Well, the barrel releases don't seem to be slowing at Hawkers. Not content with releasing four different barrel-aged imperial stouts at the end of June, they’ve followed up a few weeks later with two barrel-aged Baltic porters. Sure, with both coming in above 10 percent ABV, it might be a little hard to distinguish these beers from equally boozy imperial stouts but there is a softness to them that reveals they’re slightly different affairs.
The Brandy Barrel Aged Baltic Porter is the largest, landing at 11.7 percent ABV and filling the glass with molasses, dark stewed fruits and chocolate, but without the level of roast you might expect from such a dark and brooding beast.
For Rum Barrel Aged Baltic Porter, although it’s a more modest 10.8 percent ABV, it seems to have picked up far clearer notes from the barrel. There’s a distinct rum spice that leads the charge on the flavours, while that’s joined by chocolate fudge, raisin and a touch of brown sugar, all of which soon fade, allowing the beer to finish dry.
Will Ziebell
Published July 16, 2021 2021-07-16 00:00:00
