Beer of the Weekend #565: Baltika #4 Dark Lager
To dull the sting of Iowa’s loss at Minnesota last night, I drank the last of my Hartig Drug Russian haul: Baltika #4 Dark Lager, brewed by Baltika Breweries in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Serving type: 500 ml bottle. The “PRODUCTION DATE” is “25.06.13” and the “BEST BEFORE” date is “25.06.14.”
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is ruby amber. A finger of ruby-tinted, tan, buttery head dissipates slowly and leaves a skim and ring around the edge.
Smell: A big dose of candy caramel is complemented by toffee, toasted malts, dark fruit (mostly cherry), and grassy and floral hop characters.
Taste: Not as sweet as the smell leads on. The grassiness is prominent at first but makes way for toasted malts, candy caramel, toffee, cherry syrup, and a touch of alcohol.
Drinkability: Good stuff. Light and smooth but also flavorful.
Fun facts about B#4DL:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “Euro Dark Lager.”
-Price: $2.29/bottle at the Hartig Drug on Mormon Trek Boulevard in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: “[N]ot less than 5.6% by volume,” according to the beer’s webpage.
-An alternate name for the beer is Baltika #4 Original.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
Serving type: 500 ml bottle. The “PRODUCTION DATE” is “25.06.13” and the “BEST BEFORE” date is “25.06.14.”
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is ruby amber. A finger of ruby-tinted, tan, buttery head dissipates slowly and leaves a skim and ring around the edge.
Smell: A big dose of candy caramel is complemented by toffee, toasted malts, dark fruit (mostly cherry), and grassy and floral hop characters.
Taste: Not as sweet as the smell leads on. The grassiness is prominent at first but makes way for toasted malts, candy caramel, toffee, cherry syrup, and a touch of alcohol.
Drinkability: Good stuff. Light and smooth but also flavorful.
Fun facts about B#4DL:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “Euro Dark Lager.”
-Price: $2.29/bottle at the Hartig Drug on Mormon Trek Boulevard in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: “[N]ot less than 5.6% by volume,” according to the beer’s webpage.
-An alternate name for the beer is Baltika #4 Original.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
