Les Trois Mousquetaires Porter Baltique

In an earlier post I reviewed my favorite Baltic Porter, Olfabrikken.  Recently, I've read that Olfabrikken may be out of business, which is horrible to hear.  Any bottles I see of it out there I'm going to try to pick up and save as there just may not be any made...ever.  The good news is that while this style of beer doesn't have as much depth as an IPA or even a Double IPA, it does have some solid contenders.  

This is my top 5 Baltic Porters:

1. Les Trois Mousquetaires Porter Baltique

2. Olfabrikken Porter

3. Carlsberg Sverige D. Carnegie & Co Stark Porter

4. Oy Sinebrychoff Porter

5. Smuttynose Baltic Porter

5a. Surly Smoke (had only a sample size at a tasting)

My new number 1 is one I just discovered recently, Les Trois Mousquetaires Porter Baltique from Canada.  Bottles of Les Trois Mousquetaires have been appearing in local stores and I always thought I should try one of their beers.  However, none really caught my attention until I saw this Baltic Porter at Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont. 

The bottle is dark & menacing, the cork literally took all my might to get it out, and the pour was beautiful.  The nose was pretty faint, but I could definitely smell some roasted malts.  I was not expecting much when I bought this beer, but the first sip was a complete surprise of yummy goodness.  After my first sip, I let it sit for a little bit to warm up & open up.  After that I could taste notes of cherry, chocolate, roasted malt, and even some molasses/sugary notes.  Each sip was a bit different, as I got some citrus and dark fruit, and some good moments of heat from the alcohol.  

Absolutely amazing Baltic Porter.  I highly recommend this for anyone that enjoys a very complex beer.  I hope to have it again VERY soon.

Kev Rating: A+
Style: Baltic Porter
ABV: 10.00%

IBUs: ?
Availability: Just discovered this one @ Craft Beer Cellar.  Did see another at Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville
Had: 750ml Bottle into Snifter
Region: Brossard, Quebec, Canada

Kev's Beer of the week - Firestone Union Jack

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 2/24/12

Firestone Walker Union Jack

Kev Rating: A
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.50%
IBUs: 75 (estimated)

Availability:  6-packs
Had: Many times, most recently purchased from Gordon's in Waltham, MA
Region: Paso Robles, CA

Pine & floral notes hit the nose, nice big hops (west coast style) with citrus and something tropical, then the hops start to subside (probably due to the dry hop process) into a crisp, clean finish.  A must try for everyone and a 'shame on you' if you're an IPA fan and haven't tried it yet.

Portsmouth Brewery Kate the Great Tickets

If you've been reading along, you already know that the Portsmouth Brewery's Kate The Great Russian Imperial Stout is #1) one of my favorite beers of all time and #2) a very rare yearly released (brewery only) beer.  Each March or April is Kate the Great Day at the Portsmouth Brewery.   Prior to the BeerAdvocate naming it the best beer in the World, it could be had without much hoopla.  I had KtG pre-hysteria and it was glorious.  Now it's a bit more effort to have some...but still worth it. 
For more about my KtG day experience with a buddy, read up on my earlier post - http://brewforall.blogspot.com/2011/12/introduction.html

Last year the Brewery changed from a calendar ticket system to a lottery ticket system for KtG Bottles.  Because I started a new job last year, I was not able to take the time away from work to hunt down lottery tickets or go to KtG day.  This year, I plan to be there with a friend or two.

Last night when I got home from work, I saw on Facebook that the KtG scratch tickets went on sale @ 5:05pm.  Now, normally I would jump in the car and run my ass up to Portsmouth (1 hour to 2 hour drive depending on traffic).  However, I didn't get home until just before 7pm and was pretty damn tired.  Bex brought up a great point too - Holiday weekend (President's Day on Monday) + Friday night rush hour + public school vacation = bad idea.  So, a bit tormented we went out and drowned my despair in a burrito (yum).  When we pulled into the driveway, there was a quick moment where I really thought about getting a coffee & taking the trek up to Portsmouth...I didn't.  I did however, get a text from one of my life long friends that let me know Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout was at one of our local beer stores and was 'off shelf' for regulars.  So, I figured the beer gods were at least smiling on me while I was being tormented by KtG scratch ticket indecision.  I did go and get that bottle of GI BCBCS.

The plan became - ok, I'm going to wake up at 9:30 on Saturday morning and drive to Portsmouth.  Worst case scenario, the scratch tickets are all sold out and I have lunch and a few awesome beers on tap.  Because she's awesome, Bex agreed to humor me and go to Portsmouth with me.  What we were rewarded with was awesome - a gorgeous New England Day and a pretty much traffic free ride to one of our favorite cities on the East Coast.

Bex and I had a great lunch with an Oatmeal Stout (me) and a Dirty Blonde (Bex)!

