Winter Wobbler 2010
Four Peaks Brewing Company - 8th Street Pub

 

 

As stated by Phelps, 2010 sees a Baltic Porter wobble its way to Tempe. Good for us.

Inky black color, served in a small, pilsner-like glass that's topped with a half-inch of brown-tinged, heavily pocked foam.

Fairly aromatic, and mostly in the right direction. Dark fruits, dipping into caramel, whiskey barrel, and molasses. Fairly earthy as well here, which is a characteristic somewhat lost in the flavor. Taste buds are strongly oriented towards a thick fruitiness, with but a hint of roast, caramel, and pine.

Only a moderate note of booze apparent within this strong beer; this one is well-attenuated to a plush but focused mouthfeel. I had two without difficulty, but if you're enjoying at the brewpub, I would recommend saving this one for a nightcap, as the bold fruitiness will ruin their other beers on your palate.

The Winter Wobbler is a special beer released each year around mid-December. While the name stays the same, the style changes each year. For 2010, it's a Baltic porter. This one was poured from the tap into a snifter.

Black as night with a creamy one-finger head the color of oak. The bubbles slowly recede to a thick, sticky top layer, gripping the sides of the glass in jagged webs of lace.

Odd nose. Light plum sauce, rum, oak, peanut skins, cocoa and a subtle toastiness along with earthy yeast, which lend the beer a definite soil-like quality.

You think it'll be roasty at the start, but those flavor quickly vanish and a strong dark fruit tang soon rolls in, delivering flavors of raisins and plums. Peanut skins, dessert wine and a subtle pine character show up mid-palate. The finish is mildly sweet, but a bitter dryness slowly rolls in between sips.

The body is lovely: medium and velvety to the point of creaminess, it holds together well as it moves about. A light, fizzy carbonation tickles the tongue, and there's no alcohol noticeable anywhere in here.

Though I only had a single glass, I could've easily ordered a second. It's flavorful but not heavy, and went fantastically with the tri tip I ordered, which really brought out the beer's sweetness.