Topless Wytch | 3 Floyds Brewing Co.

3.81/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

22 ounce bottle, bottled on 01-15-19. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a dark mahogany brown/reddish color with about an inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both pretty good. The brew smells like caramel, molasses, toffee, bready malt and a bit of chocolate. Taste is similar to the aroma, with caramel, toffee, bready malt, earthy hops, molasses, dark fruit and chocolate flavors. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit creamy and coating with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a decent enough brew overall but for some reason when drinking it, it seems more like a Barleywine to me than a Baltic Porter. With that being said, I liked it and it's certainly worth a try. $10.98 a bomber.

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3.94/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle. Poured out an opaque, black color with ruby highlights and a cream colored head. It smelled of subtle dried dark fruits, chocolate, coffee and toffee. Sweet chocolate, toffee and a strong roasted taste.

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4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look- copper in color and does not form much head on the pour
Smell- malty and roasty with a hint of chocolate
Taste- drinks like a very light imperial stout. The Maltiness comes through first with undertones of chocolate, coffee, and caramel
Feel- very easy going down but is a little heavy on the stomach
Overall- not a bad beer at all. If you feel that imperial stouts are too much but you might enjoy a lighter version, then I would recommend this.

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4.34/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The pour is a pretty mahogany brown with a sudsy tan head. It’s beautiful, but the look is more of a barleywine than a porter, IMHO. The nose, though, resides in Porterville, with chocolate and roasted coffee notes up front, and sweet molasses and stone fruit notes mixed in.

The chocolate and roasted coffee notes are also forward on the taste, but the molasses flavors elevate this a couple of steps, IMHO. There’s also some stone fruit, which brightens this a bit and doesn’t allow it to get too sweet.

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3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Perhaps my judgement is clouded because I drank this right after a Baba Yaga barrel-aged stout from Ethereal...but this tastes like nothing. I'm going to have to give it another go.

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4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottled 1/15/19 (21 days ago) poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp, no ABV listed on bottle. The beer pours bright medium brown with chestnut highlights and sticky mocha colored head. The head recedes to cap and leaves plenty of lacing. The aroma is earthy with mild toffee notes. Much less roasted than most examples. The taste is led by big earthy hops with a subdued smokey chocolate finish. The bitterness is medium. The mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied with just less than medium carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, good but not $11/22oz bottle good. Really light on the roast flavor, color etc. I would have never picked this out as a Baltic Porter blind.

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4.61/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

I often balk at bombers costing more than $13 for purely budgetary reasons but 3 Floyds has usually delivered so I dug deep in the wallet. Pour was dark with a beige, heavy, big bubbled foam head. Scent was a roast, cherry and coffee noted aroma. Taste, WOW! I made the decision after the first sip to pour the rest of the bomber into a 2nd glass and call my neighbor to drink with me. Complex and rich, words fail me. This will be bought again!

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3.97/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had poured from 22-oz. bomber, bottle stamped "BOTTLED ON 8-29-17," into faceted mug. Excellent Baltic, especially impressive in appearance and ABV.

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4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This a very nice dark beer that tastes like a black imperial ale/IPA. But I agree with others here that it doesn't taste or smell like a Baltic Porter. Solid but atypical for the style of beer.

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4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed from bomber, bottled 2017-08-23. Solid pour is rewarded with two fingers of head in a teku glass but pretty light retention of lacing. Cocoa and peat smoke on the nose, very mild tartness on the palate. Bittersweet baker's chocolate and hints of black cherry and tree bark.

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4.02/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours with a bubble show that delivers three fingers of tannish foam; the espresso colored liquid beneath reveals some ruby highlights; good retention and a few streaks of lacing

Smell: Baker's chocolate and a hint of molasses

Taste: Strong chocolate tones from start to finish, with the molasses delivering some sweetness, through the middle; the finish has a hint of roast and coffee

Mouthfeel: Full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A nice beer but more of an Imperial than a Baltic; lacks the subtle dark fruit tones I look for in the style

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4.02/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted in a Spiegelau stout glass from a 1 pt 6 oz bottle on December 27, 2016. Bottled on 10/4/16. Look is dark brown with a thick tan head and lingering lacing. Smell and taste is chocolate, coffee and roasted malts. Feel is full in body with a crisp finish.

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3.33/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Matte black with a light tan large foamy head.

Smell is chocolate, banana, and moderately roasted malt.

Taste is a little metallic, yet roasty, with cola, cocoa.

A bit boozy and rum-like at times.

I've had a few stellar Baltic Porters, and unfortunately, despite FFF's skill with dark brews, this one just does not stand out as very good.

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4.16/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Had this on 2016-10-18 in Columbia, PA from a 22oz bomber.

A - Clear but very dark brown with a bit of ruby. 2-finger dark tan lace and excellent lace.

S - Medium roasted grain, mocha, mild earthy spice. Pleasant. Not real strong.

T - Dark fruit like dried plums and figs, espresso with whole milk, medium-dark chocolate, fully-toasted wheat bread with charred edges, earthy spice, roasted and hop bitterness in the finish. Rich and delicious.

M - Medium-heavy body and light-medium carbonation yield a smooth, substantial, creamy feel. Very nice.

O - A really tasty, balanced brew with great feel. Well done.

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4.21/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bomber. Pours black with thick soft tan head, great retention and lace. Bitter chocolate aroma. Chocolate taste with hops up front and some sweetness comin out in the middle, the bitterness returns in the finish. Touch of licorice at the end. Mouthfeel thin to medium but soft n slick. Great hoppy porter.

