Barrique Noire (Cellar Series)
Põhjala in Tallinn, Harju County, Estonia 🇪🇪
Porter - Imperial Baltic Series|
Score
7.78
|
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An indulgent imperial Baltic porter aged in French crème de cassis barrels.
Taste
First sip is roasty with a subtle smokiness. A mineral saltiness plays quietly in the background. The mid-palate turns blackcurrant jammy, complemented by dark plums and raisins. The aftertaste is long and persistent - roasty bitterness balanced by a blackcurrant-liqueur-like sweetness. This is a full-bodied, bold, and multifaceted beer with excellent long-term cellaring potential.
Nose
Heavily roasted oak with hints of vanilla and cinnamon, supported by smoky plum and blackcurrant in the background.
Appearance
Dark brown, nearly black beer with a beige-brown, finger-thick head that lingers for a long time.
Hops
El Dorado
Malts
Pilsner, Munich light, kaeralinnased, Caramel 150, Chocolate, Chocolate wheat
Taste
First sip is roasty with a subtle smokiness. A mineral saltiness plays quietly in the background. The mid-palate turns blackcurrant jammy, complemented by dark plums and raisins. The aftertaste is long and persistent - roasty bitterness balanced by a blackcurrant-liqueur-like sweetness. This is a full-bodied, bold, and multifaceted beer with excellent long-term cellaring potential.
Nose
Heavily roasted oak with hints of vanilla and cinnamon, supported by smoky plum and blackcurrant in the background.
Appearance
Dark brown, nearly black beer with a beige-brown, finger-thick head that lingers for a long time.
Hops
El Dorado
Malts
Pilsner, Munich light, kaeralinnased, Caramel 150, Chocolate, Chocolate wheat
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7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle split at the CBJ tasting, thanks to Fergus, 04/03/2026.
Black topped with a khaki cap that veers to the edge over time.
Nose is chocolate, roast malts, dried red berries.
Taste comprises roast malts, spice, charr, chocolate dipped raisins, molasses.
Full bodied, fine carbonation, drying close with a mellow boost.
Not bad.
Black topped with a khaki cap that veers to the edge over time.
Nose is chocolate, roast malts, dried red berries.
Taste comprises roast malts, spice, charr, chocolate dipped raisins, molasses.
Full bodied, fine carbonation, drying close with a mellow boost.
Not bad.
Tried
on 04 Mar 2026
at 00:00
7.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Had this Friday 27th February 2026 around Jude and Baz's, Spond, Herefordshire after cooking a Chicken Tikka Masala, cheers Jude and Baz for picking this up from Pōhjala brewery, Tallin. Pours black with a slim light beige head. Créme de Cassis shows, fruity with a tart edge, nice mouthfeel, smooth, thickness and a little tang. Really good.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room
on 27 Feb 2026
at 21:27
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 9
Overall 7
Bottle I guess at Goblet ZG, with Pivari Grada Zagreba, thx. Very dark brown body, fleeting brownish head. Extreme dog food maltiness in the aroma. Leathery, sweet taste, dried plums, just too much. Smooth taste, good body, but... not to my preferences I have to say.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Goblet Beer Store - Zagreb
on 27 Feb 2026
at 21:26
8/10
Bottle. An intense, yet kind of balanced, porter with lots of chocolate. Some booze, oak and coffee. Roasted malts and some hints of dark berries and brown sugar. It's sweet, but with a decent bitterness to bring some balance. Nice indeed. 848415 260220
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Feb 2026
at 19:03
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
YG. Black color with a tan head. Aroma and flavor is alcohol, chocolate, black current, caramel, booze, brown sugar.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Feb 2026
at 07:51
8.3/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Svart med brunt skum. Lukter mørk sjokolade, lakris, svisker og havre. Maltig. Smaker mørk sjokolade, salt lakris, svarte kirsebær, havre og noe tobakk. Middels så lang.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Feb 2026
at 16:39
8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 10
Bottle shared, black beer, small head. Aroma is sweet, chocolate, fruit, dark ripe fruit, sweet, berries, vanilla. Taste is the same, cacao/chocolate, bitter sweet, fruit, berries, dark ripe fruit, cassis,
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Jan 2026
at 20:32
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
330 ml bottle. Pours almost black with moderate short tan head. Aromas of fruity chocolate liqueur, dark berries, vanilla, and slick roasted malts. Flavors of same; fruity dark chocolate and roasted malts. Unique. Beautiful
Tried
from Bottle
from
Just In Beer
on 29 Jan 2026
at 17:05
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
-1 point for the utterly irritating wax, making it a threat for my fingers. A few seconds of russet-beige bubbles over jet-black beer. Rather fruity aroams, with liquorice, some roast, and maltsyrup. Lots of esters, higher alcohols and fusels, cake glazing, meatroast, dark berries. Thick, chewy, luxurious beer, alcoholheat. Full bodied, well carbonated and hot. Impressive. And I had no idea that Crème de Cassis came in barrels ?!
Tried
from Bottle
at
Beerlovers Bar
on 12 Jan 2026
at 13:50
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Sampled at Billies, day 2. Opaque black color, average sized off-white to beige head. Aroma and flavor are malts, moderate to medium roasty, wood, boozy a bit and soft raisin notes. Very tasty! 8-8-8,5-8-8,5
Tried
on 22 Dec 2025
at 21:00