Three Floyds Red Tendon Baltic Porter

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Baltic Porter
Munster, Indiana USA

Had on tap at the brewpub on 9/29/06: Pours a transparent dark mahogany with a dense, creamy nitro head. Sweet, toasty, malty, but otherwise subtle aroma. Body starts with a sweet, viscous dark maltiness with some earthy milk chocolate and a smooth creamy finish. An enjoyable, fairly complex, Baltic porter.

I’m not sure why this is listed as a Baltic Porter... or as a "Special," for that matter, since it’s been on & off tap for some time now. Not bad looking, especially since nitro’ed, a deep ruby body with a creamy tan head. Good lacing. But the nose and flavor are both cloyingly sweet chocolate covered dark caramel. What does that have to do with the style? Or enjoyment?

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Floyds Brewing Company and Brewpub, Munster, IN<font size=-1>

On tap (nitro): Pours a deep brown hue with ruby highlights topped by an initial creamy tan head which faded and only had okay lace. The nose is quite intense for a nitro pour with heavy vapors of plum, prune, fig, walnut, anise, sassafras, non-aromatic pipe tobacco, light chocolate and coffees, and very earthy yeast esters. The flavor profile is equally intense with a twangy rich fruit character and liquorice before developing a nice burnt and bittersweet chocolate note. Quite rustic yeast notes also grabs for some attention before a quick subdued dash of resin hops and acidic bite at the finish, quite yummy indeed! The mouth feel is heavy but not sticky nor syrupy, smooth and comforting. Unless most of FFF offerings, this is not a hopped up version of the stout and porter styles for one I am thankful, very traditional. This really needs to be bottled!

Tap. Dark chocolate malt aroma with raspberry notes. Dark reddish brown color with small smooth head. A perfectly roasted coffee flavor initial with a nice smooth chocolate flavor lasting long after swallowing. No harshness at all with this. A spectacular beer - cannot rave enough about this one.

rating from memory, on nitro at the FFF brewpup. pours black with creamy tan head. not much in the nose, some grassy hops, light roastiness, subtle caramel. flavors of chocolate, coffee, licorice, molasses, and is pretty sweet. the flavor is rich, smooth, but sorta boring. perhaps the nitro is killing what this beer could be.

Tap @ GTMW 2006. Deep, fading crystal copper unto blackness, with the milkiest head I’ve ever seen. Sweet bitter chocolate and cola command the nose, parlaying with black patent and steel curtains. Full-bodied and big flavored, with a thick milk chocolate fudge dependency. Sticky, chewy substance reveals espresso beans and caramel, all before fading into delectable cinder. Heavy stuff, with flame-licked, unsweetened chocolate bricks. Bitterness accumulates in the final throat breach. Chewy, full-bodied and modestly minimal lactic accentuations impart a coffee bean dryness and harsh French roast grinds for memorable, desirable bittering. So heavy and so good, with the twining black currant shuffling with bakers chocolate in the end. This is one tasty beer.

Inky black and viscous with a very rich cappachino-like head. The initial nose is chocolatey with tinges of espresso. Flavors are chocolate milk, coffee beans, brown sugar, and maybe a touch of licorice. Big time bittering lurks darkly in the background of every sip. Another outstanding product by these fine brewers.

GTMW. Dark brown body with creamy tan head. The aroma is roast, burnt and chocolate. The flavor is semi-sweet chocolate, coffee, roast and figs. Medium/full body with a soft ans smooth texture.