- Product Reviewed: Sinebrychoff Porter
- Brewed By: Sinebrychoff Brewing Co.; Finland
- Form Reviewed: Bottle; 7.2% ABV
- Style: Baltic Porter
- Originally posted to Usenet: January 15, 2000
- Added to the Tasting Notebook: January 18, 2000
Initial Impressions:
This is the third of the five Baltic porters that I reviewed for the purposes of sharing my impressions. Oh, and for the sheer pleasure of the experience. The first, Saku, was posted to rfdb on Wednesday, January 12, and the second, Carnegie of Sweden, Friday, January 14. Following Sinebrychoff, will be Okocim and Zywiec, both of Poland. Thanks to Lew Bryson and Ryan Stotz for suggesting I add Dojlidy, Kozlak, and Tyskie. I'll try to find them, especially Dojlidy, in light of its imminent banishment from these shores. Sinebrychoff pours jet black in the glass, throwing off a brown -- not tan -- head supported by a medium to high carbonation level.
Nose:
Of the three I had sampled up to this point, the nose of Sinebrychoff was the most restrained. There were hints of both malt and roast, but that was the extent of the experience.
Flavor:
This beer has a thinnish body, especially compared to the Saku and Carnegie. The initial flavor was a basic maltiness, no coffee, toffee, or howdy-doody, just malt. This slipped into a roasty middle, which surrendered to a sharp bitter finish.
Final Analysis:
Of the five I reviewed, the Sinebrychoff was the least interesting. While I've gone out on a limb in my praise for the Saku, I'm perhaps trampling on some feet in my lack of excitement for Sinebrychoff. This is relative, of course; while I have yet to write about Okocim and Zywiec (both excellent beers) and I've already covered Saku and Carnegie -- all four I prefer to this one -- the Sinebrychoff is still a respectable porter.
Rating:
(Good on my 5-star scale)
