Beer Styles

What is a Baltic Porter? A strong, dark beer from the Baltic region, known in Poland as Porter Bałtycki. It's stronger than a London Porter and milder than an Imperial Stout. Typical aromas include chocolate, coffee, caramel, plums, and raisins, paired with a soft, rounded body.

How much alcohol does Baltic Porter contain? According to the BJCP style guidelines, an American competition reference, between 6.5 and 9.5% ABV. Original gravity runs from 14.7 to 21.6 degrees Plato, with bitterness between 20 and 40 IBU. Individual beers can fall outside these ranges—the numbers are a guideline, not a rule.

How does Baltic Porter differ from English Porter? Under the same guidelines, London Porter sits at 4 to 5.4% ABV and is top-fermented. Baltic Porter is considerably stronger and usually bottom-fermented, which keeps the roasted notes milder. It actually has less in common with an Imperial Stout, which brings even more bitterness and roast, than its dark appearance might suggest.

Danzig's Jopenbier is a different case altogether. It was less a style in the modern sense than a trade good: very thick, very sweet, and very strong. No style guideline exists for it, and modern recreations are based on historical descriptions rather than an actual recipe. Anyone trying Jopenbier from Gdańsk today is essentially tasting an idea of a beer. Porter Bałtycki, on the other hand, has a clear guideline that competitions and brewers can follow.