Big Eddy Baltic Porter - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Strix

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears near black, but dark ruby tones when held to the light. Frothy initial head fading to a ring.

Complex smell of caramel, cocoa, plum, and blackberry.

Rich malt, dark fruits, toffee, caramel. Subtle earthy roastyness. Alcohol completely hidden, I would never believe this is 8.5%.

Smooth mouthfeel. Started out rich and full, seemed to thin as it warmed.

This was delicious. It actually didn't quite live up to my expectations, because my expectations for the Big Eddy series are now quite high. I actually expect a bit more booze and bite in this style, but I have to say this is a delicious beer, one I could drink all night if it weren't for the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 03:05:40 | More by Strix

BrockLanders

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

06-17-2013 00:51:31 | More by BrockLanders

zeff80

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

06-14-2013 20:51:04 | More by zeff80

CDCNAM

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

06-11-2013 02:36:39 | More by CDCNAM

ajzy

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

06-10-2013 22:43:10 | More by ajzy

djrn2

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

05-25-2013 19:47:52 | More by djrn2

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.74/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into a snifter

Appearance – The beer pours a deep-deep chestnut color bordering on black. Upon pouring there is a thin tan colored foam sitting atop the brew which fades rather rapidly to leave almost no lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is a nice mix of a dark roasted malt aroma and some rather strong boozy aromas of port. Along with these smells are aromas of chocolate, caramel, as well as some dark fruits bringing sweeter notes to the nose and combining with the others to give a nice warming aroma to the brew.

Taste – The taste starts out with some roasted malt flavors as well as quite a bit of a sweeter dark fruit flavor of cherry and raisin. As the flavors advance more sweetness of some plum as well as a red wine like boozy grape flavor come to the tongue. A bit of a cocoa flavor comes more toward the end of the taste, along with an increase in the alcohol flavors due to an oncoming port taste entering the taste. In the end, the combination of sweeter dark fruits and boozy flavors leaves a rather port wine mixed with roasted malt flavor to be left to linger on the tongue; warming the mouth nicely.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew a bit light for Baltic category brew. The carbonation
level, on the other hand, is slightly above average. For the style, the opposite characteristics; a lower carbonation and thicker creaminess, may have better suited the style giving all the boozy fruit flavors a chance to soak into the tongue.

Overall –Not a bad Baltic overall. There are lots of port and dark fruit flavors swirling within this one, creating a rather fruity and sweet brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 01:13:12 | More by Darkmagus82

brewcifix

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +28.7%

05-21-2013 21:42:20 | More by brewcifix

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-18-2013 12:59:55 | More by AmandaSchaefer

MSandahl23

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

05-16-2013 13:08:29 | More by MSandahl23

grumpygerman

Alabama

3/5  rDev -18.7%

05-16-2013 02:31:44 | More by grumpygerman

Lukass

Ohio

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-07-2013 00:35:44 | More by Lukass

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.69/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not expecting much since I got this beer for $1.75 mixed and matched at my local house of 1,000 beers.

A - Off to a pretty decent start. The slightly opaque colored head is a nice 1/2 inch that sticks around forever. Beer itself is a clear deep amber brown .
S - Mild chocolate tones with a touch of fruity yeasts and some chalky roast. It actually smells quite faded at this point.
T - Quite balanced yet not so bold I get some chalky roasts highlight but very minimal actual roast. Seems very good for it's age and even has a nice hop bite.
M - Kind of thin for a porter has a medium body but is not as chewy as it should be.

Overall not the worst porter I ever had but not bad for some BMC wanna bee's. I would get it again if I found a 10 dollar six pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:17:48 | More by DrDemento456

Sparty55

Michigan

4/5  rDev +8.4%

04-21-2013 02:16:52 | More by Sparty55

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

04-19-2013 00:02:28 | More by tbryan5

cofeeguru

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

04-17-2013 19:18:15 | More by cofeeguru

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.66/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A decent Baltic porter. Balanced, I would like a bit more bitterness edge rather than a malt job but still a good drinkable porter. Dark coloured, fizzy disappearing head. Middling mouthfeel. Lots of chocolate.
An extra in a trade, I think Beerenberger.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 04:24:16 | More by northyorksammy

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.04/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75

Pours a dark, dark, blood red. A yellowish finger of head forms, no lace, dissipates to nothing.

