Try?
Is Baltika 8 Wheat Ale Boris Yeltsin's favorite beer? Well, it could
be. I’m not sure. Maybe if you know him, you could ask him for me. I hear he
likes his vodka, but hey, a nice hefeweizen would be a nice break now and
again, and they’re so refreshing in the hot weather, too. But aren’t they
German? Wouldn’t good old Boris want to stick with something from the
Rodina, the Motherland?
Of course, hefeweizens are originally German in style. But that doesn’t mean a patriotic Russian can’t enjoy a really good one in the form of Baltika 8 wheat ale. Brewed by the Russian Baltika brewing concern (which is actually owned by Carlsberg and Scottish Newcastle), Baltika 8 is a credible hefeweizen style beer indeed.
The Russians are certainly no strangers to brewing beer with grains other than barley. Their kvass is a unique brew made with rye, a style the Germans have copied to degree with their roggen (rye) ales. That makes a Russian hefeweizen merely a case of tit for tat.
Russian beers are most definitely improving over the stuff they cranked out during the old Soviet days. Most of the Russian beer I’ve been drinking of late (Baltika 6 Porter , Zhigulyovskoye , Afanasy Dark) has been very good. So I had high hopes for Baltika 8.
And I was not disappointed. Sold in half liter brown glass bottles for about $2.29, Baltika 8 is a very good value. In many respects, it reminds me of Erdinger Weisse with its soft fruitness and hints of vanilla.
Baltika 8 pours to a cloudy yellow-white color with a thick rocky head formation and an enticing vanilla-wheat nose. There’s yeast in the bottle, and fear not! You can safely drink the sediment in the bottle or leave it there if you prefer.
The palate is light and crackery with lots of tart wheat flavor. That tartness increases in the finish, and makes this a very refreshing brew indeed. I get a good dose of vanilla in the palate, some apple-pear fruitiness, along with a little clove and just the faintest hint of banana.
Baltika 8’s light body has plenty of flavor, but it also makes the beer very drinkable. It also makes the beer a great companion to many, many dishes. The obligatory pizza reference holds true here, but it’s also great with a snack of cheese and crackers.
Boris might prefer it with caviar. And it would probably work well there too. So why not try a bottle yourself? And when you do, tell them Boris sent you.
Of course, hefeweizens are originally German in style. But that doesn’t mean a patriotic Russian can’t enjoy a really good one in the form of Baltika 8 wheat ale. Brewed by the Russian Baltika brewing concern (which is actually owned by Carlsberg and Scottish Newcastle), Baltika 8 is a credible hefeweizen style beer indeed.
The Russians are certainly no strangers to brewing beer with grains other than barley. Their kvass is a unique brew made with rye, a style the Germans have copied to degree with their roggen (rye) ales. That makes a Russian hefeweizen merely a case of tit for tat.
Russian beers are most definitely improving over the stuff they cranked out during the old Soviet days. Most of the Russian beer I’ve been drinking of late (Baltika 6 Porter , Zhigulyovskoye , Afanasy Dark) has been very good. So I had high hopes for Baltika 8.
And I was not disappointed. Sold in half liter brown glass bottles for about $2.29, Baltika 8 is a very good value. In many respects, it reminds me of Erdinger Weisse with its soft fruitness and hints of vanilla.
Baltika 8 pours to a cloudy yellow-white color with a thick rocky head formation and an enticing vanilla-wheat nose. There’s yeast in the bottle, and fear not! You can safely drink the sediment in the bottle or leave it there if you prefer.
The palate is light and crackery with lots of tart wheat flavor. That tartness increases in the finish, and makes this a very refreshing brew indeed. I get a good dose of vanilla in the palate, some apple-pear fruitiness, along with a little clove and just the faintest hint of banana.
Baltika 8’s light body has plenty of flavor, but it also makes the beer very drinkable. It also makes the beer a great companion to many, many dishes. The obligatory pizza reference holds true here, but it’s also great with a snack of cheese and crackers.
Boris might prefer it with caviar. And it would probably work well there too. So why not try a bottle yourself? And when you do, tell them Boris sent you.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
