Baltika #4 Dark Lager

$1.79/16oz @TWAM 5.6%ABV

OK, fine- what attracted me to the Baltika line was the fact it's from Russia. I was also hoping they'd have a Baltic Porter like Black Boss, the phenomenal Polish porter I had in Sweden (it's good, but not that good).

The Baltica Dark Lager seems like what big beer companies think a "dark" beer should be- fizzy, watery, but with a slightly acidic nutty flavor. It doesn't seem "dry", but it is making me thirsty. Reminds me of the vats of Lowenbrau Dark I drank in college- not a pleasant memory. OK, OK, it's probably more in line with Beck's Dark- not bad, but if you want a dark beer why not go all the way and get a fucking Guinness. Decently balanced, but not my style- this is kind of a "between" beer for people who want to break out of the ordinary, but aren't ready to commit to a real beer. I guess that's what I was doing with the Lowbrow Dark all those years ago- it was a "gateway" beer!

For some reason, I think this would go great with pretzels and mustard. Sadly, I have neither.

OK, not great.

I do like the motto on their website, though- "this beer is brewed for you"*

Baltika Beer


*uh, I found that on a different website than the one I have linked here. The other one turned out to be not about Baltika beer, but tourism in St. Petersburg... tourism that involves tabs labeled "Russian Girls!"