Alaskan Pilot Series: Baltic Porter

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Baltic Porter
Juneau, Alaska USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

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Aroma- Chocolate covered cherries stand out. Alcohol aroma is present also, which, combined with the cherry aroma, gives it sort of a brandy smell. Port-like qualities exist as well. Appearance- Very dark brown, no red/ruby highlights, no clarity to speak of. Great tan head, the bubbles are of moderate size, but the head is thick nonetheless. Flavor- Begins with sweet smokiness, followed by dark fruit flavors, ending with a medium roasty flavor and chocolate. The dark fruit character is reminiscent of other high gravity dark beers I’ve had. Low hop flavor. Very tasty. Palate- Very heavy body, pretty chewy, definately on the sweet side as well. The alcohol strength warms. Medium carbonation. Overall- Great beer. Unique flavor and aroma, combined with the full body and high alcohol, make this the perfect christmas/holiday beer. I believe that it falls short of the true baltic porter category because they chose to make it an ale. Baltic Porter doesn’t need to be a lager, but the clean lager characteristics are important. Besides that, great beer.

Shared a 22oz bottle. Poured a dark brown color, small off-white, tan head. Aroma was roasted malts, touch of molasses, dried fruits. Flavor had notes of cherries, other dried fruits, malts. Pretty enjoyable brew.

22oz bottle 1/13/10 (Courtesy of RSRIZZO)-Pours a dark brown almost black with a small tan head. Aroma of cherries and vanilla. Taste of vanilla. This medium bodied brew was well balanced and an overall great beer, Nice job.

2009 vintage. Bomber purchased in October 2010 at Sun Devil Liquors in Phoenix ($7.99). Pours into my Stone IRS snifter brown with significant reddish highlights and one finger of brown foam. Aroma of caramel, toffee, butterscotch, chocolate, and some dark fruit. Flavor of holiday toffee, significant boozy vanilla, creamy dark chocolate (with slight cherry infusion), molasses, and wood (though I do not think this is barrel aged). The taste is quite sweet, but not overly so. A bit of booziness, but otherwise this goes down very easily with a nice warming effect. An excellent example of the style. (253, 653)

22oz bottle shared by Mike, thanks
Appearance: Dark ruby with a medium sized tan head and good lacing
Aroma: Sweet toffee, candi and spices
Taste: Sweet bakers chocolate and vanilla
Very nice, surprised at the high abv, very smooth

Bomber thanks to Mike. Lots of alcohol in the nose , raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, huge malt. Numbed tonge. Amazing beer. Thanks Mike.

Bomber shared by Mike, thanks man! Pours a dark brown color with a medium tan head. The aroma is sweet prunes, molasses and brown malts. A mellow Baltic Porter leaning to the sweet side of things, some chocolate and banana, light roast, molasses, caramel. Some lager-like elements here like a Dopple of Weizen Bock. A nice brew.

(bottle - 22 oz - 2009 vintage) Deep oily black pour with a thin brown head. Big roasted malt and wine-like aroma with tons of dark fruits and roasted coffee. Flavor is a big roasted coffee and malt blast with a ton of wine and dark fruit notes at the tail end. Roasty but smooth and warming all the way down. Took the age very well.

Bottle:   Black in color, with extremely dark brown hues, moderate to thin fizzy light beige head, sparce lacing.   This one looks almost still.   Pale roasted malts, very distinct oak/wood aging, along with a little graham cracker, vanilla, and alcohol.   Quite woody on the tongue, roastiness is slight, even more minor lactose.   Falls off somewhat quickly.   ABV is well hidden, but doesn’t seem as silky as one would think for a Baltic Porter of this caliber.   Solid, clean, with some lactose like sweetness and graham cracker on the backside.   Body and mouthfeel are moderate.   Wishing this one was a bit thicker.   Lingering woody notes, on the oak side, with a slight sweetish flair.   I do pick up very little charred wood that creeps up after the finish.   Decent beer, rather good actually, but not as Porterish as I would have expected.   Just needs to be thicker and heavier.   Other than that, its an enjoyable beer.

Pours pitch black with slight mahogany edges and a one finger beige head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Small spots of lacing left behind. Sweet malt aroma that’s slightly smokey/toasted with hints of dark chocolate, toast, caramel and toffee. There’s also a slight lactic presence along with a touch of vanilla adding another dimension to the nose. Medium bodied with a nice balance of roasted and sweeter notes. Lots of toasted malt along with hints of roasted coffee, toast and smoke balanced by some sweet chocolate, toffee and subtle lactic presence. Although it is pretty robust, the sweeter notes balances things out nicely and this beer is surprisingly drinkable.

Tasted on 10/14/11 from a 650mL bomber bottle purchased at Sun Devil, 2009 vintage. Pours completely black with a thin tan head that leaves nothing but a thin collar of lace. The nose is a fantastic blend of vanilla, oak, fresh cherry, coffee, dark roast, molasses, and tons of dark chocolate. It reminds me of the Cherry Bark Bitters made by Bittercube. The flavor is just as complex, with the vanilla, sweet molasses, and burnt brown sugar hitting the front of the palate, and moving to the roasted coffee, dark chocolate, oak, and earthy cherry notes, with just the right amount of bitterness. The body is full with lighter carbonation, and a long complex finish that features the burnt brown sugar, vanilla, dark chocolate, and oak more than anything else. This is truly a treat!