Õllekunsti OÜ (Põhjala Brewery) Põhjala Öö Baltic Porter at 10.5% ABV | 60 IBU (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #15, 330 ml, best before 13-Jun-2018, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 15-Dec-2016)
Appearance: solid black with one finger of rocky beige head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malt, dark chocolate, jammy red berries, coffee, liquorice. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, low carbonation, sweet warming finish. (4/5)
Oh, hells yes, the Advent calendar is really moving in the right direction now! Day #15 is a Baltic Porter actually brewed on the shores of the Baltic, and it is fine. Its colour is what you’d expect for a beer named “Öö” (“night”) but it tastes sweet and pleasantly boozy. (Böözy?) I’m reminded of the Turkish description of how coffee should be: “black as hell, strong as death, sweet as love”. It’s not perfect – I’d like to see better retention and lacing, the flavours aren’t completely integrated (though I suspect this would age beautifully), it finishes a bit sticky and mouth coating, and the alcohol carries a distinct sharp edge – but these are relatively minor considerations. Really gööd! (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
