Temperature matters
Baltic porter as a dark and strong beer needs the right temperature to be able to discover its full potential. Too low means that we will not feel the whole aromatic bouquet, the beer will seem empty and boring. Too high will also not be good, then the beer will be unbalanced, too roasted and bitter, and will also lose its drinkability. Since Baltic porter is not a beer that can be enjoyed for a long time, the temperature during tasting will change and it is worth taking this into account. It is worth starting at a lower temperature, letting the beer warm up slowly and release the whole bouquet. Starting at 10-12°C should be optimal. If we drink a small portion, e.g. during a tasting panel, the beer will not have time to warm up, then it is best to immediately aim for the optimal temperature, which will be the range of 14-18°C.
Suitable glass
Good glassware is important for a successful tasting. A mug, a nonic or a shaker will work well with light beers, not necessarily with Baltic porter. This is a beer that will taste best from a goblet or snifter type glass. Wide at the bottom and narrowing towards the top, to best extract and concentrate all the aromatic notes. It is best to fill it ⅓ full so that you can freely stir the beer and release its entire bouquet.
Time and place
Baltic Porter can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. But if we want to get the most out of the tasting, it is worth creating the right conditions. Find a free moment, a comfortable place, calm down and fully focus on the beer.
Rating and tasting notes
Sometimes it’s worth leaving a trace of the tasting, in the form of a rating on the Untappd or RateBeer portals. This can be helpful for breweries, especially if we include a description in addition to the rating. If you want to rate beer more professionally, there are BJCP and PSPD rating sheets for that. And if you want to have a note from the tasting, you won’t find a better one than the tasting card created specifically for Baltic porters.
Drink as you like
However, the most important thing is whether you like the beer and to drink it in a way that gives you pleasure. So if you like Baltic porter almost frozen and straight from the bottle, then enjoy your drink.