Sinebrychoff Porter - Oy Sinebrychoff Ab

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. The bottle says "Best before" and then "E93655K," which is probably the most incomprehensible dating code I've ever seen in my life.

A- Pours totally black with a nice finger of creamy mocha head, leaves great lacing.

S- Roasted malt, chocolate, a whole lot of sharp lactic acidity as well.

T- Big roasted malt up front with a bit of dry astringency, opens up into roasted coffee and dark chocolate with raisins and figs behind them, alcohol towards the finish, which ends with roasted coffee and malt sweetness.

M- Medium to full bodied, smooth feel, semi-dry finish.

O- A delicious beer, very drinkable, definitely gonna have to pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 08:48:53 | More by WillCarrera

Thads324

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A : pours an oil black. A thick and hearty dark tan head that sticks very well. Dissipates slowly with a wall of lacing.
S: aroma consists of dried fruits and mild chocolate. Some dark sugar sweetness, burnt toffee and no hop at all.
T : Starts right off the bat with a sweet dried fruit flavor. Mild roasted malts, like weak coffee and some caramel flavor that is very subtle. The caramel flows slowly throughout the remainder of the beer. There is a hearty multi grain bread flavor at the end which mixes with a mildly bitter grass flavored hop. A bit of fruity gelato sweetness on the end.
M : no astringency. Smooth. Full bodied and well balanced. Medium carbonation.

Lots of lacing. Great head and retention, especially for an import. Smooth, full bodied, rich and decadent. Sweet but not cloying. A gem of a beer that I'm glad to have tried. I'd gladly purchase this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 21:16:56 | More by Thads324

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This one was recommended by a friend of mine, he said that he loved it and that if I hadn't drank it before I should give one a try. So I ordered one up and poured it out. The beer was black as night and had a thin brown colored head on top. The smell of the beer was heavily roasted, it had some light chocolate aromas too. The taste of the beer was almost like charcoal at first. It was burnt tasting and not all the good to me. The aftertaste sort of gave off this odd creamy flavor. Not sure how it works but that was what I kept getting. The mouthfeel was thinner than I expected it to be. Overall I wasn't a huge fan of this beer but it must strike good with some people it seems. Maybe worth trying again.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 01:49:29 | More by Knapp85

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally getting around to reviewing one of my favorite Baltic porters.

A: Pours an opaque very dark brown/nearly black with a tan head and some minor lacing.

S: This beer smells fantastic and rich - dark malts, chocolate and some spices.

T: Taste is very much akin to a dark chocolate bar, a little sweet and a little bitter like dark chocolate, but not overwhelmingly bitter like a coffee. It's not too heavy though, has a certain lightness in the flavor that gives it some similarity to a doppelbock as opposed to an American porter.

M: Very smooth and fluffy with good carbonation.

O: This is probably my 2nd favorite Baltic porter out there, behind only Okocim. The European beers of the style have more of a lightness to them that I love, and combining that with the dark malts that typically define a porter really make this a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 01:49:26 | More by starrdogg

vande

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a - deep, dark black pour..very cola-like...evidence left in the form of a nice thin layer of lacing..

s - coffee, chocolate, malt oh my.. a nice, rich smelling porter!

t - a bitter beer with a pleasant level of coffee and chocolate intertwined in a lovely dance here...yet, hidden nicely is the slightest touch of sweetness.. great tasting...

m - medium bodied smooth drinking baltic porter...

o - one of the better porters I've had...and I would have never guessed it could have come from Finland...

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 05:27:51 | More by vande

bramsdell

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into imp pint glass

A: Looks great. A thick, dark body that really lets no light through. Beautiful. A nice tan head recedes down to about half a cm and stays the entire time. Fair bit of lacing and good retention, as well.

S: Smells sweet, malty sweet, with a bit of a licorice bite to it. There's a bit of booze on the back end, as well.

T: Sweet malts and too much licorice for my taste. I think that the licorice flavor really overpowers all of the others and bludgeons the drinker over the head. This is not at all for me, but if that's your cup of tea, this is your beer.

M: Very nice, thick, sweet, pleasant. Lots of sweetness left on the palate afterwards.

