Smuttynose Baltic Porter

22oz from MrBendo - thanks, Todd!. Decided to crack this upon hearing confirmation that Smuttynose was returning to NC. Beautiful milky black pour with a nice two-finger beige head. The aroma is quite rich, with notes of anise and molasses surprising me a bit among the malts. Nice and crisp mouthfeel, oddly enough, even as it maintains the milky attributes of the style. Big malt presence seems to expand during the tasting, allowing the more smoky elements to breathe with the molasses I keep getting. Complex but drinkable, yet another fine one from Smutty.

2008 22oz bomber. Pours a nice frothy head with decent lacing. Much darker than I was initially thinking. Deep aromas and flavours of raisins, bittersweet chocolate, candied fruit. A bit of coffee and a vinous character. A little bit of brewers licorice on the back end. Good balance between the hop profile and malt backbone. Good viscosity which gave a nice sensation for the mouthfeel. Very nice representation of a baltic porter and another solid offering by Smuttynose.

Not bad, but also not necessarily "big," although I guess there’s no arguing with 8.7%. Pours black, but a bit thin. Head is medium sized, with medium staying power. Aroma is a bit mercaptan-like, with some cotton candy, sweet vineous, and some grainy aroma. Flavor is dry and roasty with some sweetness. Flavor is predominantly dry and roasty, with some chocolate notes. Flavor really lingers in your mouth; the dryness is very persistent. Mouthfeel is a weird - a bit thin and sticky at the same time, which seems contradictory but is true. Still, not bad, I’d recommend it. I found this pretty enjoyable. I bought this bottle at Discount Liquor in Milwaukee.

Bottle: Near black pour with a large, fluffy tan head. Clumpy lacing. Sweet aroma of dark fruits, mocha, roastiness, and a heavy coffee presence. Flavor is heavy with coffee up front, but it almost seems like there is a creamer in the tail? Plenty of roast and a little bittersweet dark chocolate. Smooth and creamy mouthful. Enjoyable. Thanks to The Epeeist for this trade item.

66cl bottle. Thanks a lot Chris. Pours pitch black with a small creamy brown head. Lots of roasted malts, chocolate & coffee, & dark fruits. A bit ashy - only pleasant. Smooth! Round & vinous. Very nice!

Bottle @ TFODRBSG, Ulfborg, 2008.
[thank you, MissDolle]
’ Pours deep black with a small, creamy, beige, film head. Aroma has soft chocolate, lightly vinious with notes of vanilla and cocoa. Okay mouthfeel, but gets a bit too fat and oily for its own good. Very vinious flavour, almost burning. Hard roasted with weak chocolate notes. Again, I get a very underwhelming Smuttynose.

650 ml, early 2008 vintage. Opaque with a quarter inch of sticky, lasting head. Nose is molasses, chocolate, raisin and coffee. Flavor is chocolate, caramel, espresso, raisins, split and dried hickory. Some hickory, oak, whiskey, vanilla and anise in the aftertaste. Medium-heavy body is balanced well between the syrupy and the dry, but a little too bubbly. Excellent beer.

Poured almost a black color with a tan head. Aroma was very boozy, and kind of dry, but with some hints of sweet chocolate. Flavor was much the same, very roasted like most baltic porter, not too sweet, and a bit too boozy for only being 8.7%.