Seedstock Baltic Porter by Seedstock Brewery is being evaluated as a Baltic Porter (2015 BJCP Category 9C).

Being a Baltic Porter, it’s extremely dark brown yet one can still see that the clarity is brilliant. Little to no head formed nor lingered, however.

Upon first sniff, one can tell it’s quite complex. Immediate dark chocolate-covered cherries dominate over a supportive malt backbone of toast, bread crusts and treacle. Subtle herbal, spicy hops alongside a bit of alcohol round out the aroma.

In the flavor, lingering coffee and bittersweet, dark chocolate mingles with stone fruit cherries and plums throughout the entire taste and well into the aftertaste. Flavor is similar to the aroma but with more intensity overall. The semi-dry finish and moderate bitterness really provide the drinkability one desires out of the style. However, it’s definitely not a stout with its smaller body. Moderate bitterness provides balance but malt is in the forefront.

For the mouthfeel, the beer has medium-low body with moderate carbonation alongside smooth yet noticeable alcohol that isn’t overbearing. Slightly creamy. No astringency.

Seedstock’s Baltic Porter is an excellent example of the style but the slight acidity and ever-so-slight rough alcohol leave a bit of a "rough around the edges" aspect to the beer that detracts, but that’s just a quibble. Otherwise, the malt diversity coupled with the bitterness and the fermentation character really provide an exceptional drinking experience.