Smuttynose Baltic Porter

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Sampled from a 22 oz brown bottle this beer poured thick, black and had a large dark brown head that lingered. The aroma was sweet and toasty with notes of cocoa, raisin and plum. The flavor was toasty and roasty malts, dry cocoa, moderate floral hop bitterness and interesting notes of plum, cherry, port wine, wood, coffee and bourbon. The finish was long and dry with cocoa and raisin lingering. Thick and full bodied. The alcohol was fairly well hidden. Excellent.

22 oz. bottle courtesy of j12601. I have been wanting to try this for some time as it is one of my favorite styles. This pours very dark brown in color with a medium tan head. The aroma is deep roasted malts, rich chocolate, black coffee notes, and dark fruits. The flavor is more heavily roasted malt goodness, rich chocolate, dark fruits (raisins), molassess all working together nicely. At times, the alcohol makes itself known but not in a distracting way. There is a hint of acidity that adds a little bite. Medium full bodied with a smooth texture that makes for a nice beer to have with the cooler temps we have tonight. This lived up to my expectations and am happy I have a couple more to enjoy.

THOUGHTS: Very nice. It went down easy for something this bit. One of the better Baltic Porters I’ve had, but then again I can’t think of many bad one either. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured dark brown, that was a nearly opaque black in the glass with an average, tan head that mostly diminished. The aroma was moderate to heavy roasted malt, coffee and chocolate syrupy; along with raisin, prune, cherry, soy sauce and dark chocolate cherry cordials. The initial flavor was sweet, bitter and a little acidic; while the finish was very sweet, rather bitter and acidic with an average to almost short duration. There was chocolate syrupy, dark chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, prune, raisin, cherry and dark chocolate cherry cordials. The full body was oily with fizzy carbonation and a light astringent and light to moderate alcoholic finish.

Black. Small tan head. All malt here- roasty, burnt grains, huge bittersweet dark chocolate, graham cracker. Underlying bitterness. Medium/full to full body, balanced. Solid. From notes.

Split a bomber with aliendan at the Brickskeller in DC on Halloween 2009. Pours black brown with off white head. Aroma is anise, smoke, coffee, chocolate. Flavor is the same with roasted nuts and pine. I can also taste the alcohol in this one. Pretty decent though.

(bottle - 22 oz - 2009 vintage) Dark black pour with a thick tan head. Aroma is very roasty with lots of coffee malts and some dark fruits. Flavor is incredibly chocolaty and roasted at the beginning with a mild, fruity middle. Lots of bitter and roasted malts come through at the end. Thick and chewy and really good.

22oz Bottle, purchased at Wakefield Liquors - Wakefield, RI. Dense, oily chocolate brown pour, with a tall finger of cocoa-powder colored fluffy head. Aroma is heavy on the roast, twangy and full of charred bread crusts and almond powder. Chocolately and expressive. Flavor is intense and rich roast-forward stout. Brown sugar, umami, nutella, toffee, and a brisk bit of hopwork. This is quite good. A really nice, deep complex malt base with a nice clean snap, well integrate alcohols, and decent drinkability for a big beer. Pilsner malt character is quality and adds to the beer. This is a fantastic version of the style.

22oz bottle cellared by drewbeerme. thanks andrew...pours close to black with a light tan head.... aroma of fudge and dark fruits along with a little age and a touch of oxidation...cocoa and milk chocolate, roasted malt with some residual sugar lasting through in the finish. lightly carbonated with a fluffy mouthfeel. would like to try a fresher bottle for comparison but this was generally pretty nice.