Aldaris Porteris

Brewed by Aldaris (Baltic Beverages Holding - Carlsberg)
Style: Baltic Porter
Riga, Latvia

A red-brown beer with a chocolate brown disappearing head. The aroma is slightly roasty with notes of caramel. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of caramel and candy sugar, leading up to a dry end. In my book this isn’t a porter, but closer to a Vienna, though it is still an OK beer.

Near black color with a medium head. Good coffee and barley aroma. Very thick mouthfeel. Tastes like slightly burnt coffee with a bit of chocolate. Smooth and tasty... a good way to hit 700.

Poured dark brown with reddish hues. Nice lace along the glass. The aroma wasn’t really that interesting. A bit yeasty and unclean smelling. The mouthfeel is suprisingly creamy. Exotic coffee, carmel and mild chocolate. My first baltic and it won’t be the last.

This is a good Baltic Porter. Sweet, malty, roasty, and plum flavors. Finishes rich clean, and smooth.

Very dark, almost black with a creamy brownish head. A friend remarked that it looked like Guinness. However, without the aid of nitrogen, the head here diminishes, leaving a web of lace. Nose is mild and malty with the most predominant aroma being raisin. Very smooth though the sweetness does approach cloying. Just a slight bite of carbonation and a bit of acidity and bitterness are there to balance this. Of the Baltic porters I have tried, this is easily one of my favorites. One reason for this is quite simply the lack of the off-flavors I’ve noticed in many beers brewed in this part of the world. Hardly a symphony of complexity buy a solid beer nonetheless.

Black as death with head that’s more big-bubbly than an American porter. Alcohol-heavy aroma of cooked sugar. Eloquently smooth, pretty stark roasted caramels in the flavor, rich and frothy.

500 ml bottle. Deep brown, nearly black, smallish creamy lasting head. Sweet creme brulee nose, with a bit of roasted malt, licorice, and raisins. Exceptionally creamy initial mouthfeel, with some roastiness breaking it up a bit near the end; very sweet with a light smokiness and port character throughout. Not a top-notch Baltic, quite sweet and simple, but a solid example of a wonderful style nonetheless.

I’m admit I’m biased to Porters, and this one is one of the better ones I’ve had. Pours dark, deep brown. The glass lets just enough light through to give it an almost ’glowing’ effect when held up to a light bulb. Head is burnt brown in colour and it laces nicely as you progess through the brew. Noise is filled w/ fruit, hops, and roast. Attack and finish are bit on the sweet side, a little work here by Aldaris would move this Porter up to the next level. Very, very drinkable.