Smuttynose Baltic Porter

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

Aroma is strong, malty, slightly smoky and chocolaty with a hint of yeast and quite appetizing. It pours an opaque dark chocolate brown, just about sable, with a very thick, if not too persistent, tan head. Flavor is chocolaty and a little sweet with an undertone of roast coffee. Texture is thick, oily and strongly tingly so it practically dances down the pipes. Recommended!

22oz bottle obtained at McKinnon’s in Salem, NH. Pours an opaque black body with a good half inch or so of light tan head. Chocolate, black licorice, with some banana, nut and bubblegum notes comprise the aroma. Black licorice with some banana, nut, and bubblegum notes hit the palate initially, with strong dark chocolate and coffee hitting later toward the finish, bits of vanilla throughout. On the heavier side of medium-bodied with ample carbonation to clear the palate, but not too much. One sip definitely invites another, with the complexity and medium body. Possibly the best example of the style I’ve found thus far, and leaps and bounds better than Smuttynose RIS. Good stuff!

Location: 22 oz bottle from Gilly’s, 8/17/09

Aroma: Coffee, chocolate, roasted malts
Appearance: Dark brown color, 3 fingers of fluffy brown head, lots of lacing
Flavor: Big maltiness, burnt, some faint smokey, with the same flavors apparent in the nose, some licorice, light bitterness, but really just a malt bomb all over
Palate: A bit on the oily side, medium to full body, chewy and creamy
Overall Impression: I believe this is my first Baltic Porter, and I found it to be quite tasty. A nice beer indeed. I’m glad this is my first from the style, because it is pretty tasty, making me want to try more Baltic Porters.

on-tap at Cole’s. Aroma of chocolate, and roast. Black, but reflecting light. Brown soapy head, some alce. Full mouthfeel, carbonation is right there. Fiere chocolate is right in front, the finish is coffee, with some sourness running through mid-sip.

On tap at Proof into a pint glass. Pours dark brown, almost black with a tiny head. Aroma is sweet roasted malts and a good dose of salty soy. The flavor is sweet and a bit sour up front followed by an apparent smokiness that leads to a roasted coffee exhale. Thick and almost syrupy but good carbonation.

Bottle. Black pour with a dense, fluffy brown head. Aroma is dark chocolate, dark oily coffee beans, roasted malt, and licorice. Taste is more licorice, roasted malts, dark, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and light caramel. Body is thick, chewy and slightly oily with a dense, bubbly carbonation. Gets creamy in spots and dry towards the end. The finish is bigger bittersweet chocolate, roasted malts, stronger coffee notes and more licorice. Nice stuff!

Large bottle. One of the finest porters I have tasted. Dark black pour with a big head and lacing. In addition to the up front chocolate and espresso flavors there is also a spicy licorice thing going on underneath.

Dark black poor, very thin tan head. Aroma of coco and chocolate notes, and a sweetness of dark raisins. Definitely dark roasty flavor bitter espresso-like but still sweetness of chocolate.