Baltika 3 - Classic

Baltika Breweries are based in St. Petersburg, Russia (the home of one of my favorite writers, Fyodor Dostoevsky).  They are a very large Russian brewer.

(I tried to put a link to their US website here, but the site was blocked by my virus protection, so I did not put it, guess they need to update their site and make it more secure).

This 4.8% ABV lager pours a quite pale and light yellow golden in color.  There is a half-inch of pure white foam.  The aroma is grain, a touch of sweetness, and a floral and grassy bitterness.  The taste follows the aroma directly, even sweeter on the taste than in the aroma, but it is countered by the grassy, hoppy, bitterness.  The mouthfeel is both carbonated, and smooth and round at the same time.  The aftertaste is a nice blend of its grain, sweet and bitter characteristics.  Baltika 3 is a solid middle ground lager, more flavorful than most American lagers, but less flavorful and a bit sweeter than most European lagers.