This beer has the reputation as being one of the better Baltic (or Imperial) Porters on the market, and being a fan of porters in general, I decided this was worthy of review. A brief history is in order here. The porter was originally a London beer, probably made by mixing several versions of beer of varying strength into a single concoction that became a favorite amongst porters and other physical laborers of the 19th century. It also has the distinction of being the first beer produced as a result of the industrial revolution; the first "modern" beer, if you will. The baltic or imperial porter came about as a stronger versions were designed to withstand the sea voyage to the Baltic regions. Here endeth the abbreviated history lesson. Now…on to the drinking.
The Sinebrychoff comes in a lovely bottle, complete with royal seal, a store made label indicating it's 2003 vintage. It pours black, dark and shimmering, with a nice tan head.
The nose is a malty chocolate mixed with a burnt dark fruit aroma. By dark fruit I mean something akin to plums, dates, etc. It is not a light or wispy fruitiness at all.
Mouthfeel is medium, slick with low carbonation, but not flat. Creamy but not chewy.
Taste is a very complex mix of chocolate and coffee, but mixed with a kind of light smokiness and wood, finishing with a bittersweet chocolate taste. The fruitiness may come from the hops, but the taste of hops is not really there.
Overall, a good beer but at 7.2% ABV, not a session beer. I hope to compare this with another Baltic porter soon. Stay tuned.
Labels: beer reviews
I had this a few weeks back at Taco Mac, it was ok..not great. As of late trying a lot of different wheat bears, currently sampling:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/31/
Frank
Posted by
Anonymous |
September 26, 2005 3:57 PM