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Victory Baltic Thunder

Victory Baltic Thunder - Baltic Porter

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 Percentile 
92
overall
Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter

Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
4793.6/5.03.59/5.08.5%75.7English pint, Shaker, Snifter
View Statistics  P 

Commercial Description:
While Heavyweight Brewing deserves credit for introducing the Baltic porter style to many craft beer fans, this beer from Victory represents an all new recipe fashioned on the experience of Tom's original intense brew. One noteworthy difference is the higher alcohol by volume of Baltic Thunder, 8.5% compared to Heavyweight's, which weighed in at 8%.

An additional distinction is Victory's use of black eyed peas in lieu of Roman beans. Despite these changes, this dark lager still features a reminiscent roasted character that embodies the fullness of toffee, along with subtle fruit flavors derived from its higher temperature fermentation. Long, cold aging tempers this complex beer into a well-rounded delight that warms with its significant alcohol strength. The final packaged product will be released in 25.4 fluid ounce bottles.

"The first brew of Baltic Thunder was magical. Tom and his original co-conspirator on the beer, Lew Bryson, even came here to Victory to assist. Then, while sharing a pint of Baltic Thunder off of the lagering tank a few weeks later with Tom, I swear the spirit of his departed Perkuno was smiling upon our accomplishment," continued Covaleski.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Dickinsonbeer (3434), Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/513/20
Feb 8, 2009  
Bomber. Pours a deep dark coffee, woody brown with a mostly lasting head. Aroma is dried nuts and dark chocoalte, and an earthy leathery dry toasty malt backbone - some herbal hops. sligth fruity ester profile, with a lot more dried cobwebgby and slightly stale dark charred malts and chocolate malts- slight roast and coffee- a bit vegetal and flowery with a drying slightly stale finish.


 BillKismet (1899), Seattle, Washington, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/105/516/20
Feb 7, 2009  
Night black body, with lightly creamed head. This oozes aromas of light roast, raisins, caramel, and candi fruit. The flavor is a wonderful panoply of chocolate roast, deep, vinous raison, caramel, and candi fruit. Exquisitely balancing a raft of flavors and a soothing, intoxicating undercurrent of warm alcohol. The best American Baltic Porter sampled to date by a long shot. Outstanding.


Beertracker (11), Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Feb 3, 2009  
Victory Baltic Thunder pours up with indignation & exuberance. The abundant carbonation creates a mountainous tawny colored head that sits prominently atop the deep russet-dark brown colored body. The rich caramel & roasted malt aroma is mostly dominated by chocolate that’s reminiscent of cocoa nibs & café mocha with some earthy spiciness that hints of Bourbon vanilla, licorice root, Noble hops, and star anise. Very clean with a vinous, port wine quality. The roasted coffee flavor starts off slightly sweet & toasty with nuances of malted milk chocolate & toffee. There’s an underlying herbal bitterness along with some ever present earthiness which imparts complexity and brings balance to this admirable brew. The bittersweet mocha finish is slightly rough and noticeably warming. This medium-full bodied Baltic Porter is a finely crafted example of the style, but lacks some finesse. A bit of cellaring should "hammer" out the rough edges. Here’s to Perkunos, the God of Thunder! CHEERS! Beertracker *Taster’s Note: Special thanks to markgugs for the bottle.


 SuIIy (1406), Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Feb 2, 2009  
22 oz bottle. Pours a blackish brown color with a small off white head. Nose is chocolate and coffee. Palate is full with some stickyness and a slightly dry finish. Flavors of chocolate, coffee, a nice dark malt and some lightly hidden fruit notes.


 msante79 (782), Orland Hills, Illinois, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Feb 1, 2009  
Bomber. Pours clear dark brown and rests very dark brown in glass with light tan head. Aroma is chocalate, caramel, dark fruit and malt. Flavor is sweet and chocolatey with choco, roasted malt, caramel and some dark fruits. Mouthfeel is a little thin but roasted malt and chocolate bring nice balance. Alcohol is well hidden. A nice baltic porter in my opinion.


 MoDog (909), Griffith, Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jan 31, 2009  
Poured from a 22oz bomber (best by 09 29 10) and served in an English pint glass. This beer poured a dark, cola brown. Near black. A thin head of creamy tan foam lingered for most of the glass, leaving behind some slippery lace. The aroma included baker’s chocolate, plums, coffee grounds, and caramelized sugar. The flavor was loaded with, heavy, rich malts. Fine chocolate covered caramel candies are followed by some dark fruits, and a shot of coffee. All this is cleaned up by a touch of alcohol at the finish. The mouthfeel was slick and full-bodied. Very heavy. Light carbonation. Rich and moderately complex. Very tasty!


 HonkeyBra (1270), Lemont, Illinois, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Jan 31, 2009  
Very dark brown pour with some tan head. Aroma is sweet, caramelly, chocolate and fruit. Flavor is chocolatey and roasty, with a prune and grape finish. Its better than it sounds. Some cocoa powder in the finish.


 MrBunn (1521), Western, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Jan 29, 2009  
Bomber. Body is a thick and very dark brown and it has just enough of a bubbly head to cover the surface. Aromas are sort of sweet and fruity. I pick up a bit of chocolate and some dark prune like fruits. Flavor is odd... it starts off like this lovely chocolate and roasted malt thing, but then the finish heads off in a slightly medicinal and astringent direction that is given a little support by some of the fruit that is coming through. It’s still pretty good, but it is interesting how the front side and the back end seem so different. Also has a bit of a vanilla extract type flavor. Still, I’m surprised this doesn’t rate much higher.



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