Beer of the Weekend #532: Blitzen Baltic Porter
It has been a long time since I tried one of Millstream’s new Brewmaster’s Extreme Series beers, so today I bought a pack of Blitzen Baltic Porter, brewed by the Millstream Brewing Company of Amana, Iowa.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The brewing month notch on the side of the label is located at “O” for October.
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is opaque black; no light passes through when I hold it to a lamp. After half a glass, though, light does pass through the outside. A finger of dark tan head leaves an even skim and thick ring around the edge.
Smell: Dark and rich. Roasted malts, dark chocolate (it actually smells like roasted dark chocolate, if there is such a thing), molasses, a little barley reminiscent of oatmeal stout, creamy peanut butter, hints of black licorice, wafts of dark fruit (mostly cherry and raspberry), and just a gentle tease of alcohol.
Taste: Smooth and somewhat velvety. It is heavy, but not as heavy as I was expecting. The flavor is a harmonious balance. Roasted malts, dark chocolate, molasses, a little peanut butter, black licorice, hints of dark fruit, and alcohol. Nothing dominates, but the roasted bitterness and alcohol are more prominent than the other flavors. As the beer warms, there are hints of cough syrup, though it is nothing offensive.
Drinkability: Though it is somewhat similar to the Imperial Pumpkin Stout, it is very good stuff.
Fun facts about BBP:
-Style: Baltic porter.
-Price: $8.99/four-pack.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-IBU: 40.
-BBP is the Extreme Series beer for November and December.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The brewing month notch on the side of the label is located at “O” for October.
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is opaque black; no light passes through when I hold it to a lamp. After half a glass, though, light does pass through the outside. A finger of dark tan head leaves an even skim and thick ring around the edge.
Smell: Dark and rich. Roasted malts, dark chocolate (it actually smells like roasted dark chocolate, if there is such a thing), molasses, a little barley reminiscent of oatmeal stout, creamy peanut butter, hints of black licorice, wafts of dark fruit (mostly cherry and raspberry), and just a gentle tease of alcohol.
Taste: Smooth and somewhat velvety. It is heavy, but not as heavy as I was expecting. The flavor is a harmonious balance. Roasted malts, dark chocolate, molasses, a little peanut butter, black licorice, hints of dark fruit, and alcohol. Nothing dominates, but the roasted bitterness and alcohol are more prominent than the other flavors. As the beer warms, there are hints of cough syrup, though it is nothing offensive.
Drinkability: Though it is somewhat similar to the Imperial Pumpkin Stout, it is very good stuff.
Fun facts about BBP:
-Style: Baltic porter.
-Price: $8.99/four-pack.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-IBU: 40.
-BBP is the Extreme Series beer for November and December.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