Smells of sherry and port, raisins, plums, hints of roast, and a tinge of fusel alcohol.

Tastes more of dark fruits and a dark sweet port, with a hint of cocoa, roast and toffee.

Creamy, full bodied. Somewhat rich and slick. Overall though, this is quite a bit off kilter for a Baltic Porter, which makes it hard to enjoy it as such.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 21:40:35 | More by EgadBananas

Rons35

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

03-28-2013 19:00:30 | More by Rons35

BradleyR

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +22%

03-26-2013 21:18:06 | More by BradleyR

tectactoe

Michigan

3.36/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

First beer that I will have had from Leinenkugel's "Big Eddy" line-up... I've heard pretty mixed things about this series of beers, so let's see how this one goes. The Baltic Porter pours a deep brown color topped with a dark-beige, somewhat creamy head. Once the head fades, the beer shows decent clarity from the top down.

The nose on this one is much lighter than I wanted it to be, but it still packs a little bit of heat. Boozy cocoa, mild toffee notes, and a helping of molasses are all kind of thrown into the pot. Along with those, you'll find a light nuttiness and a touch of dark-fruit sweetness; some raisins and dates. There's nothing wrong with any of these aromas - not at all. The problem I have is that they don't seem blended well in this case. They all seem so segregated and combating rather than molded together to form a nice, complex profile.

Though not quite as heavy in the aroma, the dark fruits are the first thing to hit my palate after taking a sip. Very mild vinous and wine-like feel to it; boozy grapes, raisins, plums, and almost-tart dates. There's a good sweetness that follows the fruits and mellows out the booze a little bit. About halfway through, the cocoa comes out - as does a slight astringency. Not really sure where that's coming from. I'm getting more and more deep prunes as this one opens up some. Light molasses and licorice in the finish. Medium mouth feel, medium carbonation, lightly slick on the palate.

I can definitely say this is one of the better offerings from Leinenkugel, although I'm not completely sold, and certainly not at the going rate. There's still that "something" that's just missing. Not really standout-ish in any form, and so what are you really missing?

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 11:36:30 | More by tectactoe

weonfire

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown but when held up to the light looks a burgundy hue. slightly opaque, zero head, zero lacing, tiny-tiny carbonation rising- like 5 bubbles worth.

S - mild chocolate, carmel malt. maybe a touch of honey.

T - initial: mild sweet carmel/chocolate/vanilla and aged fruit- maybe figs. finish has some roast and a touch of booze and low level of hops. but for 8.5ABVs- its hidden well.

M - Frothy, creamy malt- but a touch thin.

O - Honestly I like this. But, nothing is bursting through. Nose is underwhelming. Taste is pleasant but you keep hoping for more- specifically aged fruit- gotta bring that out more. Big Eddy are Leinenkugels' best brews but they seem to always fall just a step short of that 'excellent' level. this falls into another brew that is good, but I wouldn't brag about.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 22:32:54 | More by weonfire

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.14/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This pours a dark brown color with a slight light brown head. The aroma gives it that scent like it’s been aged in a sherry barrel with a mild fruitiness of plums. The texture is smooth and creamy. There are lots of complex roasted and smoky flavors. Finishes ever so crisp. Not too bad but there’s also room for improvement.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 05:26:20 | More by Lemke10

ChrisMon02

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

03-17-2013 16:21:46 | More by ChrisMon02

scaliasux

Wisconsin

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Dark reddish brown. Appears opaque. Medium tall tan head, somewhat persistent.

Smell -Rich medium-roasted malt. Nutty toffee aroma. Raisins. Maybe a little alcohol.

Taste - Dark roasted malt. Tastes burnt - more bitter than sweet. Coffee with some sweet toffee or caramel.

Mouthfeel - Full.

Overall - A heck of a lot more interesting than most Leinenkugel brews, but the taste is not quite right.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:56:26 | More by scaliasux