Enchanter – Hi-Wire Brewing – Asheville, NC

Baltic Porter, 8.5% ABV

appearance: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A thin, brief-lived pebbly tan head sits atop a dark brown body with ruby highlights; lacing is fair, consisting of slabs and caverns. The nose is light in intensity, but attention-getting: a seamless, punchy blend of bitter coffee, oak and booze backed by hints of smoke and black-strap molasses. The palate shows a sweeter and much richer dark malt character than the nose would predict; it’s a smooth, seamless melange that includes milk chocolate, cocoa, toffee and molasses, and ends up just slightly on the sweet side of the balance. Like the aroma, there is just a hint of smoke. The finish is toffee/caramel, with a bit of carbonation bite, and ends dryish; the linger is a subtle coffee/oak bitterness that sticks around for a minute or two. Mouthfeel is on point for the full body, and the texture is stoutish: viscous, sticky, creamy, and just faintly peppery from the restrained carbonation. (12 oz bottle, no code date)

(c) 2018 Old Man Metal