Portery.pl and Stout Day
The history of Baltic Porter Day begins in 2011. At that time, I was starting my adventure with craft beer and decided to start a blog about beer. But not about every type, I wanted to have some specialization. I chose my favorite beer style – porter. This is how the blog portery.pl was born, where I wrote about the history of the style, posted porter reviews, cooking recipes, etc. And where there is a porter, there is a stout, as the history of these two beers is inextricably linked. So when in 2012 I learned about the existence of an event like Stout Day, I decided to promote it in Poland. Then the thought was born that it would be worth doing something similar, but focused on Baltic porter. But at that time I still lacked the experience and courage to create something of my own.
Grodziskie beer impulse
When Jacek Domagalski (then Nepomucen Brewery, currently Milicz Brewery) created the Grodzisk Beer Festival in 2015, it was an impulse that there was no point in waiting, we had to act. I spent a while looking for a date that would have some historical significance, but I couldn’t find anything. So I decided that the date should be appropriately placed in the calendar: during the Baltic porter season, but also as far away from other events as possible. And so I chose the third Saturday in January.
Imperium Prunum Craze
The first edition took place on January 16, 2016, then still known as the Baltic Porter Festival, then I changed it to Baltic Porter Day to give the event a more international character. It so happened that the premiere of a new Baltic porter from the Kormoran brewery: Imperium Prunum, was planned for January 2016. The idea was born very quickly to celebrate the first edition of the Baltic Porter Festival with this premiere. The Kormoran brewery had a reputation and experience in brewing Baltic porters, and additionally, Imperium Prunum is an imperial porter, matured for a long time, with the addition of Suska Sechlońska.
When this beer was announced, it was known that it would be a hit, but I don’t think anyone expected how much. At the premiere, the place was bursting at the seams, everyone had come for Imperium Prunum, so the bottles were disappearing from the stores at lightning speed. One could not have dreamed of a better start to the event promoting Baltic porters.
Steady progress
Currently, practically all major pubs and craft beer shops in Poland join Baltic Porter Day. But they are not the only ones, porter events take place in restaurants, which, for example, serve a burger with a Baltic porter-based sauce. There are tastings, home brewing demonstrations, talks about style, etc. Events related to Baltic Porter Day are not limited to Poland, there is growing interest among craft breweries in other countries. Baltic Porter Day in 2023 is 156 venues, 58 specialist beer shops and 4 chain stores. All this in 15 countries, on 3 continents. Of course, this would not be possible without the breweries that brew special porters for Baltic Porter Day. Every year, over 20 new Baltic porters have their premiere for this event.
January 18, 2025
Baltic Porter Day will be held for the tenth time! How can you celebrate this day? Go to your favorite pub that happens to serve Baltic Porter. Or do some shopping and enjoy Porter at home. Maybe invite some friends and have a small tasting panel? Any form is good, as long as it’s Baltic Porter.