Baltika #3 Classic - Baltika Breweries

yesyouam

New York

1.35/5  rDev -55.1%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Baltika 3 is a very clear, pale golden lager with a big, waxy, lumpy, white head that has good retention. The aroma is funky, grassy, and corny, with notes of DMS and vegetables. It's medium-light bodied; scratchy and papery with a sandpaper finish. One taste of this and I feel like I'm going to go live under a bridge. It's all fusel and DMS. I think my eyebrows are falling out. If I had this at a blind tasting I wouldnt've guessed it was beer. Poison. This is challenging-- and not in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 18:55:36 | More by yesyouam

cyrenaica

Ontario (Canada)

1.58/5  rDev -47.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I tried this beer on July 25, 2007 after purchasing it from my local LCBO store. It poured a nice translucent gold calour into the glass with a large head that disappeared quickly into nothing. The aroma was very faint malt...very faint. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied with high carbonation. The taste was awful, not sure how to describe it really. Almost has salt tones to it.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2007 19:37:09 | More by cyrenaica

Ralphus

Ontario (Canada)

1.63/5  rDev -45.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Baltika is Europe's second largest brewery behind Heineken and the largest in Eastern Europe. Their #3, "classic lager", is a 5.1% pale variety and has a shelf life of one year. Mine came from the LCBO and was bottled nearly five months before.

Baltika #3 poured nicely with a medium gold color and two finger carbonated head. Unfortunately that was the last I saw of the head as a minute later it was gone. Smell wise there's yeast with sweet floral tones.. but it's not all that pleasant really.

My first taste had me visibly shaken. I wasn't sure I could continue. It really had me wincing. But sometimes the first taste is just that way.. not what you were expecting. Once you've made the mental correction and adjusted the yeast-ometer up a factor of 10 this beer is not so shocking. But it's by no means good either. If the yeast doesn't get you the sweetness certainly will. It's like they thought they could cover up the yeast with tons of malted sugar.. but then they remembered it needs some hops - but you just can't get that high a concentration of hops!

Here's hoping the batch I had was poor despite the lack of light-struck taste. Good luck cause I couldn't finish mine!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2008 00:07:10 | More by Ralphus

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

1.75/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Well, the rules say that reviews have to be at least 250 words long. That'll be kinda tough, 'cause you could sum up this beer with just one word – insipid.

Pours up a very, very pale yellow. Quite clear, minimal carbonation. Smells grassy and hoppy, some yeast. Moderate head that settles to a thin, lumpish, queasy-looking film, gives up minimal lace. Taste-wise there is little to remark on – thin on the mouth, some chemical qualities.

The names of this outfit's beers (#1, #2, #3 . . . #10) are maybe reflective of the imagination they apply to their brewing. Sad and sorry.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2003 15:28:27 | More by TerryW

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

1.75/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

16.9oz bottle purchased for $2.49 at Hoosick Beverage in Troy NY. Served cold in a chilled pint glass.

Pale lemon yellow brew. Bright white head settles from 3/4" to a thick fizzy layer. Smells just like a barnyard- silage, wood chips, and a bit of skunk. Not appealing. Taste is just as bad. Fizzy corn water with a bit of citrus. Bleh. Mouthfeel is thin and fizzy. Pretty awful all around.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2010 00:38:29 | More by BeerNinja007

putnam

Michigan

1.78/5  rDev -40.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

After thoroughly purging a Duvel bowl of the remnants of an Ontario Hemp/Butterfinger beer, this virginally pale liquid arrives. It reeks of detergent hop essences and split yellow grains. On the palate it is another whipped, hyper-sweet confection. These excessively sweet styles must appeal to the Moutain Dew generation -- one can only assume. Be that as it may, this is a clean package of tannic grain husk, sugar, honey, brushed metal and bone flavors. I refuse to drink it.

A beer with the sophistication of Malt Liquor, the harshness of Euro Pils, and the price of an import. Avoid it.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2004 23:15:56 | More by putnam

mikeg67

New Jersey

1.8/5  rDev -40.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

.5 L bottle. Pours straw color with large head and soda like carbonation. Taste is soda like as well - bread, sugar with some herbal hops struggle to provide some balance, some skunk as well. There are some light hops in the finish. Medium body is smooth and sweet. Not very good brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 19:22:18 | More by mikeg67

chicagoabbot

Illinois

1.8/5  rDev -40.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

1.5 liter plastic bottle for $2.50...worth the gamble...if this Russian beer is any good, it would be in the fridge full time.

