Uncommon Brewers Baltic Porter
I was cruising through one of my favorite beer shops on the way home from work the other day and happened across a couple of cans from California’s Uncommon Brewers. The first was the brewery’s Siamese Twin Belgian Dubbel (review coming later) and this 7.8% ABV Baltic Porter.
This isn’t your typical Baltic porter. The company amped up the subtle licorice character that accompanies the style by brewing the beer with a “blend of whole licorice root and star anise.” The end result is a beer that has a unique character and a not-quite-so-common flavor profile.
Appearance
Baltic Porter pours a dark, dark brown with a light brown head.
Aroma
The licorice and anise certainly come through in the nose — almost a little too much for my liking. Hints of molasses, cocoa, grain, roast malt, coffee and earthy hops also play a role.
Taste
I’m not a huge fan of brews that have a huge amount of licorice within their depths and, thankfully, that specific characteristic to this beer is much more subtle than the nose let on. Oh, it’s still a defining component to the beer, but not at the levels I was expecting. The dark roast malt and coffee come through nicely as the beer transitions to a dry finish that’s slightly warming and carries a subtle hop presence. The beer has a wonderfully earthy character. It’s a bit thinner than some of my favorite Baltic porters.
Overall
Uncommon Brewers have themselves a unique take on one of my favorite beer styles. It won’t be moving to the top of that “best of list” just yet, but if I’m in the mood for something a little different, but still want a Baltic, this would be the go to beer. It’s got an interesting flavor profile and a great roasty character. Well done.
Rating:4/5
