Porter Pugilism

This week now has a de facto theme: porter. Basically, I've got nothing better to do than to review a couple of porters and share some insight, mine (limited) or otherwise (vast).

For a primer on the development of the style in the United Kingdom, I suggest checking out some well-researched articles by Ron Pattinson and the Zythophile. If you're interested in finding out about the evolution of this style over time, the raw data relating to different breweries malting and hopping these beers in their early stages, the advent of "stout" porter and its social history, then both are great resources and an entertaining read. I've also been peeking back at Garrett Oliver's The Brewmaster's Table for pairing and history, which also brings up the original practice of blending porter.

But for now, I'm going to switch gears and play the Don King of beer reviews. Ladies and gentlemen, coming later this week... the ultimate showdown, the thrilla with perhaps a hint of vanilla, a Baltic battle royale: Victory Baltic Thunder vs. Smuttynose Baltic Porter. The challenger is a hefty contender from New England that's out to prove itself worthy amongst so many other Big Beer Series offerings, throwing caution to the wind and extra malt in the mash. The champ is a reincarnation of its former self, the infamous Heavyweight Brewing Perkuno's Hammer recipe reissued as the rumblin' Baltic Thunder.

Will the young upstart have a chance at stealing the champ's 'thunder', or will the king retain his crown as undisputed Heavyweight in the realm of all that is malty and Baltic? Find out later this week!