Unfortunately it wasn't just bad, it was terrible. My friend and I wound up pouring out the rest of our glasses and the 'big slam'.

Quick notes; color of turpentine, nary a bubble to be found in the brew within 30 seconds of pour, tastes...like watered down dog poop...wow real bad.

Drinkability was...well, we poured out the rest if that gives you and idea. Maybe it would have at least held some carbonation in a glass bottle and would get into the D+ range.

Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 21:02:49 | More by chicagoabbot

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

1.98/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Baltika #3 Classic

purchased from circle liquors rte 31 Pennington.

Appearance- yellow, leaning on the clear side. A thick head, more foam than beer.
Smell- cheap corn and hay. Oh boy this isn't gonna be good.
Taste- watered down macro beer. Cheap corn taste. Very watery.
Mouthfeel- water water water.

Overall- Is this the Budweiser of Russia?! Actually goes down better then Bud. Otherwise use for drinking games only.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2005 01:18:57 | More by NJpadreFan

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

2/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

500 ml bottle. Baltika 3 pours out a clear yellow with a small, fizzy, white head. Cereal grain and apple peel aroma. The flavor has a marked corn taste, with some candy sweetness and more apple peel. This certainly isn't the worst tasting Euro lager I've had, but there's something about it that makes me feel like gagging when I take a sip. It may be the corn flavor, of which I am not a big fan. The 500 ml bottle is a chore to work through. This is not a beer I'll try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2006 19:00:39 | More by beveragecaptain

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.03/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Very pale yellow body with a quite frothy fine-bubbles white head. The head collapses after a while but leaves some decent lacing. Carbonation is subtle.

Unpleasantly metallic nose, with a large whack of yeasty bread dough. Other than that, very bland.

Very bland on the palate as well. A little ashy bitterness at the end just emphasises how bland the rest of the beer is. If this beer were a film it would be Snakes on a Plane without the texture or subplots. Mouthfeel also very limp.

Drinkable? Maybe. But only if your options are very limited.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2007 05:15:18 | More by lacqueredmouse

jsh420

Illinois

2.03/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

pours a clear bright gold with a 1 finger head that dissapates quickly and leaves no lacing

smells of sweet grains but overall a macro adjunct lager

taste/mouthfeel - rather heavy since the carbonation is low - bland grains not much else

drinkability is low with these attributes

overall - i dont see myself buying this one again but glad i tried it

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 02:31:52 | More by jsh420

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.05/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Appearance: Golden straw color of most macro brewed beer forms a tiny large bubbled head that dwindles very quickly does leave some lacing evenly rung thin and runny however. Aroma: Corn and hop burp aromatics this is a macroswill if I ever smelled one, only European style. Taste: Extremely dull and filled of adjuncts corn doesn't do it for me and a astringent European hop this is just blah. Mouthfeel: Carbonated water says it all. Drinkability: Pass on this one at least if it were their malt liquor I could say it has the alcoholic qualities.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 01:51:00 | More by WVbeergeek

paterlodie

Belgium

2.1/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

BB 11-8-05. Pale beercolor and not overwelming but lasting head. Nose is very papery, oxidised sweet malts and further quiet empty. As taste is, oxidised, fatty acids, sweetish, lowly bittered and very light. Makes mouthfeel even wth good carbonisation not plesant and drinkable but one I'll avoid in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2005 18:53:53 | More by paterlodie

ernie

Russian Federation

2.15/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Very pale beer with a high level of carbonation. Almost no head.

Aroma is fruity, with some spices present.

Spritzy start - so spritzy that your tongue itches. Very blandand undistinctive taste with some malts, some hops and some other rough stuff in total disarray without even a hint of balance.

Aftertaste bitterseet, faint. An easy-forgettable beer, and it's better to forget it.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2006 09:14:59 | More by ernie

SkeeterHawk

Texas

2.17/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance: Poured a transparent light straw color with about an inch of loose foam after an aggressive pour. The head lasted for a minute or so.

Aroma: I notice Hops initially with a bit of malt and corn in the aroma profile.

Taste: I really only get hops and corn in the flavor. The mouthfeel at this point is pretty passive, so it almost seems like this beer has some body, though it is really thin.

