Five Week Sail Baltic Porter

Review Date 1/14/2020 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Baltic Porter   Brewery: Arches   Country: USA   State: Georgia   $ Per OZ: $.17 (B)   ABV: 8%

Who’s up for a five week sail? Sounds like a plan to me. I could use a reset, and five weeks at sea sailing from the US East Coast to Europe and the Baltics and back might just do the trick. Alas and alack, I do not see this coming anytime soon, so maybe I’ll just have a can of Five Week Sail instead, Five Week Sail Baltic Porter from Arches Brewing Company of Hapeville, Georgia to be exact.

I just love Baltic porters, but they’re an underdone style here in the US of A. More common are Imperial Porters, which sort of blur a line with imperial stouts. They are ales, and to be a true Baltic Porter you have to be a lager.

Arches says:

The Baltic porter, an enchanted style that originated in the Baltic States in the 18th century. This unique style combines the bold flavor of an English Porter and richness of a Russian Imperial Stout. It is the only porter that is a lager, as cold fermentation was necessary to preserve it during the long voyage across the Baltic Sea. This strong style boasts a roasty, caramel profile accompanied by mild chocolate undertones. It pairs very well with powerful meats, particularly game, and other hearty Nordic cuisines.

I am not so sure that the bottom fermentation was really necessary as a preservative measure; Imperial Stouts are ales and they did just fine. Be that as it may, Arches Five Week Sail Baltic Porter has an alcohol content of 8% by volume and runs $11.99 a six-pack at Total Wine.

Five Week Sail Baltic Porter pours to a jet-black color with a thick creamy tan head and a nose full of roasted malt and dark fruit. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body with roasted, nigh burnt malts and coffee, chocolate, toffee, and a subtle hint of raisins. The latter is unusual to the style as the lagering should leave the beer clean, but here it is very subtle and adds a touch of character I think. At the last, the beer is roasty and dry.

Another Triumph for Arches, and a seasonal beer I’ll be on the lookout for again.

Glad I tried it?  T