Baltic Crude Porter
Hopworks Brewery

 

On Cask @ Horse Brass Pub poured into Shaker glass.

Pours a deep onyx black, nice and glossy, with a creamy, frothy mocha colored head that never fully dissolves and eventually forms a pretty heavy layer atop the glass. The aroma is mostly roasted malts, vanilla and some chocolate. The flavor is much of the same although with more of a chocolate presence and a noticeable bitterness that lasts and becomes sweet. Its a full to medium bodied beer that is velvety which would most likely be because of the cask conditioning. Very delicious beer and easy to drink considering the 8% ABV.

It's nice to see a Baltic porter on the menu of Portland's newest brewpub. The style is underrepresented locally and offers such a potentially rich expression of sensory delight that its relative scarcity seems like an oversight in our region.

Hopworks' effort is playfully mislabeled "Crude," when in truth the beer shows considerable refinement. It yields a strong figgy aroma with toasted grain and caramel and comes with a dark head of smoky brown. Its flavor is similarly assertive with elements of roasted grains, coffee, cacao, and port wine - all adrift above an undertow of molasses. A lingering smoky aftertaste draws it to a memorable close.

Service Temperature, 45 degrees farenheit. Service Glassware, 4oz Sample Shot.

A dark crude that has some clarity along with a medium salt & pepper head that recedes with a mild lace.
The nose on the surface is silent but after a swirl I detect some burnt malt along with some coffee, essence of molasses and some biscuit.
A sip of this and I get confirmation of the molasses, and mild coffee along with some alcohol burn.
Mouthfeel is strong and definitely unassuming.

Cheers