Uncommon Brewers
Santa Cruz, CA
This ale features a blend of whole licorice root and star anise to create an uncommon addition to the traditional export porter’s hearty character.
ABV: 7.8
ABW: 6.24
COLOR: N/A
BITTERNESS: N/A
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
AVAILABLE: CA, IL, MA, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA
Quite dark, good tan foam, a nose full of dark malts and coffee (and some early hints of something perfumy, like cosmetic powder). The flavor’s intense, with earthy notes, sweet roots, dark malts and a bit of prune. The earthy notes put a wholly different spin on this than most Baltics and keep it interesting. This would be good with roast beef or chocolate.
This is style bending at its most, well, uncommon. Not only is this beer spiced with licorice and star anise, but also it’s an ale rather than the lager typical of this sort of porter. That said, it has a lovely, fragrant spicy anise and cocoa nose and a barnburner of a body with big sweet roasted malt and spice layered over a backdrop of earthy licorice and alcohol. Nothing I’d recognize as a Baltic porter, but it certainly boasts the restorative character of the style.
Lew Bryson writes about beer and whiskey from his home in southeast Pennsylvania. He has a family and two dogs. That’s all you need to know.
Once described as “beerdom’s Brillat-Savarin,” Stephen Beaumont is the author of five books and countless articles on beer, spirits, food, travel and how it all goes together.
