Black Blade
Varietal Beer Company
- From:
- Varietal Beer Company
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- +8 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.26 | pDev: 0.31%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Mar 15, 2021
- Added:
- Mar 14, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by vurt from Oregon
3.27/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Purchased at John's Marketplace. Poured into a nonic half pint glass. Canned on 01/26/21. The date stamp includes "WIZARDRY'S MY TRADE," which confirms the Blue Öyster Cult connection suggested by the beer name
(Side note: As a fan of Baltic Porters, Michael Moorcock, and Blue Öyster Cult, there is NO WAY that I was leaving the store without a can of this.)
Look:
This unfiltered beer is a hazy dark brown with orange-amber highlights. The head is tan, dense, and creamy, but doesn't last long and doesn't leave much lacing.
Smell:
Milk chocolate, malted milk balls, and dark roasted malts. Underneath these, there is also caramel and coffee with cream. A hint of whiskey. As it warms, some earthy hop character comes forward.
Taste:
Closely follows the nose at the start, with moderately sweet flavors of chocolate milk and dark roasted malts. Barrel character is more prominent than in the nose, providing some tangy oak and light whiskey notes. Subtle dark fruit flavors carry into a malty sweet finish.
Feel:
Light-medium body with a creamy texture. Nice enough, but still feels thin, even considering this beer is already on the light end of the Baltic porter scale.
Overall:
Is this a "session Baltic porter?" Varietal Black Blade is definitely on the diminutive side for a Baltic Porter, but it's not lacking in flavor. The restrained barrel presence is ideal for this beer, and does not overwhelm it. Unlike Stormbringer, this Black Blade will not haul you faster and faster to an early, early grave.
Mar 15, 2021(Side note: As a fan of Baltic Porters, Michael Moorcock, and Blue Öyster Cult, there is NO WAY that I was leaving the store without a can of this.)
Look:
This unfiltered beer is a hazy dark brown with orange-amber highlights. The head is tan, dense, and creamy, but doesn't last long and doesn't leave much lacing.
Smell:
Milk chocolate, malted milk balls, and dark roasted malts. Underneath these, there is also caramel and coffee with cream. A hint of whiskey. As it warms, some earthy hop character comes forward.
Taste:
Closely follows the nose at the start, with moderately sweet flavors of chocolate milk and dark roasted malts. Barrel character is more prominent than in the nose, providing some tangy oak and light whiskey notes. Subtle dark fruit flavors carry into a malty sweet finish.
Feel:
Light-medium body with a creamy texture. Nice enough, but still feels thin, even considering this beer is already on the light end of the Baltic porter scale.
Overall:
Is this a "session Baltic porter?" Varietal Black Blade is definitely on the diminutive side for a Baltic Porter, but it's not lacking in flavor. The restrained barrel presence is ideal for this beer, and does not overwhelm it. Unlike Stormbringer, this Black Blade will not haul you faster and faster to an early, early grave.
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.25/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
16oz can (dated 1/26/21) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a solid black color with 1/4 inch of tan head that had moderate retention and no lacing.
Rich malts, slight roast, and a hint of barrel were the main aspects of the scent.
Same on the tongue, with maybe a bit of bourbon showing up too.
The body was solid, but perhaps a bit thinner than typical for the style.
Drinkability was very good, I could knock back a few more of these.
Overall, a solid brew. Worth a shot if you see it.
Mar 14, 2021Rich malts, slight roast, and a hint of barrel were the main aspects of the scent.
Same on the tongue, with maybe a bit of bourbon showing up too.
The body was solid, but perhaps a bit thinner than typical for the style.
Drinkability was very good, I could knock back a few more of these.
Overall, a solid brew. Worth a shot if you see it.
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