Watchtower Baltic Porter
Edge Brewing Company

Can from Boise Co-op. Black pour, small skin of beige head. Aroma is roasty malts and chocolate. Taste brings the chocolate up front, some sweetness, then a small bitter finish. Not too boozy.

they have definitely recycled this name a little bit, i recall a cocoa chili stout or something by the same name, but this canned baltic porter is the latest, and its quite good, even if less than fully traditional, doesnt feel slow lagered to me, the hallmark of the style, but it has a great grain composition that is far more than just the standard caramel middle and roasty low end, its got a velvety body and bigger feel, suggesting some dark wheat in the mix, but also maybe something really light too, european a little bit, and all kinds of flavor nuance from pipe tobacco to organic dark chocolate, really pretty well done, even if the yeast element and a drier finish are kind of mission in action. its slightly hoppy which brings it back to american pretty quick, but there is good depth to this, its well made beer, and its very wintery and bold, but i just dont know what is supposed to make this baltic. more chocolate, light smoke, black pepper, and a hint of new oak to finish, its mellow for being so strong, and totally coats the palate without being syupy in feel or overly sweet to close. i have been wanting to try this one for awhile, and although im not sure it hits on all the fine points of the style, its definitely a tasty offering from these guys. good to see a lot more packaged options from them lately...