Brew: Baltika #6 Porter
Brewed by: Pivzavod Baltika / Baltic Beverages Holding | St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Style: Russian/Baltic Porter
Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker/nonic/becker/tumbler.
Personal Notes: What an amazing Russian brew!! This bad boy pours up a deep dark brown (almost black) body sporting a huge four-finger tan frothy head. Head retention was a good as it stayed with the brew as it reduced down to about a one-finger head. The smell was just as amazing with wisps of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and something akin to roasted hazelnuts. The flavors just add to the symphony of delight; dark chocolate, cocoa powder (like taking cocoa powder and adding just a tad bit of water to make a paste and eating it!), caramel, warm bread, plums, raisins, a twinge of hops, cloves, and more! This brew is full bodied (but not too thick) and no real detection of alcohol. Definitely not a session brew as this one is made to be savored very slowly as I found the tastes and smells just amassed as the brew slowly warmed up. Something that could easily be enjoyed all year long, I can see this one being especially comforting on those wintry days spent by the fireside. Excellent when paired up with hearty steaks or wild game dinners; and enjoyed just as easily all by itself.
