Arsenalnoye Zakalennoye - Baltika Breweries

sarahspat

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Being an avid enthusiast of all things Russian, I could not say "no" when I saw this on the shelves of one of my new favorite beer stores. I drank a few Baltikas while I was in Russia two years ago and I always get a kick out of it when I see them over here.

Description from the Arsenalnoye website:
Light (colored) beer with a rich malt flavor, a hint of wine, balanced hop bitterness, a pronounced aroma, and a kick of chile pepper.
(translated by me and google translate)

Wow. Okay, let's give this a spin.

Pours a very clear dark golden. I was pleasantly surprised to see some retention and lacing (even if it was minimal).

Smells very fruity. Peaches; apricots. These scents carry through to the taste, with the addition of apples and bready malt. There is a persistent metallic edge to every sip, and alcohol heat is also a strong presence on the palate. The only role that the chile peppers play, as far as I can discern, is to add an unpleasant burning sensation on the swallow. The body is thin and watery; adequate carbonation.

What a weird beer. I probably would not drink this again, but the novelty alone is worth something. A Russian chile beer. What'll they think of next?

Serving type: can

05-27-2009 19:40:20 | More by sarahspat

drabmuh

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Ah, Baltika, one of the only avenues to Russian beer in the United States. I studied Russian in college and speak it as frequently as possible (more so than you think), I'm attracted to all things Russian. I saw this can at a local beer store and had to have it. Its a can, a big can (0.5L) with an interesting logo (see picture). I did not realize when I bought this that it was a chili beer, this may have, but probably not, cooled my enthusiasm. You can see that my worst rated beers are chili beers. This was a pleasant surprise. This beer is clear, tight white head and great sweet smell. Moderate yellow and it looks wet in the glass. Head falls away, leaving some lacing on the glass. You can taste the chili in the beer but unlike other chili beers, it is not the dominant flavor. This tastes almost like a blonde with a hint of chili in the aftertaste. Overall, its a good beer by Baltika, still looking to have a Baltika party, 1 - 9 the same night. This could make an honorable mention at that party.

Serving type: can

08-28-2009 01:23:22 | More by drabmuh