Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Batch 52 baltic porter tasting notes

Pours clear, black with brown hues, deep red, moderate tan head, lacing is slight.

Smells dirty, earthy hops, earthy roast malt, something is mediciny.  Licorice? Hops or yeast?  Maybe the roast barley and the s04 together.

Mouth feel, thick but balanced with pleasant carbonation.  A little clingy/coats a bit, not as hearty as hoped.  Skip Irish moss next time?

Flavor, again strong medicinal semi licorice tang, sweet underneath, roast is there with slight annoying astringency, no malt flavor to speak of. Or is that medicine the Willamette?  

Finish, medicine again, almost plastic. 

Overall, there's something not quite right here, either hops are too earthy or added too late, or yeast needs to be changed.  Also, needs more maltiness, either Vienna or Munich.  pH seems low.  Needs time in the bottle.

Next time, reduce amber, increase Munich, new pack of cleaner yeast (us05), hops at 60 and 30 only, go with nobles, no more English style, try a little soda.  Try cold steeping roast barley, use some chocolate instead?

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