Kuosmanen Baltic Porter
West Sixth Brewing Company

With a turn to cooler weather signals a turn to a heartier culinary fare. Trending from the crisp and refreshing taste of warmer weather and toward a toasty, robust and rich taste leaves the seldom seen Baltic porter at the brewer's disposal. Enter owner Joe Kousman and the West Sixth team...

Kousmanen Baltic Porter is a dark, deep, ominous brown that's easily mistaken for stout. Crowned with a terse tan froth, the porter's scent straddles the line of roasty stout and smooth porter. Equipped with subtle stone fruit, toffee and candied sweetness, its dark chocolate, coffee and toast scent is paramount.

As the taste trends from a sweet and roasty upstart, the malts develop into a light cakey taste and texture with bittersweet chocolate, grape, dark-roast coffee, raisin, burnt toast and redcurrant alternating with taste, the true sense of the smooth lager-like fermentation begins to release its balance and complexity. Any bitterness is easily excusable for cocoa or coffee-like sharpness, the beer's swath of bitterness is woodsy and pleasantly bark-like.

Full, lavish and rich, the beer's final frame is robust and remaining sweet. Candied sweetness outlasts the char and the bitterness leans toward peppery flavor in a simmering alcohol warmth with rum-like spiciness. Perfect for the looming winter season!