Baltic Porter Day 2026
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room

Beer #1500!

I know what you're thinking: Not another Estonian Baltic Porter! Well, my local emporium pointed it out to me tonight so I went with it. This brew includes pandan leaves, which I've read is sometimes referred to as the vanilla of Asia. Hopefully not in a "chicken of the cave" sort of way.

Good beer! Dark, sweet. Balticy and portery. No one's reading this! No one!

 

 

 

From the 11.2 oz bottle in a snifter. This unique little Baltic pours a
rich blackish brown with a moderate head of tan foam that settles to
a thick ring, subtle dusty layer, and faint lacing. Nose of dark cocoa,
dark berry notes, dark coffee, and subtle vinous notes. Flavors follow
the nose with some light exceptions with dark cocoa, dark coffee nearing
espresso, moderate char, subtle herbal sweetness, and light vinous wine
nuances. Mouth feel is medium full leaning towards full, light carbonation,
smooth, rich, coating, lightly warming and well balanced with a bitter malt
note.

Of note warmth gives rise to nutty malt notes. NICE.

Overall, a solid Baltic.

Cheers

 

 

Drinking out of a small goblet.
Pours an almost black color with a thin ran head.
Rich dark smell hinting of dark chocolate.
Nice smooth mouth feel.
Nice dark full taste with hints of espresso, dark chocolate.

 

10 ounce draft pour into a baby tulip glass. Creamy, lush, and beautiful are my first descriptors of this Estonian Baltic Porter 2026. It's incredibly smooth to drink with a synergistic blend of flavors including: roasted malts, chocolate milk, milk remaining after a bowl of cereal, almonds, and vanilla. Amazingly all of this is done without crossing the sweetness threshold into beer oblivion. Absolutely do not pass this up on draft if you see it

Eager to try this and worried the keg might run out, I scooted into Beer Merchants Tap soon after it opened on the 17th. I actually didn't think and I ended up drinking 10% on an empty stomach. Fortunately, I had a cheese plate curated by the bartender for what he thought paired well. And it did. But this rendition was a joy by itself also.

This 2026 Baltic certainly Looks like I'd want to drink it. Smells are what you'd expect: sweet chocolate malt and some drying herbs to check it. Tastes are well-balanced, never too sweet. Viscous and better than most Feels.

It is easy to get carried away with higher ratings when a brew hits 10%. But against its own style, Pohjala's 2026 rendition is refined and deserves my high rating. I also give excellent Overall Hugs to Pohjala for being Estonia's craft innovator.