O: I found it unbalanced, but not all will. Personally, not my favorite, but a well-made brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 23:51:20 | More by bramsdell

WMEugene

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Green Leafe in Williamsburg on 10/22 (from notes). Served in a pint glass.

A - Dark brown/black in color with a brown head. Nice head retention and excellent lacing.

S - Strongest smell is malts and licorice. There's also hints of alcohol and boozyness in the smell.

T - Taste of alcohol is up front, but not in an overly boozy or burning fashion. Strong malt and licorice flavors along with faint hops.

M - Nice carbonation level, medium to full bodied. Smooth.

O - The Sinebrychoff was an enjoyable porter. I was glad I got to try it, and would have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 20:46:47 | More by WMEugene

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 ounce bottle into snifter, bottle code: E93565K. Pours opaque black color with a nice 1 finger dense tan head with great retention, that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lasts. Thick lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of big raisins, chocolate, coffee, molasses, caramel, and roasted malts. Some very nice and balanced aromas here. Taste of big chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, caramel, and dark fruits. Decent amount of bitterness present on the finish with lingering notes of chocolate, molasses, dark fruits, caramel, and coffee. A bit of a metallic taste was present as well, but it did not detract from the overall complexity of this beer. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very creamy and smooth mouthfeel. Drinks way too easily, and there is no alcohol noticed other than a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is definitely an outstanding Baltic porter, and at a great price as well!

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 02:42:07 | More by superspak

chinchill

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

33cl bottle stamped best before Dec. 22, 2010; so a bit past this "best by" date but with an ABV over 7% and no signs of being over the hill, this should be a fair assessment.

A: Pours a very dark brown with a 2 finger light brown head. The head has exceelent retetion, is nicely sticky, and is surprisingly dark even for a beer that is nearly black. Very rich and thick looking.Some sediment remained in the bottom of the bottle although I drank every drop I could.

S: Lots of chocolate malt and more spicy hops than expected, but too much alcohol. Lightly smoky and (dark) fruity.

T: A very rich baltic porter, with a very heavily roasted malt flavor that goes right up to, but in to, the burnt range. Approaching the extreme beer arena, yet quite drinkable. A light spicy hop note on top.

M: Full body with a good level of carbonation.

O - a strongly flavored and excellent baltic porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 00:11:28 | More by chinchill

fsvan

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle poured into New Belgium globe.

A- Extremely dark brown. Black at a glance. Well carbonated with two fingers of dark tan head.

S- Sweetness. Some caramel. Roasted malt. A bit of chocolate. Big nose. No hint of the 7.2% alcohol.

T- Roasted malts. A sweetness that is less than in the nose. The caramel isn't as present. A slight metallic taste on the finish.

M- Medium bodied. A little light for what I'd expect from the style.

O- This is a good beer. I wonder if the metallic taste is due to a bad bottle?

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 00:23:58 | More by fsvan

BierBliss

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottled in 2000, had this at Ebenezer's pub from the cellar

aroma: chocolate tones, malty

appearance: pours black into a tulip, 1/4 inch head which fades

flavor: chocolate and coffee, some aftertaste likely due to oxidation due to being an 11 year old bottle

mouthfeel: smooth, not a lot of carbonation

overall impression: it was fun to sample a bottle that had been aged this long. I picked up a couple of other bottles the same weekend to sample to have a point of comparision. certainly a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 00:16:08 | More by BierBliss

beergod1

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Almost black with a medium, big foamy head. A strong Burnt chocolate aroma with some roasted malt and hints of licorice. Roasted, lightly burned flavor with hints of licorice and coffee. Light to medium body, hardly any carbonation. Ok Porter, kinda thin, 1 dimensional. Another site says it's retired?

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 17:56:31 | More by beergod1

camil1mj

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A wedding I went to at the Finish Center in Livonia had a few bottles of this in the fridge. I had to ask if I could have it instead of the BMC.

A: Dark, dark brown with a 2 finger tan head.

S: Lots of chocolate malt.

T: Great baltic porter taste. Great standard example of the style.

M: Medium body with a good amount of carbonation.

