Sandy Paws (2024)
Heater Allen Brewing

Sampling a cellar temp 16 oz can poured into a stemless tulip snifter. Date Stamp is 11/15/2024.
The beer pours a rich cola brown color and a fluffy beige head foams up about 2 cm. There is no light passing through my glass and the foam fades to a sturdy edge layer soon after the pour. Some scattered lattice when I swirl the glass.
Aroma is some dark chocolate and roasted malt notes with not much else. No hops nor any booze hints on the aroma.
First sip reveals a medium to light body and this beer drinks pretty easy. Carbonation is medium and tingly and there is surprisingly a little bit of a coating with each sip of beer.
Flavor is similar to the nose with dark chocolate and roasted malts, but here I also get a little spicy anice. But still no hop notes nor booze. I get a little dark fruit , plums and raisins, as the beer warms up a bit. Overall, its highly drinkable and interesting enough beer. Doesnt blow me away, but fits to style nicely. Glad to have tried this one.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a dark mahogany brown with a fine, two finger dark khaki head with great retention and solid lacing. Aroma of biscuit and dry caramel malt, dates, raisins and a hint of dried cherry. Flavor is biscuit and dry caramel malt, dates, figs, dates and a little dried cherry. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Glad to see this again in the Seattle area; shows up every few years. Similar to past years with hints of cherry this year which a character of Baltic porter I like to see. Otherwise, this seems very much like previous years with a solid Baltic porter body with less bright fruit flavors, but plenty of dried fruit. Less optical density than a standard porter. A fine, drinkable annual treat with a new cheerful dog on the can each time.

 

Solid beer, color and head. Drank very well, perhaps the Baltic style aided in its easy drinking as a porter. Will definitely look for again, but beware its ABV of 7.7% combined with its easy drinking may lead to overindulgence.