Baltic Porter - Uncommon Brewers

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown to light black in color with garnet highlights. TWof inger, brown head that recedes to a thick film o' foam. I can see some good bubbling through the dark liquid.

Roasted malt and coffee aroma with a nuance of something herbal, maybe the star anise, and some black licorice. Just a hint, but you know those ingredients are there.

Roasted malt, pumpernickel, coffee, a little dark, dry, chocolate. The licorice adds a different flavor profile to roasty flavors of the porter. The star anise adds a nice herbal flavor and enhances the licorice flavors.

A little oily palate, but thinner than I expected for the style.

Serving type: can

05-10-2012 00:15:51 | More by scruffwhor

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Appearance. Pours dark brown with a thin tan head that doesn't last long.

Smell. Sweet molasses, some dark chocolate with a little bit of ripe fruit, licorice, and booze.

Taste. Sweet molasses again, some good roasty malts and that dark fruitiness I was smelling. Just a little anise.

Mouthfeel. Medium-full body, lower carbonation. Kinda warm.

Overall. I enjoyed the taste of Megadestroyer's big anise last night, but the smaller Uncommon anise is very enjoyable as well. I'm probably a bit biased with both of these though, I've always been an anise man.

Serving type: can

05-02-2012 03:20:40 | More by Rutager

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks like a can of iced-tea!

A: Black with a bubbly tan head, thin ring of retention, shows a little leg.

S: Molasses, roasted nut, salted licorice, pumpernickel rye bread, light floral & herbal hopping.

T: Molasses, almost dark rum-like, pleasant licorice (not overdone), roasted nut, pumpernickel rye, dark raisins; the herbal & floral hops come across in the flavour as well (nugget & hallertau, I dunno, it's different), a bit resiny, solid bitterness, alcohol is subtle.

M: Slight hint of residual sweetness, with a slightly drying, chalky finish. Perhaps a bit thin & over-carbonated.

D/O: A nice brew... something I'd love to try on cask.

Serving type: can

04-20-2012 00:57:24 | More by Derek

barnzy78

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz can, pours dark mahogany, near black with a ruby tinge while being poured and when held to the light. Thin tan head dissipates quickly and leaves little lacing on the glass. Aromas are roasted malt, smoke, and faint anise. The anise does fill the nose more as the ale warms. Tastes are complex with anise dominating the palate, but has roasty notes, char, smoke, dark fruit, blueberry perhaps, dark chocolate, and finishes with a sweeter black licorice on the back of the palate, reminiscent of a candy cigar. Mouth-feel is thick and chewy, creamy, and smooth - really nice and full. Overall, I did enjoy this for its uniqueness, but a whole pint of an ale that is too heavy on the anise gets to be overkill pretty quickly.

Serving type: can

04-19-2012 01:54:31 | More by barnzy78

thinwhiteduke

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Simply an amazing baltic...I love stumbling across a brew that blows me away in the genre. Looking forward to other offerings of theirs...sorry for lack of detail, but if you enjoy FFF Topless Wytch, you won't be disappointed. I would seek this one out and let it warm for a spell to appreciate the full flavor of this beer.

Serving type: can

04-16-2012 02:00:58 | More by thinwhiteduke

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Incredibly dark brown. Clear. Head is a dark tan. Smooth, creamy lace covers the beer. Head drops to a thin cap in short order. Pours heavy and slick.

Smell: Loads of cocoa and some grainy cooked malts. A little sweetness brings out hints of caramel and milk chocolate with a bready undertone. Big hit of black licorice. Star anise is present, but works surprisingly well with the rest of the beer. So much licorice. Hints of old coffee.

Taste: A little toned down from the nose. Roasted malts border on burnt at the edges. Cocoa, bitter chocolate and a fair amount of anise and black licorice. Malts run sweet and give enough of a backbone to keep things moving along. Anise lingers and builds over the sips. Undercooked malts. Sweet with a candy undertone. The licorice is a nice touch.

Mouthfeel: Almost full, but heavy nonetheless. Drinks relatively smooth with a lingering, almost chalky dryness.

Overall: I get the idea, but it loses a little in the long run. Great flavors, but they're muddled. Maybe I'll take the cans advice and snag another one and throw some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 21:13:52 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - pours a rich velvety black. Very thin layer of light tan foam on top.

S - a rich nose. Notes of carob and hints of fresh ground coffee beans. The use of licorice and star anise are very apparent along with peppery notes.

T - bitter chocolate notes on the front of the tongue mingle with hints of coffee grinds. Mild licorice notes on the mid palate swell to a bold peppery finish.

M - smooth texture. Full bodied. Carbonation is on the lighter side.

O - an interesting take on a baltic porter. Not my favorite but certainly well made.

Serving type: can

04-05-2012 05:19:19 | More by Teleweizen2

GbVDave

Illinois

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

Poured from a 16oz can into an imperial pint.

