Otter Creek World Tour: Sea Otter
Otter Creek Brewing

Otter Creek World Tour: Sea OtterOtter Creek World Tour: Sea Otter
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From:
Otter Creek Brewing
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 6.87%
Reviews:
45
Ratings:
48
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 09, 2013
Added:
Jan 15, 2008
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Durge:
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Rated by Durge from Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

Dec 09, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 02, 2011
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle purchased somewhere in the MA/NY area.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" light brown head over the clear burgundy brown brew. Head is quickly down to an uneven layer of froth, with lasting slow-falling lace. Aroma is dark malts with a light smokiness. Taste begins with a creamy rich sweetness that barrels on through, with more light smoke in the middle, and a light bitterness to close, with a lingering chocolate flavor. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth, and drinkability is very nice. Only knock would be that it doesn't come across as very "imperial". Exclusive of that, a very enjoyable brew.
Jan 10, 2010
Photo of jjboesen
Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This Baltic Porter is part of their "World Tour" Series. Poured from a bomber, it opens in a gusher of cream colored lather that quickly settles into a razor thin head. Beneath this, there is a body of deep ruby. The initial nose detects some bourbon aroma while the palate gets a heavy mouthfeel of malt and molasses accompanied by a surprisingly potent bite of alcohol - this will decrease as the temper as the beer reaches room temperature.

This was a bit lighter than one would imagine from this style. All in all, a pleasant quaff from Otter Creek.
Jan 08, 2010
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Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

3.92/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pour - dark brown in color, not super viscous and without a lot of depth in color. The carbonation is relatively low but that seems to be okay. Head is thin, white and thick. Looks like a pretty good pour.

Aroma - licorice, anise, Tootsie rolls, dark sugar along with some pepper and caramel. All the smells seem to be right on par with the Baltic Porters I've had thus far. Nothing too exciting and it seems like almost two years of age hasn't done too much damage to this.

Taste - a bit of a watery mouthfeel, lots of sweet maltiness along with the expected licorice and anise and definitely the Tootsie rolls. Nothing unexpected and nothing too incredible.

Overall - Dark, sweet and easy on the palate. I wish it had more body and complexity but maybe that went away over the past couple years. Decent to good.

Would I buy more of it? - Not even an option and if it was I think I'd try some of their others before going back to this one. It wasn't bad, just not memorable.

Vintage - This bottle is from January 2008.
Nov 21, 2009
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Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue II:

Sea Otter is part of the "Otter Creek World Tour," yet another brewery that understands the current craft beer market.

Rich, dark brown, nearly black, with a cascading, foamy, super creamy, beige-colored head. Decent retention. Roasted cocoa beans, dark chocolate, malted milk, coffee, husky and nutty in the nose. Smooth, creamy palate, medium-bodied with a slightly roasted astringent undercurrent. Chocolaty, but overly so, and more akin to unsweetened baker's chocolate. Brown bread center that turns faintly nutty toward the end. Toasted marshmallows. Thin hop character/leafiness. Hint of grape. Clean, warming alcohol. Dry finish, lingering chocolate and breadiness.

A damn tasty and highly drinkable Baltic Porter with a very complex and interesting malt profile thanks to the use of Carafa barley malt. Definitely seek it out and try while it's around. Tervist!
Nov 13, 2009
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Reviewed by Sycodrummer from Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Samples on two occasions on consecutive nights:

Poured from the bomber into a tulip glass the beer is jet black with very little head - just a sliver of pure white topping the beer. Very still, no carbonation, and no lacing.

The nose is very boozy. Faint raisons, tobacco, chocolate, dark coffee, and chicory.

Taste starts off semi-sweet with notes of chocolate and coffee. There is a roasty bitterness like black coffee and pipe tobacco. Some raisons, mollasses, and rum in the finish. Not as boozy as the nose suggsts, flavors finish with liquoice and anise.

The body is medium-thin, a tad thinner that I expected, but it firm up as the beer warms. Very little carbonation.

A nice interpretation of a rarely seen style. Enjoyable for sure, but not overly memorable. Was looking for a bit more body here to compliment the boozy nose and flavors.
May 23, 2009
Photo of williamherbert
Reviewed by williamherbert from New York

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Some quick observations:

* Reddish black; thin head
* A glassy look, light comes through at the edges
* Roasted, bitter coffee malt aroma
* Additional smells of semi-sweet chocolate
* Feels smooth and oily; not at all dry
* Taste of sweetish grapes and dates. Plum with bitter coffee.
* Really more sweet than bitter
* The alcohol really busts out at the finish
* Quite a solid beer
Feb 11, 2009
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Reviewed by barefootbrewer from Mississippi

3.67/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: This beer poured a deep brown with a small and quick falling head.

S: The aroma was roasty and sweet. It has some sour and vanilla notes.

T: The taste is bitter, coffee, licorice and malt. Coffee is the predominant flavor.

M: The mouthfeel is thin to medium with the carbonation noticed.

D: This is an easy drinking porter. It is not an incredibly exceptional brew, but definitely solid.
Jan 31, 2009
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Reviewed by bort11 from Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Big thanks to jaxon53, who sent this as part of the BASS 08.

22 oz bottle, poured into an imperial pint glass. Rocky tan head with large bubbles recedes to a relaxed ring. Reactivates nicely with each sip. Color is black at first glance, dark ruby highlights shine when held to the light.

Smell is mild. Mostly dry cocoa powder. There is the slightest hint of orange in the back, barely there. Taste is more developed. The cocoa powder is there, but more fruits. Some dried citrus and apples, mild coffee. Bit of a pepper spice in the back.

