Gandvik Baltic Maple Porter
Fitger's Brewhouse

This beer must have gone fast--already off the website after having it a week ago. Dark black, opaque, with a very cool tan head to it. Not much aroma, some light fruity esters with a deep breath. But the taste--strong maple, chocolate tones with a bit of a hop bite but mellowed but an assertive malty sweetness that wasn't cloying at all. As the guys at Autumn Brew Review what Gandvik was and got "some Viking god or something". If this one comes on tap again, I just might drive up from the TC to get it. Even inspired to brew with maple myself.

This one was brewed with maple syrup from Lutsen,Mn.

And for those who didn't know, Gandvik is the Viking name for the Baltic Sea. See you get a great beer and an education.

Pours to a deep, dark brown color almost black, but it has ruby highlights showing through. It forms a light brown head that diminishes to a ring. It leaves a good amount of lacing when sipped down.

The aroma is of roasted malts, milk chocolate, and hints of maple syrup. It has a very nice toastiness to the aroma as well.

The flavor is somewhat milky sweet....must be lactose, roasty, chocolatey, with the maple syrup in the end. Somewhat rich, and definitely strong.

This one is full bodied; it has some strength behind it....one or two will do. It has a milky creaminess to the mouthfeel, but also has a roasted malt bitterness to even things out. It finishes out dry.

The maple syrup is in there nice and subtle, which I like. It gives it a very unique characteristic. A wonderful porter. I like my porters, and this one delivers. Thanks to my northern BA brethren for making the trek north and bringing me back this Delightful brew.