Grand Baltic Porter
Garrison Brewing Company

Grand Baltic PorterGrand Baltic Porter
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From:
Garrison Brewing Company
 
Nova Scotia, Canada
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
9%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 9.38%
Reviews:
52
Ratings:
78
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 07, 2017
Added:
Jan 18, 2009
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  7
This traditional beer style was originally brewed in countries bordering the Baltic Sea. Although derived from English porters, it was mostly influenced by Russian imperial stouts. Typically, the Baltic porters are brewed with lager yeasts and are smoother than the imperial stouts. Grand Baltic Porter is good for the soul and luxurious on a cold Baltic night. Skal!

30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ludachris:
Photo of ludachris
Reviewed by ludachris from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Went down to the brewery today to pick this one up and thought it would be appropriate for my last beer of my holidays in Halifax. Bottled on December 1, 2009, so I'm drinking this one fresh but I'd love to have one of these aged a year or two.

Pours an opaque black with honey amber and ruby red highlights. 2 fingers of light tan head top this beer. Good retention and leaves some nice patchy lacing along the sides of the glace.

The nose is rich with notes of molasses, raison, candied dates, and milk chocolate all coming out amidst a light roasted background.

Rich notes of molasses, candied dark fruits, and chocolate immediately hit the palate, finishing dry with hints of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is rich, full, and velvety smooth. Nice balance and a great drinker with the 9% ABV being concealed very well.

A great seasonal from Garrison. I enjoyed this a bit more than their winter warmer, especially since I found it to be more suitable for the season. Despite its fairly high ABV and rich flavours, it was still nicely balanced and easy to drink. The sweetness is pronounced but not cloying and that's partly why I enjoyed this one so much. Can't wait to buy this one next year.
Dec 23, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by Jerk_Store from Canada (QC)

Nov 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.91 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.17 by sdm9465 from Canada (NS)

Mar 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.15 by Mousel from Canada (ON)

Mar 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.99 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Feb 16, 2016
Photo of DaveBar
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Got on a trade! Thx Curtis. Served at 4deg C in a tulip.

A- Opens well and pours a nice 1" light brown head that dissipates to nothing in no time. Very dark brown

S- Nice licorice and fig tones. Has chocolate and malt

T- Figs. Honey. Malt. Touch of coffee.

M- Creamy good

O- Nice brew. Has a decent backbone that stands up for it's own.

Food Pairing

This nice brew went well with..... Peppercorn encrusted pork loin

Enjoy
May 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by SchoonerNS

Nov 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by UrbanCaveman from Ohio

Oct 09, 2014
Photo of spinrsx
Reviewed by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
500ml Bottle from the Ottawa LCBO for $5 or so back in 2011

Appearance - Dark brown colour with an above average size frothy beige head. I can't make out the amount of carbonation showing and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, chocolate, coffee, dark fruits

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, chocolate, and light coffee. There is also a lot of a maraschino cherry like flavour.

Overall - Perhaps aging was not a good idea with this one.. if the maraschino cherry flavour is intentional it is a little weird. The booze is well hidden, but the beer has an odd flavour to it.
Aug 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by CurtisD from Canada (NB)

Mar 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jeffry-Mazerolle from Canada (NB)

Feb 27, 2014
Photo of mick303
Reviewed by mick303 from Canada (ON)

3.96/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
500 mL bottle, bottled Nov 12, 2011 aged for approx. 22 months. Colour is black, with some strong initial carbonation leaving a ring and some whisps of slight tan lacing. 3.75

S – rich notes of chocolate liqueur, gingerbread, licorice, plummy stonefruits and dates, a full dark malt presence, coffee notes are strong with a lot of balanced roasty flavour, pretty much on par for the style but with a big jammy dark fruit/date note. 4

T – roasty malt, chocolate liqueur, a smooth creaminess, woodsmoke comes through, some mulled red fruits and dates again, semisweet cocoa, some vanilla and gummy butterscotch. Big notes of dry dark chocolate mixed with some slight coffee, toffee and roasty notes, full flavor with a subtle bitterness with earthy and slight spice notes. Finish is very dry with a dark malt note and some bitterness. Enjoyable. 4

M – big malty and roasty profile, light/moderate carbonation, very smooth with a pleasant dry finish. A slickness to it as well, long aftertaste. 3.75

Found this to be a quite chocolate forward Baltic Porter. Pretty solid mix of flavours, and warmed nicely, some slight astringent bitterness that worked well to counter some of the sweetness, alcohol is somewhat present but works to give some spice and heat. Overall I’d say this is a solid representation with some very hearty character and worth trying, but in certain areas it could be more interesting. 4
Sep 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by mmurphy525 from Canada (NS)

Apr 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by lgmol from Canada (NS)

Mar 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by cfalovo97 from Canada (ON)

Nov 06, 2012
Photo of SebD
Reviewed by SebD from Canada (ON)

3.92/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: It has a nice brown color to it with some amber hues shining through. It has a nice mocha head that dies down somewhat fast and leaves next to no lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of dark fruit (raisins and cherries), chocolate, caramel/toffee and some roasted malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has dark fruit, some chocolate, roasted malts and a toffee/molasses sweetness.

Mouthfeel: It has a low/medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.
Oct 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by bcrocker from Canada (NS)

Oct 06, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by oldp0rt from Canada (QC)

Sep 22, 2012
Photo of Jeffo
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Got this beer last summer from a generous trader who's name escapes me. Cheers for the beers man!

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter

APPEARANCE: A brown, muddy looking pour produces a 2+ finger, medium looking, light tan head with very good retention. Head slowly fades to a good foam cap. Muddy black body with no carbonation evident. Splotchy wisp and ring remain leaving dots of lacing down the glass. Good looking. Pretty nasty.

SMELL: Dark malts, dark fruits, mostly raisins and dates, with some spicy yeast notes. A light touch of dark chocolate as well. Bold enough and reminds me of a Belgian strong dark ale.

TASTE: Spicy and fruity Belgian strong dark. Dark malts, toffee sweetness, and some dark fruits up front. Raisins, grapes and dates are in there. Some spicy yeast flavors and a touch of dark chocolate at the swallow as well. Bold and persistent aftertaste of dark fruits, spicy yeast and some bitter dark chocolate as balance. Interesting, and probably a more traditional lager-style baltic porter. Reminds me more of a flavorful Belgian strong dark ale.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough, goes down a little fizzy and finishes slightly sticky on the palate. A bit of a burn at the swallow. Average at best, unfortunately.

OVERALL: This is a bold, flavorful and spicy lager. A traditional baltic porter for sure, much of the aroma and flavor profile reminds me of a Belgian strong dark ale. Regardless, this is a good beer no matter what, and a thicker, creamier palate would make this one of the better ones in the country. Complex and enjoyable. Cheers!
Aug 29, 2012
Grand Baltic Porter from Garrison Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 78 ratings