Lovely Cherry Baltic Porter
Bend Brewing Company

Draft at brewery. Dark and slick, minimal head. Cherries add a small amount of sweetness to the aroma. Nice consistency, slick and slippery. More of the roast grain base comes out in the taste, and blends well with the fruit. ABV? Not apparent. Overall, pretty nice!

 

 

 

 

 

While the nose would seem to indicate a strong amount of tartness, that character is fairly light. There is a tartness present, but it's mostly in the back, which cuts the sweetness very nicely. Cherry stouts and porters seem to be pretty difficult to pull off- they're usually either too syrupy sweet or too sour for the style- but this hits a wonderful balance, and proves why Bend Brewing is one of the most underrated breweries in Oregon, and maybe even in the nation.

 

Had this on 2015-05-04 in Bend, OR at the brewery on tap

Delicious. I understand why it won GABF medals.

Thanks to Sharpski for my first, and most certainly not last, chance at this brew. Hated 22oz bottle poured into 10oz goblet. Poured a nearly solid black, with just a thin cap of brown head that had moderate retention and very good lacing.

There was a great malt and grain base scent, not really earth yet still shy of roasty, and faint notes of the promised cherries. On the tongue, the cherry flavors took a prominent role, but didn't dominate. The malts, cherry, and soft hops all blended nicely to produce an outstanding taste.

The body was rich, full, smooth, and velvety. Drinkability was insanely good, the beer just rolled down the throat like snowmelt going over Nooksack Falls. Overall, this beer is nearly perfect. an absolute must try if you see it, and worth working to set up a trade for.

 

 

 

Really an impressive effort from BBC. There is plenty of dark chocolate, light vanilla and light coffee in this beer, and it blends well with the light cherry flavor (which thankfully, is not overdone). The alcohol is VERY well integrated into the flavor profile, and the beer is soft, smooth and very long on the palate. Really an excellent effort from BBC. I woud likely order this any time I see it on tap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the brewpub. 2013 GABF gold medal winner.

A very dark brown with reddish brown highlights, this looks great. The thin beige head falls off quickly. The nose is decadent. Chocolate covered cherries, cocktail cherries, Cherry cordial, candied cherries, mild cherry tartness, this is great. Some caramel, buckwheat honey, vanilla, in some ways this reminds me of Ben and Jerry's cherry Garcia. The palate opens with an intense cherry flavor, complex and dark, with chocolate, Vanilla, dark caramel, buckwheat honey, a little coffee. Sweetness and vanilla are especially prominent on the mid palate. The finish is sweet with cherries, honey and roast, the alcohol is well hidden here. Medium in body, mildly carbonated, this beer is quite nice. The chocolate and cherries hide the base Baltic porter, but this is delicious.