Big Eddy Baltic Porter
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Big Eddy Baltic PorterBig Eddy Baltic Porter
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From:
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 14.48%
Reviews:
68
Ratings:
261
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 16, 2022
Added:
Aug 25, 2012
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  20
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerFMAndy:
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

4.59/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle poured into a Big Eddy tulip.
8.5% ABV, 22213 on neck.

A - Leinenkuge's Big Eddy Baltic Porter pours a clear bronzy amber color but turns a dark ruby mahogany color in the glass, quietly forming a low but dense tan head. Poor retention means this fleeting head is gone in seconds, leaving no lace behind. It's deep and subdued aromas become harder to pick up when there's no foam to trap them in.

S - Big Eddy Baltic Porter's aroma is a rich one; almost stout-like with dark plum and fig fruitiness unfolding around it's bittersweet chocolate and toffee notes. The dark fruitiness continues to develop with undertones of port wine minus the bold alcohol. The depth of malt is matched by a mildly earthy but balancing hoppiness.

T - Rich malt complexity paints a unique picture within this beer, really exploring the canvas that is the grain bill. The deep complexities touch on candied prune and tacky fig newton with red grape in the mix as well. Fruitiness aside, chocolate, caramel, toffee, and faint notes of coffee resemble a barista-blended drink while dry, earthy hops finish out and keep it's sweetness in check. It's flavor profile is spot on for style!

M - Smooth from start to finish, Big Eddy Baltic porter livens up a full bodied beer with some moderate carbonation and a dry hop bite to the finish. This chewy-yet-"light" beer is sweet but maintains enough roast to keep it balanced wonderfully through the finish.

O - Another malt-driven concoction completes the series of seasonal Big Eddy beers and really shows that there's serious brewing skill there; they're not just amateurs pumping out shandy. Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Baltic Porter almost perfectly nails the style with it's malt complexity showcased. Despite being a clean lager (which makes it dangerously drinkable for the alcohol percent) it's got ale depth and character. Don't pass this one up.
Sep 18, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.57 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.24 by pkkosmatka from Minnesota

Jun 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.11 by Bammer21 from Illinois

Jun 04, 2018
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the bottle into a glass.

Black liquid, small light tan head.

Deep purple when held to the light.

Nose is of black pepper, nicely unexpected. Subtle smokiness behind that.

Medium mouthfeel.

Black pepper notes in the front of the taste; touch of pickle juice on the back end. Not entirely pleasurable. Touch o' metal in the aftertaste. For all that, it's almost tasteless at times. First misfire from the Big Eddy series for me. Baltic Porter is far from my favorite style, so maybe this is a real treat, but this left me cold.
Nov 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.68 by OKCNittany from Oklahoma

Oct 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Aug 27, 2016
Photo of barczar
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2012 vintage, so rating set to current average.

Aroma is rich and fruity, reminiscent of treacle and fruitcake. Notes of dark cherry, fig, raisins, and dates accent deeply caramelized malt. Roast is comparatively subtle.

Flavor is very toffee forward, more reminiscent of the malt bill found in a wee heavy. Dark fruit dominates, with the roast malt leaving a perception of smoke. Big prune, raisin, tart cherry, and fig notes. Much better than the rating reflects.
Jan 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.23 by Ob1wan from Wisconsin

Dec 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by schiltron from Pennsylvania

Nov 04, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.29/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
"A rich, malty brew with coffee, port, and chocolate notes and a dark fruit finish." Brewed in the style of a Baltic Porter. Available in 12 oz. bottled 4 packs and on limited draft as part of the Big Eddy series.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a snifter glass. Served above 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a creamy frothed head of a maple gold color over a dense dark brown body. Retention is below average and lacing is light and spotty. 2.75

(Smell) Bold syrupy fruit and grainy caramel profiles forward, with undertones of thin chocolate syrup. Potency is mild. 3

(Taste) Fruit and soft grain alcohol forward, finishing on a note of slick caramel and chocolate malt. Considerably more desirable over the aroma, although there's not quite enough depth of flavor to adequately counter the grainy roughness. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, residual, moderately oily, medium dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a medium frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is shy of medium for the style, medium+ overall. Balance is slightly acidic and earthy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is modest and there are no off characters. 3.5

(Overall) The Big Eddy Baltic Porter seems to be lacking in the rich malt character and body that I generally anticipate from the Baltic Porter style, but with the fruit and alcohol characters ever present, there's a soft imbalance that is difficult to ignore. Drinkable, but not particularly memorable and one of the lesser Big Eddy releases. 3.25

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company's
Big Eddy Baltic Porter
3.29/5.00
Jun 09, 2015
Photo of muddyh2oblues
Reviewed by muddyh2oblues from Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
2012 bottle
aroma is port wine and black licorice that carries over into taste, along with sweet malt and a hint of booze. almost too sweet. never had it fresh, so don't know if aging had a positive or negative effect. one is enough. interesting, but not for me.
May 08, 2015
Photo of BeerWithMike
Reviewed by BeerWithMike from Nebraska

4.24/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Sampled last night on 4/24/15. Bottle chilled down to 36 degrees F in my beer cooler and has been in there for about 2 years ('2012' on top of label). LOL! Poured in to a 'Leinenkugel' pint glass.

Brew pours really close to a pitch black in color with some ruby-highlights. Has a thick good half-finger foamy beige head that stays around for a while. A decent amount of sticky lacing is seen when sipped. The aroma is very nice and is of dark roasted malts, hint of toffee and black licorice. Pretty much is said for the taste with great flavor with a hint of black licorice near the finish. Just a real slight bitter finish is noted that last for like 2 seconds then is gone. Medium+ to Full-bodied with perfect carbonation. Brew even tasted better when warmed up some like some dark brews do. It's a good sipper brew.
Apr 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.23 by AlbertVogler from South Carolina

Apr 15, 2015
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

3.69/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz brown bottle - 2012 Edition

Leinenkugel Big Eddy Baltic Porter has a dark brown body [almost black] that dissipated quickly to a collar of foam. The nose was lighter than expected/ The smell was dominated by roasted malt, caramel, and toffee. The palate first noticed the assertive flavor of black licorice followed by dark fruit, toffee, caramel, and a little coca. The ale has a medium-full body with fine almost tingly carbonation. Alcohol also makes its appearance known during the sallow.

If you like the flavor of dark licorice you will like Big Eddy Baltic Porter.
Mar 14, 2015
Photo of GoMUPack
Rated by GoMUPack from Missouri

3.29/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Sour flavor - reminiscent of sorghum, molasses
Not our favorite
Mar 13, 2015
Photo of thinwhiteduke
Rated by thinwhiteduke from Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -31.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Did not age well at all.
Jan 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Jan 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by Aaron_Kerkvliet from Wisconsin

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 2.2 by ChrisR123 from Pennsylvania

Nov 28, 2014
Big Eddy Baltic Porter from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 261 ratings