Baltika #6 Porter - Baltika Breweries

jwc215

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Best before July 5, 2006 - reviewed a few weeks before that date.
Poured almost black with ruby highlights towards the bottom.
The aroma was of sweet chocolate - To me it almost had a smell of sour milk mixed in.
The taste - IMO - was more reminiscent of a sweet stout than a baltic porter. There were some chocolate notes, but it was not very complex. At first, the alcohol taste was hidden, but became apparent towards the end. The taste wasn't bad - but a bit too covered by sweetness to pick up on anything more than some chocolate and a hint of caramel.
The sweetness lingered on the tongue, but there was a thinness that evened it out.
Overall, it's not bad - an average baltic porter, but nothing to go out of the way for.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2006 21:53:00 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a bottle straight from Russia, basically just making the label even more unreadable.

Pours black red (like Guinness) with a nice tan head and lacing. At 7% it's lighter than the other Baltics I've tried. Reminds me more of a ballsy Schwarzbier, but in a good way. Smells of a tangy cocoa. Tastes of more chocolate, not too heavy. It's a little dry and there's is a slight (very minor) sour fruit edge that makes it interesting. Very smooth and easy to drink, not to mention tasty. Makes a great dessert drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2006 01:09:38 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Deep ruby plum in color with a nice sized tan head leaves a good amount of lacing not a bad look to it. Aroma: Thick layer of toasted malts with fruit and alcohol tinging around the edges. Taste: Sweeter up fron some plum and raisin like tones with chocolate and a mild coffee finish not bad compared to other Baltika products I have had. Mouthfeel: A bit thin for a big baltic porter medium to light in body with steady carbonation, not too impressed by anything. Drinkability: Decent not a warmer like I was expecting a bit of a disapointment.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2004 22:21:26 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear but extremely dark brown with a thick tan head. Nose is okay. Nothing crazy. Just some mild malt tones. Hmmm. Unusual. I can't remember the last time a flavor profile made me stop and think so much about what I was drinking. It's nice and robust, yes. There are nice thick tar-ry tones. Strong sweet side that is almost like brown sugar in a way. Thick malty presence. But at first I get an almost cola It's nice. A bit too sweet, but good. Feel is smooth, but at first there was a real odd carbonation. Calms down over time. I like this style and I like this one. It's a bit too sweet, but I can still hang. I'd session this.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2008 03:50:05 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

2.83/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

I'm not sure what a "Baltic" porter is supposed to taste like; but this one is quite different from most porters I've had. Nice near-black color, good lasting beige head. Surprisingly, little lasting lace.

Sweet molasses aroma that is greater than any chocolate or mocha that might be found. A strong level of metal present also.

Sweet, almost like brandy. Some warming alcohol. Reminds me far more of a double bock than a porter. I cannot detect any hops at all.

Too sweet for me, making it more one-dimensional without any complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2008 21:09:13 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in an imperial pint glass)

A- This beer has a dark black body with a thick creamy head that has a reddish brown hint to it. No carbonation visible through that dense body.

S- The smell of medium dark roasted malt is balanced by a dry caramel note and hints of port. There is a faint nutty quality in there also.

T- This beer has a smooth dark malt flavor with notes of prunes and dried fruit. There is a slight port flavor but not as sweet in the finish. As it warms a bit more dry black currant flavors come out. There are no burnt malt flavors but a slight cream flavor after the malt. No alcohol warmth and a neutral finish.

M- This beer has a full mouthfeel with some creamy texture to it.

D- This beer has lots of great dark malt and dark fruit layers but it is not sweet and in taste smooth and lagered. The complexity and taste remind me of a good port but without all the sweetness and alcohol. This is a good solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2006 00:57:56 | More by rhoadsrage

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a five-fingered light brown head that fades slowly and leaves some lace. Good carbonation. Black as midnight. Nose is clearly a sweet, roasted coffee. Starts smooth, malty and strong coffee flavor, finishes with a little hoppiness and bitterness. A very good porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2003 23:21:59 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Presentation: 16.9 oz bottle with a freshness date on the back label, a little blurb about the beer on the back to.

Appearance: Fast foam to thin ring of lace, the snap and crakle of the head was too quick for me. A shade or two lighter than black, it pours a little like motor oil in the mug.

