Koff Porter

Brewed by Sinebrychoff (Carlsberg)
Style: Baltic Porter
Kerava, Finland

2nd August 2008. Silky porter. Typical porter tang and a distinct undertone of coffee. Also some minerals riding alongside.

33 cl bottle. Pours a dense black with a large, luscious, bubbly deep brown head that lasted through two-thirds of the glass and left substantial lace. This is a porter? Most stouts strive to look this good! Very pleasant aroma of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, raisins and plums. Very flavorful as well, although the fruit that is present in the aroma does not come through in the flavor, which is roasted malt, bittersweet chocolate, and a bit of ash. Full bodied with a somewhat dry finish. An excellent porter.

330 ml bottle. Black body with a nice beige head. Aroma has roasted malt and coffee. Flavor is Mild burnt malt, roasted coffee and a hint of chocolate. Nice, balanced and rather pleasant without being to sharp in any directions.

TAP: thick black pour, minimal head. Mild nose with some roasted malts, taste of dark fruit, coffee, and easy drinking. Awesome stuff.

Bottle. Very dark brown / black beer with a beautiful beige head. Aroma is roasted malts and dark chocolate. Flavor has got the same with a nice bitter end. This is a true Finnish classic and costs under 2e bottle. Better not drink this too cold!

Bottle at K&L. Black with a frothy tan head. The aroma was strongly evocative of dried fruits such as dates and prunes, with a leathery aspect as well. Sweet flavor with low bitterness. Relatively clean in the finish from a malt or hop perspective, but there was a mild metallic note that sat uneasily with me. Full bodied and rich. Decent, but I just wasn’t too into this.

Bottle from Crown #6. Pours Black with brown edge and quick fading brown head. Nose is faint chocolate and dark malt. Taste is....a mess. The chocolate and dark malt is still there, but it’s sour in a not-so-good way. Slight carbonation that doesn’t help either. Just an all around odd taste that distracts from a beer that had a chance till I swallowed. Felt obligated to re-rate from my Draft serving at FFF (bumped it from a 2.6 to a 4.1) Poured pitch black with 1 finger tan head. Smooth and creamy dark malt and chocolate with a persistent black licorice taste that compliments nicely. Very good this time, I think I must have had a bad bottle.

Intensely dark in color with minimal, ’leggy’ head. Aroma is fantastic with bits of smoke, coffee, licorice, and brown sugar. Much less sweet than some other highly-regarded baltic porters. Layers of peat, smoke, and roasted malt veil the slightest nuance of green olive. Mouthfeel is smooth, alcohol is supremely hidden, and my only complaint is that the body is a tad thin for the richness of the flavors and aromas. Without a doubt, this is one of the kings of the style. Hail Finland!