Baltika 12 Novogodneye

Formerly brewed at Baltika Brewery (Baltic Beverages Holding - Carlsberg)
Style: Vienna
St. Petersburg, Russia

First, the good news about this. It survived the long trip back from Russia in my boss’ luggage. The bad news is, I could find nothing about this from the brewers website so I had to get my info from "the other site". Sorry, but I was desperate! Now onto the beer! Pours almost ruby red with a small tannish head. The nose is malted and sweet with a very light hop base. Some hints of caramel along with a slight metallic or processed note. The taste seems like weakened malt and caramel notes. Seems a little watered down. The hop character is very light and almost not noticeable. Finishes with some slight tartness and with some malt. Very drinkable in parts but the processed hint comes in and out and detracts from the overall enjoyment of this one. Very drinkable. Probably better on draft. I will take a pic of this and have someone post it but for now I’ll have to describe it: an oval blue label with silver trim. The Cyrillic Baltika in the center in white. Beneath it is a sphere with a red 12 and snow falling on it. Above the Baltika is a clock with Roman numerals and snowflakes falling. The time, almost midnight.