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4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A very hop forward Baltic porter with medium milk chocolate, as the hops dominate. A medium mouthfeel.

A good Baltic porter, but dominated by earthy and green hops.

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4.4/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First was on draft April 10, 2015 in a plastic cup at Wonder Bar in Cleveland. Second was a unknown bottle date bought from Ale Emporium in Indianapolis, Indiana August 8, 2015 and enjoyed August 10, 2015 in an Indians tulip/snifter. I see it was released March 2015 so that is where I put the bottle date.

Look - Dark and thick like coffee. Good lacing even in plastic cup. Creamy tan head with thick bubbles throughout.

Bottle Edit - Fine to medium bubbles from bottle.

Smell - Tootsie Roll.

Bottle Edit - Bubblegum. Hops.

Taste - Coffee, dark chocolate, burnt toast. Sweet bubblegum hits just before the finish and sticks around on the finish. Hint of smoke, not a camp fire.

Feel - Creamy and not too watery. Doesn't explode as much as other beers.

Overall - Great Baltic Porter from 3 Floyds. Unlike other porters it definitely differentiates from a stout.

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3.27/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Had a relatively fresh bomber (about two weeks old) that had something off about it. It took me a while to place a metallic, iron taste/feel to the beer that I couldn't get past.

I'll definitely give it another try once a future batch rolls around, because it was - otherwise - a pretty solid beer.

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3.97/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Roast malt dominates the aroma, with rich cocoa notes and muted boozy dark fruit.

Flavor is sweet and extremely chocolatey initially, becoming roasty and dry, almost chalky, mid palate, and finishing coffee-like. Dark cherry notes are muted, but would probably meld well, with time. Would love to see this with some age on it. Very viscous, rich body. Just a tad too bitter. That chalky character becomes offputting.

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4.85/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This was just released this year a few weeks ago and I was lucky enough to get my hands on it. I knew I couldn't go wrong!

A - Dark brown pour, but sits in the glass a nice obsidian black but is very clear. It pours great with tons of tan, fine head and strong lacing.

S - Initially the sweet dark chocolate character is powerful. There is the usual dark roasted malt that is with porters but the chocolate is first. There is also some coffee like tones that blend with the roastedness and a true malt character that makes this seem very tasty. No alcohol or hops.

T - The first sip there is a very smooth but full flavored taste with all of the flavors that you would expect: dark chocolate, black roast, sweet malt, and some coffee. Again the smooth rich character covers any alcohol or hops. The roasted bitterness is there but only attempting to balance the chocolate/malt sweetness. Complex and roasty but very smooth and flavorful.

M - High mouth-feel with moderate carbonation. A thick beer but with the lager yeast, higher carbonation, and only 9% it is still very drinkable.

Overall, a tremendous beer. Great flavor with tremendous smoothness and full flavor. Probably the most true to style beer I have ever had with 3 Floyds; usually you get super hoppy or a new spin but this is just a fantastic beer. Definitely a baltic porter with a distinct black malt flavor with less of the traditional burnt, roasted character of roasted malt stouts. I love the great chocolate flavor that comes through. I am not necessarily a lager lover but this one's drinkability and smooth character is really awesome. I strongly recommend this porter especially since it is less bitter, less harsh, and less alcoholic than many RIS's.

Glass- Snifter

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3.81/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle, poured into a snifter

A- pours opaque black in color with a two-finger creamy khaki colored head tat retains nicely long after the pour, leaving some lacing behind

S- cereal grain aroma up front mixes with roasted malt with highlights of chocolate & a hint of coffee

T- smoky roasted malt gives way to cereal grain and bitter-sweet chocolate, a hint of coffee, followed by some smoky charred wood

M- medium viscous body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a creamy and chewy silky finish

O- big and creamy mouthfeel with some nice smoky notes

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4.24/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Very dark brown, essentially opaque except at the very edge, with a light tan head, moderate but quickly fading, and producing mild lacing.

S - A big nose of roast, almost like toast. Chocolate and a slight hint of booze.

T - Follows the nose, with a big malty toasted grain bite, and a strong bitter element that comes forward in the close and trails off.

M - Silky but fairly light on the tongue, and with no build.

O - A solid baltic porter, delicious but not too heavy. The 9.0 ABV hides well, keeping this a relatively easy drinker that could pack a serious punch.

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3.56/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured into a Jester King goblet.

A: Pours a watery dark brown with a finger of khaki head that settles with nice retention.

S: Faint cherry, light tobacco, roasty chocolate malt, some ground coffee and molasses.

T: Dark milky chocolate, dark roasted malts, creamed coffee, chocolate chip cookie with a hop bitterness in the finish.

M: Rich a full bodied with good amount of carbonation.

O: This beer does a great job of balancing it's sweet and bitter characteristics into an enjoyable medley.

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4.75/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a tulip glass. Pours very dark with tan head. I was supprised by the complexity yet smooth drinkability of this porter. The mouthfeel was very silky. This is just a darn good baltic porter and I will be buying this whenever I see it on the shelves.

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4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up at FFF last time I was there maybe 2 months ago? Enjoyed from a FFF pink mini mug

a - brew pours a watery black with a thin off tan fizzy head. Nice streaky lace left on the mug.

s - nose is crisp, roasted molasses...smells like winter with chocolate and coffee.

t - nice big roasted chocolate. Porter char. Hint of dried dark fruit on the backend.

m - porter char with roast. Cooling. Fairly bold.

o - overall a solid Baltic porter.

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