I have had 3 of there beers of wildly different styles and every one is on point Just wanted to put there name on a thread. They deserve it.
Personally, I feel like there's been a recent significant improvement in the quality of their beer. First stopped by the brewpub around 18 months ago, to help out the trivia team from Roscoe's (they're neighbors, and unfortunately I wasn't much help on trivia night). The Roscoe's bartender warned me that the beer at Threshold was pretty middle of the road, and not to get my hopes up. That turned out to be a pretty accurate assessment. I would add that at the time, the brewpub was the only place I'd ever seen their beer. So flash ahead 12 months and I found myself at Threshold's for their Baltic Porter event. Can't remember the lineup, but it was extensive and there were some impressive entries (which is why I went). Much to my surprise, the best porter I sampled was the one from Threshold. Since that event I've started to see their beer around town and the stuff I've tried (mostly IPA's) has been solid. Not sure if there's any explanation or if it's just a coincidence, but I agree with you. I wouldn't put them in the same league with breweries like Ruse and Living Haus, but I feel like they're maybe getting there.
I agree-- the ones I've had have most all been memorable-- Perun is a "Polish Dark Lager brewed with Central European malts and Polish Lubelski hops." Amazing high rating from me the skeptic. -- Same with the Svarog 13%, a "Polish-style Barleywine." -- and the Piwo Polish-Style Pilsner -- and the Neptune Baltic Porter Only one I didn't care for was the Quantum Vision: West Coast Edition IPA.
I've had 3 beers from Threshold in the past few years, and they ranged from "good" down to "not good." Glad to hear they've improved. I will give them another shot.
That was pretty much my experience the first time I stopped in (during trivia night). I had one wcipa I thought was decent, but everything else was pretty much "mehhhh." I likely wouldn't have attended the Baltic Porter event, except they had such a strong guest porter line-up. I'm not sure what lead to the recent improvement, but it's good to see. That being said, they still haven't sold me on their Polish street food.
This is more my personal preference than a strict reading of style guidelines (though not a contradiction), but I think the best examples of Baltic Porter have an elevated dark fruit character and low roast character. Roasty porters are easy to find in other substyles, so let fruitiness be the distinguishing characteristic of Baltic Porters, I say. Neptune hits this mark, and Jarek is legit from the Baltic region, so I’m happy to call it an authentic locally produced example. Everyone who likes barleywines should try Svarog when they see it, it’s flat out delicious and well priced IMO.
Do you know what format it's served in? Sounds like something I'd be interested in trying, but it's not currently on tap and I can't tell if it's available in bottle or cans. The website just mentions cans to go. Not sure I want to solo a 22 ounce bottle or 16 ounce can of BW.
16oz cans is how I’ve had it. I encountered it sporadically at Elizabeth Station when I was in Canada/Bellingham, guessing it’s a fall/winter seasonal release so hopefully you can catch a smaller draft pour the next time it’s around.
That was my experience too, so it's been awhile since I had anything from them. Given this thread though, I'll check them out again.
It was a pint can, but affordable ($5-6) so the pressure to consume in one sitting is lightened. They had a couple of good to great FH beers recently, including a FH Simcoe pils which was better than it had any business being.
Me too. For those who like that sort of thing, that chatacteristic is quite pronounced in Threshold's Neptune Baltic Porter.
I've been saying that Threshold is underrated for a few years now, ever since I had some of their fresh hop beers that caught me by surprise. Also a fan of the Baltic porter and some of the lagers. The food options are different and fun. They're nice folks and they have a nice neighborhood spot that's worth a visit.
Baltic Porters are one of my beer Kryptonites. I have to try one whenever I find one. Sadly, that seems to happen less and less often.
i'm trying to think of a well-known baltic porter that isn't widely advertised as such and everyone thinks is actually an american stout/porter.
10 Barrel’s Estonya was only labeled as an Imperial Porter, though that doesn’t qualify as a well known beer.
thanks! that wasn't the one i'm thinking of (it was thomas hooker imperial porter, which is a long-gone old man beer from the east coast) but love that name. seems like a little nod to her bend days!
