Alaskan Baltic Porter

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Baltic Porter
Juneau, Alaska USA

On tap at the Tap House Grill in Seattle. Recommended by the waiter. It paired with the makers mark cheese cake. Very, very good stuff.

Pours what appears to be a dark brown..yet when held before the light, it becomes quite transparent and a deep shade of grandma’s ruby. The head, 2 inch thick as it is...a peach-like light brown and very cola-esque in appearance has lacing which is quite abundant. The nose here is predominantly of the nutty persuasion, a bit of tin musties the underlying toffee-esque fumes, a bit of British bitterness stamps an accent in the alcoholic aromas. Flavors are unexpectedly thick, full, and creamy. This thing bursts with thick caramelly toffee, chocolate, vanilla, fudge, butterscotch, nut butter, and just plain sweetness. wow. Amazing dessert-like flavors in this thing. The bitterness in the finish reminds you at the end that yes, this is beer and not liquid dessert.

On tap @ Hard Rock Denver. Deep, Dark pour. Very creamy consistency. Aroma is vanilla, coffee, dark fruits. Some bitterness is there, but it still works for me. At nearly 10%, this beer is extremely drinkable. In fact, I had 4 pints of this and 3 shots of Cabo Wabo Silver, and let me tell you, that’s your e-ticket to bed.

Pours coca-cola brown that is easy to see through upon pouring, but appears almost black once poured into the glass. Head is somewhat modest and recedes to a thin layer. Nose clearly has the cherry and vanilla, with the cherry having an almost throat-lozenge/cough-syrupy character. On the palate this beer is surprisingly lighter bodied than what I expected, and helps with drinkability, but of course again the cherry-vanilla takes main stage. Some cola flavors are present, and there’s a hint of dry oakiness going on as well. I like it, but I can see why some may not because it is rather cough syrupy.

Bottle from Whole Foods. Pours a nice brownish black with a light brown head. Aroma is cherries, dark fruits, vanilla, chocolate nibs, coffee, and wood. Flavor is cherry skins, coffee, roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, oak, dark fruits, spices. Finish has a bitter chocolate cherry woodiness going on. Good Stuff.

Bottle from Whole Foods. Unexpectedly great. Pours a thin coffee color with a beige head. Smells of vanilla, cocoa, sweet cherries, and roast. Tastes of each with added notes of molasses and red grapes. Silky on the palate. Well done.

This mostly smells of the brown sugar surprisingly, dominating the other elements one would imagine to be more aromatic in general. This is very good. Sweet. Tons of flavor. Doesn’t very strong at all. Good cherry flavor with the vanill and wood there as well. Each element is subtle on its own but complex and fantastic together. Great finish. I really loved this one.

Bottle. Poured a dark brown with a thin light tan head. Great aroma, notes of chocolate, vanilla, oak, and grape juice or candy. Medium body with a smooth mouth feel and soft carbonation. Flavor is interesting, I definitely taste chocolate, roast, and oak but there is also a strange sweet fruity note that I can’t place almost like grape bubblegum. Finishes smooth and slightly sweet.