Baltic Ale
Rügener Insel-Brauerei
- From:
- Rügener Insel-Brauerei
- Germany
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Ale
Ranked #127 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #30,919 - Avg:
- 3.68 | pDev: 11.96%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 10
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 17, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 12, 2015
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
No description / notes.
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Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.24/5 rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.24/5 rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Copenhagen 2/6 2017. 75 cl bottle from Kokkens Vinhus, Peter Bangsvej, Frb. F. Bottle packed in paper. Some kind of angry Eagle on the wrapping paper.
Pours slightly hazy pale yellow with big bubbly head. Settles as 1 cm thick layer of foam. Lacing on the side of the glass.
Aroma is quite distinct. Citrus, lemonade from the wheat malt, banana with a sugary touch.
Medium strong carbonation and slightly thick palate.
Flavor is medium sweet followed by quite prominent bitterness. Aftertaste is a bit rough and quite bitter. A little metallic alcohol.
More of a Wheat Beer than a Belgian Style Strong beer - even though it’s got a quite prominent ABV.
Dec 17, 2025Pours slightly hazy pale yellow with big bubbly head. Settles as 1 cm thick layer of foam. Lacing on the side of the glass.
Aroma is quite distinct. Citrus, lemonade from the wheat malt, banana with a sugary touch.
Medium strong carbonation and slightly thick palate.
Flavor is medium sweet followed by quite prominent bitterness. Aftertaste is a bit rough and quite bitter. A little metallic alcohol.
More of a Wheat Beer than a Belgian Style Strong beer - even though it’s got a quite prominent ABV.
Rated by Thatnickog
4.44/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
One of my favorites, a true stunner!
Oct 31, 2025
Reviewed by Bamberg89 from Germany
3.54/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
When first poured into the glass, a lot of foam builds up, but the foam settles rather quickly. The beer has a light golden colour, smells not too much, a little like fruit, and sweet. The taste indeed reminds me of a belgian beer, a lot of yeast, a bit like banana, and rather sweet. There is no bitterness, but a bit of maltiness. On the second sip, the sweetness becomes overwhelming and stays as after taste. A bit too much sweetness in this beer, for my opinion.
Jul 02, 2022
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.8/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
330 mL paper-wrapped bottle bought at the LCBO approximately two years ago and cellared ever since; best before Dec 2021. Served barely chilled.
Pours a medium golden hue, its foggy complexion clouded up with silty sediment; situated atop is nearly one finger of loose, soapy white head that fades within a minute or two. A bubbly collar of suds is the only remnant of note, though there is some lace deposition later on as the level drops with each sip. Aromatic and spicy on the nose - clove, coriander and white pepper, with hints of banana, grassy hops, doughy malts, candi sugar and apples, as well as a slight whiff of ethanol.
It's not bad - a little on the strong side for a regular Belgian pale ale, but tasty enough to get the job done. Bready, doughy malts and powdered sugar sweetness at first, with suggestions of white wine, apples and orange peel close behind. Spicy yeast characteristics pop up towards the finish, imparting suggestions of coriander, juniper and pepper, preceding a modestly boozy-sweet aftertaste with hints of bruised apple. Medium in body, with moderately assertive carbonation that feels crisp and invigorating on the tongue. It's quite drinkable, but the (slightly) noticeable alcohol serves as a reminder that this ain't no light beer.
Final Grade: 3.80, a B+. Rügener Insel-Brauerei's Baltic Ale seems to be drinking fine, at least for a beer six months past its best before date. Not entirely surprising for a bottle conditioned product - possibly past its prime, but I didn't notice anything that would suggest it's 'old' or oxidized. This German-made pale ale is at least as good as some of the mass-produced Belgian equivalents (think Affligem or Leffe), but not much more than that. I'd give it another shot if I ever see it again, and would encourage other BAs with an affinity for this style to do the same.
May 19, 2022Pours a medium golden hue, its foggy complexion clouded up with silty sediment; situated atop is nearly one finger of loose, soapy white head that fades within a minute or two. A bubbly collar of suds is the only remnant of note, though there is some lace deposition later on as the level drops with each sip. Aromatic and spicy on the nose - clove, coriander and white pepper, with hints of banana, grassy hops, doughy malts, candi sugar and apples, as well as a slight whiff of ethanol.
It's not bad - a little on the strong side for a regular Belgian pale ale, but tasty enough to get the job done. Bready, doughy malts and powdered sugar sweetness at first, with suggestions of white wine, apples and orange peel close behind. Spicy yeast characteristics pop up towards the finish, imparting suggestions of coriander, juniper and pepper, preceding a modestly boozy-sweet aftertaste with hints of bruised apple. Medium in body, with moderately assertive carbonation that feels crisp and invigorating on the tongue. It's quite drinkable, but the (slightly) noticeable alcohol serves as a reminder that this ain't no light beer.
Final Grade: 3.80, a B+. Rügener Insel-Brauerei's Baltic Ale seems to be drinking fine, at least for a beer six months past its best before date. Not entirely surprising for a bottle conditioned product - possibly past its prime, but I didn't notice anything that would suggest it's 'old' or oxidized. This German-made pale ale is at least as good as some of the mass-produced Belgian equivalents (think Affligem or Leffe), but not much more than that. I'd give it another shot if I ever see it again, and would encourage other BAs with an affinity for this style to do the same.
