Aphotic Baltic Porter - High Water Brewing

aasher

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I received this beer in a box from New Hampshire last week.

Aphotic pours a full bodied dark chocolate brown with a two finger, very smooth and creamy dark khaki head. The head looks great. It is Yeti esque. The nose is pretty simply. It features dark roast, dark chocolate, bitter baking chocolate, and it has a "different" oak element. The flavors are big and roasty. It features plenty of dark roasted malt, bitter cooking chocolate, oak, and it has an odd and vinous grape character. The alcohol is pretty well hidden. Really, the flavors are pretty well balanced. I don't get any bourbon at all, from the nose or flavors, but I could pick out some brandy. It's not over the top but it's there. Overall this is a decent beer, solid all around, but nothing too crazy. I'd prefer a few standard Baltic Porters to this BA Baltic.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 03:03:36 | More by aasher

Uncle_Jimmy

California

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

From Notes

Appearance- opaque dark black with and medium brown foam on top that lingers

Aroma- dusty chocolate some cofee notes.

Taste- Roasty toasty and dry on the front end a little acidic almost in the end. hops are piney and resinous but take a back seat to the roasted malt. the finish is like a burnt marshmallow. It makes me want to captain a boat in a stormy sea!

Mouthfeel- medium bodied with a dry finish not even the slightest hint of booze.

Overall- This beer for whatever reason tasted really good. It was a hot day and this made me feel like i was in the hold of a cargo ship in a drafty damp bunk. Plotting the impending mutiny on our captain gone mad.... It was roasty but not warm man was it tasty !

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 22:30:16 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

largadeer

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

04-30-2013 23:53:48 | More by largadeer

BeastLU

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

03-22-2013 23:09:57 | More by BeastLU

Akiloverbatim

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got in a trade from timfoolery, pretty delicious, not my typical style. but truly enjoyed this barrel aged beauty.

a: black with a tanned leather head.

s: delicious

t: vanilla, red berries, coffee, delicious

m: velvety

very happy with this one for one that i never would have suspected to like

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 19:33:21 | More by Akiloverbatim

cletusdog

California

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%

01-27-2013 17:11:06 | More by cletusdog

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

10-14-2012 01:44:57 | More by t0rin0

seand

California

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark inky brown, with a fair amount of dense dark tan head. The head dissipates to a thin film on the surface but retains a relatively thick ring around the edge of the glass, and leaves lots of lacing.

S: Rich molasses with a touch of vanilla.

T: Thick roasted malt with a high note that's almost a touch tart. Hops come through a bit towards the finish.

M: A touch on the light side of full bodied, medium carbonation.

Overall, enjoyable. It's not something I'd likely go out of my way to search for, but I enjoyed it and wouldn't say no if someone else was pouring.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 05:47:56 | More by seand

rlee1390

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-Black with a two finger almost brown head with some lacing.

S-Oak, chocolate, roasted malt, slight coffee and a tad vanilla.

T-Starts with oak and bourbon. Rounded out with roasted/burnt malt. Tad but of coffee. However something is off.

M-Light and well carbonated, overly carbonated for a porter.

O-There is something off with this beer. Not sure what exactly it was. I wish I knew what it was but it was off putting.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 20:11:44 | More by rlee1390

Chebyshev

California

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%

06-12-2012 07:33:14 | More by Chebyshev

Pjilsner

California

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in my trusty unbreakable plastic mug!

A: Very black. Burnt creme head reminds me of a very even creme brule. Head craters and sinks away. Lacing stuck around until I was finished with the glass.

S: Like a coffee milkshake and a roasted marshmallow in the BEST way! I love the smell and can't wait to see how it tastes!

T:Bitter, slight sourness, funky. I really like it! The bitterness is strange and I can't compare it to anything I've tried, but it's pleasant. Tart AND roasty. Not much malt sweetness. Some of the alcohol bites through but it isn't intense. I don't find the alcohol to be in the way at all, in fact I would say it's quite balanced.

M: Thick and mild, soft carbonation. Wet finish which made my lips smack noticeably.

O: I picked this up because I'd always been curious to try a Baltic Porter. While I have no idea whether this is "to style" or not, I can say that I really enjoyed it and will pick it up again anytime I see it. This beer probably isn't for everyone and it's a very much a different beer than the kind of porter you'd pick up at any old supermarket. I can't recommend it enough though. The strange funky flavors with the delicious sweet-roast smell really connected with me. I'd buy these often if I could get them easier.

Reviewed from notes

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 00:04:06 | More by Pjilsner

gregk

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aphotic is a very nice example of a well balanced barrel aged beer. The mix of burbon, brandy, and stainless help to balance out the flavor profile and not overwhelm the drinker. Color is very nice as is the mouth feel of the beer. I can only imagine how good this beer would taste after being aged for several months!

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 23:44:38 | More by gregk

Mister_Joshy

California

4/5  rDev +7%

05-29-2012 07:15:00 | More by Mister_Joshy

kojevergas

California

2.78/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Vintage 2011 22 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Guinness goblet in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average given the style.

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

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a two finger head of nice tan colour, good cream, good thickness, and great retention for the high ABV. Colour is a solid nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visibile, but then it's nontransparent... Opaque (or aphotic, if you prefer).

Sm: Light roasted malts, cream, hints of acidity, and slightly pungent yeasty funkiness (but not in a brett sort of way). Dark malts. Quite intriguing. I'm excited to try it. A mild to moderate strength aroma. Very inviting.

T: Brown sugar, roasted malts, some chocolate, strange yeasty funkiness, hints of bittering hops, cream, dark malts, and well-rounded acidity. An interesting baltic porter, with an interesting build. Decently balanced. The brown malts in particular are wonderful as a foundation, and do well alongside the yeast. It's certainly got character, but the mixture of the funkiness and the porter build is a bit odd for my tastes. Neither simple nor complex. Some subtlety is present.

