February 2, 2005
БAЛTИKA (Baltika) #6 Porter
Price comparison: About the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 7%
Cute bottle/label? 25-ounce squat brown glass. Short neck wrapped in a foil triangle, like the other Baltika offerings.
Appearance: Dark, like cola, with a sticky brown head.
Scent: Extremely malty, with hints of smokiness and molasses.
Flavor: More like a thin stout than a domestic porter in mouthfeel. I detected very little hops, even at the finish, but I've been sick and I'm out of practice. The flavors were decently restrained and balanced, some dark fruit and a bit of mocha, with a smoky finish.
Impressions: I think I like this better than some of the other porters I have had, but probably because it was almost like a doppelbock. It was a little heavily carbonated, so if I was going to be drinking it in mixed company, I'd probably want it slightly off the chill. It's a big but drinkable beer, and the flavor and texture would go well with beef or any strongly-flavored dish, perhaps something with onions and/or garlic.
Will I buy this beer again? I preferred it to the Baltika Extra, which has more alcohol but less flavor. I might buy this again, but not in bulk; it's more of a taster's beer than a crowd-pleaser. (And, okay, I am a sucker for the Cyrillic labeling.)
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses
November 9, 2003
БAЛTИKA (Baltika) Extra
Price comparison: About the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 8%
Cute bottle/label? 25-ounce brown glass with a very short, almost nonexistent neck that was wrapped in a triangle of foil. The whole effect reminded me of a matrioshka doll wearing a babushka, but that may simply have been my subconscious reaction to the beer's origins.
Appearance: Bright, clear gold with thick white head; no lace on the glass but a light film on the surface after the head disappated.
Scent: Nothing distinctive, but very clean and fresh overall.
Flavor: Reminded me a bit of mesclun salad with a hit of sea salt. Crisp and with a slight alcoholic tang, but not overpoweringly so.
Impressions: It looks nice, its aroma and flavors are completely inoffensive, and it's a nice kick for the money spent. On the downside, it's a bit more boring than I'd hoped. If I buy a beer with that many weird letters on the outside, I'd really prefer to be able to say, "I tried it and I was really impressed by it." I tried it and it's not too bad.
Will I buy this beer again? This is probably never going to be a regular player in my home, but if I'm entertaining, I'd certainly feel okay offering this to my guests who prefer lager to ale or stout. And, after all, there are all the weird letters on the outside going for it.
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses