Imperial (Baltic) Porter
Portsmouth Brewery

Imperial (Baltic) PorterImperial (Baltic) Porter
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Portsmouth Brewery
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
9%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 10.41%
Reviews:
37
Ratings:
50
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 23, 2014
Added:
Mar 17, 2006
Wants:
  37
Gots:
  0
Bigger, darker and more "Imperial" than our Robust Porter, brewed with a Baltic flair.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by puboflyons:
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a 12 ounce glass on March 1, 2010. It pours dark brown to black with a thin tan head and some ruby hues. The aroma is a mixture of dark malts, cereal, grains, and milder hops. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy or kind of slick. I would settle at a little higher than medium. The taste is for the most part subtle with both hops and malts but it ends more bold. Soft to heavy. I liked its transition. Not bad at all.
Mar 03, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by afsdan from Colorado

Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ajcormier from New Hampshire

Oct 31, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Dec 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by wildcat29 from Washington

May 23, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by druptight from Massachusetts

Apr 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by phingdong from New Hampshire

Feb 01, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Miamilice from Virginia

Jan 18, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by andylipp from Massachusetts

Jan 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by kevgod from Massachusetts

Jan 07, 2012
Photo of CooperEllis
Reviewed by CooperEllis from New York

4.32/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bomber split two ways, into Portsmouth snifters.

Dark malt, dark fruit, rich sweetness.

The color is dark with very deep brown with auburn notes at the edges. ideal.

I agree with another review that the warmth brought extra flavor forward and had similar experience with dark fruit and raspberries. I do not think this is a 'dessert' beer but I certainly understand the sentiment. There is a distinct fruit aftertaste that is undercut slightly by bitter chocolate notes.

As this warms I do think the mouth feel dips a touch; it loses some of the fullness. If I was reviewing this only after it sat for 10 or more minutes I would likely rate the mouthfeel a 4-4.5, however fresh out of the bottle it is full, sweet, silky and still crisp at the finish.

Wasn't expecting much, though this is one of my favorite styles. Genuiely surprised. I've had most of the PB offerings and this is easily my 2nd favorite of their beers.

(149th)
Dec 31, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by BierBliss from New Hampshire

Dec 29, 2011
 
Rated: 2 by jophish17 from Georgia

Dec 11, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 26, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
this was an utterly fantastic beer. one of the best of the style i have had in a very long time and one of my favorite styles for sure. simply amazing.

The pour was brilliant, rich dark brown in color with the only thing separating it from Jet Black being a nice reddish hue around the sides and bottom. Huge head of tan comes up quickly and lifts to a height of around two inches, never totally settling down, but instead sitting on top with a huge amount of lacing coming down the sides. Aroma is so much different then I was expecting. Rich notes of cherries and dark malts coming through immediately. Hints of a light hoppiness and just mounds and mounds of chocolate at first. Warming though really brought out a large amount of fruit and raspberries and dark cherry seems to dominate here. Each sip was like a decadent dessert trapped in a bottle. Rich, velvet like carbonation, and warm soothing flavors, this one was making me melt in the chair. Smooth chocolate notes wrapped in a dark fruit blanket that descended and left behind a nice, warm, hop dryness that begged me to come back for another sip.
May 21, 2011
Photo of angrybabboon
Reviewed by angrybabboon from Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Got a growler of this to go at Kate Day 2010

Review adapted from notes taken 3/6/2010

Appearance: Black with a light brown/tan head - it could definitely pass as a stout - nothing really memorable about the head or lacing

Smell: Roasted and burnt malts - some less burnt malts, too - biscuits - chocolate, coffee, vanilla, dark fruits

Taste: Two words: epic malts - a really interesting range of malt flavors - burnt, roasted flavors, and sweet, mellow flavors - hints of biscuits and warm, soft-baked pretzels - bread, chocolate, coffee, and vanilla - there is some sweetness, too, that works really well - some hints of hops, but not much - some dark fruit flavors thrown in the mix - very complex

Mouthfeel: Somewhat heavy, very chewy, very smooth, some alcohol heat

Overall: Definitely not a session beer, but not exactly a sipper - somewhere in the middle, and it works

I honestly think this is the second-best thing I have ever had from the Portsmouth Brewery. Considering my #1 pick is Kate the Great, I think this says a lot. I plan on getting more of this whenever possible.
Mar 01, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes. On tap before KTG 2010.

Pours a moderate brown with a light head. The nose is some light chocolate and coffee in addition to roasted malt. The taste is slight chocolate and roasted malt. Mild coffee character. Really doesn't push anything too far and is a bit bland. Moderate body with a bit of alcohol. Drinks decently, but isn't all that great.
Nov 03, 2010
Photo of regspeir
Reviewed by regspeir from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle into a tumbler.
Pours a dark brown with a smallish light tan head. Lacing is modest. The nose is roasted malt, some coffee, molasses and toffee. Taste is roasted malts, vanilla, some bitter chocolate and coffee. Mouthfeel is creamy, full-bodied and not a lot of carbonation. This is a sipper, although you don't notice the 9% - a pleasingly complex example of the style.
Jul 11, 2010
Photo of ckeegan04
Reviewed by ckeegan04 from Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
A - Deep nut brown with the faintest hints of light shining through. Thick, foamy brown head. A solid three + fingers after a gentle pour settles to a solid inch of foam throughout the drink.

S - Bittersweet chocolate and roasted malts in the nose. Sweetness amps up a touch as the beer warms.

T - Big bittersweet taste up front. Sweetness becomes stronger as the beer warms. Roasted malts and just a touch of acrid burnt malt taste. Light hint of sourness underneath.

M/D - Medium to full bodied with an excelent feel. Alcohol is well masked at 9%. Very easy drinking.
May 24, 2010
Imperial (Baltic) Porter from Portsmouth Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 50 ratings