Happy Valley Free Dive Baltic Porter

Free diving – diving underwater without breathing apparatus – seems both terrifying and impossible to me. But like many things well outside of my capability and comfort zone, I imagine it’s an amazing experience for the people who are good at it.

Luckily, Free Dive Baltic Porter doesn’t require experience. It’s the kind of beer you can give to someone who’s new to dark beers and they’ll be won over by the smooth flavours right away. Dark chocolate and oily coffee flavours lead the way, but for all the big flavour, it’s the subtleties that make this beer lovely: a touch of vanilla, a note of salt (might sound strange, but it works), a hint of roast and a whisper of smoke. There’s nothing harsh at all in this beer.

And just like the shafts of sunlight piercing the water while free divers make their way to the depths, plenty of red shines through this beer to light up the darkness. Beautiful.

Mick Wüst