Les Trois Mousquetaires Grande Cuvée Porter Baltique Baltic Porter at 10.0% ABV
(Re-reviewed after a year’s cellaring)
Pours a deep cola brown with a short-lived tan head and no lacing. Nose is dark fruits, cherry, roast malt, chocolate, very slight smoke. Taste is sweet and only slightly bitter, with caramel, coffee, roasted malt, and maybe just a hint of liquorice. Body is sticky and heavy, but not overly so, and is buoyed somewhat by the persistent carbonation that remains despite the low head.
A year in the cellar has not hurt this at all – just the opposite, in fact. The flavours that I felt were muddled before have now blended beautifully. This is deep, dark and rich, sweet without being too much so, with just the right edge and warming on the finish. I think I’ll keep my last one in the cellar for another couple years, maybe pick up another couple to do a vertical. I was far too harsh on it with my last rating – or, alternatively, it’s improved loads – but either way, I’m re-rating it significantly higher.
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
