Ithaqua
Analog Brewing

Plum Brandy oak aged Baltic Porter.

Analog's first "boss monster" monster bottle".

Appearance - Pours a dark nut brown with three fingers of nut brown head.

Smell - earthy, leafy, and weedy hops, roasted malts, cocoa, coffe bean, caramel, toffee, hint of plum, the oak barrel is non-existent, and earthy yeast.

Taste - earthy, leafy, and weedy hops upfront. The roasted malts, cocoa, coffee bean, caramel, toffee, hint of plum, and oak woodiness come through next but is quite mild and is overpowered by the roasted malts and cocoa. The roasted malts, and earthy yeast round out the brew.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes roasty with the cocoa and roasted malts.

Overall - A flavourful baltic porter. I feel as though Analog missed the plum brandy oak aspect. I feel the other elements overpowered any essence of this barrel-aging. If this were a regular baltic porter than this would be a solid brew but since we are charting in barrel-aged waters, then this brew truly misses the mark. I wish the plum brandy was more pronounced in this one.

650ml wax-capped bottle poured into tulip. Named after a scary monster.

Pours a very dark cola brown with two fingers of tan head that leaves some appropriate arctic mountain range lace as it recedes.

Smells of soused plums, chocolate toffee pudding, brown sugar, coffee grounds, vanilla and barrel wood.

Tastes of cold creamy coffee, more brandied plums, caramel squares, oak barrel staves and soft vanilla.

Feels soft and creamy. Medium bodied with frothy carbonation. Finishes off-dry.

Verdict: Highly recommended. A pleasant winter warmer.