles, fuck off, i'm trying to taste this beer. again, this is what i hate about porters, they're good but you have to TRY to taste them through a thick electric fence of abrasive carbonation. The taste follows the nose exactly and its very good. I suspect i might have scored this part higher if i could actually taste it more through the assault of the novelty children's drink this is bred with. Maybe thats just me, and this is just a porter for ya. So, i don't think i really even need to address mouthfeel at this point. I love all beer just for the sake of variety and when i want dark i typically stick to my stouts but every once in a while i just have to remind myself that porters aren't my thing... backtracking- definitely some coffee.

Serving type: can

05-07-2013 19:09:43 | More by Monalenard

blackie

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

single from WF Fairfax

a: tall boy can into a wide belgian snifter, the beer is a deep brown in color - essentially black in low light, a nice layer of head falling back quickly to a thin ring

s: semisweet chocolate chips hit the forward end, the licorice and anise aren't as obvious as anticipated, which is probably a good thing - as is they add a nice depth with a gentle root beer-like aroma, smooth barley roasts, some toffee sweetness, touches of alcohol

m: carbonation just under moderate, body light-medium

t: a nudge of slight sweetness tempers dry roasted barley flavors that run from start to finish, not much licorice/anise flavor - I suppose it's melded into the roasty structure, later on I do pick up what may be the anise in the form of a root beer flavor as found on the nose, hop flavors not particularly distinct, contributing a mild-moderate bitterness to the dry finish

o: not a huge or terribly complex baltic, but nicely structured and well-designed, the additives give the aroma a little push but aren't noticeably integral to the success of this one

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 01:27:59 | More by blackie

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours out a deep dark chocolate, large, frothy tan head. Pretty sweet lace retention.

Chocolate, plum and earthy hops fill the nose. Nice hint of anise and spice.

Thick and smooth going down. Chocolate and anise combine with a bit of dark fruit (plum) to start this off. Earthy hops and a hint of citrus give it a nice hop balance.

Very nice Baltic Porter. I'll definitely grab up a 4-pack.

Serving type: can

03-09-2013 23:55:54 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

LiquidAmber

Washington

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an Elysian snifter. Pours a very dark ruddy brown amber with a nice finger of light brown head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of chocolate, toasted mallt and a hint of cherry and anise. Flavor of light fruit esters, toasted malt, licorice and hint of chocolate and cherry. Finishes with an interesting wave of toasted malt and more fruit, leaving a long, pleasant and spicey aftertaste. Medium bodied with light creaminess. Not quite a traditional Baltic porter, but I found the uncharacteristically estery fruit component was very nicely balanced with the malt and spices. Pleasant and well done.

Serving type: can

01-27-2013 04:26:49 | More by LiquidAmber

farrago

New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The pour yields close to two fingers of active foam, plenty of larger bubbles and snap, crackle and pop across the whole surface, very dark brown color, given that fizziness not surprising head retention is average at best. The liquid is equally dark and opaque, stays more in the brown than black range, this supported by the orange aura around the outside, appears clean and unblemished, hard to discern any bubbles present. The nose loaded with roasted coffee, mocha and chocolate notes then moves from toast into sweeter caramel, licorice, banana bread and lower levels of peach, apricot fruit and orange zest, not that complex but highly pungent and lingering. Medium-bodied, creamy in texture with a fair degree of booziness to it, evokes something close to vanillin oak, coconut and butterscotch. Piles on the roasted chocolate, coffee and the licorice a major factor too, almost minty at times, pinch of nutmeg. The carbonation is on the low side and tends to accentuate that creaminess. After awhile, hard to really register much past the chocolate element, minimal cherry and peach fruit flavors as well as little hoppiness. If you like roast and can see past the booziness it’s easy enough to pound down.

Serving type: can

01-16-2013 04:09:24 | More by farrago

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

16oz tall boy can poured into a nice High and Mighty mug. the pour looked so thick like an imperial stout nice and silky and black as night
The aroma had a bit of anise and some fumes of hot alcohol.
The taste was of a mild coffee and a musty chocolate combo followed by just a hint of earthy hops to balance it out. it is very clean and somewhat refreshing. medium mouthfeel with a head that sticks around for a while. enjoyable for sure. ill set a couple of these down for a year and see what happens.

Serving type: can

01-03-2013 22:08:04 | More by MRsojourner

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pint can purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne. If I love beer in cans in general, you better believe I love a canned baltic porter.

