A Dose of Thunder
Fair State Brewing Cooperative


- From:
- Fair State Brewing Cooperative
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
- ABV:
- 8.8%
- Score:
- +3 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.24 | pDev: 3.07%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 22, 2025
- Added:
- Dec 14, 2024
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Experience the perfect storm of flavors with A Dose of Thunder, our first Baltic Porter made using German lager brewing techniques and English strong ale ingredients. Rich and robust with notes of coffee and crème brûlée, this lagered porter is roasty, crisp, full, and ideal for winter’s coldest days.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio
4/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm always game for new and exciting brews, so this got into my cart.
It pours black with a constant little fizz.The aroma reminded me how this style was - the taste too. They nailed it. This bomb might ber a little lighter than some of the style but it is full of dark, ashy super roast flavor.
Recommended. This is a medium feel for the style but more drinkable because of it.
Sep 22, 2025It pours black with a constant little fizz.The aroma reminded me how this style was - the taste too. They nailed it. This bomb might ber a little lighter than some of the style but it is full of dark, ashy super roast flavor.
Recommended. This is a medium feel for the style but more drinkable because of it.
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.42/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This is clean, smooth, and dangerously drinkable at 8.8%. What a beautiful malt bomb. The roast is very light, offering hints of smoke and very light char at the finish. Up front this is slightly nutty with some brown sugar and just a touch of vanilla. I cannot believe how fast this can is disappeared. Thanks Craig!
May 26, 2025Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.38/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A Dose of Thunder from Fair State Co-op. Received from @Whyteboar in Barleywine and Stout BIF #2. 12 fl oz can. Received 26/02/25, reviewed 23/03/25 (Review 3480). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on the can bottom “C: DEC/02/24.” Stored at home at 39 degrees F and served at 46.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 49.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, same, with light penetrating the edges, amber.
Head – Average (Maximum 2.8 cm, aggressive center pour), caramel, high density with a rocky top, excellent retention. Stabilizes at a 1.5 cm thick cap with the oxygenated top lightening to sandy tan.
Lacing – Little; mostly what remains are some narrow, torn curtains at the top of the glass – in general, the head remains intact, but slightly smaller.
Aroma – 4.25 – Distinctly coffee with roasted malt and a hint of char. No hops, no yeast, no alcohol.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins mildly bitter, with less coffee than expected from the nose. No yeast, no hops. No alcohol (8.8 % ABV, according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Weak gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium: slightly creamy: soft, caressing carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4.5 Excellent Baltic Porter! This is /was so tasty that it didn’t have much of a chance to warm up. But since I’m still drinking it… As it warms, the coffee becomes less noticeable and the roasted malt becomes more dominant. The slight chariness recedes and slight notes of sweetness appear.
Mar 23, 2025Stamped on the can bottom “C: DEC/02/24.” Stored at home at 39 degrees F and served at 46.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 49.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, same, with light penetrating the edges, amber.
Head – Average (Maximum 2.8 cm, aggressive center pour), caramel, high density with a rocky top, excellent retention. Stabilizes at a 1.5 cm thick cap with the oxygenated top lightening to sandy tan.
Lacing – Little; mostly what remains are some narrow, torn curtains at the top of the glass – in general, the head remains intact, but slightly smaller.
Aroma – 4.25 – Distinctly coffee with roasted malt and a hint of char. No hops, no yeast, no alcohol.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins mildly bitter, with less coffee than expected from the nose. No yeast, no hops. No alcohol (8.8 % ABV, according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Weak gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium: slightly creamy: soft, caressing carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4.5 Excellent Baltic Porter! This is /was so tasty that it didn’t have much of a chance to warm up. But since I’m still drinking it… As it warms, the coffee becomes less noticeable and the roasted malt becomes more dominant. The slight chariness recedes and slight notes of sweetness appear.
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota
4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can:
Appearance: Very dark brown, huge head.
Smell: Starts with coffee, then burnt vanilla cream.
Taste: Mild roastiness up front, then some coffee and the vanilla cream from the smell. Medium bodied. Finishes with some coffee bitterness lingering and the vanilla sticks around too.
Overall: Picked up a 4 pack so I could participate in Baltic Porter day. This is a tasty one, on the softer side and not super roasty or bitter. Another very good Fair State beer!
Jan 18, 2025Appearance: Very dark brown, huge head.
Smell: Starts with coffee, then burnt vanilla cream.
Taste: Mild roastiness up front, then some coffee and the vanilla cream from the smell. Medium bodied. Finishes with some coffee bitterness lingering and the vanilla sticks around too.
Overall: Picked up a 4 pack so I could participate in Baltic Porter day. This is a tasty one, on the softer side and not super roasty or bitter. Another very good Fair State beer!
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
4.2/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a completely dark color with a strong tan head. SRM of 23. (4.00)
Aroma: Strong aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, some roast. Earthy and dry. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong flavors of dark cocoa, sweet cocoa, some espresso. Sweet chocolate underneath. Slightly roasty and dark grains, before a bittersweet finish. (4.25)
Feel: Medium to lighter bodied. Strong carbonation and yeast. Finish is bittersweet, but drier than expected. (4.50)
Overall: This drinks excellent and to style. Dark chocolate, cocoa, bittersweet grains with a light roast. Amazingly dry for 8.8% making it incredibly drinkable. Goes down too clean. Fair State doesn't miss. (Rating: 4.20)
Jan 10, 2025Aroma: Strong aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, some roast. Earthy and dry. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong flavors of dark cocoa, sweet cocoa, some espresso. Sweet chocolate underneath. Slightly roasty and dark grains, before a bittersweet finish. (4.25)
Feel: Medium to lighter bodied. Strong carbonation and yeast. Finish is bittersweet, but drier than expected. (4.50)
Overall: This drinks excellent and to style. Dark chocolate, cocoa, bittersweet grains with a light roast. Amazingly dry for 8.8% making it incredibly drinkable. Goes down too clean. Fair State doesn't miss. (Rating: 4.20)
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
16oz can. No dating information found.
Black colored body, with a mahogany brown back lit edge. Two fingers of tan head which retreats back to a creamy cap and high ring. Leaves behind partial walls of lacing.
Aroma is very malty - roasted and slightly sweet, with notes of chocolate and vanilla.
Taste is sweet and creamy, with flavors of roasted malts, chocolate, brown sugar, and vanilla. Robust bitterness does appear near the end and extends into the aftertaste.
Medium mouthfeel. Smooth texture, with a bite at the end of each sip. Very good carbonation.
After the initial sweetness subsides there is a long and lingering flavor of roasted grain malts that maintain the bitter end.
Dec 31, 2024Black colored body, with a mahogany brown back lit edge. Two fingers of tan head which retreats back to a creamy cap and high ring. Leaves behind partial walls of lacing.
Aroma is very malty - roasted and slightly sweet, with notes of chocolate and vanilla.
Taste is sweet and creamy, with flavors of roasted malts, chocolate, brown sugar, and vanilla. Robust bitterness does appear near the end and extends into the aftertaste.
Medium mouthfeel. Smooth texture, with a bite at the end of each sip. Very good carbonation.
After the initial sweetness subsides there is a long and lingering flavor of roasted grain malts that maintain the bitter end.
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