Harpoon Leviathan Series Baltic Porter

This has become one of my new favorites.  I'm totally pleased that I picked it up.  I decided randomly to go see what kind of beer selection KJ Baron's has, since I drive past them often and they have a flashy store front.  They have a lot of booze in that place, but only a small section with craft brews in it.  What they do carry is quality, so the quantity can be forgiven.

I was unfamiliar with the baltic porter style and admittedly chose this beer solely for the picture on the carrying case.  I mean, if you name your beer the "Leviathan Series" it's got to be good.  Otherwise, said sea beast will come devour you.  At least, that's how it should work...A little research on the internet revealed that Baltic porters are closely related to Russian imperial stouts, in that they are very dark and have high alcohol contents.  Porters and stouts were originally made in London and exported across Europe.  In order to survive the shipping process, the beers were generally high in alcohol and heavily hopped to prevent spoilage.  Porters actually died out in London, but because the style was so well loved, it continued to be brewed throughout the Baltic region.

Harpoon's Baltic Porter pours a very dark brown, with a touch of amber when it's held up to light.  Unfortunately, the beer has only a small, tan head that quickly disappears.  The aroma is heavy with bittersweet chocolate, molassas and dark fruits.  The flavor lives up to the aroma: dark chocolate, plum, roasted malt, and bourbon oak with a licorice and bitter hop finish.  This is a very smooth beer with the malt flavors very well balanced with the hop bitterness.  There is no hop flavor in this brew, and that is totally fine in this case.  I can taste the alcohol in this beer (9.5%), with the syrupy, warm mouthfeel.  This beer is like drinking a complex symphony: lots of different things going on, but it all works together beautifully.  I plan on buying more of this beer soon!

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I've had a lot of beers since I last posted, but I haven't been keeping track of them. :(  But I'm back in the Woo and things are settling down.  I didn't get the Fulbright grant I applied for, so Josh and I have decided to go to Italy.  Best consolation trip ever!  

My spiced winter ale is ready for drinking and I'll post about it soon.  Today I bottled my smoked porter and I can't wait to taste how it turns out.  It already has a great flavor, which should just improve with age.  Yum!