Canned on: 09/23/2011

A: Pours a deep & rich black with only a slight russet tinge at the bottom of the glass. A smooth brown head raeches about one finger thick before slowly receeding down to a thick collar.

S: Aromas of sourdough, anise, dark chocolate, baked biscuits, dark fruit, and brownies.

T: See above with the addition of Whoppers candy, chocolate covered cherries, fudge, medium roast coffee, toasted nuts, and cocoa.

M: Smooth and creamy. Full...almost stout-like. A bit of a peppery prickle on the tongue late in the finish. Nice bit of chalkiness to balance the smoothness.

O: We quite enjoyed this one. Big and assertive without being "extreme". Good times! Would like to try one a little closer to the canned on date to compare...

Serving type: can

03-31-2012 01:35:11 | More by GbVDave

Etan

Illinois

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

Poured from a 16oz can into a brandy snifter.

A: Midnight black with some hints of red. Tan head recedes to a ring around the glass. Some lacing.

S: Roasty chocolate, milky sugar, sweet anise. No licorice to be found.

T: Big quaff of roasted malts, bitter chocolate, lactose. Nice balance of roastiness and lactic, chocolatey sweetness. Licorice and anise are slightly discernible. Vanilla throughout. Huge pleasing charred taste in the finish, with more chocolate, lactose, and anise lingering. Alcohol is well-hidden, but contributes nicely to the sweetness.

M: Nice. Creamy and somewhat thick.

O: Not exactly the licorice bomb the can says it is, but tasty nonetheless.

Serving type: can

03-30-2012 01:44:09 | More by Etan

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.18/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16 ounce can into an Allagash cervoise glass. Stamped 05/26/2011.

A: Like Coca Cola with a fizzing, churning inch of head. Opaque dark brown. The head dissipates leaving nary a trace, neither tracing nor lacing.

S: A sharp metallic scent mars an underlying roasted character and sweet licorice. It's really strong and really bad.

T: Happily, the flavour isn't obviously metallic, but it's often thin, sharpish, and almost sour. Disappointing. Fortunately, there is some nice, malty bitterness, and the added anise makes a welcome, if brief, sweetish appearance reminiscent of anisado. Licorice grows more prominent as time wears on.

M: Where is all the carbonation I noticed in the pour? Not terrible, but rather thin and lacking in zest.

O: I suppose I should have checked the date at the time of purchase, but even in retrospect, I feel this beer should've help up better to 10 months in a can. At any rate, I'd drink it again fresh, but this four-pack wasn't worth it.

9 September 2012 EDIT: Can stamped 26 June 2012. This is much, much better. Bumping up the Overall from 3 to 4.0; too lazy to re-review.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 04:59:00 | More by AgentMunky

Amalak

New York

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A. It has a massive bubbly, brown head that leaves a good deal of lacing. It's black with a hint of light coming through at the bottom.

S. Smooth nut scent to it.

T. It has a very alcohol bite to it. A bit over the top. It's malty. Hints of chocolate. A nuttyness to it.

M. Very carbonated and leaves a tingle on the tongue.

O. The alcohol I feel overtakes any of the complexity. It a bit to port wine-ish as a porter beer. It's not bad, but it lacks a certain something.

Serving type: can

03-21-2012 01:15:55 | More by Amalak

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz tallboy can, this was a souvenir from working EBF 2012. The beer was allowed to warm some before being poured into my petit Duvel tulip.

Uncommon Brewers Baltic Porter pours to fairly standard appearance for a porter. The body of the beer is pitch black, with maybe a finger and a half of caramel foam sitting atop it. Head retention is definitely on the short side, and lacing is pretty much nonexistent. The nose is a blend of milk chocolate and black licorice, with the licorice probably standing out a little bit more. The flavor lets the base beer shine through some more, as coffee joins the milk chocolate from the nose. At the same time, the licorice fades a bit more into the background, which is just fine with me. The body is nice and full and chewy, and carbonation is just a touch dull, leading to a decent mouthfeel. I was a bit apprehensive about trying Uncommon Brewers Baltic Porter once I saw star anise and licorice mentioned on the can, but they manage to use it to add a nice subdued note to a solid porter. I’d definitely pick up some more if it were locally available.

Serving type: can

03-04-2012 05:28:07 | More by axeman9182

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got 3 of there beers on discount. Seems their beers are really carbonated and they said "open it over a sink" chilling the beer and doing so the can didn't explode everywhere.

A - Pours a very dark black, no light escaping with a half inch of head that sticks around to make a mocha colored lace ring. Don't be fooled it's still very carbonated so don't shake the can!

S - I get mostly chocolate malt in this one with roast coming at me as well. Smells sweet.

T - Wow that's carbonated. Felt like I was swallowing foam. Taste is pretty light for 7.8% with balanced light chocolate flavors and coffee. Not bad.

