Baltika 6 Porter

Brewed by Baltika Brewery (Baltic Beverages Holding - Carlsberg)
Style: Baltic Porter
St. Petersburg, Russia

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

I will weigh in with the thought that this beer is deeply under-rated (3.46 as I rate in January 2004). Pours a deep deep color, black and brown with just a bit of a swirl of head. Though I poured it when too cold, the alcohol propelled a robust aroma, mocha coffee-like with a later sense of just a bit of grape/port fruitiness. The first taste made me exclaim, "YUM! Liquid Chocolate!" to my wife, and she agreed that it held an appealing chocolate flavor, which settled into deeper roasted malt notes when it warmed a bit. At the very end some alcohol came out but this was very minor. The body is excellent in the porter style, rich and soothing. I found it very easy to drink this beer way too fast. Fantastic.

Dark brown, almost black w/ good sized tan head. Big chocolaty aroma w/ notes of banana & bubble gum. Smooth, lightly textured feel. Robust chocolaty flavour w/ notes of banana & cherry. Light, warming finish.

It was definately unexpected. Chocolately start with a nice even fade on the finish. Certainly worth a try.

Poured a dark oily brown that was almost black. Thick tan head. Sweet aroma, with hints of chocolate and coffee. Nice full and creamy mouthfeel. Dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, caramel, and a bit of alcohol. This is a great baltic porter. One of my favorites.

Bottle from Super Saver. I love how Baltika numbers all its beers to make it easier for Russians to know what order to drink them after they get bombed on vodka. Great idea! This one is outstanding. The pour is deep blackish (ruby through light) with a 1-finger tan head. The aroma is huge corn flakey malt and soem cacao powder. One of the maltiest aromas ever, right up there with Fullers LP and Celebrator. The taste is big corn flakey malt up front, with a big palate density and complexity. It tastes like Wheaties dipped in chocolate syrup, although not as sweet. This is one of the betetr porters I’ve yet had, and I’ll be raiding the shelves of this one. Sith Lords and other Dark Side scumbags like me will love this one!

Pours thick and black like a stout. Aromas and flavors of raisins and malt. This is a great beer.

Baltika Porter is a Baltic Porter by style, which is a descendant of Russian Imperial Stout. In the 18th Century, British brewers send a very strong, robust version of stout to the Baltics and Russia as a winter warmer. This beer was a huge success, and Baltic and Russian brewers started to brew their own versions of Imperial Stout, but did so with a lager yeast strain, making these beers very similar, but because they were lagers, a bit rounder, smoother, and cleaner beers. Baltika Porter is a classic example of this style, with rich, chocolatey, powerful flavors matched with a smooth and polished character. Coming in at 7% abv, it has enough strength to take the chill off the coldest of Russian winters. Baltika Porter pours to a beautiful, bright, deep brown to ebony color with a creamy white head, and a good bit of carbonation. The nose is very nice on this beer with aromas of caramel, dark chocolate, and touches of molasses, and roast. The palate is firm with lots of good dark chocolate and coffee flavors, paired with more roasty notes on the tongue. The body is full, yet it is also so polished and clean on this beer making it very, very drinkable. Baltika Porter finishes with more dark chocolate, coffee flavors, then ends with a dry, roasty, and slightly warming alcohol finishes that lingers. This is a really outstanding version of Baltic Porter with fantastic dark chocolate, coffee, roast, and dry character. It makes for a perfect winter warmer, and is a great beer to relax with after a hard day at work. This beer is also an idea beer to have with desert, and would match well with rich, decadent chocolate deserts, as well as a thick slice of NY style cheese cake. At $2.30 a 16.9 oz bottle it comes in at a very nice price as well. If you happen to find this beer in your market, seek it out, and enjoy a bottle or two of the Beer Lover’s Russian caviar.

UPDATED: NOV 4, 2009 500mL bottle from an LCBO giftpack, poured into the branded glass it came with. I have been wanting to try this for a long time. Pours a super dark but still clear reddish brown with a large beige head. The aroma is very enticing, nice roasted malts, caramalt, molasses, minor chocolate, breadiness one might expect from a dark Dopplebock, and a weird earthy woodiness that is unique and quite nice. Smells awesome. Flavour is very sweet upfront, pale malts with dark roasted malt, chocolate malts, carbonated body and molasses in the finish with that woody aftertaste. Somewhat black bready, and a red grape ester shows up as it warms. Lingering bitter sweet medly of all flavours. Slightly oily feel balanced with moderate carbonation, super drinkable for a 7% beer. A very solid Baltic Porter and all around beer. Even though I have to get a whole new gift pack I plan on buying more just to get this beer.