Baltika #3 Classic - Baltika Breweries

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 16.9 oz. bottle. Has a pale yellow color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of grains, malts, some sweetness. Taste is crisp, clean, malts, some sweetness, just a touch of hops. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a refreshing and pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 23:52:39 | More by tone77

metter98

New York

3/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high bright white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of sweet adjunct malts are present in the nose—corn seems to stand out in particular.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is slightly sweet and has some flavors of corn. No bitterness is perceptible.
M: It feels light-bodied (but not watery) and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Although this beer seemed a little bland, I didn't mind drinking it because it was pleasant tasting, wasn't that sweet and went down easily.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 00:10:34 | More by metter98

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.06/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From the 25 fl. oz bottle marked: 2507.12-05:07/2507.13-0-W. Sampled on March 31, 2013.

The pour is pale yellow with a slightly longer lasting white fizzy head than #2, #5, and #7.

The aroma is grainy with subtle malts and a clean, crisp hop note and maybe the slightest bit of toasted bread.

The body is light and maybe a tad astringent.

The taste is about what I would expect from a pale lager with grain and barley leading the charge, a slight sweetness, ending with a clean finale. It is a pale lager that is typical and average for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 18:29:23 | More by puboflyons

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.29/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a US tumbler glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains light caramelized malts, grain and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with breadiness from grain and a thin malt character. Then some malt and adjunct sweetness comes in. The hops presence is extremely mild but creates a little bit of balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

O: A little tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, it’s not a bad beer but it’s something that I would only choose if my options were quite limited.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 23:10:51 | More by TheManiacalOne

UCLABrewN84

California

3.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottled 5/29/12. Best before 5/29/13.

Pours a clear light yellow with a foamy white head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, and some slight vegetal aromas. Taste is much the same with some corn flake and grassy flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an average beer but it's drinkable and pretty refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 03:13:20 | More by UCLABrewN84

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served this Russian Euro Lager from a bottle and poured into a pint glass. Poured a clear, golden color, produced a thin white head, poor retention, and left little lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of malted grain, apples, and hints of spicy hops. Light in body, this Euro Lager had a foundation of cereal grains, honey, and spicy hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 19:16:51 | More by GossageBrewery

RickS95

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Unfortunately, I picked this up well after the 'best by' date so I'm not sure I should even be reviewing this, but here goes.

Clear straw golden color. Looks like any American macro on the shelves at a grocery. The head is a finger thick of white foamy bubbles. Little retention, no apparent lacing.

Slightly grainy, faintly floral, a bit of lemony citrus. The smells are all fairly muted and nothing really stands out as dominant.

The taste isn't terrible. It's very Czechvar-like in its buttery flavor. Has some grassy, grainy, floral taste to it. Kind of a lemony honey taste to it.

Not much body, but a faint citric sweetness to it. Kind of a grainy, grassy feel. Fruity tart finish, no hoppy bitterness. Buttery smoothness throughout.

Tastes and feels better than it looks or smells. Overall, it's a fairly easy drink. Could use more alcohol, but I think I prefer this to Budweiser or Czechvar.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 03:28:07 | More by RickS95

MadScientist

New York

3.58/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is very clear medium yellow beer with a white head that quickly settles to a thin cap.

Grainy and slightly sweet smelling with some green apples and cooked corn. There is very little hops aroma.

Very crisp with a corn-like sweetness with very low hops flavor and an a moderately-low hops bitterness. The overall balance is just slightly towards the bitter side with a dry finish.

I was sampling this because it's listed as a classic example of the Standard American Lager so I figured I try the Russian's take on this style. This a bit better the average lawnmower beer, not that I'll be stocking up on these but I'll try a few of the the other styles from Baltika.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 23:36:37 | More by MadScientist

rangerred

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

500ml bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a crystal clear medium yellow with a fizzy half finger head that is quick to fade.

Aroma is quite grainy with some hints of grass and hay. Also a touch of sourness.

The flavor is actually quite nice at first. Lots of bready grain and some grassy hops much like other Euro pale lagers. There is a decent amount of honey present as well which is quite pleasant. The problem, however, is the beer is a bit too sweet. It doesn't become cloying but the dry crispness I like from these types of beers isn't present.

Overall, an average to slightly above average pale lager. It is definitely drinkable but probably not something I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 00:59:07 | More by rangerred

chinchill

South Carolina

2.5/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 16.9 oz brown bottle into a snifter.

A: a rather pale golden lager: a modest, sudsy white head covers the beer for only a few minutes.

Aroma: light malt and corn with a hint of honey.

T: (too) sweet and corny, with very low levels of hops and malt.

