Disco Baltic
Brewery: The Brewtorium
Style: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (33B)
Package: 500ml Bottle
Release Date: February 14, 2020
Consumed Date: March 26, 2020
Details From the Brewer
ABV: 10.9%
This will be our first ever bottle release featuring our Barrel-Aged Disco Baltic Porter aged 9 months in Milam & Greene Whiskey barrels. This dark beauty clocks in at 10.9% ABV, but is smooth as silk with rich notes of vanilla, dark cocoa & that fine whiskey-soaked barrel character.
Review
Aroma – 11/12
A medium intensity whiskey note peaks first. Equal levels of toffee, alcohol, and chocolate quickly join. A lighter grainy and bread crust malt note also appear. Clean fermentation character with no off flavors.
Appearance – 3/3
Pours and inky black liquid. Light can barely penetrate it, showing good clarity. A sprinkling of small tan bubble form on the surface, but quickly fade away.
Flavor – 16/20
Boozy cocoa with caramel and whisky wash over the tongue first. They’re well integrated together with lesser notes of charred oak and vanilla coming through. A medium sweetness with low-medium bitterness. Low levels of herbal/minty hops. A slight ash character is also present. All of these notes last for the whole taste, smoothly fading on the finish. Balance is in favor of the malt and barrel.
Mouthfeel – 5/5
Full bodied throughout the taste, and a bit thinner on the finish. Not quite a chewy mouthfeel Low carbonation, but a strong alcohol warmth on the throat and back of the mouth take it’s place. The finish is smooth, leaving a slight slickness. No astringency or sharpness.
Overall Impression – 9/10
The Milam & Greene barrels really shine in this beer. It’s seamlessly integrated into the Baltic Porter base. For being such a rich and flavorful beer, the finish happens quick and clean, leaving you ready for a another sip. This beer does bring an alcohol burn. It seems a bit strong to me for 10.9%. A few more months of aging, and it should mellow perfectly. As I finished the bottle, it still drank well at room temperature.
Rating – 44/50
This first packaged release from The Brewtorium is a hit. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had a barrel aged Baltic porter. It’s exciting to see a great beer come out of a single barrel and not need blending with a huge barrel inventory.