Smell: Vague chocolate, major steely caramel and lots of sweetness in the aroma. A bit too sweet for my liking.

Taste & Mouthfeel: A palatable creamy smoothness within the full body. Lots of sweet malt, on the dark side of course with rich caramel donning a metallic flavour. Slight burnt and chocolate flavours middle to end, hops are docile with a one way bitterness. Finishes with a light cloying sweetness. The hidden alcohol provides a dark fruitiness which is the most interesting thing about the beer.

Notes: The alcohol is a bit deceiving at 7.0% abv, as I said before a bit too sweet for me which took away from the drinkablity. A small glass of this with a chocolate dessert would be nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2003 02:20:30 | More by Jason

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up for $2.29 at Surf Beverage in Murrells Inlet, SC.
Appears a dark brown with auburn toned edges when held to the light. A 2 finger, tan head slowly fades into a foamy clump of bubbles. Scattered rings of marshmallow-like protein sticks along the glass.
Smell is of caramel, cocoa, raisins, vanilla, nougat, cashews, and cool cucumber.
Taste is of teh same aromas with smooth caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and cashews resonating. Pretty nice stuff.
Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, smooth, cocoa-like, airy, and fluffy during the finish.
Did I have a different beer than most others that reviewed this? I thought it was well done and it was a bargain.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2007 21:37:47 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.1/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a murky dark brown beer with a tan head.

Smell is sweet and very malty. Additional smells are biscuit, vanilla, chocolate and nuts.

Taste is fairly sweet and chocolate with a bit of coffee too. Fairly fruity too but this brew is dominated by the chocolate flavor. You can feel the alcohol in your mouth but not really taste it. The flavor of this reminds me more of Weizenbock and less of Porter. This is quite a tasty brew though.

Mouthfeel is good and thick.

VERY drinkable brew. In flavor it is nearly a clone of this beer: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/703/2646/

A beer that true porter lovers will probably hate but Weizenbock lovers will really like this. If you look at my favorite beer preference then you will know that I love the stuff.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 03:14:19 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown/red, big tan head forms, some nice lacing and good retention. Smell is malty, sweet cherry, toffee, roast, chocolate and coffee. Taste is sweet, roasty, some floral, oxidized dates, caramel, not too bad. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation, pretty smooth. Not the best Baltic porter but servicable.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2006 00:22:25 | More by Viggo

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.18/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

New 'sexy' shaped bottle, picked up from a Russian shop in Antwerp!

Poured into a Westmalle chalice twice: Looked lovelly, deep, darkest ruby red, black in colour unless held up to the light. The tan coloured head was thin at first, then even thinner to give a wisp and collar very quickly, soon there was no head or collar.

The first smell was of licquorice, then coffee, then dark chocolate. The flavours in the taste followed very closely to the aromas, but a whole lot sweeter.

Not creamy or really heavy, a strange body feel really, the 7% ABV is there, but it doesn't push to the fore, nor does it arrive late on, it's just 'there'.

Different, but not the best Baltic Porter I've had by a long way.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2010 20:42:41 | More by BlackHaddock

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a deep garnet in color. Seems to be pretty clear. A nice, big creamy brown head graces the top of this beer. The aroma is pleasing. Roasted malts, vanilla bean, chocolate and smoke. The taste is even better. Burnt malt, raisin, toffee, bitter hops, baker's chocolate, tobacco, smoke and brown sugar. Damn near a 5 in taste. The feel in the mouth is good. Lightly carbonated and somewhat creamy. Firm body as well.

Easily, the best Russian beer that has graced my palete.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2003 20:09:32 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2/5  rDev -44.8%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Big and bold in appearance, jet black mixed in with brown. Rough alcohol smell and not much else.

Taste, slick rubbing alcohol was the first thing that came to mind. Much thinner body than expected. No hops. Lots of alcohol. Tries to have some chocolate come across, but just alcohol.

Its just a rough trip all around, make sure you have some others to help you split it, or a drain pour could happen.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 03:03:28 | More by Beerandraiderfan

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers to @laituegonflable for the bottle for Xmas.

Pours a dark and devlishly opaque red brown. Only in the thin parts of the glass can you see any light through it, and then it's clouded into obscurity. Head is frothy at first, and settles into a fine-bubbled film on the top that looks pretty sturdy and creamy. Lacing is good, and the body has some good weight behind it. Overall, a decent looking brew.