M: rather light and watery body; carbonation is a tad low; smooth.

Overall: this beer is drinkable but poor enough to earn an avoid recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 00:04:48 | More by chinchill

doktorhops

Australia

2.7/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Nostrovia comrade! [insert various Russian stereotypes here] well looks like I finally arrived on the shores of the Baltic sea, not literally, but with taste buds awaiting a bit of the old Soviet treatment I plunge into the deep end.

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a conical pint.

A: A boisterous white Russian head explodes into the glass then (much like the Soviet Union) dies away to nothing, point one to capitalism! (how exactly I'm not sure). The body is clear mildly hazy and golden as a lager should be.

S: Smells like Babushka dolls and stewed cabbage... not really, actually it has a typical lager aroma but I've already described that a hundred times, but if you must: grains, slight malt and trace amounts of hops in the back notes. This one is a little yeastier than a usual lager.

T: Yep! There's that yeast. You aint hiding nothing from nobody Baltika. Fairly cheap tasting euro lager similar to the Royal Dutch Post Horn, and we all know how much I liked that one... no? Well here's a link: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/548/29475/?ba=doktorhops - Balitka #3 exhibits the usual suspects; malt, hops, yeast, water, they're all here. The balance might be better if I drank it colder (like straight from the fridge on a hot day cold) however I'm not impressed by beers that have to be drunk ice cold.

M: Flatish... slightly watery body... quite flaccid (if that is an acceptable word to use in a beer review).

D: This is another in a long line of beers that does very little to distinguish itself from the competition, damn I am really over the thousands of lagers out there that taste the same, is it that hard to make an interesting tasting lager or are we all just a bunch of drones the breweries brew crap for? I would like to say something more pleasant about Baltika but I can't. It's a boring lager like the rest, nothing to get excited about. Drinkable? Yes like any other cold beer on a hot day, that is it.

Food match: I'm going to be lazy and say Russian cuisine. Done!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 08:44:12 | More by doktorhops

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +31.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Baltika 3 has a thin, white head, a clear, yellow-golden appearance, and just a touch of lacing left on the glass. The aroma is straightforward: malty, cracker, sweetness, and bread. Taste is similar, with mild hop bitterness present as well. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Baltika 3 finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, highly drinkable, and mostly dry. Overall, this beer is a simple pleasure, and I recommend try it.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 00:34:19 | More by RonaldTheriot

beerme343

Idaho

3.45/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tasted from a bottle poured into a clear pint glass. Formed a massive head of small bubbles in a tight white foam that dissipated rapidly. The color of this beer is an extremely light gold with excellent clarity.

Smell is light and not very remarkable although it's not offensive in any way.

The taste displays a little bit of malt and a touch of sweetness reminiscent of cane sugar. There is also a very modest hop note.

This beer is silky and smooth and easy to drink like most of Baltika's offerings. Crisp finish.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 09:14:08 | More by beerme343

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

2.9/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500ml bottle.Lager glass.Enjoyed on mar´12.Pale straw.White crown,good retention.Close froth.Earthy& grainy to the nose. Slightly DMS.Pleasant maltiness,smooth adjunct flavor slightly hoppy.Light body,soft carbonation.Fine matches as a session beer in sunny days.A common Euro Pale Lager.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 00:01:26 | More by GONZALOYANNA

curasowa

New York

3.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Clear, pale yellow with two finger of head that fades to a cap with chunky lacing.

Aroma: Sweet and grainy malt mixed with lemon dish soap and a little butter.

Taste: Sweet and grainy up front, then become somewhat tart with mild citrus bitterness and finishing fairly fast with a metallic aftertaste.

The Rest: Meh. Pretty standard, unremarkable lager. I'd rather have a Genny.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 21:28:22 | More by curasowa

rwrk42

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pour: A light yellow color just like all pale lagers. No head at all
Smell: Light fruit like smell, pear and apple like with some maltiness
Taste: Very smooth lager. Appled and pear notes along with some nice malt flavor and subtle spice undertone
A pretty good lager

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 02:12:10 | More by rwrk42

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Yards shaker pint glass.

Thanks to YaKnowBrady for this bottle (and the glass)!

I've been meaning to shore up this Baltika series, but have been pretty lazy about it. Thankfully this bottle was sent to me. It pours a clear pale straw topped by about a finger of lightly dirty white foam. The nose comprises damp wheat, light corn syrup, grass, light flowers, and a touch of white bread. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a strong vein of painful sweetness that bludgeons the tongue. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a wet feel. Overall, a pretty sad beer, one with little character at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 21:36:00 | More by TMoney2591

Bookseeb

Washington

2.88/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance is straw yellow with a crisp head that dissapates quickly. Smell has a clean aroma of grain with a spice not and hops. Taste of corn sweetness with the grain leaving a lingering sweetness thats dry at the end. Mouthfeel is light with good body and carbonation. A classic euro lager a bit on the sweet end.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 23:39:14 | More by Bookseeb

mralphabet

Virginia

3/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

16.9 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Poured stray yellow very clear with lots of tiny bubbles.... about 2 fingers with a white head that faded to nothing.. minimal lacing.

