Thread: Балтика beer?

Hi guys.

Was off on a bit of a piss up in Nottingham (UK) and tried this beer again and think it is lovely. They actually served it with an icwe cube in it which is extremely strange but was lovely.

I just wondered whether this is the main beer in Russia, and how it is served?

Cheers
Andy

Hardly "main", but pretty popular. There are other popular brands, though. You must be aware, though, that "Балтика" is an "umbrella" trade name covering a range of brews with very different flavors and acohol content, from light lager to dark porter. Baltika #3 is different than Baltika #4 etc.

And I don't know any Russians who put ice in their beer, although I know some people who like it real cold, especially in summer. On the other hand, there are many other people prefer it moderately cooled (cooler in summer, almost lukewarm in winter).

Балтика is pretty much the "main" beer in St. Petersburg

Yep, I like Baltika...usually #5. 'Main' though? Not sure about that, but certainly popular. It's my favorite. I like Bochkarev also.

As to ice cubes??? I've NEVER seen a Russian put ice in beer. My friends would shoot me for such a thing. And my ex-wife absolutely refused ice in ANY drink...she was convinced that ice would cause sore throats and colds.

Strange that about the ice cubes thing. It is only in this one place though that they did it. I dont know the exact number, but it is lager - very similar to all the other stuff we get in the UK, just a bit tastier. (blue bottle)

Good stuff though - might look out for some other Russian beer, as generally nicer/posher bars in the UK are making an effort for good imported beer from all over the world - especially in Leeds bars.

Andy

Damn! If I like baltika!!
I adore 3 and 7. I don't think it's the "main". But in the south is also very popular too. So it's surely not confined only to SPB.
It's also sponsorized a lot on TV channels.
I'm trying to find it here in italy, but with no luck!! DAMN!!

I thought Baltika was fairly decent last time I tried it. Nothing beats irish beers of course.

Ice cubes in beer? If it tastes like soft drinks, then by all means.

Originally Posted by adoc

Ice cubes in beer? If it tastes like soft drinks, then by all means.

A cultural difference in Russia...sort of an "old babushka's tale"...if you put ice in a drink, you can develop a cold or sore throat. So, because of what they are accustomed to, never putting ice in drinks, most of my friends hate ice.

Same as why Europeans/Brits in general hate peanut butter...one of the most WONDERFUL foods to have ever been developed!!!

Same as the idea that most Americans would never put mayonnaise on fries, even though it's quite delicious. Or ketchup on fried eggs here in Spain (most wonderful! yummy!!! but uncommon in the States)

Just differences in food traditions and tastes.

Point being that generally, you will receive a very strange look if you demand ice in your beer, in Russia...or the States.

Never seen or heard of putting ice in beer in any country. In America beer is always served cold, don't think anyone there would ever drink it room temp.... But in Russia my husband and I prefer it cold in summer and room temp in winter (but if you drink it outside in winter it gets cold real fast ).

To continue what Dobry said about cultural traditions...
Ice cubes in soft drinks is definitely one of cultural traditions. I think it came to existance when artificial ice became common and relatively cheap (probably late 1800s-early 1900s in US), but before electric fridges become a common thing. We all know what was happening in Russia in early 1900s. This tradition simply didn't have time to root. Now, with omnipresent electric fridges there is simply no reason to serve soft drinks with ice -- if you want a cold coke, you just get one from your fridge.

So, the only drinks that are served with ice in Russia are cocktails and other drinks where ice cubes are a part of the recipe.

Originally Posted by Dobry

peanut butter...one of the most WONDERFUL foods to have ever been developed!!!

I don't know how you eat it. I'd demand a compensation.

In the UK they sell Number 3. When I was in Russia I had number 9. Nastey.

Basically they range in strength from 0 (Non-alcoholic) to 9 (which is about 12% i think).

But Baltika is not the "main" beer in St. Pete's as someone said.

Originally Posted by TATY

In the UK they sell Number 3. When I was in Russia I had number 9. Nastey.

Basically they range in strength from 0 (Non-alcoholic) to 9 (which is about 12% i think).

But Baltika is not the "main" beer in St. Pete's as someone said.

Yep, 9 is nasty. Almost syrupy to me. Yuck!

Reminds me of a bad Belgian ale.

Well, when I was in St. Pete, everywhere I went they served Baltika. It was the cheapest beer. Define "main". Isn't Baltika produced in St. Pete?

Yes Baltika is the most popular beer on the street os St-Pet.
Ice? certainly not in the one you drink on the way to work in the morning in the winter!!
It is also the most popular in Afghanistan...Imported illegally from Uzbekistan...
Troika is the best!
Cheers,

I guess it all depends how each of us defines 'main'. Certainly, Baltika is everywhere, and usually the most abundant...

...but is there no love for Bochkarev here??? C'mon, people...feel the love!

Damn! Why you opened this thread!!! Now I MUST find Baltika troika here too!!! And it won't be easy.

Ammiraglio...
Don't waste your precious drinking time with #3!!!

Go straight to #5!!!

Well this summer I tried all Baltika beers (all but number 0, no need for non alcholic beers ) and my favourites are 3 and 7. I didn't like number 2 while 5, 8 and 9 are quite good.
The "problem" is that, as I understood it, number 3 is the most famous (isn't it the sponsor of russian football championship?) and probably the most likely to be exported. So if I'll ever find Baltika in italy, I'll find Baltika troika

I'm a fan of No. 7 myself. There's some online retailers in the US that actually import it too, and i've been thinking about buying up a bunch for a russian club party on campus here. Only thing, is that it's about $1.50 per can plus shipping... not very cost efficient