O: A great surprise to get to try this at a wedding where I anticipated knocking back some BMC as I figured it would be my only option.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 21:35:25 | More by camil1mj

AmericanGothic

Iowa

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

A: Pours an opaque, dark chocolate brown color with two fingers of medium tan head. Strong retention and lace.

S: Lots of malt, some sweet bread and a little stewed fruit.

T: Mellow malt and caramel up front, fades in the middle before turning into bitter coffee on the end. Interesting profile, not like any other I can think of. After a bit, some creamy chocolate emerges, and the bitter coffee mellows. Pretty complex through the course of the glass.

M: Smooth and creamy, a bit thin on the finish, but not bad.

O: This is a really nice beer with quite a bit of character. What a treat! Will surely buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 17:35:08 | More by AmericanGothic

FanofHefe

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

33 cl bottle poured into a Duvel tulip; no dating on the bottle or label (E8 1705 s code, but not sure what that means). Dark black body that lets no light through. Two-finger mocha head that leaves a little lacing around the edges of the glass.

Probably the richest aroma for a porter I've ever had. Dense notes of chocolate, toffee, and roasted malt are blended nicely up front in the aroma. A hint of rum and dark fruit follow.

The flavor does justice to the aroma. Tasty blend of the roasted malt, chocolate, and dark fruit. No real bitterness but a hint of earthy hops and coffee balance the sweetness pleasantly.

Light to medium thickness in texture. Overall, an excellent porter that is very enjoyable. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 00:39:24 | More by FanofHefe

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark black body with a medium brown head atop.

S - Roasty dark malts, tangy yeast and grapeskin bitterness.

T - Bitter black coffe, grapeskin twang and acidity, dark fruit sugars. Dry wood and tart yeast with a dried toffee finish. Complex.

M - Pretty light bodied for a black porter. Dry and roasty on the way down.

O - Nice porter, but more similar to a dry stout or even a schwarzbier. Im a fan of all so I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 13:30:21 | More by BeerForMuscle

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: bottle from Eulogy, Philly, PA

Poured a thick black with mahogany highlights, and a modest beige head. Molasses and caramel in the nose, and a bit of indistinct fruit. Very malty taste, more molasses, licorice, touches of semisweet chocolate and figs. Finishes bitter and a bit dry. Heavy-medium mouthfeel, thick and a bit oily, and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 02:42:13 | More by Rifugium

celticfutblclub

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

33cl bottle poured into a snifter.

A - dark dark brown body with just a hint of light getting through. deep brown head about two fingers thick that backs off quite slowly. good lacing on the way down.

S - roasted coffee, toffee, chocolate malts all float in together. coffee seems to be dominate in the nose.

T - chocolate, coffee and toffee again. this time the chocolate seems to be a bit more present to me.

M - much lighter bodied than i expected. a good amount of carbonation up front. little bit of alcohol hits as it warms up.

O - this is a very good baltic porter. definitely worth trying but for the price ($4.45) per bottle i probably wouldn't revisit.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 22:49:26 | More by celticfutblclub

andrewinski1

Maine

3.88/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. Looks oily black. Nice large foamy tan head.

The aroma has nice roasted character with a good dose of minty hops to balance it out.

The taste has a clean roasted flavor with a bit of fruity malt flavor. The finish is slightly hot and full of mocha.

The mouthfeel is nice and full, but still drinkable. The carbonation is relatively high.

This is a great option for a readily available top-notch baltic porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 01:14:10 | More by andrewinski1

allforbetterbeer

Colorado

2.93/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a Swiss wine snifter.

Body is totally black, no highlights. Pretty impressive! A gentile pour yielded a finger of latte-colored head that leaves a nice ring around the edges of the surface.

The initial aroma is of dark licorice, raspberry dark chocolate, and a touch of black coffee grounds. Swirling brings up more dark chocolate (we are talking 80%+ cacao).

