Brasserie McAuslan St. Ambroise Porter Baltique Baltic Porter at 8.2% ABV | 38 IBU (C$2.97 at NLC Topsail Road, 341 ml, packaged on 26-Jan-2017, best before 26-Apr-2018, acquired 5-Oct-2017, reviewed 10-Oct-2017)
Appearance: nearly black with minimal relief around the margins, one finger of fine beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, cocoa, liquorice, red berries, dark fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium-full body tending just slightly thin, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry mildly warming finish. (4/5)
Not bad in absolute terms, but definitely a good example of the style at a bargain-basement price: I think every example of the style I’ve rated more highly has cost at least twice as much, and possibly three times as much. (Heck, I think the ones I’ve rated less highly have cost twice as much!) Yeah, it tends slightly thin in the body, and yeah, I’d like to see better head retention and lacing, but those are relatively minor faults. Ultimately it succeeds in balancing style-appropriate high(er) sweetness with pleasant depth of character and approachable bitterness. Don’t overanalyze this one, just get it if you see it. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