M - Way too bubbly really the whole time I wanted to be careful swallowing since it foams up rather easy. Medium bodied but light bubbly body.

Overall I would love to have this again but they really got to cut the carbonation down a bit! Good beer overall and am happy to have the other two offerings.

Canned on 5/14/2011 and still this carbonated GAWDamn!

Serving type: can

02-11-2012 01:14:44 | More by DrDemento456

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: From a tallboy is a black as a blackhole in outerspace. On top is a dark beige head about in a finger in height.

Aroma: It's malt forward that has a molasses and caramelized sugar aroma. Raosted hops, dark coffee, dark bread with a wisp of rye.

Taste: Lots of malty sweetness, espresso, carob, touches of rye and pumpernickel. Dark roasted hops that are mostly floral with a very creamy almost like silk mouthfeel and even a little bit of a buttery texture.

Notes: An amazing creamy, drinkable beer that I will pick up again. Cheers.

Serving type: can

01-30-2012 01:19:16 | More by horshack7

mactrail

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

After popping the top you get a big foam-up. Then it's quite beautiful with the abundant creamy head and lacing. However, my first thought is what was that theater candy with the intense licorice flavor? (Black Crows.) Aroma is more licorice. Flavors of black pepper, pencil shavings, and burnt toast. Very dark roast malt with a little sweetness, but it's overwhelmed by that enormous winey charcoal taste.

As a dissenting opinion, I find this tough to drink. I admit it's interesting and spicy, and the frothy mouthfeel is nice. However, the bitter, metallic finish is harsh. 16 oz cans from the Jug Shop in San Francisco.

Serving type: can

01-27-2012 07:43:47 | More by mactrail

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz. can served in my DT tulip. Pours one shade shy of black with a loose, half inch khaki-colored head that disperses towards the edges leaving a dollop of foam in the center before dissipating into a thin tight band. No lacing on this one. Nose expresses dark malts, anise and slightly vinous notes. Taste follows nose with the addition of a roasted character and the merest hint of cocoa; however, the flavors are somewhat watered down and there's a bit of wet cardboard happening as well. Mouthfeel is medium-light with a mild, even carbonation and a trace of acidity. Overall, not a bad example of the style, but a bit dull and lacking any bold flavors. Not something I need to revisit again, particularly at over $4.00 for a single.

Serving type: can

01-18-2012 01:53:33 | More by Jwale73

BB1313

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16oz can poured into a snifter. Pours black with some light getting through. The head starts off nice, but fades quickly and there's somewhat of a lack of lacing/retention. I'm normally not a huge fan of anise, but it's the star of the show. The aromas are a perfect blend of milk chocolate and black licorice. The flavors are bittersweet. More anise in the flavors, but it doesn't necessarily dominate, which I like. There's a nice roastiness as well from the malts. Finishes off with a touch of coffee/expresso. Mouthfeel is very spritzy, possibly over carbonated. It still drinks relatively smooth though. Nice example of an organic beer.

There are some flaws, but the aromas and flavors make this one enjoyable. Great use of anise.

Serving type: can

01-16-2012 19:05:54 | More by BB1313

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Very stout like appearance: nearly black in body with a tan coloured head. Rich malts, hints of booze, chocolate, light black coffee notes. No hints of the liquorice or star anise. Maybe its too cold right now.

Rich roasted malt taste: coffee, dark chocolate, a nice sweetness to it. Dry, almost cocoa taste at the finish. Still no hint of anise or liquorice. Light booziness.

Thick mouthfeel, but still with a bit of fizz from the carbonation. A great beer, very nice for dessert.

(Edit: as this warms, faint traces of the liquorice flavours develop).

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 07:09:07 | More by BDTyre

warnerry

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned 5/26/2011

A - Pours deep brown, with a bit of red visible when held to the light. One finger of tan head dissipates pretty quickly, leaving only scant lacing.

S - Big aromas of chocolate and licorice/anise. Chocolate has both bittersweet and milk chocolate aromas.

T - While chocolate was more prominent than anise in the aroma, the anise takes center stage in the taste, at least initially. Midway through, chocolate takes over, though there is another flush on anise on the finish. The licorice flavors don't always work in beers, but it is really a highlight here. A bit of citrus hops near the finish as well. Very nice.

M - Medium mouthfeel with a nice creaminess and just a touch of alcohol burn.

O - My first from Uncommon, definitely makes me want to try another.

Serving type: can

01-09-2012 01:27:12 | More by warnerry

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Good beige head that leaves some streaky ring lace. Very dark brown where no light shines through. The head settles to a thin layer of

Near coffee notes, meaning that the coffee is mild contributing to a more mocha aroma because of the cocoa. Light hop nose, this is almost all coffee.

