Baltika #6 Porter - Baltika Breweries

tbern007

Colorado

2.42/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Baltika #6 Porter. 1 pint, 0.9 oz bottle.

A- very dark brown/black with dark red tone in the glass. Thick tan head that lasts a long time. Large carbonation bubbles. Good lacing.
S- light malt.
T- Initially sweet but quickly turns to burnt caramel, woody, molasses. Aftertaste lingers too long is not very good. After several sips there is a sour and skunky taste that reminds me of brussel sprouts. That's a taste I do not want in a beer!
D- this beer is great to look at but not very good to drink. There are definitely worse ones out there but I won't be getting this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 17:39:32 | More by tbern007

tewaris

Minnesota

2.42/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

500 ml bottle with a best before date of April 14, 2012 (brewed April 14, 2011) poured into a Surly pint. Poured clear and dark brown with a medium tan colored head with average retention and some lacing.

Smells slightly malty with some caramel and toast lurking underneath. Hint of roast. Off to taste. Starts on an average, maybe even good, note displaying plenty of dark malt character and robustness; but off flavors are soon felt, especially a strongly metallic taste and stale, icky bitterness. I expected this to be a Baltic Porter but it is just a bad attempt at the British/American examples it seems.

The carbonation and the body are alright, but that's about it. Overall I am not impressed.

Appearance 3.5/5; Aroma 3/5; Taste 2/5; Mouthfeel 3.5/5; Overall 2/5

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 08:56:25 | More by tewaris

Dentist666

Russian Federation

2.35/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Black beer with tan monolithic big high-resistent head, poor smell of roasted malt and burnt sugar. Flat, unexpressive taste of malt and chocolate, rather sweet. Well hidden alcohol and medium carbonation. A bit metallic neutral aftertaste. Not recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 14:36:02 | More by Dentist666

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

2.25/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

500mL bottle was $2.49 at Hoosick Beverages in Troy NY. Poured cold into a chilled pint glass.

Head settles over time from a good 1" to a thick and stable mocha-colored cap. The brew is nearly pitch black and the head leaves no lace. Aroma is of molasses, licorice, and dark malts. Taste is much the same, very earthy, with some coffee notes. A bit too sweet. The flavors run together and give it a muddy kind of feel. Mouthfeel is thick but the combination of slight alcohol burn and carbonation gives it some bite.

Thick and heavy, not tasty enough to make it worthwhile. Too sweet and too dominated by licorice (I personally dislike licorice).

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2010 22:02:45 | More by BeerNinja007

SLeffler27

New York

2.08/5  rDev -42.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A huge, light brown, rocky head settles to three fingers, then gradually diminishes over a dark brown to black beer with red highlights.

What is with the soapy aromas from the former Soviet states? This one has some aromas of dough, powdered chocolate, and only a hint of coffee.

Sweet malts are again accompanied by soap. The finish is truly awful, actually preventing me from taking a second sip and getting it over with.

The mouthfeel is creamy, with fair carbonation, but the sharp astringency and metallic notes are halting.

Far from the rich, inviting experience one would expect from a porter. Skip this one and hope there are better offerings from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 01:29:15 | More by SLeffler27

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

ernie

Russian Federation

1.83/5  rDev -49.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A favourite of many, but not mine. It's simply unbalanced, and alcohol is too obvious both in the air and in the mouth. It makes you warm but leaves you disappointed. Buying porter, we do not want to drink dark lager with a twist of white spirit. But that's what #6 is. If you can live with it, good like. I'll opt for something more conventional.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2006 17:42:57 | More by ernie

loosey

New Jersey

1.78/5  rDev -50.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

16.9 oz bottle, served at KGB bar in NYC

barman offered me no glass, he was not a bad person despite his smugness and the plush red curtains

smell of burnt coffee dregs, wort, and molasses

taste was overwhelmingly sweet, malted, bakers chocolate, the last sip of coffee with all the sugar in it, i flinched .. so did everyone i passed it to

thick, syrup, sticky, it was dripping down my throat

well, i finished it.. too sweet and malty, i imagined drinking a stout in early fermentation (or recollected i should say, we've all had weak moments). i am a fan of dark beers, strong beers, and high ABV, something here was just shudder inducing. maybe i caught a bad one

i would say try it in an espresso cup with toast the morning after you accidentally sleep with your cousin at a ski slope

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2008 23:09:59 | More by loosey

schroederm

Massachusetts

1.78/5  rDev -50.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

In a tulip:

Looks good, dark with reasonable head and strange sheeting lacing. Smells ok, about where I'd expect a porter to be, with hints of coffee accompanied by an undeniable metallic odor. Tasted good at first... but then it went all wrong. Good malty start, but the worst aftertaste I've had in a while. Coffee was pleasant... then just became repulsive. It had an adhesive quality both in texture and in taste. Watery. Stinging carbonation.

Overall: I wasn't expecting much from Baltika. I've learned not to. This is probably the best beer I've had from them. Avoid. Try Victory's Baltic Thunder if you're looking for bang for your buck and a solid baltic porter.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 17:08:18 | More by schroederm