ADVERTISEMENT

Subscriber Exclusive

Brewing Traditions: Baltic Indulgence

Thick, rich, smooth Baltic porter is a comforting treat for the frigid months. If only it were easier to brew...

Josh Weikert Feb 23, 2020 - 13 min read

Brewing Traditions: Baltic Indulgence Primary Image

Everyone into craft beer has an early experience that locks them in as a “beer person.” For me, it wasn’t some hop-bomb IPA, stark German Pilsner, or florid Belgian ale. It was a thick Baltic porter. It was in a bottle with a gold-foil top and fancy label, as if it were designed for a Russian czar. It poured like motor oil and smelled like dark chocolate truffles. It was warming, full, and smooth, and it tasted like the love child of English toffee and Jamaican coffee. And it was so very, very clean and organized on the palate that it made the stout I’d just drunk taste like the flavor equivalent of a Jackson Pollock.

Yup, I was hooked.

Baltic porter is a strong beer with a history as rich as its flavor. Brewing it is a significant (but manageable) challenge, and it is one of the more satisfying styles to have on hand when the cold winds blow and the fireplace is raging. It’s not easy making a beer that’s dark in flavor but not overly “roasty”—one that’s high-strength and full-bodied but not overly sweet, despite fermenting at cooler temperatures. But it’s worth the trouble.

History and Style

Make & Drink Better Beer

Subscribe today to access all of the premium brewing content available (including this article). With thousands of reviews, our subscribers call it "the perfect beer magazine" and "worth every penny." Your subscription is protected by a 100% money back guarantee.

ARTICLES FOR YOU