Okocim Porter

Brewed by Carlsberg Polska
Style: Baltic Porter
Warszawa, Poland

I found this in the very impressive Purvis Cellars in Melbourne. My interest has been piqued since the experience with the other Polish porter with the spelling that bears no relationship to its pronunciation. This is similar in that the way you say it is not the way it appears. But neither is it the way one hopes. The presentation is dense and rich with a deep malty and blackstrap flavour, even a bit like the other peculier(ly) spelled name of the English ale. But harshness, fusels and brackishness assailed the olfactory and tastebuds. While a reasonable chocolate hint was present I am not impressed with the affrontery much like a Polish whore plying her trade in a Gdansk harboourfront bar (I think, given that I have never been to Poland let alone on one of its working harbours). OK, worth a zloty or two but not the golden glory I hoped for.

Pours with a dark brown body with red highlights, topped by a medium thick head with a good amount of lacing. It’s sweet and malty with a slight roastiness and a very slight caramel note, as well as, a hint of hops. Full bodied, smooth and warming.

Jet black with a small tan head which persisted. Chocolatey herbal aroma. Stong chocolate and coffee flavour, with a long coffee aftertaste. Really loved this.

Thanks go out to Secret Santa for this brew. Dark brown color with ruby edging when held to the light. Aroma is very faint, mostly of charred grain and burnt sugar sweetness. Flavor is also subdued with black patent being at the front followed with more burnt sugar and grain. Not much complexity here but nothing to complain about either, very simple porter.

500mL bottle @ 8.3% ABV. Dark brown to black in color with nice lasting dark tan head. Sweet smell for a Porter style. Aroma is more molasses than black patent and burnt malts. There seems to be a hint of alcohol too. Very nice taste. Molasses and vanilla dominate the flavor over the burnt and chocolate malts. For my taste this is a good Porter. I enjoyed it.

This is rich full bodied porter. Nice tan frothy head. With a medium chocolate aroma.

0.5 L bottle for $1.49. Pours to an ultra dark ruby body that looks black when not held to the light. The beer has a small bubble foamy light tan head. The aroma is licorice and anise, dry roasty molasses and coffee. Aroma is a bit too light and semi-hard to detect. The flavor has that dry-fruity-coffee quality with some nougat. The palate is lightly tart and dry. Pretty decent Polish brew.

Pours black with a hint of red/amber on the edges of the glass in the light. Big chocolate aromas and flavor with subtle hints of licorice. Finishes on the sweet side with a kick of alcohol.