Dark Guardian
Varietal Beer Company

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass with a thin khaki head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, light chocolate, dark fruit and whiskey. Flavor is dark toasted malt with light char, cocoa, coffee, a touch of dark dried fruit and whisky. Smoky malt and cocoa in the finish with a slight astringency. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A bit more char than usual for a Baltic porter, with light notes of coffee and nice chocolate. The dark fruit notes are mild. Somewhat low key on the notes that make a Baltic porter distinct, but a very pleasant dark porter on the dry and charry end of the spectrum. Not getting much of the bourbon barrel mentioned on the can, but I think this was more lagered in a barrel than aged. Interesting take on the style.