BJCP 2021 / 9C
Baltic Porter
A strong, smooth, malty porter with clean lager cleanliness.
- Ages well
- high strength
- dark color
- any fermentation
- lagered
Serve: 50 to 55F, Tulip or snifter
OG1.120
1.060 to 1.090FG1.030
1.016 to 1.024IBU120
20 to 40SRM40
17 to 30ABV14%
6.5 to 9.5%Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Dark chocolate, toffee and dried fruit
- Light roast without sharpness
- Warmth from alcohol, clean
- Vague
- Roasty
- Better
- Chocolate and dark fruit
- Best
- Moderate-high dark chocolate, toffee and raisin aroma, light roast, gentle alcohol warmth, clean
Appearance
3 pts- Dark reddish-brown to near black
- Clear with ruby highlights
- Tan head
- Vague
- Black
- Better
- Dark brown with ruby edges
- Best
- Very dark reddish-brown, ruby at the edges, clear, tan head of medium retention
Flavor
20 pts- Rich malt: chocolate, caramel and dark fruit
- Only a trace of roast, never harsh
- Smooth, warming, medium-sweet to medium-dry finish
- Vague
- Rich
- Better
- Chocolate and dark fruit
- Best
- Moderate-high chocolate, toffee and dried-fruit malt, low roast, low to moderate bitterness, smooth warming finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Medium-full to full body
- Medium carbonation
- Smooth, warming
- Vague
- Smooth
- Better
- Full body and warming
- Best
- Medium-full to full body, smooth and velvety, mild warmth, medium carbonation
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Smoothness
- Dark fruit depth
Drops it
- Harsh roast
- Hot alcohol
Writing tip
Judge smoothness. Example: 'Chocolate, toffee and dark fruit with smooth warmth. Clean lagered finish.'
Pour these
- Żywiec PorterŻywiec BreweryChocolate and dried fruit, sweet and warm
- Sinebrychoff PorterSinebrychoffRoasty, drier and bitter
- Baltic PorterSmuttynose BrewingA US version with clean roast
Often confused with
- 20C Imperial StoutImperial Stout has more hop and more roast
- 13C English PorterEnglish Porter is lighter and has no lager smoothness
Fine here
- Alcoholic: Gentle warmth is expected
- Oxidized: A trace of sherry in older bottles
Ruinous here
- Astringent: Roast tannin
- Solvent: Hot fusels
- Diacetyl: Butter
Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.