Naming a beer after a mythical, Eastern European forest hag takes guts. You never know if the spirit of that witch is going to seek retribution for invoking her name. However, Seventh Son’s choice to name its Wood-Aged Baltic Porter ‘Ragana Yaga’ is justified. Like the legend, this brew is mysterious and shrouded in darkness, slightly treacherous and not at all what first impressions claim. And, it is probably haunted by the witch, so drink extra responsibly.
On the nose, Ragana begins with a cloud of big, roasted malts, accented by notes of chocolate and some smoky vapors that linger at the back of each breath. Caramel and a hint of molasses add a touch of sweetness that slides in on top of the malt base, while deep veins of dates, prunes, and raisins constantly add that darkfruit strength. Beneath everything flows a river of booziness, adding a mild tang of alcohol that rings deep in the nose. Faint hops add a gentle touch of bitterness without any kind of floral or citrus that could detract from the dark power of the bouquet.
The taste begins with a heavier malt profile than was found in the aroma. Roast and rich bread and toast are joined by hints of cereal malts to create a base fills the mouth and contributes a bit of sweetness on its own. A sizeable chocolate presence looms at the back, sitting at a tasty intersection of slight bitterness, and mild sweetness. In fact, it counters the hints of char bitterness that float around the back of each taste, bringing out faint hints of the aged-wood notes. Unfortunately, these notes are fleeting, and in most tastes, the “wood-aged” quality of this brew will exist only in the title. Having said that, the lack of aged flavors detract nothing from this beer. By the time you begin to notice the absence of wood notes, flavors of prunes and raisins rise up in the back alongside a touch of cinnamon, mingling with brown sugar and some molasses to create a thin layer of sweetness that runs throughout each drink. Smoke is present throughout, which interestingly creates a Scotch Ale vibe as it tag-teams with heavy malts and chocolate notes. This is further accentuated by a ending of boozy notes that adds a slightly sharp bite (don’t worry, the smoothness of each drink will quickly mask the alcohol burn). It is definitely a deceptive brew, drawing from different styles but in the end, it’s tasty as hell, which is ultimately all that matters.
Seventh Son’s Ragana Yaga is a beer that evolves right before your eyes (or rather, your tongue). Beginning as a Baltic Porter, it finishes like a potent Scotch Ale, and stays delicious through the entire journey. Despite an apparent lack of wooden agedness, this stumble is minor – the beer simply doesn’t care, and neither should you (or else you risk the wrath of an Old World Demi-God, and that’s never fun). Like the beer’s namesake, outward appearances can be deceiving, and one must delve deeper to discover the true nature.
