Don Southern Lager
Baltika Breweries

 

Thanks Radek Kliber for trying something adventuresome. Mostly cheesy aroma, with a tad of malts and hops. White head with lace. Rising carbonation bubbles inside of pale yellow. Watery mouthfeel. A bit drinkable. Sight is the only feature. Alcohol in taste, with a bit of sweet aftertaste.

6.0 % abv., acording to the label. Clear, medium gold color, with a hefty, off-white head that settles quickly to a thin, bumpy layer of foam. Pleasant hops aroma is evident upon opening the bottle, but this dissipates with time. The initial hops aroma is inviting, fresh, and quite Germanic. After awhile, a more modest, grainy, but still hoppy aroma takes hold. Slightly dry, nearly offish/carboardy. Full, hearty body. Dry, astringent on the palate. Dry, grainy, alcoholic flavor. Slightly sweet with a long, bitter, medicinal finish. Slightly offish flavor. Very smooth and full-bodied. Flavor improves and seems less offish as it warms a bit. This bottle carries a production date of 3/3/07 and a "best by" date of 3/3/08, which for a lager in green glass, seems rather optimistic.

Poured a medium straw hue with a two finger pillowy white head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a strong noble hop aroma with the trademark green bottle skunkiness. A nice soft grain is present as well.

The taste was rather subdued but did consist of a solid graininess. Decent musty floral hop and a bit of sourness in the finish.

The mouthfeel was creamy, yet light. Dry finish.

Overall an unexciting Euro lager. Typical "green bottle" experience here.