We parked in our normal garage ($0.75 per hour), came outside, turned the corner toward the brewery, and saw a bit of commotion outside the Brewery.  I was immediately thinking, great...a big ass line to get tickets.  Well, as we got closer we walked right into the Portsmouth Brewery store and there were only 3 people in front of us.  So, we purchased our 15 tickets each (30 total for $2.00 each - 100% goes to local charities), smiled, and went outside.  I suggested we scratch them off in the sunshine for good luck.

Scratch, scratch, scratch...nothing.  Boom, Bex hits one, then another....ok, that's all I care about - 2 bottles is great, 1 to have and then 1 to age.  I switch up the coin I'm using thinking it is bad luck (was O-fer) and immediately hit one...now we're up to 3 bottles - smiling ear to ear.  Bex hits another...oh man 4 bottles.  Lots more scratching and then nothing, but I am still smiling beyond belief. 

The 4 Winning Tickets - Bex 3, me 1

I now know I will have 4 bottles of the glorious Kate The Great Russian Imperial Stout!

If you're going to KtG day and see me and don't know me, come over and say HI!  I'll be there :)




Quick update - at 2:55pm on Saturday 2/18 the scratch tickets were SOLD OUT.

Kev's Beer of the week - SN Bigfoot Barleywine

A longtime friend (thanks JP) suggested I do a "Kev's Beer of the Week" section on the blog.  I liked the idea, so here we are.  

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 2/17/12

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine

Kev Rating: B+
Style: American Barleywine
ABV: 9.60%
IBUs: 90

Availability:  Winter, 6-packs
Had: Many times, most recently purchased from Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont, MA
Region: Chico, CA

If you like Barleywine style beers, you'll like this one.  Very nice Citrus & Pine hops right off the first sip.  Takes you into a mellow, semi-sweet dark fruit or raisin-like taste, and then ends with a nice malty clean finish.

Founders Stout showdown - Imperial & Breakfast

Each week my small immediate family gets together for dinner.  These days it's on Tuesday night and will often end up as a mini-tasting night with me and my brother George.  We both love beer and love finding things the other has not tried.  Honestly, it's one of my highlights each week...no matter how crazy work is, how many chores need to get done at home, or how tired I am I know that George and I will at least share one beer one of us hasn't had.  Yup, brotherly beer-geekery at it's best! 

Anyway, this past Tuesday I brought over two of my favorite Founders Stouts.  The Imperial Stout and the Breakfast Stout...sorry I don't have any KBS or CBS left.  I was shocked to find out that George never really had the Imperial Stout, so I accepted this challenge. Also, as I had a few in the beer fridge, this was the perfect chance to share the joy of this beer.  To make it even better, I brought one of my Breakfast Stouts so we could compare the differences.

First up, the Imperial Stout.  It pours a pitch black with a nice thin caramel head.  Put your nose to this and you'll immediately recognize this as a big bad ass Imperial Stout.  Robust roasted malt and then some bits of chocolate & coffee come through as well.  First sip and you get that malt, that yummy perfectly roasted malt!  The hops are strong, but so well balanced that it's just enough to give you a little prickly bitterness.  As you continue slowly drinking this one up, it has a bit of chocolate sweetness to it, but then it fades quickly as the malt just takes over - enjoy the ride.  This stout was one of the first stouts that made me fall in love with stouts. 

Next is the highly sought after Breakfast Stout.  The biggest difference here is immediately noticed when smelling it.  The Breakfast Stout is much stronger with whiffs of coffee and chocolate and then the malts as a quick kick at the end.  The pour is just as pitch black, but has a thinner head on it that dissipates quickly.  The taste is pure heaven (for me anyway).  If you don't like roasted coffee (that's a whole 'nother problem) then this will not be for you...at least off the first sip.  It's like having an espresso dropped in a stout - yeah, amazing!  As it warms it gets even better, some oatmeal comes through (hello breakfast), a nice semi-sweet chocolate, and a hint of vanilla.  This is probably my favorite non-barrel aged stout and is as close to perfection as any stout I've had (including Kate the Great).

Quick note, neither the Imperial Stout or Breakfast Stout are the base for KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout aged on bourbon barrels).  KBS is it's own unique stout and then aged (as learned a while back from Founders' website).

If you want a non-barrel aged straight up kick-you-in-the-face Imperial Stout, the Imperial Stout will be your best friend.  If you want your stout to smell heavenly with coffee, chocolate, & malt, then you can't go wrong with the Breakfast Stout.  These two are two of my favorite beers on the planet.  If you see them and you even remotely like stouts, GET THEM!  And yes, I have had the Breakfast Stout with breakfast!

Imperial Stout

Kev Rating: A
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.50%
IBUs: 90

Availability: January, four packs are hard to find
Had: Many times, all 12oz bottles
Region: Grand Rapids, MI

Breakfast Stout

Kev Rating: A+
Style: Imperial/Double Stout
ABV: 8.30%

IBUs: 60

Availability: September through January, select four packs are hard to find
Had: Many times, all 12oz bottles
Region: Grand Rapids, MI