Öö XO Cognac Barrel Aged Imperial Baltic Porter

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with elegant cognac-soaked raisins and dark chocolate, underscored by espresso and toasted oak. Subtle notes of dried figs and vanilla emerge from the extended barrel maturation. The palate is luxuriously smooth and full-bodied, delivering waves of dark roasted malt, coffee liqueur, and caramelized brown sugar, interwoven with cognac’s characteristic grape sweetness and warming oakiness. The finish is long and contemplative, with lingering dark fruit compote, leather, and a gentle alcoholic warmth balanced by restrained bitterness and wood tannins.

Food Pairing

Pair with dark chocolate terrine infused with espresso and sea salt, where the beer’s roasted complexity and barrel character enhance the bitter-sweet interplay. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Comté or Manchego cheese with fig jam, allowing the cognac barrel notes to bridge the nutty, crystalline cheese texture with the preserved fruit’s concentrated sweetness.

About Põhjala Brewery

Põhjala Brewery was founded in 2011 in Tallinn, Estonia, by four beer enthusiasts who were later joined by head brewer Chris Pilkington. The brewery’s name translates to “northern realm” in Estonian, reflecting its deep connection to the Nordic region and the forests of Estonia. Põhjala has established itself as the largest craft brewery in the Baltic states, distinguished by its particular focus on porters, barrel ageing, and the incorporation of indigenous Estonian forest ingredients into its brewing process.

The brewery’s first beer, Öö Imperial Baltic Porter, was contract-brewed before the company opened its original facility in Tallinn’s Nõmme district in April 2014. Following rapid growth, Põhjala invested nearly 4.9 million euros in 2018 to relocate to a state-of-the-art brewery in the Noblessner area, featuring a capacity of 1,200 hectolitres per month and an extensive taproom with 24 taps. Põhjala holds the distinction of being the only Baltic brewery to appear in Ratebeer’s prestigious “top 100” list of world breweries, cementing its reputation as a leading force in European craft beer.

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