Dark grain on the nose, with lashings of molasses and tea-leaf, and an odd estery weizen character. Nose is strangely balanced between all these, and it gets a shock of boozy vinous characters as well, leaving it a very odd package all up. Together, they create these phantom characters of chilli pepper and vanilla. Weird.

Taste is similar, although the sweetness is a little more pronounced here and the estery characters of banana come through a little more strongly. Dark grain character on the back, but the booze note sweeps up here as well, leaving it more like a burn of spirits on the finish - sharp dark bitter fruits, a bit of cherry liqueur. Feel is very smooth and soft.

For all its oddities, this is a reasonably pleasant beer. It has a lot of smoothness and a wide swathe of flavours on the palate. Love the complexity, even if the complexity means it ends up a little anarchic.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 07:58:09 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

3.3/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Let's finish off the Second Unorganized Invitational with Baltika Porter, and after this review, I will present the winner of this competition. On to the beer:

Opaque body with ruby red hues on the side and a light tan head that forms nicely, but quickly begins to drop. The nose is subtle for the size of this beer, but does have a nice touch of alcohol and chocolate with esters on the side. Some smokiness gets noticed as well. Enough with the foreplay, moving on...

Ack! The carbonation up front is harsh and uncalled for, but when it clears, it becomes an extremely sweet treat. The beer is medium-heavy bodied with a moderate carbonation, but one that is a little too much for this style. Smoked chocolatety malts are the most dominating flavor. Now I feel the alcohol in my throat. Boy, this is a really sweet strong beer, but I'm having some fun with it as long as I sip with respect. The carbonation has mellowed out, making the experience a little better. Still, I've had better Baltic Porters.

The review is complete, so now it's time to reward the winner of the Second Unorganized Invitational, and that is:

Hacker-Pschorr Weiss!

Another interesting invtational as the second lightest beer of the six wins it all. We'll be back again around this time next year for the Third Unorganized Invitational, so mark your calendars. Good night everyone!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2008 04:46:11 | More by DoubleJ

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.15/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Obtained this beer at the GBBF, but this bottle has the expiry date of 09 Aug. 05!! Just in time to consume it, or it would be the second expired Russian beer that I'd review...

A: in a goblet it pours an opaque, very very dark brownish hue with a quite thick and foamy brownish beerhead mixed of big and tiny bubbles. Looking not bad at all~~
S: wow... refreshingly semi-sweet aroma of dark fruits mixed with pleasantly sweet dark malts, light caramel, roasted malts and the smell of old, aromatic wood-furniture(!) on top of soft, perfumy hops... quite complex for a porter and sometimes it even smells like a sweet stout.
T: on the palate it's mildly dark-chocolatey on top of a softly sweet maltiness... a profoundly exotic peppery (like the weaker edge of expired Sychuan peppers) and dryish roasted nutty bitterness sustains at the back, which balances the slightly sweet malty flavour upfront. A lingering flow of nutty bitterness gradually prevails towards the finish, leaving a medium-rich bitter aftertaste which is not so flavour-wise but greatly enhances the overall structure.
M: the mouthfeel is smooth especially when the bitterness is taken into account. Pleasant, bitter-sweet finish is the single most-enjoyable element of this beer.
D: not just normally drinkable--it's a very thirst-quenching dark beer which is hard to place in any dark beer style (for me)!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2005 19:27:03 | More by wl0307

Gusler

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On the poor ebony in color, the head monstrous in size, spumous in texture, the color a light chocolate, after it erodes a thick and glutinous sheet of lace clings mightily to the glass. Mostly malt in the lightly sweet nose, fresh and clean, the start sweet and malt-laden top is skeletal in feel. Finish is mildly carbonated, hops pleasant in their spiciness, very dry, some what tart, and a drinkable beer, but not really anything to scream about.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2003 23:06:58 | More by Gusler

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +38.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The picture, with the red foil and label, is how I will always remember this beer. With # 9, I said that I felt that they make better products and this one is the prime example. When I was in school in PGH, we used to frequent the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern and this was one of the best bargains in the cooler. Many a Baltika # 9 was purchased for take-away.

