I feel good about how we just get to sit back and relax all the time here at Klockow. It’s a cakewalk, every day. We could do it in our sleep, and in fact, do most of the time.
Take this last week, for instance. Say, on Thursday, when the friendly folks at United Way 1000 Lakes stopped by for a leisurely afternoon of rounding up dozens of volunteers to unpack and repack box upon crate upon box of school supplies into hundreds of backpacks to help area kids be set up for success at the start of the school year. Seriously, what a snooze, as everyone bustled about to fill a trailer with the thousands of dollars worth of donated supplies (a huge thanks to everyone who came and helped! Countless kids are going to be better prepared for school because of you).
Then two days later, when we opened early on Saturday for the Run for Beer 5k. Basically a massage with gossamer feathers. We kicked back as over a 100 runners and volunteers and Minnesota Brewery Running Series staff made their way through the brewery, wanting round after round of beers. Close to half the runners had never been here before, so dozens of perambulating enthusiasts from throughout the state got to see how chill we are. Beside the nice bit of business done that day, relaxed though it was, out of the thousands of dollars raised from runner registrations, a portion is going to Great Tails Animal Rescue (seriously, what an amazing day with so many people! And we’re pumped to be able to further help our local animal rescue!).
Ok, What Is That?
It’s another typical day. You’re at the brewery, looking for a pint. Feels like a dark beer day, am I right? So there you see it: a porter. That’s a dark beer! But what’s this? It doesn’t just say porter; it says Baltic Porter. “So now what? Is it still dark? What makes it Baltic? Will I even like this beer?!” you silently scream to the indifferent heavens.
The short answer is, yes, go for it. It’s likely got all the things you’re looking for in a porter. Just be mindful of the fact that it’s probably over 7% alcohol; a good thing to keep in mind if you plan on having a few. Another thing to consider is that Baltic Porters, while undoubtedly a dark beer, tend toward the browner side. So if the bartender puts a pint before you and it isn’t black as pitch, do not be alarmed. They didn’t give you the wrong beer, and the brewer didn’t mess anything up.
So what’s going on? The longer answer to the Baltic Porter question is that, unlike their English Porter counterpart, which are ales, Baltic Porters are actually lagers. With a cold-fermenting lager yeast that does its job very slowly, Baltic Porters in the end have a cleaner body and mouthfeel than other porters and stouts, and tend to lean away from aggressive roasted notes. There will be some, but they stop short of bitterness. What you do tend to find is caramel and toffee notes, as well as dark fruit like plums, blackberries, and blueberries. Taste-wise, they have much in common with German Schwartzbiers (the literal translation to English is “Black Beer.” Gotta hand it to the practicality of those Germans!).
And not to bury the lead, but if you hadn’t guessed, yes, the style does originate from the Baltic countries like Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. But where it gained most of its international popularity was when it was introduced to the working class of London back as far as the late 1700s. They lost popularity during the Cold War, but since the 1990s there’s been a slow resurgence. And due to their unique recipe, they are a godsend to niche breweries that only do lagers, since they allow them to have at least one classic dark malted beer on tap.
Here at Klockow, be sure to give our Pokegama Porter a try next time you’re in the taproom! This brew first originated from a collaboration with Revelaton Ale Works in Hallock, MN, back just prior to the pandemic in the winter of 2020. It’s since become a favorite amongst many of our regulars, as well as those just passing through. Though, of course, we still get the occasional person wondering why it isn’t as black as a stout.
We Barley Know You, But We Hop to Change That. It’s the Yeast We Can Do: an Oak Barrel
Question: Alright, we’re interviewing Oak Barrel today.
Oak Barrel: Howdy, y’all.
Q: Let’s get right into it. How long have you worked here?
OB: Well, I wasn’t here right away, but probably a few months in they were able to get me on board and fill me with the good stuff!
Q: In all that time, what’s your favorite beer to age?
OB: Ooh, I gotta say, I love vanilla beans. That’s one of my favorite things. It really compliments, well, me!
