Scary Stories
Ursula Brewery

looks like they have done a few batches of this, with some abv variability, and now in cans, but i had a 2017 bomber last night from the cellar, and as cool as it is, it was past its prime, a beer i should have drank fresh, or fresher, it was oxidized and faded, and i think i probably largely missed what it was, a shame, because these guys rule, this one is on me, but sometimes you save nice beer for an occasion that never comes, whatever, still enjoyed it. vanilla and honey are still evident in the nose of this black beast which doesnt hold much head, slightly syrupy looking, some milk chocolate character too for sure, maybe a kiss of smoke, but the oxidation is strong enough that everything else seems a little denatured and tired. the flavor is the same, oxidation has set in, and the sweetness is high, especially with all the alcohol. the sugar makes that fact that its a lagered porter hard to appreciate, i dont taste any yeast, and this really doesnt feel like a baltic porter anymore, if it ever did. thick and sugary, boozy and too old. i cant be too harsh on this one, since the age is on me not them, and i will definitely make a point to find this fresh in the future, i know it has a ton of potential. still can get most of the smore elements in here even with the oxidation. this got me a bit drunk too, probably should have shared it. i was excited for it being a baltic porter, and that vibe wasnt really happening...

 

19.2 ounce can into snifter, canned on 9/11/2019. Pour opaque dark brown/black color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, honey, molasses, graham cracker, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and dark/brown bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, smoke, leather, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity or dark/roast/bready malts, cocoa, honey, caramel, graham cracker, lactose, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, honey, molasses, graham cracker, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and dark/brown bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, smoke, leather, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Very mild herbal, grass, pepper, roasted bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, honey, molasses, graham cracker, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, dark/brown bread/crust, licorice, dark fruit, smoke, leather, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malts, cocoa, honey, caramel, graham cracker, lactose, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a great roast/hop bitter/sweet balance; an no cloying/acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Very clean lagering, not overly fruity/yeasty. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Light-medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/velvety/rich, and lightly slick/syrupy/sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Mild increasing warmth of 10%, with no booziness after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic flavored Baltic porter. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malts, cocoa, honey, caramel, graham cracker, lactose, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the big ABV, with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Awesomely soft/silky feel for the style. Perfectly balanced super rich malts and flavorings; with mild earthy hops and fruity yeast. Not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding spot on style example. Not overwhelming on any aspect.

 

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