Grand Baltic Porter - Garrison Brewing Company

graybayou

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

07-07-2012 21:49:57 | More by graybayou

mmurphy525

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.7%

04-19-2013 00:00:43 | More by mmurphy525

lgmol

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

03-16-2013 18:01:51 | More by lgmol

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.7%

11-06-2012 15:06:51 | More by cfalovo97

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice brown color to it with some amber hues shining through. It has a nice mocha head that dies down somewhat fast and leaves next to no lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of dark fruit (raisins and cherries), chocolate, caramel/toffee and some roasted malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has dark fruit, some chocolate, roasted malts and a toffee/molasses sweetness.

Mouthfeel: It has a low/medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 20:10:20 | More by SebD

bcrocker

Nova Scotia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +11%

10-06-2012 19:59:58 | More by bcrocker

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.7%

09-21-2012 23:00:28 | More by oldp0rt

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got this beer last summer from a generous trader who's name escapes me. Cheers for the beers man!

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter

APPEARANCE: A brown, muddy looking pour produces a 2+ finger, medium looking, light tan head with very good retention. Head slowly fades to a good foam cap. Muddy black body with no carbonation evident. Splotchy wisp and ring remain leaving dots of lacing down the glass. Good looking. Pretty nasty.

SMELL: Dark malts, dark fruits, mostly raisins and dates, with some spicy yeast notes. A light touch of dark chocolate as well. Bold enough and reminds me of a Belgian strong dark ale.

TASTE: Spicy and fruity Belgian strong dark. Dark malts, toffee sweetness, and some dark fruits up front. Raisins, grapes and dates are in there. Some spicy yeast flavors and a touch of dark chocolate at the swallow as well. Bold and persistent aftertaste of dark fruits, spicy yeast and some bitter dark chocolate as balance. Interesting, and probably a more traditional lager-style baltic porter. Reminds me more of a flavorful Belgian strong dark ale.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough, goes down a little fizzy and finishes slightly sticky on the palate. A bit of a burn at the swallow. Average at best, unfortunately.

OVERALL: This is a bold, flavorful and spicy lager. A traditional baltic porter for sure, much of the aroma and flavor profile reminds me of a Belgian strong dark ale. Regardless, this is a good beer no matter what, and a thicker, creamier palate would make this one of the better ones in the country. Complex and enjoyable. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 19:48:32 | More by Jeffo

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

07-03-2012 02:10:21 | More by MattPS

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The flavor has a bit of a smoky taste, but the liquid itself looks like it's been outirght burnt; the basically opaque black appearance is appropriate for a beer that tastes of oily coffee bean and black licorice. Its total flatness and lack of life seems about right for a style traditionally brewed for long journeys and cold-winter climates.

The bouquet has a cola-like sweetness with strong black licorice notes. It's not always that you can actually pick out the special ingredients by scent, but this smells strongly of both molasses and dates. The rich, sweet toffee, creamed coffee and plum-y/prune-y fruitiness are all characteristics straight out the style guidelines. Delicious.

Grand Baltic Porter tastes, as do many in the style, like it was blended with a pot of week-or-two-old coffee. Make it yourself at home in a few easy steps: brew some instant decaf, let sit for several days, then add equal parts prune juice and brown sugar, let stand several more days. OK, it's not that easy, but it does taste something like that, albeit with added notes of black currant, wild truffle, chocolate tartufo, and mesquite smoke.

The funny thing about Baltic Porters is that they're lagered and, despite the ultra rich flavor profile, they drink with suspicious ease and a flat, completely mismatched mouthfeel. The only texture is that of a stale and sooty coffee. It's like the coffee bean oils have come to life! Still, despite the astringency, for a 9% beer this is effortlessly drinkable.

Baltic Porter is not exactly a popular style to emulate and, besides, its complexities make it beyond the abilities of many brewers. Garrison, however, has done an exceptional and noteworthy job. If it weren't for the limited availability and $6 price tag in these parts, there's no saying how many of these I'd have stashed away in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 05:03:59 | More by biegaman

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark red, nearly black, but light permeates throughout. The compact tan head lasts for a shortwhile and doesnt leave much lace on the glass. The aroma is malty with some roasted barly, coffee and black licorice present. The taste is of bittersweet dark chocolate, vinous fruitness, hop bitterness and caramel drenched rum cake. The mouthfeel is full with a very active carbonation, mmm prickly. The finish is long and malty with some slight booze. Overall though, the high abv is quite well hidden.

