Beer Camp #78 – Baltic Joy and Devotion

On Friday, I took the family for some pizza at Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar and for a tapping of Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp #78 Baltic Joy (7.4% ABV and 35 IBU).  Baltic Joy is a Baltic Porter and was brewed with almonds and coconuts and I am thinking a good bit of chocolate malt to get a taste reminiscent of the Almond Joy candy bar.  I was amazed at the head retention on this beer and it seemed to never truly go away.  Baltic Joy was very tasty and I could detect chocolate, coffee, and hits of nuts and coconut.  The beer reminded me of Maui Brewing’s Coconut Porter.  This beer is very limited and it was not even listed on the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp site.

I also had a glass of Lost Abbey’s Devotion (6.25% ABV).  Devotion is a Belgian Pale Ale and the Lost Abbey is a noted brewer of Belgian-style beer.  Devotion was a great beer to enjoy with pizza and I liked the tastes of Belgian yeast, bread, sweetness and a touch of citrus bitterness. 

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp - http://www.sierrabeercamp.com/#/camp-beers

Devotion - http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/year-round-beers/devotion/

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Ska – Nefarious Ten Pin Porter

Ska is based in Durango, CO and they make a number of different styles.  One that has been sitting in my beer-fridge for some time is Nefarious Ten Pin Porter (8% IBU and 60 IBU) that is an Imperial version of Ten Pin Porter.  I am very glad I selected it and now I have to replace it.  A nice touch, is the waxed bottle too.

Baltic Porter Description - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/80 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Black with no head poured into a globe glass.

Aroma – Dark fruits, chocolate, coffee and rich malts.

Taste – Very well balanced and this beer is a great example of this style – one of my favorites – as nothing is over the top.  One can detect sweetness that is nicely balanced by bitterness – the key is balance.  Then there are coffee, chocolate and dark fruit overtones of date and cheery.

Overall – A – Ska does a great job with Nefarious.  I am not sure if you will be a better bowler, but you’ll enjoy bowling if you have one of these.

Website description – "Nobody bowls better sober.  No one is suggesting you get drunk; merely stating the facts.  Our extra strong Imperial Porter will make you better at bowling.  King of the alley – this Imperial Porter reigns supreme.  Creamy, chocolaty sweet, with hints of coffee and bing cherries, the Nefarious is wickedly outrageous."

Ska Brewing Co. – http://www.skabrewing.com/main.html