Opinion: I don't have much to say about this beer. There is nothing really special about it except for the fact that it is clean and cheap. It has a better flavor than a lot of macro brews, but if I were to grab another beer, it would be something else.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 23:08:50 | More by SkeeterHawk

Dentist666

Russian Federation

2.17/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Very light yellow with friable 2-finger head, some lace. Grain aroma with tones of dough & paper. Medium carbonation. Proper grain taste, less hop, paper, alcohol & vegetable notes, not very pleasant aftertaste however, drinkability is low, beer only for 1 time!

Serving type: can

01-11-2010 14:56:53 | More by Dentist666

DogFood11

California

2.2/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Baltika 3 comes in a blue foiled bottle 5%abv.

This has to be the clearest/lightest color brew I've had to date just a bit of light straw color. Pours ok for this style. White fluffy head that holds out for a while suppored entirely by the bubbly. Bit of Grain, mellow hops and had to strain to pick up some malt. heavily carbonated mouthfeel that comes across crisp and refreshing. Another beer for football/daytime consumption. Easy drinking. Pass it off on your friends.

I got off to a rough start with this brewery and it continues. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2005 01:08:13 | More by DogFood11

Suds

Pennsylvania

2.2/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I’ve appreciated and enjoyed some of Baltika’s other fare, so I came into this brew with a pretty open mind. Unfortunately, there’s few redeeming qualities with this beer. It’s one of the few beers that I’ve had that I can say that I really didn’t enjoy. Pours a crystal clear yellow color with a fizzy head. The aroma is faint, with hints of maltgrain, and a vegetal and corn smell. It was not at all appealing. The taste isn’t much better. Modest sweetness and grain with a little harshness. Watery, with a shallow finish. Unimpressive. I was glad to be finished with it.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2006 17:12:57 | More by Suds

avalon07

South Carolina

2.2/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a bottle to a pilsener glass. Had a pale yellow color and slightly cloudy texture. Thick head, but no lacing.

Somewhat hoppy smell, maybe a little fruit smell, but not much else.

Very thin taste. Some hops, malt, possibly apples, but mainly it's just watery.

Not a lot of carbonation and a kind of metallic aftertaste. Below average mouthfeel.

This isn't an especially drinkable beer. The taste is just too thin and not at all complex to be interesting.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2008 04:12:46 | More by avalon07

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

2.23/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Medium gold hue in appearance, lots of carbonation, and a tall frothy head on the pour that slowly recedes.

Rough husky grains on the nose, crisp and metallic.

Sour corn and grains in the flavour up front, with a downhill ride of cooked veggies to the finish and beyond. Pretty one-dimensional and straight forward from there. The aftertaste is reminiscent of asphalt.

Mouthfeel is on the light side, this strikes me as a swillin' type of beer, you want it to go down fast and not linger very long, or so that's my impression.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2008 05:50:02 | More by IronDjinn

scottford

Japan

2.23/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Light, crisp, fruity taste. Thin head and golden body. Got to say that I didn't like this one and neither did the people I was with at the time. I hear it's not the best in the Baltika line so I will try and find the others.

I hope for the best to anyone who tries this beer though.

Serving type: can

02-02-2012 11:37:53 | More by scottford

Gusler

Arizona

2.25/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

If there is one thing I can say about this style of beer and that is “I don’t expect very much, and I’m never disappointed”. Not that it’s a bad style, just seems I can’t find one that hits the “B” spot, but if nothing else I’m persistent and I keep on trying and trying.

The archetypal lager color a transpicuous golden yellow, the head portly in size, bright white in color, frothy in texture, the lace a thin covering sheet. Nose is crisp fresh and clean, all malt, start is lightly sweet and loaded with malt, top skinny in feel. Finish has a perky acidity, the hops apropos to the style, dry aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 16:19:44 | More by Gusler

CrazyDavros

Australia

2.25/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours amber with a small persistent head.
The aroma shows sweet malt but is faint, and some vegetal notes are present in the background.
Rich malty flavours, but still slightly reminiscent of cooked vegetables.
At least the carbonation isn't too high.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 00:30:48 | More by CrazyDavros

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.25/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Got this a few days ago and just opened it out of the fridge at my friends house. Poured with a smallish, fine, white head, and no lace. Color is a clear, slightly pale yellow with small and large bubble trails. Aroma is malty and sweet. Flavor is like nose, very little hop, heavy grain flavor. Body is ok and so is carbonation. Finish is like flavor and totally forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 03:57:00 | More by drpimento