Beer of the Weekend #560: Saku Porter
Yeah, I know: I still need to try a Russian beer during the Winter Olympics. I’ll work on that for Friday. In the meantime, I was able to procure a bottle of brew from a former Soviet state: Saku Porter, brewed by Saku Õlletehase AS of Saku, Estonia.
Serving type: 500 ml bottle. No freshness date. (A column in the most recent BeerAdvocate magazine bemoaned stale imported beer. Don’t spend money on stale European imports, the author exhorted. I assume most of the European imports we get in the US are far from fresh, but I suppose will try it here at least once with the hope of trying it there at some point.)
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is non-opaque black. Two fingers of dense, ruby-tinted, tan-colored head dissipates slowly and evenly.
Smell: A touch boozy with lots of licorice and dark fruit. Black licorice, molasses, plum, dark cherry, raisin, and raspberry. It is a touch woody and smoky. There are also hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, which is one reason why it would be fitting as a Christmas beer. To be honest, it smells a lot like an Anchor Christmas Ale. Chocolate, candy caramel, and butterscotch emerge gradually as the beer warms. The alcohol fades into the far background, but it hangs around and is noticeable.
Taste: The mouthfeel is full and creamy and the taste is a pleasant surprise (I honestly was not expecting much). It is a very tasty medley. The molasses is much more prominent and is complemented by chocolate, caramel, a little coffee, and black licorice, overshadowing the dark fruits (plum, cherry, raisin, and raspberry). Much as they were in the aroma, cinnamon and nutmeg play a minor role but are noticeable. The booze is also very minor.
Drinkability: This is good stuff. It may not be enough for a gold medal when it comes to Baltic porters, but I think it is a solid silver.
Fun facts about Saku Porter:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “Baltic Porter.”
-Price: $2.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: 6.9 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: This info is offered on the beer’s webpage:
-More interesting info courtesy of the website:
Quite romantic and quaint, eh?
-So, Estonia. A Baltic nation that formally declared independence on August 20, 1991, its capital is Tallinn and it has quite a badass tricolor flag. Why is it so badass? Because the flag’s Wikipedia page features this photo to show a possible inspiration: an Estonian forest in the winter. (Lithuania’s flag is pretty cool, too, I think.) Regardless, Estonia’s current flag is badass just because it is not this.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+/A-.
Serving type: 500 ml bottle. No freshness date. (A column in the most recent BeerAdvocate magazine bemoaned stale imported beer. Don’t spend money on stale European imports, the author exhorted. I assume most of the European imports we get in the US are far from fresh, but I suppose will try it here at least once with the hope of trying it there at some point.)
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is non-opaque black. Two fingers of dense, ruby-tinted, tan-colored head dissipates slowly and evenly.
Smell: A touch boozy with lots of licorice and dark fruit. Black licorice, molasses, plum, dark cherry, raisin, and raspberry. It is a touch woody and smoky. There are also hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, which is one reason why it would be fitting as a Christmas beer. To be honest, it smells a lot like an Anchor Christmas Ale. Chocolate, candy caramel, and butterscotch emerge gradually as the beer warms. The alcohol fades into the far background, but it hangs around and is noticeable.
Taste: The mouthfeel is full and creamy and the taste is a pleasant surprise (I honestly was not expecting much). It is a very tasty medley. The molasses is much more prominent and is complemented by chocolate, caramel, a little coffee, and black licorice, overshadowing the dark fruits (plum, cherry, raisin, and raspberry). Much as they were in the aroma, cinnamon and nutmeg play a minor role but are noticeable. The booze is also very minor.
Drinkability: This is good stuff. It may not be enough for a gold medal when it comes to Baltic porters, but I think it is a solid silver.
Fun facts about Saku Porter:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “Baltic Porter.”
-Price: $2.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: 6.9 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: This info is offered on the beer’s webpage:
Saku Porter has been the traditional crown of Christmas feasts and accompanied roast meat and game. The fact that porter is also perfectly suited for various desserts, especially those containing chocolate, may not be that commonly known.
-More interesting info courtesy of the website:
The best way to enjoy Saku Porter would be in front of a fireplace or by candlelight during those long and dark winter nights. This beer keeps you warm through the coldest time of the year.
Quite romantic and quaint, eh?
-So, Estonia. A Baltic nation that formally declared independence on August 20, 1991, its capital is Tallinn and it has quite a badass tricolor flag. Why is it so badass? Because the flag’s Wikipedia page features this photo to show a possible inspiration: an Estonian forest in the winter. (Lithuania’s flag is pretty cool, too, I think.) Regardless, Estonia’s current flag is badass just because it is not this.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+/A-.
