Blutpakt
Surly Brewing Co.

 

 

 

some sort of collaborative brew, but very little information was provided on this one. its a sturdy american porter type fermented at least partially with brett. looks nice in the glass, a matte black color, chalky and pale for being so dark, with an airy off white head with excellent retention. the funky brett hits the nose right away, almost a lambic funk to it, no acidity or sourness, but the rustic dry wildness seems very old world to me. its unique to me in a dark beer, and the ashy roasted barley is a cool base for it, very appealing in the nose. the flavor is more porter than wild, but its a good one, very dry, very dark on the roast, hardly any normal ale yeast in this, and no middle malt sweetness at all. the brett comes on halfway through, funky as can be, slight blueberry and blackberry notes to it, likely a combination of the yeast and the grain creating that fruitiness, but its super distinct and i love it. it never gets bitter, and it doesnt linger at all, gone instantly. stillwater did a brett porter this year that was really good, and i had not had it before. this reaffirms that putting wild yeast in a porter base is a great idea, i think i like this one even more than that one, drier and funkier but super clean, no residual weirdness, more mature than anticipated. surly is the king in minnesota, and its beers like this that keep them at the top. definitely one to seek out!

 

Mmm, a Baltic Porter with Brett. Yes, please. Smooth, light body expected of a lager but with the roasted, chocolate and coffee notes of a Porter. The Brett contribution is light, but does add a wild, funky and earthy dimension to the beer. Good stuff.

 

Just had on draft at endless brews surly tap takeover. Have never had a German porter before. A thinner porter due to the wheat. Notes of smoke and a tartness comes out as warms. Tasted nut, coffee, malt and biscuit. Thinner mouthfeel than American porters. A great experience.

 

 

 

 

Had on tap at JL Beers.... The aroma is very complex, with some dark roasted barley malt with notes of milk chocolate, coffee, biscuit, toasted bread, nuts, and caramel starting it off, followed by the classic barnyard Brett, but not an aggressive, ammonia smell, more like slightly hay earthy character. You get that Belgian bubblegum favor taste that comes from the Brett. I was very impressed by this collaboration beer. A pitch dark black porter from the limited cask. A very unique but superior brewed beer.