It poured with a finger's worth of thick, deep-tan head with decent retention. The color was a deep, dark brown with ruby highlights. The nose had a cocoa, chocolate, roasty aspect to it, making my mouth water in anticipation. The mouthfeel was medium with a boatload of chocolate and dried fruit flavors, like raisins and prunes on the palate. The finish was pleasantly sweet, chocolaty, raisiny, and downright delicious. Given its price, this is a true bargain and one that is worth seeking out. More, more, more!

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2008 22:36:11 | More by woodychandler

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a dark mahogany red color with a dense, foamy tan head that was moderately lasting.

S: sweet roasted malt, rich chocolate, dark sugars, and dried fruit.

T: Initial flavor starts out sweet with roasted malt, sweet chocolate which then proceeds to some coffee notes. The beer finishes with a rich, sweet dark roasted fade, and some fresh coffee.

M: full bodied, lightly carbonated with a smooth texture with a light creaminess.

D: A little sweet going down, ok drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2008 23:33:12 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Dark brown, deep ruby highlights. Dense, dark tan head with good retention and lacing. Light roasted aroma, some grain character, dried fruit, and some alcohol. Quite sweet without a balancing hop bitterness to start things off. Dark malts are quite mild and the fruit character really dominates the middle. Some fruity bitterness appears at this point along with a light burnt quality. Alcohol really moves forward towards the end, both flavour and warmth, melding with a bit of hop spiciness. Medium to full body that's on the creamy side, medium/low carbonation. Not a bad version of the style, but it's a little too sweet for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2006 01:26:16 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Baltika 6 appears cold, black and, frankly, a little daunting, much like the black sea itself. The fact that scarcely a hue of ruby can survive in its deep, unrelenting darkness leaves me to believe that drinkers are at risk of drowning in it if sips aren't taken cautiously. Be aware too that there is no foamy filter to act as bumper between liquid and lips.

The difference between Baltic porters and typical porters is as striking as the difference between sea water and fresh water. And I don't mean that entirely metaphorically: Baltic porters tend to smell almost brackish and have a stiff, loosely briny character that, I imagine, might resemble that of a jar of pickled dark fruits and licorice.

Add to the dark fruit and licorice preserves half a pot of stale, weak coffee, a splash of fig balsamic and a wee dram of Russia's beloved vodka and you'd have something considerably close to the taste. Of course, without the addition of debittered chocolate malts it'd be a poor substitute, and be missing the most flavourful piece of the whole puzzle.

Despite its tall, heavy bottle, sizable alcohol content and opaque appearance, Baltika 6 isn't something to be intimidated by. Actually, it drinks rather light and with a clean, neutral lager quality that voids nearly all textures and heavily diminishes most flavours' impacts on the palate. There's no trace of alcohol. Even its carbonation hardly makes a squeak.

As you may well already know from trying one yourself - or from what you should know, it having been conveyed in this review - Baltic porters are a very distinct style. And I'm glad that despite the size of their operations and the need for mass market sales, Baltika still brews theirs that way. If you want a real taste of the Baltic - and you're not really in the mood for pickled herring or stewed cabbage - then do explore what Baltika 6 has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 19:49:15 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

3.03/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a dark brown color with a one-finger head.

Aroma is full of lightly roasted malt and its kind of sweet.

Taste is sweet and full of coffee notes upfront.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering roasted tones and sweetness.

Not bad. A bit simplistic and too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 05:58:28 | More by Brad007

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Best before 4/4/7.

A: Black & dark ruby; fluffy tan head; good retention & lace.

S: Floral, slightly soapy hops; dark bread, chocolate, nut, molases.

T: Dark bread, black-strap molases, dark (almost burnt) caramel, dark raisin. Malty bitterness, warming alcohol in finish.

M: Moderate to full body is well attenuated & finishes relatively dry. Moderate carbonation.

D: A little too warming to session (even for the style).

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2006 00:08:25 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a head that fades quickly. Some slight lacing. The smell is very sweet with notes of plum, prune, molasses, and cherry. The taste is better. Same fruit but dryer and there is a background bitterness that runs throughout that helps to balance the sweetness. Like Blackstrap molasses and bitter orange. The mouthfeel starts bold, but it falls off a bit and becomes thinner. Overall, better than I expected but not as good as some of the other gems around the Baltic.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2007 00:14:40 | More by Georgiabeer