Pours an oily brown colour, with a surprising thinness to the body. Head forms a flush of brown cola-foam initially, but quickly flakes out and becomes an almost immaterial ring around the edge. Some weak, bubbly carbonation lends again that sense that it's really quite thin. I'm unimpressed.

Nose is dark and roasted, but not overwhelmingly so: underneath are notes of liquorice, and a related booziness like ouzo or raki. There's a slightly tannic overtone as well perhaps, a brusque burnt tea-leaf or red wine sediment character. Despite all of this, it maintains that reedy thinness. It's ok, but not really actually good.

Taste is certainly a little better, with a roundness giving a nutty flavour on the mid palate and towards the finish. This melds with and sometimes masks the aniseed character, and the harsh tannins which threatened to invade on the nose. Spicy finish leaves a nice bite, before that pleasant nut character smooths and lingers.

Feel is pleasant enough, but still lacking a little body.

Fortunately, the beer has redeemed itself by the end. That nut character which appeared out of nowhere provided coherence and structure, and blended the flavours of the beer into a sensible whole. Without it, it would be a very different story.

Serving type: can

12-22-2012 06:59:10 | More by lacqueredmouse

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a Pumking glass on 12/15/12

05/26/2011 stamped on the can

Very dark mahogany brown; nearly black in the glass, save for the stem. The head is nearly two fingers, but drops quickly to a thin layer. Hardly any lace.

The aroma is pretty well smoothed over at this point. Layers of dark grains, coffee beans, roasted chocolate and anise. Lots of dark berry overtones: black cherry, blueberry and blackberry. Hints of alcohol. Dark berries hit the palate quickly, before a ghost note of anise leads on to hints of dry roasted coffee atop creamy, bittersweet chocolate. The finish is quite dry, despite the beer being moderately sugary. Medium full body with creamy carbonation.

Overall, this is decent enough Baltic Porter. Then again, I'm a sucker for a Baltic Porter.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:46:15 | More by Ryan011235

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A serviceable Baltic Porter, picked up fresh recent trip to PA. Pours a bit thick with a bittersweet chocolate scent. Above average mouthfeel. Very drinkable, a little bitter it could use more, a nice roasting. Nice drinkability, 473 ml can provides a good amount to be be shared by two.

Serving type: can

12-13-2012 00:27:05 | More by northyorksammy

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours an extremely dark garnet red (almost black) in color with some very dark amber notes when held up to the light and light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a three finger tall dense tan head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Strong aromas of licorice/anise over moderate notes of dark roasted malts and just a hint of alcohol.

T: Strong flavors of licorice/anise over the top of moderate dark roasted malts, chocolate, and just a tiny hint of dark fruits.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: Seems a little off from the traditional Baltic Porter style, more of a combination of an American/English Porter and a Russian Imperial Stout. The alcohol is well hidden in the flavor though slightly present in the aroma. Not the easiest beer to drink but can be enjoyed by slowly sipping - also, the flavors are much more pronounced as the beer warms.

Serving type: can

11-08-2012 02:01:26 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is very dark red (close to near black) in color. It poured with a two and a half finger high tan head that has good retention properties and consistently left a half finger high head covering the surface.
S: There are moderate to strong aromas of anise and licorice in the nose; these intensify as the beer warms up.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but also has some notes of roasted malts and hints of chocolate. No bitterness is detectable.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a high amount of carbonation. The beer seems a little thin for the style.
O: This beer tastes like a hybrid between a classic English porter (given its lighter body and lack of bitterness) and a Russian Imperial Stout (with the flavors of licorice and roasted malts). Any traces of alcohol are well hidden from the taste. You really need to let his beer warm up in order to enjoy its aromas and flavors.

Serving type: can

11-07-2012 02:51:14 | More by metter98

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: 1/2" brown head over black liquid.

S: Licorice, coffee, roasted malt, flowers, grass.

T: Licorice, coffee, walnuts, pears, apples, flowers, grass.

M: Thin viscosity and a low to medium level of carbonation.

O: Looks, smells and tastes great. If it weren't for the mouthfeel this would be an excellent instead of a very good beer.

Serving type: can

10-26-2012 21:31:39 | More by DaftCaskBC

57md

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark brown. almost black with some almond and ruby hues around the edges. There is slightly more than a finger of fluffy tan head, some of which retains well. The nose is a combination of roasty notes and port. The taste is deep, rich and creamy with a touch of roast on the finish, but also a touch of alcohol warmth. Thick body likely makes this a one-and-done type beer for most samplers.