S: Smells pretty light, sweet malt, little spicy and a little corny.

T: Right on with the smell... sweet malt right up front, not a lot of hops here, just a touch mid pallet.... finish is clean with a lot of sweet corn.

M: Pretty light, good carbonation for the style.. crisp and lively... pretty average.

D: OK, this one is pretty light... I could drink a few of these in a sitting... but is it anything really special.... Well not really. A pretty average Euro Lager.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 22:50:45 | More by mralphabet

sommersb

Tennessee

3.03/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tasted On: 08-03-2011
Freshness: Best by 01-12-2012
Packaging: 500ml brown bottle
Glassware: Seidel
Purchased: Single from Aleksey's Market, Nashville

A: Clear and bright, with a color of light straw. Nice white head of 4 fingers. Little in the way of lace.

S: Crisp lager smell, with a light aroma of floral hops. A slight metallic odor is also there.

T: Pale malt flavors, but not sweet, with flavors of corn or other adjuncts. Bitterness is present but pretty tame.

M: Thin mouthfeel and highly carbonated. Finish is dry.

O: Not complex at all, but a good thirst quencher.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 01:14:36 | More by sommersb

horshack7

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Out of a 1 pint .9 fluid ounce bottle is a pale yellow colored beer. On top is a very light frothy white head about one inch high.

Aroma: Spicy scents, apples, grassy, a littel bit of floralness from the hops. Not much from the malts except for brediness.

Taste: There is a mostly smooth mouthfeel with little bits of carbonation. Faint apple and spice notes with floral notes.

Notes: It's decent drinking all the way around. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 23:51:44 | More by horshack7

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

My first Russian beer. Apparently this isn't the best of the Baltika beers, but it's the only one available here (as far as I know)

It looks like any other pale lager. The colour is a very pale straw colour, but there is a substantial and slightly creamy looking head that doesn't completely disappear.

The aroma is sweet and matly. It is fairly faint, but pleasant.

The flavour is surprisingly light. It's hoppy from the start, and gives way to the sweet matliness from the aroma.

This is a decent lager, but nothing special. I wouldn't jump at the chance to have another.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 04:06:45 | More by evlu1441

kojevergas

California

2.33/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

500ml bottle into generic pint glass. Served in the Porterhouse Dublin. Reviewed from notes.

A: Three finger head of fair thickness, but poor retention. Blonde colour. Nice upward bubble show.

Sm: Cream and light barley. Simple.

T: Cream and barley. I like how this beer 'injects' cream into the body. The finish is cream-laden as well. All around it's a simple build for the style, but avoids the one-note shenanigery of macrolagers from the states. Balanced, but it certainly wouldn't be difficult to do so.

Mf: Nicely coarse and dry for the style, but still lacking in balance.

Dr: It's not cheap, nor is it particularly good, but it's a better lager than budweiser (not that that's saying a great deal). 4.8% ABV is concealed, but normal.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 19:08:09 | More by kojevergas

marty21

Manitoba (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear yellow with one finger worth of white fizzy head. Settles to a ring around the glass but doesn’t leave any lacing.

S: Grassy hops with some lemon and a little bit of grains in the background.

T: Grassy hops and lemon up front and finishes with some light malt. It leaves a bit of a honey taste on the tongue afterwards.

M: Medium carbonation with a light to medium body.

O: This is actually one of the better beers of this style that I have tried. Some I find skunky. That honey aftertaste it left was also a nice change. This would work well for a session beer and I would have no problem trying this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 18:52:14 | More by marty21

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.73/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

500ml Bottle

Appearance - Clear pale gold/yellow colour with an above average size fizzy white coloured head. There is an above average amount of carbonation showing and there is just a fair amount of lacing. The head lasted for around five minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Grains/bread, grass, corn, lemons

Taste & Mouth - The beer has a high amount of carbonation. I can taste bread/grains mixed with light hops and a touch of lemon. There are also notes of sweet corn syrup, grass, and a bit of apple juice as well. It finishes with a sweet corn syrupy and grainy aftertaste.

Overall - The carbonation levels are a little too high on this one. And the taste is just average. It's not undrinkable, but I wouldn't buy it again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 18:42:02 | More by spinrsx