BBA Baltic Sunrise
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Beer had a boozy smell; I suspect the aging muted the coffee and dialed up the bourbon notes. Smooth flavor, rich malt, and a warming finish. Another solid Hardywood offering.

 

 

2021 vintage. Served at 56F in a Duvel tulip.

A: Fudgy brown with 1-finger beige head fading quickly and leaving some scraps of lacing.

S: Fudgy aroma as well with milk chocolate malt balls (Whoppers) as the main aroma mixed with lower intensity date and coffee

T: Fudgy flavor as well with milk chocolate, malt extract, coffee, and mild nuttiness rounding out a flavor that has a very light bourbon touch. Alcohol is present but not overbearing. Flavors just don’t mesh as well as many other barrel-aged dark beers.

M: Smooth and lighter in body than the ABV would have young guess — this is the strongest feature of this beer.

O: I enjoyed BBA Baltic Sunrise but something in the flavor is too nutty or too sweet to make it work as well as it could.

12oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- ours brown in color with a one-finger foamy light-khaki head that reduces to a ring around the glass

S- heavy coffee aroma on the nose, the coffee has a bold note of black pepper, as well as an almost 'meaty' like roasted aroma. Undertones of coffee, char and old oak

T- bold coffee dominates up front, with notes of cracked pepper, anise and char. Mid-palate gives undertones of chocolate, before the bourbon barrel comes out, adding notes of wet oak and barrel juice that continue into the finish. Lingers of coffee and bourbon

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a very warming finish

O- coffee dominant with enough barrel to match, it drinks a bit hot

 

 

 

Pours like a cup of cold brew with a creamy tan head not sticking around long. Smell is awesome, coffee and bourbon are predominant with some subtle oak and vanilla. Taste is right there with coffee, vanilla, booze, and barrel. Overall a delicious beer I would seek out again.

A: A pretty typical appearance for a porter... black pour, sandy head which is fairly short lived.

S: The aroma upon first pour is wonderful--the "freshly brewed coffee" description is certainly accurate. A warm and smooth scent paired with some chocolate and vanilla aromas.

T: The flavor follows up the aroma well. While I personally have a greater fondness for the scent, it's a tasty brew. Coffee roast, chocolate, and the smooth hint of vanilla on the finish.

M: Quite full-bodied though I wouldn't mind it being a touch heavier. The finish is smooth and clean--it's a good one to swirl before swallowing.

O: This is a fantastic smelling beer and it matures nicely in the barrels. A really pleasant experience that I look forward to repeating.

 

 

Nice strong blend of coffee, chocolate and vanilla with lots of malt present. Initially quite sweet. Brewer states there is a hint of cherry but personally not detected. Quite straight forward and certainly delicious.

 

A: chestnut brown as it pours, black on the glass with a tan head.

S: big bourbon and oak aroma, with vanilla, toffee, and espresso following.

T: toffee, and espresso come out right away. Oak and vanilla add a smooth finish with bourbon lingering.

M: medium in body, although thinner than i would have thought. Carbonation is moderate, with a slightly slick finish.

O: flavor is nice, not as much of a bourbon bomb as some of their other BA beers. A little thin though.

 

 

 

A solid porter, heavy mouth feel, good flavor but a bit of bitterness on the nose and in the flavor.