Smuttynose Baltic Porter

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

THOUGHTS: Very nice. It went down easy for something this bit. One of the better Baltic Porters I’ve had, but then again I can’t think of many bad one either. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured dark brown, that was a nearly opaque black in the glass with an average, tan head that mostly diminished. The aroma was moderate to heavy roasted malt, coffee and chocolate syrupy; along with raisin, prune, cherry, soy sauce and dark chocolate cherry cordials. The initial flavor was sweet, bitter and a little acidic; while the finish was very sweet, rather bitter and acidic with an average to almost short duration. There was chocolate syrupy, dark chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, prune, raisin, cherry and dark chocolate cherry cordials. The full body was oily with fizzy carbonation and a light astringent and light to moderate alcoholic finish.

Black. Small tan head. All malt here- roasty, burnt grains, huge bittersweet dark chocolate, graham cracker. Underlying bitterness. Medium/full to full body, balanced. Solid. From notes.

Split a bomber with aliendan at the Brickskeller in DC on Halloween 2009. Pours black brown with off white head. Aroma is anise, smoke, coffee, chocolate. Flavor is the same with roasted nuts and pine. I can also taste the alcohol in this one. Pretty decent though.

(bottle - 22 oz - 2009 vintage) Dark black pour with a thick tan head. Aroma is very roasty with lots of coffee malts and some dark fruits. Flavor is incredibly chocolaty and roasted at the beginning with a mild, fruity middle. Lots of bitter and roasted malts come through at the end. Thick and chewy and really good.

22oz Bottle, purchased at Wakefield Liquors - Wakefield, RI. Dense, oily chocolate brown pour, with a tall finger of cocoa-powder colored fluffy head. Aroma is heavy on the roast, twangy and full of charred bread crusts and almond powder. Chocolately and expressive. Flavor is intense and rich roast-forward stout. Brown sugar, umami, nutella, toffee, and a brisk bit of hopwork. This is quite good. A really nice, deep complex malt base with a nice clean snap, well integrate alcohols, and decent drinkability for a big beer. Pilsner malt character is quality and adds to the beer. This is a fantastic version of the style.

22oz bottle cellared by drewbeerme. thanks andrew...pours close to black with a light tan head.... aroma of fudge and dark fruits along with a little age and a touch of oxidation...cocoa and milk chocolate, roasted malt with some residual sugar lasting through in the finish. lightly carbonated with a fluffy mouthfeel. would like to try a fresher bottle for comparison but this was generally pretty nice.

On tap at Pizzeria Paradiso. Ho Lee Sheet. This beer is stupid good. Pours a super dark ruby with a thin tan head that lasts for about and hour and a half. Leaves some pretty good lacing. Aroma is black cherries, espresso, molasses, plums, chocolate covered raspberries, dates, a bit of barbecue pork. Taste is big gourmet dark chocolate ganache, molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, Cuban espresso, vanilla extract. This is a crazy awesome beer. What a treat!

22 ounce bottle from Grape & Gourmet in Virginia Beach, VA. Pours a very dark brown color with a moderate brown head. Decent head retention and lacing. Aroma of caramel, coffee, fruit notes including apple, date and raisin. The taste is lightly roasted malts, coffee, caramel, bitter hops notes and faint notes of brown sugar and raisin. Full bodied.