Baltika 6 Porter

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

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

Bottled (thanks FatPhil & SaintMatty). Extremely dark brown colour with big beigeish brown creamy head. Some lace. Aroma is roasted malts, milk chocolate, some dark fruits and mild notes of metal. Flavour is roasted malts, some mild alcohol, vanilla chocolate and also coffee. Mildly acidic notes also. Aftertaste is wooden, roasted and slightly fruity.

Situation: continuing the snow day #4 celebration while watching the Cavs beat up the Celtics... Glassware: Baltika glass (courtesy the gift pack I bought myself)... Appearance: intimidating mahogany black body with a brownish gray head that dimples like the snow outside--wet and thick; tracings are consistent and noteably etched as the glass drains... Aroma: big, burnt caramel pervades the nostrils--otherwise, a clean portering cultivation of hops... Palate: smooth, creamy and a buzz of alcohol at the warming finish; a BIG body that resembles a barleywine... Taste: lactic cream early with a sting of malt late; sweet toffee and caramel are alluring... Overall: fat as flat cola, strong and silent in its fortitude, this porter runs smoother (and more dangerously) than its English namesake--a pleasure to drink in the company of winter...

Pours dark brown with a minimal beige head. Sweet malt aroma with chocolate and light hops. Smokiness and light fruity finish with a touch of bitterness. A most enjoyable brew.

Picked up for $2.29 at Surf Beverage in Murrells Inlet, SC. Appears a dark brown with auburn toned edges when held to the light. A 2 finger, tan head slowly fades into a foamy clump of bubbles. Scattered rings of marshmallow-like protein sticks along the glass. Smell is of caramel, cocoa, raisins, vanilla, nougat, cashews, and cool cucumber. Taste is of teh same aromas with smooth caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and cashews resonating. Pretty nice stuff. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, smooth, cocoa-like, airy, and fluffy during the finish. Did I have a different beer than most others that reviewed this? I thought it was well done and it was a bargain.

Great porter - slightly less heavy and rich than most Polish ones I tried but still awesome. Sophisticated flavour with coffee, malt and wine notes; big, thick brown head over almost completely opaque body. Drinks very well as far as porters go, leaving the typical bitterness in finish. Splendid; no wonder it’s Russia’s highest rated beer.

THOUGHTS: Seems a little more stout-like than Baltic porterish in aroma and sort of in flavor. My first non U.S. Baltic porter. It went down easy. If I wasn’t rating it, it would be hard not to gulp it down. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a dark brown that was an almost opaque black in the glass, but had slight red highlights when held to the light and a large tan head that mostly diminished but left excellent lacing. The aroma was moderate burnt, caramel milc chocolate and hot cocoa mix malts, light to moderate hops, light yeast, alcohol and a little bit of dark fruit. The initial flavor was moderately sweet and lightly bitter; while the finish was moderate to heavily sweet, lightly bitter and slightly sour with an average duration. There was chocolate, burnt malt, caramel, hot cocoa powder and then a little prune too as it warmed. The medium body was silky with lightly tingly carbonation and a light alcoholic finish.

Head long lasting; slightly brownish. Faint coffee and caramel aromas. Night-colored appearance; only a reddish glow peaks through when brought in front of a light. Notes of chocolate and dark rum. Subtle interplay on the palate, invoking an excellent balance and finish.

cereal, chocolate, leaves, dough, leather, licorice, smoke, skunky, cough drop, bubblegum, brown, sparkling, brown foam, rocky head, medium sweetness, lightly bitter, lightly sour, slick feel, soft carbonation, long finish,