Baltic Porter - Utopias Barrel Aged
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
9%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 9.57%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
9
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 31, 2015
Added:
Dec 14, 2010
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
Aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels that previously held Utopias.
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 4.35 by ElGallo from New Hampshire

Oct 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by magnusdave from New York

May 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

May 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BKBassist from New York

May 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by spycow from Illinois

May 03, 2013
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Review #800!!! Had as a supplement during a recent Goose Island Bourbon County Tasting in Charlotte with marine1975, boodingo, CarolinaKevin, HopDiggityDawg, and GehenHerzog at Mike Brawley's house with Budweiser sign blazing! Massive thanks goes out to Brawley for bringing this tape labeled bottle out for all of us! Served from bottle into a Duck Rabbit snifter. Poured pitch black with a half finger light brown head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, caramel, dark chocolate, and wood. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark chocolate, wood, caramel, subtle dark fruit, and sweet alcohol. It had a heavy feel on the palate (almost syrupy) with mild carbonation. Overall this was an excellent brew. It was a really nice way to end the night of having all kinds of great beers with a bunch of great BAs. The aroma on this one was quite nice and inviting. However you would have never guessed that it had been barrel aged by the aroma alone. Once you take your first sip you know what this beer has been through with a sweet alcohol flavor combined with the wood character of the barrels shining through. This is a really well done brew... For the second Smuttynose -bal aged rarity that I have had, this one seems to be on-point as well. Really hope I get the chance to try more -bal aged offerings from Smuttynose in the future as I have thoroughly enjoyed all the ones I've had so far!
May 09, 2011
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Reviewed by baconsausage from Vermont

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Three Penny Taproom!!! Thanks guys!!! Tulip Glass!!!!

I am a huge fan of Smutty Baltic Porter. This is not that beer. This is a glass of brown sugar bourbon goodness!! Smell is alittle roasty, boozy dark sugar. Tastes like a big bourbon, smooth, not to much burn. Some roasy, caramel notes, a little chocolate. Good carbonation and mouth feel for the style. Really don't think I can compareit to the regular baltic porter from Smutty, just so different.
Feb 02, 2011
Photo of deltatauhobbit
Reviewed by deltatauhobbit from Maine

3.02/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Had over at Novare Res during their Christmas beer geek week, from my limited notes.

12oz pour.

Pours a very dark brown, almost black color, good sized tan/brown head, fades at a moderate rate with very little bits of lacing that eventually disappear.

Smell has an odd soy sauce present, missing the dark fruit aroma and roasted malt that is usually a part of it.

Taste doesn't have as huge of a soy sauce presence as the nose might have suggested (fortunately), good carbonation, the roasted malt still isn't as big as it should be, bit more hot than usual which is easily contributed from the barrel aging, can't really pick up the wood though.

I can't help but be disappointed by this version. The regular Smuttynose Baltic Porter is probably one of my favorite all time beers, especially for the style, but the barreling aging in this case ruined it.
Jan 05, 2011
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Reviewed by TK5150 from Maine

3.92/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On draft at Novare Res.

A- Pours black with a large brown sudsy head from the tap. Great lacing.

S- The aroma is different than I would have expected. I get chlorine (like you're at the community pool), brown sugar, hints of roasted malts, doughy yeastiness, and booze. Not particularly great, considering how fantastic the standard Baltic Porter smells/tastes.

T- The taste is much better. Roasted malts, boat-loads of fruit (strawberries and other small dark fruit and berries particularly stand out), oak, yeastiness, and a slight boozy burn at the finish and down the esophagus. A different taste to this one that I give bonus points to for its relative uniqueness.

M- Full bodied and smooth.

D- One glass was fine, but that's all you should expect for a big beer that has been aged in Utopias barrels.

Overall, a nice novelty to try. I personally prefer the standard version to this, but needless to say, this is an interesting twist on the best Baltic Porter available. I applaud Smutty for doing new and interesting things with their beers.
Dec 14, 2010
Baltic Porter - Utopias Barrel Aged from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 3.97 out of 5 with 9 ratings