Two Hawley breweries team up for a hearty Baltic porter…
There’s a particular kind of dark beer that makes sense when the weather turns, when the light fades early, and when you want depth without excess. Baltic Beast, the new collaboration between Wallenpaupack Brewing Company and Hopping Eagle Brewing Company, fits squarely in that category. It’s a Baltic porter, 8.0% ABV, dark as night, smooth by design, and it arrives not as a novelty or a flex, but as a carefully considered winter beer rooted in place.
About the beer…
From the outset, Baltic Beast signals restraint. The official description points to roasted malt, rich cocoa, hints of dried fruit, and a clean, lagered smoothness. No dessert metaphors. No barrel theatrics. Just a classic style executed the way it’s meant to be. That matters because Baltic porters are not loud beers. They’re built for patience, cold fermentation, extended conditioning, and a focus on balance rather than bite.
Baltic porters occupy an interesting space in the beer world. They’re dark and malt-forward like English porters or stouts, but fermented and lagered cold, which gives them a rounded, polished finish. When done well, they offer chocolate, toast, and subtle dark fruit without harsh roast or cloying sweetness. Baltic Beast appears to lean fully into that tradition, especially with its emphasis on smoothness over intensity.
Visually, the beer looks the part. Based on early pours and promotional imagery, it presents as opaque black with a dense tan head, exactly what you’d expect from the style. The can design reinforces the idea that this beer belongs where it was brewed. A serpentine lake monster winds across the label, a clear nod to Lake Wallenpaupack and the folklore that surrounds it. The palette is subdued and nautical, more vintage than flashy, and the dual branding keeps the collaboration front and center without gimmicks.
The Hawley craft beer scene is one of NEPA’s best…
That sense of place isn’t accidental. Wallenpaupack Brewing Company has built its identity around Lake Wallenpaupack since opening in 2017. The Wallenpaupack brewery sits just off the lake and leans heavily into that connection, even adopting the phrase “Brewed with Lake Affection” as a guiding ethos. Baltic Beast fits comfortably into that worldview, both in name and in spirit. It’s currently pouring on tap at Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, where the lake isn’t just scenery, it’s part of the brand’s DNA.
Hopping Eagle Brewing Company, located inside the historic Hawley Silk Mill, brings a different but complementary energy to the collaboration. As a nano-brewery, Hopping Eagle thrives on small batches and a constantly evolving tap list. That flexibility makes it an ideal partner for a style like Baltic porter, which demands attention to process and timing. Baltic Beast is available there both on tap and in cans to go, making Hopping Eagle the place to spend more time with the beer at home.
What makes this collaboration notable isn’t just the beer itself, but what it says about the Hawley brewing scene. Two breweries, operating at different scales but in the same small town, came together to brew a beer that prioritizes technique and tradition over trends. That kind of partnership suggests confidence, confidence in their audience, in their craft, and in the idea that drinkers in the 570 are willing to meet a beer where it is.
Get some Baltic Beast before it’s gone…
Baltic Beast also feels right for the season. Northeastern Pennsylvania winters don’t call for excess sweetness or aggressive bitterness. They call for beers that warm without overwhelming, that reward slow drinking, and that feel substantial without being heavy-handed. A well-made Baltic porter checks all of those boxes.
There’s no indication yet whether Baltic Beast will return as a seasonal release or remain a one-off collaboration, and there are still technical details, lagering time, brewing logistics—that could be explored down the line. But none of that is required to appreciate what this beer is aiming to be right now.
Baltic Beast works because it’s grounded. In geography. In style. In a collaboration that feels purposeful rather than promotional. It’s a dark beer that doesn’t shout, but instead invites you to slow down, take a sip, and pay attention. In winter, that’s often exactly what you want.
