Even though there was a rating for this beer posted on Ratebeer.com in April of 2008, Alaskan’s Baltic Porter has been available in bottles only since about last November. I noticed them at the Boise Co-Op this evening and never having seen it before and At nearly 6$ it is a bit spendy for a 22oz but not when compared to other upper tier, “big” beers, like Stone’s Russian Imperial Stout, for instance. In my opinion, all of Alakan’s offerings are good, if not remarkable and this one does not disappoint.
It pours a dark but clear deep brown with a modest tan head Lots of brown sugar and lots of dark pitted fruit notes are evident. Prunes, raisins and plenty of vanilla. There is a nice woody, slightly charred smell as well. the flavor is a modest roasted maltiness that has a distinct toasted oak flavor. I am a home brewer and the toasted oak cubes I have from an online HB supplier taste and smell exactly like this. Ina way, I am smewhat disappointed that I recognized a component from my own repetiore, in a commercial brew. I guess I either I expect something more complex from a professional, or maybe I am not giving myself enough credit.
The body on this beer is nice, not the full heaviness of an Imperial stout, but some of the same roasted, very dark, slightly sweet maltiness shared of its Impy brethren. I can’t pick out the cherries so much that are said to have been used in this, but the vanilla and oak are pretty strong.
A good beer, and I must say that I continue to be encouraged at what seems to be an increased effort at the Co-Op to expand their selection of good regional brews.
Recommended
