Imperial Baltic Porter - Tonka
Yankee & Kraut

Pours a pitch-black coloration with a tiny, wispy head. Smells of slightly roasted, caramel malt and a very distinct tonka aroma, with lighter chocolate and tannic oak also coming through. Taste follows the nose, with a great balance of slightly roasted, caramel malt and a distinct tonka character, with notes of earthy vanilla and herbal woodruff, as well as strong, tannic, musty oak, lighter chocolate and hints of dark red fruit, with accents of plum and red currant. Finishes with a light tartness and bitterness, with notes of tonka, tannic oak and chocolate lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This makes for a rather unique Imperial Porter with an interesting combination of distinct tonka and red wine barrel notes that combine to form quite a musty, earthy, tannic and slightly herbal character here that works out quite well, with a great balance of slightly roasted, sweet, slightly tart and bitter notes. Compared to the vanilla/pumpkin seed variant, the barrel notes actually seem to come out a lot more here, while the lactose is a bit more in the background, which is great, actually. Hard to tell, which one I like better, they are both great in their own way, although surprisingly different. Overall, a very enjoyable, well-balanced brew with a good complexity and depth of character that never feels overly sweet or boozy, while actually drinking surprisingly easily for the ABV, although the mouthfeel could be fuller here.