Trapped in my apartment over a recent snow-filled weekend, I decided to take up a challenge from Delaware’s own Old Dominion Brewing Company. “Raise your glass to those who were bold enough to brave the Baltic!” read the label of my Dominion Baltic Porter. Nestled between Sweden, Poland, Russia, and a handful of other Eastern European nations, the Baltic Sea was a bit of a mystery to me. So I sent my taste buds on a trip across the Atlantic to investigate.

I poured a cold bottle of the rich, dark brown brew in the comfort of my own living room, while the snow poured down outside. The combination of its near-opaque body and lifeless head struck me as appropriate for a style of beer that derives its name from a desolate north-European sea – frozen shorelines, solemnly silent waves, and meandering sea ice. But beneath the surface, this porter was bursting with waves upon waves of flavor: roasted malt, strong coffee, and a smoky medium-hopped finish that came alive as the beer reached the back of my mouth. Honestly, the flavor profile made it one of the best porters I’ve ever had.

My advice? The next time a record-breaking blizzard traps you indoors for a weekend, pour yourself a Dominion Baltic Porter and savor it slowly, sip by sip, as you cozy up in your favorite armchair. Be bold, and brave the Baltic!

ABV: 7.0%

Grade: A-