Baltika (Балтика), with breweries throughout Russia, brews nine different styles of beer. (They also brew a non-alcoholic beer, which they label as No. 0.) Vinodel donated three of them to me. I decided to give Nine Extra (Балтика №9 Крепкое) a shot.

Here’s what they say about it:

This beer is brewed from select ingredients using the most up-to-date technology. It uniquely combines a strong beverage with lightness of taste.

Straw colored with a good size head with small bubbles. The head sticks around for a bit but leaves no trace on the glass. A fruity aroma which reminds me of melon.

Maltier than I would have expected from a lager, a bit bready. Pleasant warmth from the alcohol, but doesn’t seem like it is 8% ABV. Certainly the alcohol is less noticeable than the Porter I had the other day.

A lager, to me, is a kind of beer to have on a hot day. Not this one. Fairly good, but too “warm” to quench your thirst.

[rating: 3/5]