Reviewed by Anders91 from California
4.27/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: hazy yellow with a thin white head
Smell: hops, yeast, tiny bit of funk, some malt
Taste: very hoppy and malty, pretty good
Feel: nice and bubbly
May 11, 2021Smell: hops, yeast, tiny bit of funk, some malt
Taste: very hoppy and malty, pretty good
Feel: nice and bubbly
Reviewed by ben741 from Canada (ON)
3.63/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.63/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Not what I was expecting. Very pale and very carbonated. Somewhat hazy. The smell is like a Belgian pale. I don’t understand the Baltic Ale name.
Taste very much like a run of the mill Belgian ale where the alcohol isn’t very well hidden.
Feb 15, 2020Taste very much like a run of the mill Belgian ale where the alcohol isn’t very well hidden.
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
330 ml bottle from the LCBO. Cost was $3.70. Served cold into a tulip. Saw Baltic and initial thought it was a Baltic Porter. Not the case.
Appearance- Rich golden color wild a mild haze and multiple fingers of loose white head. Pretty good staying power and plenty of effervescence.
Smell - Some orchard fruits, lots of spice, yeast for sure, but very heavy on the spice (pepper especially)
Taste - Some fruit (apples and pears) plenty of yeast and some general grains with lots of spice and pepper at the end. Mid sip it's hard to describe what it tastes like because there isn't that much there.
Mouthfeel - Lots of carbonation, dry finish, medium bodied otherwise.
Overall - A nice beer that fits well within the tenets of a Belgian Pale Ale, but there's missing a mid sip explosion of falvor, if anything it's kind of watery. Even still relaitively well crafted and worth a tipple, but don't go expecting Duvel, La Chouffe or Dupont level products.
Jan 24, 2020Appearance- Rich golden color wild a mild haze and multiple fingers of loose white head. Pretty good staying power and plenty of effervescence.
Smell - Some orchard fruits, lots of spice, yeast for sure, but very heavy on the spice (pepper especially)
Taste - Some fruit (apples and pears) plenty of yeast and some general grains with lots of spice and pepper at the end. Mid sip it's hard to describe what it tastes like because there isn't that much there.
Mouthfeel - Lots of carbonation, dry finish, medium bodied otherwise.
Overall - A nice beer that fits well within the tenets of a Belgian Pale Ale, but there's missing a mid sip explosion of falvor, if anything it's kind of watery. Even still relaitively well crafted and worth a tipple, but don't go expecting Duvel, La Chouffe or Dupont level products.
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland
3.58/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.58/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
330ml bottle form Berlin Schoenefeld airport (€4):
Opened expecting a stout given the name but it's a light golden coloured Belgian ale with a clear body & 0.5cm head that's frothy white. The nose is fresh & lively with floral touches & some slightly herbal notes too; grassy hops & hay both showing with some light coriander, yeast & banana at the end. The taste was dominated by the yeast & banana with floral touches & spices at the end, the alcohol became more pronounced later on too & the beer was very strongly carbonated throughout.
Jan 16, 2020Opened expecting a stout given the name but it's a light golden coloured Belgian ale with a clear body & 0.5cm head that's frothy white. The nose is fresh & lively with floral touches & some slightly herbal notes too; grassy hops & hay both showing with some light coriander, yeast & banana at the end. The taste was dominated by the yeast & banana with floral touches & spices at the end, the alcohol became more pronounced later on too & the beer was very strongly carbonated throughout.
Reviewed by Thisdrinkinglife from Switzerland
4.24/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Review: 0,33l Bottle of Insel-Brauerei Baltic Ale: ABV: 7.5%
Bottle comes in a very nice well wrapped light brown paper with a nice picture of an eagle on it. caught the eye and that’s why I bought it as it looks well cool. Also explains on the package how the beer won gold in the London 2016 World Beer Award for the category of “beste deutsche brauereri” (Best German Brewery)
On pour, fuck me a shit lot of carbonation, well carbonated. Calm down big boy!
But thankfully its all ok as it leaves a nice golden coloured beer that has a nice sized frothy head, and lots of good lacing.
Colour does get a bit cloudy and hazy after a while, but overall it is a decent looker.
Didn’t get much of a smell, pretty faint but was yeast, fruits and coriander.
Lovely initial taste. GORGEOUS in fact!
A light wheat beer taste for me. Smooth enough. Nice relaxing beer, got the yeast, the hops, the citrus.
Lovely smooth beer. Nice beer to relax on a Friday after a hard long week.
Really good. Aftertaste is sweetish. Excellent! Lots of well balanced flavours
Hops not too discerning and manageable, low bitterness. Alcohol well hidden, pleasant to drink.
Liked it, and am very interested in trying out some of their other brews………Recommended.
Aug 16, 2017Bottle comes in a very nice well wrapped light brown paper with a nice picture of an eagle on it. caught the eye and that’s why I bought it as it looks well cool. Also explains on the package how the beer won gold in the London 2016 World Beer Award for the category of “beste deutsche brauereri” (Best German Brewery)
On pour, fuck me a shit lot of carbonation, well carbonated. Calm down big boy!
But thankfully its all ok as it leaves a nice golden coloured beer that has a nice sized frothy head, and lots of good lacing.
Colour does get a bit cloudy and hazy after a while, but overall it is a decent looker.
Didn’t get much of a smell, pretty faint but was yeast, fruits and coriander.
Lovely initial taste. GORGEOUS in fact!
A light wheat beer taste for me. Smooth enough. Nice relaxing beer, got the yeast, the hops, the citrus.
Lovely smooth beer. Nice beer to relax on a Friday after a hard long week.
Really good. Aftertaste is sweetish. Excellent! Lots of well balanced flavours
Hops not too discerning and manageable, low bitterness. Alcohol well hidden, pleasant to drink.
Liked it, and am very interested in trying out some of their other brews………Recommended.
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