Worthy 2012 limited edition Baltic porter hybrid plies cocoa-dried chocolate malting and black coffee bittering to subtle blood orange peel bittering that’s pleasingly overwhelmed by peaty mulch composting. Dark chocolate-roasted cocoa nibs influence fortifies dusky mocha finish.

On tap, soft-textured dry porter relies more on soy-sauced dried fruiting than expected mocha malting. Sun-dried fig, plum, and pomegranate illusions inundate soured frontage. Mossy peat-smoked earthen dewing nabs stove-burnt coffee and flaked chocolate subsidy.

Peculiar medium-bodied Baltic porter loses initial black chocolate-kissed coffee roast to oily hop-charred walnut sharpness and trifling dried fruit sourness. Closer to a precarious schwarzbier with its musky caramel-malted creaminess, dry cocoa-powdered piquancy, and tannic black cherry tartness. Ashy cardboard backdrop fades abruptly to buttery soy cocoa finish. Perplexingly meandering.

Supposedly the first Polish brew ever made, ruddy Baltic stout retains spongy lactic froth, chewy mocha-chocolate creaminess, and bruised citric trace to lingering bitter coffee finish. Well-rounded, thick, and quite soothing considering blatant 8.1% alcohol content. Serve to English porter fans then barleywine lovers as refreshing changeup.

Could the best Baltic-styled porter be brewed in Denmark despite competition from the usual suspects such as Poland, Czech Republic, Russia or Lithuania? Never oily, slick, or plastic like lesser Eastern European competition, this lactic full body retains rich brown-sugared molasses-chocolate-vanilla creaminess and benefits from being un-pasteurized (enlivening the doughy yeast). Chocolate liqueur sweetness, plum wine acerbity, and vinous port tartness sidle oncoming licorice, raisin, prune, and black cherry souring. Fudge brownie finish embittered by dry tar-like black coffee counter-punch. Leathery tarp and earthen bottom fortify robust conqueror.

Whimsical crimson-ruby Baltic porter not unlike sugared barleywine with its burnt caramel, chalky cocoa, and molasses exertion overriding raspberry, red grape, and dried raisin-fig hints. Frothy cascading flesh-tone bubbles and deep plum body hold early promise, but thin roasted hop finish forfeits creamy dark chocolate emphasis.

Muddy black porter boasts 5.5% alcohol content, full-bodied thick-headedness, syrupy caramel sweetness and cocoa-powdered mocha-coffee bittering climaxing at enduring molasses finish. Brown-sugared vanilla, stewed prune, raisin puree, and dark rum illusions vie for attention. Possibly Sweden’s best, worth every drop, though expensive at 8.8 ounces (now brewed by Carlsberg Sverige).

‘Hardwood smoked malts’ waft through bottle-conditioned Baltic-styled porter endorsing Winston Churchill (on label). Bittersweet black chocolate richness relegates roasted coffee bean severity and hop-charred walnut harshness. Sticky blackstrap molasses backdrop brings out cacophonous cocoa cusp, minor espresso tinge, and latently, vinous cherry-grape souring.

This moderate porter doesn’t hit you over the head with chocolate and coffee overtones, just a few well chosen malted grains, simple ingredients that combine for soft-toned irresistibility. Brewery defunct: 2001.

Despite 7% alcohol heft, mahogany-hued moderate body maintains light port appeal as ethereal prune-raisin register, sour cherry proxy, and barren currant-grape trickle soak dry wood-smoked tone. Roasted nuttiness saturates caramelized barleymalt foundation and lurking dark chocolate-y maple sugaring infiltrates amiable Black Forest cake finish.

Murkily defined Baltic porter retains acrid dark chocolate malting over soured prune-raisin subsidy. Milky dark amber hue result of ‘mellow’ caramel malting, sweet honeyed molasses dip and mild fudgy creaminess. Barley-roasted mocha mildness puts this closer to brown ale than heavier porter. Too light and watery up-front, though medicinal-to-chocolate liqueur finish retains richness. More peculiar than unique.