Great Baltic Porter. I highly recommend this. Very rich.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 02:27:11 | More by CAMRAhardliner

traumaqueen

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

04-03-2012 05:01:34 | More by traumaqueen

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +11%

03-18-2012 22:48:29 | More by Molson2000

JoeyRamone

4.75/5  rDev +24%

03-18-2012 01:55:11 | More by JoeyRamone

heebes

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.7%

03-06-2012 23:01:49 | More by heebes

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Deep, rich, and murky brown colour, very close to black. Thin tan head dissipates quickly, no lace. Aromatic notes of cacao powder, raisin, coffee, and brown sugar. Chocolate flavour up front, followed by dried fruit, and a fairly strong molasses note. Coffee notes are faint and linger in the background. The beer is medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Mouthfeel is smooth and rich without being heavy.

When I saw molasses listed as an ingredient on this beer, it made me somewhat fearful after their molasses-bomb Spruce Beer. This isn't quite as overpowering. After a few mouthfuls I actually found myself thinking "I could actually get through this bottle." I was wrong. I can't get around this. After drinking half the bottle, I had to pour the rest down the drain. It simply overpowered my palate.

That's still a half a bottle farther than I made it with the Spruce Beer though.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 00:49:25 | More by mintjellie

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-28-2012 11:54:42 | More by beerhunter13

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Brewed on November 25, 2011. Poured in to Duvel tulip.

A - Poured medium brown and settled dark brown with half a finger of bubbly light brown head that quickly receded to a ring around the glass. A slight ruby glow is evident around some of the edges.

S - Big dark fruit aroma up front - cherry, raisin, figs. A touch of cocoa is evident in the background along with some brown sugar and toffee sweetness. A very atypical nose for a baltic porter but very inviting.

T - Dark fruit up front with raising and a warming alcohol presence. A touch of cocoa is evident in the background along with a big sweetness with hints of molasses and brown sugar. The sweetness and the warming alcohol balance each other out nicely. Overall, this is a very nice beer, but if I tasted this blind I would think I was drinking a Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

M - Light to medium body with moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 14:50:52 | More by TheSevenDuffs

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

02-16-2012 05:18:57 | More by ThinkAgain

jsnoek

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-08-2012 03:15:33 | More by jsnoek

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-07-2012 18:20:46 | More by thehyperduck

MattyV

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

02-07-2012 15:49:42 | More by MattyV

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a one finger mocha head that quickly dissipated to nothing, nearly completely black with ruby highlights, minimal lacing.

Very complex nose, some booze, chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit.

The taste is massive, follows the nose lots of anise/licorice coming through especially as it warmed. Very sweet. Earthy hops emerges as well.

Full bodied with little carbonation, sweet although not overly so, this is a sipper with plenty of bitterness throughout. Definitely not a session brew it is nevertheless relatively smooth for the style.

An excellent complex brew that is perfect for ending an evening of brews by sending you to your slumber.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 21:28:34 | More by Stocean1

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a viscous inky black with decent coffee-coloured head, albeit one that dissipates more quickly than I'd expected. Mouthfeel is pleasant and pretty unremarkable, which totally belies the 9% ABV.

Aroma of dark roasted malts with hints of chocolate, vanilla and oak. The taste is well balanced with a sweetness I'd taken as caramelized malts, but which the bottle no doubt correctly identifies as dates, lingering well into the finish. The oak tannins are not as prevalent in the flavour as in the aroma, which from a purely personal perspective I view as a positive.

Definitely a beer I'd recommend and will purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:38:05 | More by hopsolutely

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Super dark, murky brown with red hues. Half finger width off white head that quickly drops to thin cap. Lacing is minimal.

S- Chocolate and coffee. There is a anise and dark stone fruit presence. There is a caramel and toffee with a slight cherry aroma.

T- Chocolate, cherry, coffee and caramel. Licorice is there but very slight. Quite complex tasting.

M- Medium to full bodied, slightly creamy and a touch of alcohol.

O- Another awesome offering from Garrison's will have to get more of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 21:41:24 | More by korguy123