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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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
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottled 330ml. -at Goblet Zagreb, shared with Hrabren. Pitch black coloured, medium sized brownish head, roasty nose with whiff of alcohol. Roasted malt, dark chocolate, light blackcurrant and notes of alcohol with mild burnt touch in the finish.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Goblet Beer Store - Zagreb
on 16 Dec 2025
at 11:17
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 8
0.33 l bottle shared with Ogi at Goblet Beer Store, Zagreb. Black, oily, minimal head. Aroma is intense roasty, slightly burnt, molasses and licorice. Flavour is molasses, blueberry jam, black cherry, thick, soft texture. Smooth, finishes sweet with a burnt finish.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Goblet Beer Store - Zagreb
on 15 Dec 2025
at 22:18
8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8.5
330ml bottle. Pours jet black with a medium head. Aroma is oily, woody liquorice, cough syrup and dark berries. Taste has syrupy berries and cough syrup throughout. A little liquroice and roast on the finish.
Sticky mouthfeel.
Sticky mouthfeel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Dec 2025
at 21:07
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Pitch black colour with no head.Aroma is sweet and tart with taste of syrup and brown sugar nice oily and tart warming and roasted mouth feels mild and well balanced finish.
Tried
from Draft
at
Taphouse
on 08 Dec 2025
at 14:59
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
EB Tap@Taphouse (03/12/2025)
Tried
from Draft
at
Taphouse
on 03 Dec 2025
at 06:42
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
On tap at Põhjala, pours jet black with a small tan head. Aroma has deep dark malts, plenty of spirit, and some booze. Flavour is very rich, with intense dark malts, big spirit notes, dark sugars, and a touch of liquorice. Extremely big, very syrupy, a bit brutal. It’s good but over-the-top.
Tried
from Draft
on 16 Nov 2025
at 19:17