The can states that generous amounts of licorice and anise were used in the brewing process, but, I did not get strong notes of either. This is a minor criticism, however, as I enjoyed my first offering from this brewer very much.

Serving type: can

10-12-2012 05:52:48 | More by 57md

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can poured into a tulip; dated 9/23/2011

Pours a midnight black with a creamy brown cap. The head rose three+ fingers to fill the tulip. A pretty beer, before a semi-quick fade to a thin collar. Little to no lacing.

The nose is of milk chocolate, ethanol, dark cherry, licorice, and roast malt. The milk chocolate adds a nice sweet element to all of these brash, bitter notes. Pretty inviting aroma.

On the palate sweet milk chocolate coats the palate before a rush of bitter roast and licorice. Some dark cherries and booze on the finish with a lingering ethanol warming.

Smooth and creamy. The finish is borderline lush with a lingering boozy, fruity finish.

This is a pretty decent baltic porter. I know it has about a year on it, but the licorice is still fairly present and an added bonus. Solid baltic porter on all fronts. Tasty.

Serving type: can

10-06-2012 01:19:46 | More by ColForbinBC

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lol. A baltic porter in can?? Gotta be a first. This is a rare style to see in production. And this one certainly does it justice. It certainly is carrying all of the trademark characteristics I expect for the style. Profile is smooth and consistent. I like this one a lot. No, it doesn't really hold up perfectly against the many other examples of the style I have had, but it is definitely a well made interpretation. Not many American brewers can really touch this style, from what I have seen. (This is an exception.)

Serving type: can

08-31-2012 04:33:07 | More by RblWthACoz

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown color with a khaki head. The nose is roasted malt, dark fruit, and some mild licorice. I get a bit of coffee, maybe a little bit of chocolate and grain sweetness. Light bitterness on the palate, presumably from the roasted malt. Licorice, burnt sugar, and dark fruits give some sweetness.

Serving type: can

08-07-2012 16:39:26 | More by womencantsail

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz can. A purportedly traditional Baltic Porter, but with amped-up anise and licorice root additions. Sounds like a lark to me.

This beer pours a clear (I guess) very dark brown colour, with slight reddish cola highlights, and two fingers of puffy, foamy tan head, which leaves just a low berm of lace around the glass as it quickly sinks away.

It smells of sharply roasted caramel malt, earthy, kind of vegetal black licorice root, a whiff of BBQ smoke, and an underlying sweet alcohol twinge. The taste is nicely toasted caramel malt, some more lingering meaty smokiness, semi-sweet exotic star anise, on an even keel with more mundane earthy black licorice, hints of savoury spice, a wavering underlying meek sourness, and understated, but eagerly supportive leafy, earthy hops.

The carbonation is sturdy, but at the same tame forgiving, the body a decently innocuous medium weight, and a tad creamy in its only rarely punctured smoothness. It finishes on the sweet side, that aspect of the licorice/anise really holding sway, with the malt and undervalued hops quietly going about their business.

An agreeable old-world porter, jazzed up with the proclaimed, and indeed actual (yay, truth in advertising!) licorice boost, which plays out in an even-handed manner, so much so that I don't even really notice it after a while, which is another feather in this offering's collective cap. Worthy of a try, if not more.

Serving type: can

08-05-2012 04:01:09 | More by biboergosum

ADZA

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another can offering and it pours a dark jet kola hue which leaves a creamy three finger head that stays and some clingy lacing,the smell is star anise,liquorice,aniseed,dark plums and roast coffee,the mouthfeel is medium bodied with nice medium carbonation and has tastes of liquorice,dark bittersweet chocolate,roasted malts,dark fruits and finished with a dark coffee bittersweetness and overall its definately a step up from my last offering from these guys and yeah i like it as its definately easy to drink to drink while still having some substance to it cheers.