I unexpectedly find the flavor to be lacking much... as if the bulk of the flavors were absent and all that is left is some astringent bitterness. Maybe it is too cold, I will let this sample warm a bit and then continue. Warming improves the flavors to a small extent, but I still am finding a sour tinge and some non-descript astringent flavors dominating, with some sharp bitterness and coffee ground characteristics in the aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin and watery, without the body that usually characterizes this style. Carbonation feels to high, but that might be due to the watery mouthfeel.

Conclusion: I find this Baltic porter to be a far cry from the best in this class. However, it is possible that the bottle I have obtained is too old or there is some other problem with it (however it is not oxidized and came from a store with a good track record).

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 18:03:40 | More by allforbetterbeer

gopens44

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Very dark with a thick foamy tan head.

S - Mostly coffee, but some very nice plum aromas coming up with the coffee smell.

T - Mostly coffee and coffee like bitterness at first, followed by roasted malts. bold bitterness without being overwhelming.

M - Thin and bitter with low carbonation. Very nice bitterness in the aftertaste.

O - Very enjoyable. Would have enjoyed it a bit more if it was more silky than watery, but it still is a very nice Baltic Porter.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 14:45:01 | More by gopens44

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, dark and clean near-black, small cap of creamy, dense off-white head. Scent is an attractive blend of roasted matled, notes of dark cocoa, dark fruits (cherry, blackberry) and faint hints of coffee. Taste is quite wonerful - dark roasted and toasted matls give way to bitter dark chocolate and strong dark fruity - almost like eating the best chocolate covered cherry one has ever had. Taste finnished out with notes of coffee, and a light nuttyness. Medium bodied, creamy and smooth, lightly dry on the finnish with some grainyness on the tongue. Quite possibly the best porter in the world - deep and complex, almost stout-like in every way but no issues with excess as it as delecate as it is bold.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2011 15:20:07 | More by rfgetz

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle, received from Amanti Vino as part of this month's Beer of the Month club, and allowed to warm a bunch before being poured into my Dogfish Head signature glass.

Sinebrychoff Porter pours a complete black, with just over two fingers of frothy caramel foam topping it off. The head shows some staying power, and there are a fair amount of spots of lacing left sticking to the glass. The nose is a bit muted, but aromas of bitter espresso and anise to come through. Espresso is still the first thing that comes to mind when the beer crashes over my palate, but there's a bit more supporting it. Anise is largely replaced by a touch of dark chocolate and some molasses. In addition there's a certain fruitiness and lactic twang that reminds me of a dry irish stout. The body is impressively rich and creamy for a beer whose flavors come across as so dry, and the carbonation is apppropriately mild, staying out of the way of a malt driven beer. Sinebrychoff Porter both is a true classic and a beer I wouldn't hesitate to give to friends who don't know beer past Guinness.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 04:59:21 | More by axeman9182

metter98

New York

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is jet black in color and poured with a thin tan head that gradually died down and left a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of dark roasted malts in the nose along with notes of chocolate and licorice.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of dark roasted malts with notes of bittersweet chocolate, licorice and raisins. There is a light amount of bitterness, which particularly stands out in the finish.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a light amount of carbonation.
O: I would definitely try this beer again if I happen to see it on-tap as the mouthfeel seems to come across as being a bit smoother and fuller bodied.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2011 15:55:28 | More by metter98

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at TJ's into a nonic pint.

A - Pours jet black with a small half finger tall khaki colored head leaving faint wisps of lacing down the length of the glass.

S - Smells of darkness thru and thru. Huge amount of dark roast; mostly dark chocolate malt, espresso, and burnt wood; mixes well with a light molasses sweetness. Nothing too over the top, just a solid nose.

T - Plenty of dark roasted chocolate malt up front quickly giving way to a mix of espresso coffee beans, charred wood, and some light molasses sweetness. The alcohol creeps in toward the end but it blends in pretty well. The finish is mostly dark roast with a bit of lingering sweetness. The smoke grows stronger as is warms, threatening to overrun everything else but it stops just short. Tone the smoke back a bit and this one would be VERY good.

M - Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Big smokey feel to this one that carries over into the finish, mixing with some lingering sweetness.

O - Not too bad. I really enjoyed how rustic this one was, with plenty of simple flavors working in tandem to create an overall good beer. Very nice stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 22:08:18 | More by orangesol