Baltic Thunder - Victory Brewing Company

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had a pint of this on draft at the Drafting Room - Exton, PA
A - Deep Brown almost black w/ ruby highlights and a thin tan head.

S - Deep malty odors that are roasty but only gently and a caramel note w/ light nutty and a slight lactic creamy cocoa smell. There is a slight floral hop aroma, but only if I inhale deeply and a subtle tinge of alcohol.

M & T - Dark malt w/ smooth milky chocolate feel w/ a hint of nuttiness. A light dry tinge w/ grainy notes and slightly boozy at room temperature. The texture and flavor is creamy smooth w/ moderate carbonation and a medium boy the creaminess lasts well into the finish. Rich and full of everything a Baltic Porter should have. The maltiness is subtle and this is a very balanced beer.

D - I remember loving Perkuno's hammer, but bummed that the only place nearby that carried it was 45 min away back then. I enjoyed the revival immensely. Kudos to Victory for bringing this gem back and to Heavyweight for allowing them to keep it alive. A great beer, nowhere near the flavor of an 8.5% beer, very nuanced and well blended. It gives credit to Victory for allowing nature to take its course lagering the big beauty. I was jazzed to try the reborn Perkuno's and found it to live up the memory.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2008 18:10:33 | More by Slatetank

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Victory- Baltic Thunder

On tap at Exton- Drafting Room

A- Dark cola brown with a ruby red tinge. A thick foamy head with good retention.
S- Cocoa powder, molasses, licorice, dark cherry.
T- Cocoa, vanilla, molasses, figs, dates, soda-like corn syrup and a licorice finish.
M- Sweet up front with a mild dry body. Alc. well hidden. Not as bold as I was expecting!

Overall- Good, not great. Definitely recommended though!

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2008 01:52:39 | More by NJpadreFan

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed on-tap at the brewpub.
Served as a very dark brown colored beer with moderate off-white puffy head.
Smell is very nice, with strong notes of dark fruit(painins, dates, plums) abounding. There is also a good presence of roasted malt.
Taste is truly extraordinary. The raoseted malt and the dark fruits combine pertectly. The taste sensation and smoothness is difficult to decribe.
Leaves a great taste in the mouth.
Way too drinkable at 8.5%. I'm glad I bought a case to take home.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2008 00:18:48 | More by tgbljb

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at The Drafting House (Exton, PA) release party. Had this back-to-back with a Heavyweight Perkuno Hammer from 2006

Pours a thin black with ruby red highlights, light carbonation. Very little head that faded quickly and left no lacing at all

I really had to work hard to get the smell of this guy. Not very pungent at all. Smells of chocolate, caramel and fruit. I couldn't quite pin down the fruit, it was either blueberry or cherry.

Very free and light on the tongue. Big semi-sweet chocolate palate with roasted and pale malt backbone. A hint of dates and/or prunes. The fruit (cherry or blueberry) was there in the taste as well.

This was very light on the tongue, it danced a bit as it faded.

A very good beer to chill out with for a little while.

Overall though, not that impressed. I don't know if it was me or the beer. With all of the press and hype this beer was getting, it really didn't live up to it. It was good, but it definitely didn't wow me. I'm gonna grab a bomber when I see them on the shelves, see how the flavors and scents change with some time in the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2008 21:24:50 | More by ColForbinBC