Serving type: can

07-30-2012 10:18:35 | More by ADZA

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

473ml can poured into tulip 27/7/12

A dark cola nearing black, the cola look is extended but the gone in a flash foam that leaves no lace

S anise and licorice, some rootbeer and a little booze I don't get a whole lot else but its decent

T some char and smoke with some cold espresso to go with everything I smell, its an improvement over the nose

M a little thin but far from water, carbonation gives it some life and there's just a little heat

O decent beer with good flavors and decent in other areas, you must love licorice to enjoy this at all, my complaint is the licorice notes overpower the dark malts

reminds me of pop but the booze hitting my head reminds me that this is strong beer, a little over the top with the adjuncts but a respectable beer

Serving type: can

07-28-2012 05:19:45 | More by wordemupg

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned on 2/17/12.

Pours an opaque black with a 2 inch foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks and dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cookie dough, and some herbal/spice/licorice notes. Taste is of dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, cookie dough, and just a slight hint of the licorice/anise it was brewed with. There is a mild roasty and herbal bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with some really solid aromas and flavors. Quite tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: can

07-20-2012 04:13:01 | More by UCLABrewN84

homebrew311

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from can into NB globe. Pours dark brownish black with light brown highlights at the edges. 1 finger of head upon pour, this settles to a thin covering and leaves a moderate amount of lacing. The nose features a ton of licorice and roast, notes of vanilla in the background along with a little bit of chocolate. There are earthy notes at the finish reminiscent of tobacco. The taste starts off with moderate sweetness which gives way to loads of licorice and anise along with tobacco and chocolate. The mouthfeel is a little on the thin side for a baltic porter with mild carbonation. Overall, not a bad value.... a 4 pack of pint cans for 11 bucks, can't beat that. The beer doesn't stand out as being amazing, but it certainly offers some unique qualities.

Serving type: can

07-04-2012 05:46:05 | More by homebrew311

kojevergas

California

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16 fl oz aluminum can served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given its current ratings, though I'm skeptical. Dated 17/2012 at the bottom (it's possible the month faded with moisture in the refrigerator).

Not paired with food.

Served slightly warmer than refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a half finger khaki-tan head of okay cream, pretty decent thickness, and bad retention (though the ABV is high). Colour is a nontransparent opaque solid black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. A predictable appearance for a porter.

Sm: Licorice, spices, cream, light roast, and dark malts. A very mild strength aroma.

T: Cream, dominant licorice (vaguely evocative of something like Jagermeister), dark malts as the foundation, vague hints of spice, root, and very light drowned out roasted barley. Balanced fairly well, but it owes that to its simplicity. Not particularly complex or subtle. The brewers would have us believe their usage of licorice is unique, but that isn't the case. It's far from uncommon. That said, it's an enjoyable beer in the style and I do like it. It just isn't all that impressive. Full-bodied from overmalting rather than rounded out flavour.

Mf: Smooth and wet in classic porter fashion. Any cream comes through only in the third act. Too wet. Overcarbonated. Too thick for the lack of flavour.

Dr: A drinkable little baltic porter with a nice licorice kick. Drinks impressively well from the can. I'd get this again, ideally on draught or nitro, but it's not a great beer by any means.

A decent candidate for aging.

Might pair well with chocolate, toffee, toast, or caramel.

C+

Serving type: can

06-18-2012 04:40:57 | More by kojevergas

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark brown-black color with a finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of dark chocolate and roasted coffee with black licorice, light dark fruit, and a bit of earthy hops.

T - Starts off with a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts with a bit of dark fruit sweetness and black licorice. Through the middle, some roasted coffee comes through with some light earthy hops and a touch of lactose sweetness. The finish is a mix of dark chocolate malts with some bitter coffee,, a bit of dark fruit, and some light earthy hops.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet, warming, and lightly bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice Baltic Porter with a good body and balance.

Serving type: can

06-14-2012 07:51:43 | More by ngeunit1

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

16oz can into a 25cl Duvel tulip. I shared this one at a tasting after forgetting about it in my fridge for over 6 months; purchased summer of '11, reviewed spring '12.

A: Black body under an ultra-fine tan head. Spotty lace. All right.

S: Aromatic, with a nice combination of piquant anise, black malt, and spicy, earthy hops. Quite pleasant.

T: Smooth, flavorful, balanced. Not too much anise, just enough malt, and a bitter, hoppy, herbal finish. Nice Baltic Porter.

M: Frothy, soft, lively medium body. A bit too bubbly, but still enjoyable.

O: I really liked this one, and it was a real treat to have a Baltic Porter out of a can. The anise was done much better here than in Stone's Belgo IRS.

Cheers!

Serving type: can

05-19-2012 21:05:46 | More by woosterbill