Mouthfeel is easy and inviting. Very smooth and drinkable. I think this is more in line with a standard American porter than a Baltic porter, but really why argue.
Dec 31, 2008
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Reviewed by donkeyrunner from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Poured into a loaned New York Giants glass. Ech, this beer is tainted already.

Pours black with medium beige head that quickly shuffles to the side then dissapears.

Smells mainly of black cherries and roasted malt. Some vanilla and alcohol as well.

Tastes very smooth with black cherry backed by roasted malt being the predominant flavor. Some booze in the end. Effervescent, but not overpowering, carbonation. Thin and somewhat creamy mouthfeel.

The bottle describes this as being a harsh, in you face porter but I found it relaxed and enjoyable. That crazy otter, he's everywhere.
Dec 28, 2008
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Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Acquired from Jayli, so a big "Thank You" goes out to her. Poured from a 22oz bottle into a mug glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of dark fruit, dark roasted malts, black coffee, some chocolate and a little hops.

T: The taste is very malty up front as you would expect, but it's not overly think or overly sweet and some darker beers can be. There are flavors of roasted coffee, dark fruit and dark chocolate. The hops presence is very mild but is enough to provide a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, nice representation of style, this is a good darker beer to drink for a whole evening.
Dec 05, 2008
Photo of SaucyA
Reviewed by SaucyA from Michigan

4.09/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours incredibly deep brown. Mahogany and ruby highlights when held to the light. A thin, unkempt layer of soapy off-white bubbles rings the body, but doesn't last at all.

S - This is a fantastic smelling brew, hands down. Huge, odiferous, roasty malts... plus mocha affects. Not horribly complex, just quite intense. A slightly astringent roastiness, and faint, fruity yeast notes as it warms.

T - Surprisingly not as roasty as the nose might lead on to be. A nice, sweet malt bomb up front, that battles between sweet and roasty on the backend. Sweetened coffee, milk chocolate. Absolutely no noted alcohol in either taste or smell. Hops are BARELY noted in the finish, but they're there.

M - Slightly over-attenuated, but works for the style, and the carbonation is fine.

D - Quite drinkable... my first glass vanished way too quickly. I probably wouldn't trade for it, but if it was available at my store, I would pick it up again without question.

Notes: This snowy weather is good for one thing, that's for sure: Relaxing with a tasty, rich, deep brew. I didn't know what to expect with this one, but I wasn't dissapointed.
Nov 17, 2008
Photo of Jayli
Reviewed by Jayli from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer pours a deep brown with ruby highlights when held up to the light. There is a small beige head that dissipates relatively quickly. Slight to no lacing to speak of. Strong coffee and licorice in the aroma with a good roasted malt to set the tone. At first there is a quick rush of malt flavors that are followed by a roasted malt bitterness, with strong coffee flavors. This is a nice baltic porter and worth picking up!
Oct 28, 2008
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Reviewed by thekevlarkid from Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured this World tour brew out of the bomber and into my glass! Very dark brown liquid but not quite opaque. A finger of tan head capped the brew briefly but dissipated to a thing ring that laced only slightly. Aromas of malted milk balls, dark chocolate and roasted malt, all quite rich. The flavors were also rounded and robust, chocolate, caramel, cookie dough and some coffee bitterness. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel, full bodied and medium carbonation. A good porter overall and a great example of the Baltic style (certainly the best one I've had to date on this side of the pond!).
Sep 03, 2008
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Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a cola brown color with a creamy tan head that displays some persistence and lacing

Smell: More chocolate than coffee in the aroma, with a malted milk element as well

Taste: Opens with a doughy aspect that moves in a slightly grainy chocolate and licorice direction by mid-palate; after the swallow, there is a bit of fruity bitterness as well as some coffee that appears in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Reasonably tasty, but more like a Robust than a Baltic, as it is missing the mouthfeel, alcohol and dark fruit aspects of a quality Baltic
Aug 30, 2008
Photo of corey0212
Reviewed by corey0212 from Connecticut

3.87/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a very dark brown, chestnut-colored highlights, decent tan head fades pretty quickly leaving a thin ring around the glass and spots of lacing. Smell is malted milk balls, cookie dough, slight smoke. Taste is quite nutty, some cocoa, faint burnt coffee, and just a tiny alcohol spice. Slight bitter finish, pretty creamy mouthfeel. This is tasty, one of the better beers I've had from Otter Creek.
Aug 07, 2008
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Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

4.12/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown with mahogany edging, and a quarter inch head of beige. A few streaks and dots of lacework thoughout, but the head dissapates to a ring around the goblet and a placid surface.

Aromatics lead off with nougat, caramel fudge, dark chocolate, and roasted malt.
Very rounded and smooth in the nose, with a creamy essence.

The mouthfeel is creamy and slick. Medium to thick body.

Chocolate, caramel, and coffee on the pallet, with low bitterness and a nice balance of residual sweetness and drying acridity.
Alcohol is barely warming and the beer is highly drinkable.

Finishes with lingering caramel, chocolate, and nougat.

One of Otter Creeks better brews. It reminds me of the new Cadillac Mountain Stout, but without the Ringwood.
Aug 01, 2008
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours a jet black color with almost no head. There is a slight tan colored ring around the top of the beer and it has some lacing down the glass.
S: Smell is of sweet deep roasted malts mainly with hints of chocolate and coffee but they are very faint.
T: Taste is of sweet deep roasted malts and a bit more prevelent chocolate taste.
M: Vrey rich, smooth, and warming.
D: Very drinkable as I was able to drink the whole 22oz. bomber.
Jul 14, 2008
Otter Creek World Tour: Sea Otter from Otter Creek Brewing
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 48 ratings