The flavor is a full semi-sweet chocolate flavor. The aftertaste is chewy from the thick body and lots of cocoa. Predictable flavoring of cocoa and mild alcohol. The body is neutral with an average carbonation.

Serving type: can

01-03-2012 00:26:42 | More by smcolw

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 16 oz can from Anderson's in Toledo. Dug out from the back of the fridge.

A: The porter is deliciously dark, deep brown-black no matter how you look at it. The first pour generated a thick, cascading head, deep tan and very attractive.

S: Stark but sweet, the baltic porter brings deep roasted malts that have a decided legumey-chocolatey edge to them. The sweeter milk chocolate aromas are the stand out.

T: The sweet milk chocolate and cocoa continue in the first sips. That sweetness pairs nicely with the underlying darkness, roasted as it is. The starchiness is also evident, running throughout the porter. Despite the significant head, carbonation seems to have been tamped down. And, oh yeah, a boozy heat runs right through the middle of the ale, a peppery blast. The spiciness, bold and chocolatey is very nice. An excellent Baltic porter.

M: Good until the heat wave arrived. After that, I was sold by the peppery heat. Uncommon indeed, I wish that I had a few more cans lying around.

Serving type: can

12-24-2011 01:44:30 | More by akorsak

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- Pours nearly black. Barely any light enters. Tan smooth head than is small and looks like a milkshake in terms of consistency. Light lacing. Good look.

S-Chocolate, mostly dark chocolate. Nice coffee roast too. A bit of anise. Very light hop aroma as well. Has a sort of chalky element to it.

T-Anise and the chocolate come through and shine. Coffee sets in after. A bit burnt. The flavor is quite like the nose. Very solid. A bit smoky too. A tiny twitch of hop in the finish.

M-Creamy and smooth. Medium to full bodied.Carbonation complements the feel. Very respectable feel. Creaminess is nice.

O/D-Overall, I was not impressed with the first beer I tried with this brewery. This one is much better. The feel stands out the most to me personally. Drinkability is pretty high. I got a single can of this for about $3.25 which is pricey. Definitely worth a try. This may make me try another beer from this brewery.

Serving type: can

12-14-2011 05:07:09 | More by VelvetExtract

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Split a 16oz can with a friend. It poured dark brown with a light tan head. I liked the mix of roasted, cocoa barley and mild esters in the aroma. The flavor, however, gets a bit thin for the style and the fruit falls out with just the roast left. Something's off, maybe a little too much alcohol taste, or maybe it hasn't aged well. It's close to being a good beer, but isn't quite there.

Serving type: can

12-12-2011 02:39:22 | More by tempest

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tall boy cans, hell yeah!

Pours a nice creamy darker 1+ finger head that fades semi slowly with nice lacing, over pretty much pitch black beer.

Nose of loaded with choc and roast, some toasted malts not crazy chartered, with light coffee. Most of all the chocolate, bakers, dark, cocoai powder, and bit of choc milk. Light earthy hop brings light bitter aroma. Then some caramel, light vanilla, and a nutty nutmeg like aroma round it off. As it warms a hint of licorice.

Taste starts with more dark malts, luscious creamy malts, light roast again without the bitter char and light coffee. then more chocolate although less than the nose, bakers and powdered cocoa mostly. A light burnt like black patent malt flavor is there too. Creamy milky chocolate leaks its way in with a light bitterness and light earthy hops. A light warming booze also sneaks in, with the late caramel, vanilla, and again light nutty malt. Finish is still creamy but not quite as dry as I expected but still drier, more chocolate and light roast, light booze, caramel and vanilla all linger.

Mouth is med to heavier bodied, creamy and luscious, lighter but decent carb, done warming booze.

Overall very impressed actually, wasn't expecting much from a brewery I have barely heard of and from a can, but they did the malts very well without the burnt roasted flavor. Nice chocolate, black patent, light coffee vanilla and caramel, and light nutty, light hops, creamy smooth and drinkable with a light booze kick. Very nice.

Serving type: can

12-03-2011 03:28:15 | More by jlindros

cbutova

Massachusetts

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

Some new cans in MA instantly attract my money, let's see how "uncommon" this really is.

A- Pitch black out of the can and into a Hill Farmstead tall tulip. One finger dark mocha head forms with a silky texture and decent retention. Eventually just a small ring without much lace.

S- Aroma hits the nose with a good amount of roast malts and licorice notes.

T- The first sip interests me. The beverage is still cold but it brings a good amount of licorice, dark cocoa roast malts and some vanilla like sugary hints. The licorice and anise get intense with time but not harsh.

MF- Creamy but lighter body than I would expect in a big porter. Silky and smooth with some roast bitterness.

Not usually a big fan of anise and licorice forward beers but this one drinks fairly smoothly and I like it.

Serving type: can

11-19-2011 02:42:07 | More by cbutova