Q: I’ve heard this.
OB: So Magic Roundabout (Imperial B.A. Vanilla Stout) it would be.
Q: When you’re not aging beer, what do you like to have slosh around in you?
OB: Well, when I was younger, it was a loooooot of booze. Lot of bourbon, whiskey, sometimes wine, sometimes gin. If I felt like taking a trip, I’d maybe do some scotch!
Q: That sounds exciting. So tell us a bit more about what your job is at the brewery.
OB: My job is pretty cool. I just get to chill. One of my favorite things is laying on a rack for maybe a year or two, not moving, just ebbing and flowing with the temperatures. But that’s what helps the beer along; if I get cool, my wood contracts, and if I get hot, it expands my wood! And all that beer gets… well, I sip a lot of it.
Q: So you lay around and sip beer?
OB: Yeah, pretty much.
Q: But then spit it out?
OB: Yeah, eventually. When they tell me too.
Q: Okay. (Awkward silence) So, um, tell me what you do for fun.
OB: I mean, mainly just sit around and chill on some racks, but like I said before, every now and then I get to travel to Europe. Because in my early life, like when I was a bourbon barrel, I could only be used once and then they’re done with me! They say, “Git on outta here!” So some of us go to beer right away. Some of us go to Scotland and get to age and sit for 15-18 years. It’s a nice little trip!
Q: What’s a fun/interesting fact about yourself?
OB: Well, I’m self-sealing!
Q: Are you?
OB: Yes. I got these cool little rings around me that can get looser or tighter. My makers, they’re called Coopers… funny how every single one of them is named Cooper. But they put these bands on me, and they squeeze me together nice and tight; big hug! And then I make sure a drop doesn’t get spilled!
Q: Wow.
OB: Sometimes a little bit of drip.
Q: Impressive. Now, last question: If you could be any tree, what would you pick and why?
OB: Well, I think I was a tree once…
Q: Oh, oh I’m so sorry.
OB: That was a long time ago. I remember, hanging in the forest, my saplings around me…
Q: Oh my, I didn’t mean to…
OB: But, yeah, right, ok. But it’s been a fun ride since then. So, uh, no complaints.
Q: Good! I’m glad to hear that.
OB: Because I’m sure my family is still growing just fine.
Q: (Awkward silence) Right! I’m sure they’re just fine.
OB: Yep, just growing bigger and bigger and bigger. (Stares pensively off into the distance) Yep, just still growing.
~
Thanks for checking out our humble little brewery! As long as you keep coming by, we’ll do our part by making the best damn beer possible and serving it in our always inviting atmosphere.
The Klockow Staff
Beer and Shrubbery Drops this Week:
Local, etc -
Remer Muni Liquor Store
Sugar Lake Lodge- Cohasset
Sammy's Pizza - Grand Rapids
Pickled Loon - Grand Rapids
Boulder Taphouse - Grand Rapids
Pokegama Plaza Liquor - Grand Rapids
SuperOne Foods South - Grand Rapids
SuperOne Foods North - Grand Rapids
SuperOne Liquor - Grand Rapids
Dutch Room - Grand Rapids
Ravenstone - Coleraine
Smoke on the Water - Coleraine
Frontier Liquors - Grand Rapids
38 Outpost - Grand Rapids
Blackberry Junction
Hotel Rapids - Grand Rapids
Locker Room - Coleraine
Brainerd Lakes Area -
Boulder Taphouse - Baxter
Lake Country Liquor - Outing
SuperOne Liquor - Crosby
SuperOne Liquor - Baxter
WestWorld -
Red River Liquor Co - Akeley
Liquor Depot of Staples
Twin Cities, etc -
MN State Fair - St Paul
South Lyndale - Mpls
Ombibulous - Mpls
Scandia Olde Towne Liquor
Stinson Wine, Beer & Spirits - Mpls
Eagle Liquor - Lino Lakes