Zywiec Porter

Brewed by Bracki Browar Zamkowy (Zywiec Group/Heineken)
Style: Baltic Porter
Cieszyn, Poland

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

500ml bottle from Bevmo. Pours a dark brown with an ample khaki head. The Aroma was strong with red fruits--mostly cherries but also some raspberries--other aromas noted were molasses and caramel. The flavor was a bit harsh with notes of coffee, granny smith apples, and biter chocolate. The mouthfeel was a bit thin and grainy up front but filled out to a nice creamy effect by finish. The Finish was a bit uneven with caramel and biter molasses carrying the close. Overall: I probably should not have rated this beer the day after I rated Olfabrikken Porter, it compares somewhat unfavorably. However I think otherwise its a fine porter. Recommended.

UPDATED: AUG 6, 2008 #900 in the gold-rimmed Rochefort snifter, and it’s more than worthy. Tar-like pitch collared with toffee. Nose of juicy charred malt, apple peel, Marmite, bonfire. Pungently roasty with hints of bitter chocolate and vanilla, and plenty of earthy hops lurking in the background. Nothing fancy, just a creamy, lip-smackingly smoky stout.

(Bottle) Pours a black body with mahogany edges and tall beige head. Aroma of maple, toastiness, raisins, soy sauce, and caramel. Flavor of roasted malt, chocolate, and soy sauce. Alcohol is nicely hidden.

Bottle - 500ml. Opaque black body with low carbonation and a thich brown foamy head. Nice malty aroma with roasty, chocolate and hoppy hints. Wonderful, well balanced and complex malty/hoppy taste. It carries chocolate, coffeeish, brown sugar and some subtle vanilla notes. Alcohol is well hidden. It ends with a long, sweet, warming finish. Excellent example of the style.

[Odense-tasting at Scheffel.] Bottle from Anna, 2004-VINTAGE, 3 years old.
As mentioned at the previous rating Poland brews some good porters and thisone is the best according to this homepage. Much more better than a similar bottle sampled two years ago. Underyeast can be quite alcoholic, but it’s all gone. Smooth and wellbalanced with notes of licorice, coffeechocs, roast and warmneth.

Black black cherry in color, almost entirely opaque with a thick tan head. Smells like plums, raisins and coffee. Light to medium on the palate. The heavy alcohol definitely gives a sweet impression but the porter is dry throughout. The flavor is predominantly coffee with some plum and root beer. The alcohol is a bit unharmonious with the rest of the beer. If it were lower in alcohol it might be really nice.

Pours dark brown with a tan head. Smells of chocolate, alcohol, more chocolate, toffee and lots of sweet qualities that are difficult to pin down. Tastes of chocolate with lots of licorice and some dark fruit (figs, some dates, rasiins mostly). As the beer warms, touches of tea creep in. Finishes of molasses.

50 cl bottle from BevMo (Mission Valley, S.D.) - Pours a dark brown color with a small light tan head. Thin lacing. Aroma and flavor is roasted malt, light choclate, and faint esters. Smooth palate. Medium body. A good beer.