Mf: Smooth and wet in classic porter fashion, with some underlying biscuity coarseness from the yeast. Thick enough. Adequately carbonated.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable, but I wouldn't get it again. I find it strange, but fans of the style might really like it. I wouldn't recommend it to friends, but I have nothing against it. It's decently priced for what it is. Hides its ABV well. There's no harm in picking this one up.

I don't know that age does particularly much for this beer.

Low C

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 07:01:28 | More by kojevergas

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark black with a hint of brown with a finger of frothy chocolate colored head atop. The head fades down very slowly leaving behind a thick layer of lace.

S - Aroma is lots of oak and vanilla, with some strong roasted chocolate malts, a hint of coffee, a bit of dark fruit and some booze.

T - Starts off with vanilla and roasted chocolate malts with a bit of dark fruit sweetness and a bit of black licorice. Through the middle, some strong oak flavor comes through with with some dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor and and a bit of earthiness. The finish is a mix of oak, vanilla, milk and dark chocolate, dark fruit, and a bit of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and thick, with a warming, sweet, and dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. The Bourbon barrel aging added some great flavors to the Baltic Porter base. The balance of barrel flavors is really nice here.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 07:26:32 | More by ngeunit1

shleepy

California

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Writing based on 2-week-old notes. Served from bottle into tulip glasses.

A: Pitch black; enormous, tan head. Looks great.

S: Slightly tart roastiness.

T: Bitterness balanced with the aforementioned tart roastiness. Very chocolatey.

M: Medium body. Creamy.

O: Enjoyable, but not as good as the Drake's barrel-aged stuff that's on tap at the Barrel House.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 03:47:04 | More by shleepy

popery

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

04-23-2012 20:58:46 | More by popery

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into an Allagash cervoise glass. Vintage 2011. I've heard this talked up around the Bay Area, and the price tag suggests the same. I hope it's not another over-hyped barrel-aged beer.

A: The name is appropriate; no light is getting through this beer. Darkest brown, opaque, with three fingers of fluffy brown head. Great lacing.

S: Strong-sweet malts, with a notable bourbon influence. Some coffee/roast as well. Dry. Excellent nose, though with a touch of metal.

T: Alas, I fear it is another one of "those beers" aged in barrels only to emerge slightly anemic and sour. It's not BAD, but it's not quite what I was hoping for. This said, it grows on me. The roasted malt is dominant, with a distant 'wannabe' oakiness and the merest hint of vanilla. The aftertaste is quite nice, creamy and nutty and full of coffee. Damn nice.

M: "Luxurious" and "rich" the mouthfeel is not. Thin, flat, and dry would be more apt descriptions.

O: Overpriced and overhyped. It's not a terrible Baltic Porter, but save your time and money for something else. Still, if someone gives you one, you'll probably enjoy it. I did, overall.

Brewmaster's Notes
Released: January 10, 2012
"This beer is one of my favorites. It was a blast to brew it and was really an evolving process. One third of the beer was barrel aged in 18 Year old Elijah Craig bourbon barrels, another third was aged in premium Brandy barrels and the final third was aged in stainless. After 4 months of aging the three different variations were combined back together resulting in the blend you have in front of you. Copious amounts of Carafa 1, 2, and 3, as well as chocolate malts and Midnight Wheat malts were used. Deep, dark and delicious!!!! Enjoy....Steve "

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 06:18:50 | More by AgentMunky

FunkyMacGroovin

California

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%

04-03-2012 19:32:37 | More by FunkyMacGroovin

jpajpajeff

California

2.75/5  rDev -26.5%

03-17-2012 04:18:45 | More by jpajpajeff

brotherloco

California

3.63/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber. 2011 Edition. Served in a snifter.

Pours pitch black. "Aphotic" as described on the back of the bottle. A pillowy 2 finger mocha head forms and hangs around for awhile. Settles to a thin covering. Some big swaths of lacing.

Aroma of rich, roasted chocolate malt. Smokiness from the roast. Brown sugar sweetness. Dark fruits. Vanilla oakiness from the barrel. A slight sting of vinegar and alcohol.

Initial flavor is surprisingly tart, a little like a barrel aged sour ale. I suppose that's why there was some vinegar in the nose. That flavor lingers, but does fade away as bitter roasted and smokey malt take over. Long lingering finish. Very dry roasted coffee bitterness.

Medium bodied with medium-sharp carbonation. Not as smooth a feel as I'd like with this style.

An interesting blend of flavors. I like the uniqueness, but I'm unsure of the sour qualities.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 04:00:36 | More by brotherloco

rbrefbeerman

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

02-14-2012 01:48:18 | More by rbrefbeerman

avaldivia

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

02-11-2012 03:53:14 | More by avaldivia

mactrail

California

2.03/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Some barrel taste, but more tar, oxidized wine, boysenberry syrup, and burnt raisins. More like an Old Ale paired with last year's fruitcake. Aroma of Truly awful aftertaste that just won't leave you alone. Looks nice enough in the glass, dark brown with attractive foam, for what that's worth. Medicinal taste of burnt sage and more than a hint of that cherry cough syrup that makes you shudder as it goes down.

This stuff may have some happy bacteria working away. I can't see any other reason for the peculiar flavors. The weirdly bitter flavor is not something that comes from hops alone. Label says 2011 so it can't be that old. From The Boulevard, San Diego, 22 oz bottle. Kiss the drain, dude.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 07:01:34 | More by mactrail

Diomede

California

4/5  rDev +7%

02-07-2012 07:09:43 | More by Diomede