Švyturys Baltijos
UAB Švyturys - Utenos alus

An agressive pour produces a rocky, three-fingered light tan head which forms a small dome over the top of the glass. This is rather visually appealing, and the brilliant copper color adds to this impression. Lacing is moderate. While the nose is on-par for the style, my initial impression (upon opening and pouring) was of a sugary-adjunct quality, but within a minute or so of pouring it comes right around: rich and malty, with a hint of alcohol. Some nuttiness and a kiss of biscuit malt, but the notes of molasses tell me I'm in for a sweet ride here. . .

And I am not far wrong; there's a slick, sweet, almost syrupy malt quality that envelops the palate upon the first sip, and this barely gives way to what dry, biscuity goodness there is to be had at mid-palate. By the end of the palate I swear I'm drinking a bock - not altogether a bad thing, but not exactly what I was expecting, either*. Sure there's a nicely lingering hop bitterness, some tanginess, and the nutty-oily slickness, but I'm thinking that Baltijos won't be up everyone's alley (see also: "nutty-oily slickness.") Certainly I've enjoyed Marzens of this quality and calibre from Germany and elsewhere, but somehow I'm receiving the impression that some will fault this particular recipe (and brewery) due to the utilization of inferior grain, brewing techniques, and/or locality. From my experience none of these apply.

While the mouthfeel is medium-bodied the oily slickness will certainly confuse some, who will consider this to be somewhat full-bodied: I guess what to one drinker will be considered a drain-pour will to another be a pleasantly robust brew. The carbonation is closer to moderate than minimal, and perhaps this is due to the fact that I have a rather fresh bottle? As this warms, there are notes of honey and molasses, and a somewhat vegetal quality that I have often noticed in renditions of the Oktoberfest style. Lastly, the alcohol warms nicely, and is really par for what I consider the style (what's with all the American brewers and their 'Imperial Oktoberfests' these days, anyway? ; )

Baltijos may not be for everyone, but it definitely is for me, and while this is the kind of Oktoberfest beer I search for in a six-pack, I'm happy with big bottles, too. It's a decent dark lager from the North East of Europe, and it's certainly worth a try.

*While my first experience with a European dark lager was Beck's (everyone is a novice once, right?) I very quickly sought out more depth of character in my ales and lagers, and in the case of the latter I went from Heineken 'Special Dark' to the pricey-for-me German Bocks and Ur-Märzens available in the late 1980's. For a while I got stuck in a comfortable rut with the latter two styles, but I eventually came around to being able to both appreciate and distinguish Vienna lagers and even the pale, dryish Helles style. At any rate, my experience provides for those rare instances where a good marzen *can* actually be quite bock-like, and yes, even a bit oily-slick and redolant of molasses.

[Served chilled, in a becker]

500ml bottle from Eastern European, Ukrainian & Baltic Food Shop, Glasgow (£2.63):
Copper brown with a 1.5cm, foamy head that's light tan with some visible carbonation too. Malty with sweet caramel, light & earthy hops with some burnt sugar notes. The taste is malty & sweet too, more caramel & sugars then very slightly boozy right at the end; it’s a medium body with solid carbonation too - surprisingly good.

500 ml bottle poured into a .5L dimpled mug.
Best before 16 08 2025

L: Clear dark coppery brown, 2 finger tan head, dense rocky foam has good retention, leaves a little lacing.
S: Strong lasting aroma of dark bread and herbal hops.
T: Bread crust malt and herbal hop flavor, moderatet caramel sweetness in the middle, mild finishing bitterness, enough to dry it right at the finish.
F: Medium-weight body, mild carbonation adds a small bite to an otherwise soft frothy/creamy feel.
O: Good rich flavor, a little sweet for style (think Dunkel Bock) maybe due being past the best by date, but very enjoyable.

Such a unique and delicious Marzen. Heavy on the caramel malts as it almost leans toward a Doppelbock or Bock. Different than both a typical Marzen and bocks. It’s in that unique spot in between. Highly recommend.

Dark, amber color. Big, off-white head. Caramel malt and dried fruits in the aroma. Sweet malty taste with a hint of booze at the end. An average but not bad Marzen.

 

From the half pint bottle, it pours a clear brownish color with a modest white head that diminishes to a nice ring. The nose gets some roasted malts, although they are very light. The mouth gets sweet caramel and roasted malt flavors with a mild slightly bitter aftertaste.

 

Sickly caramel sweetness, too much so for me. Very reminiscent of a strong lager they sweeten to hide the alcohol combined with a english bitter.

Lighter amber color. Clear. Smaller head but it leaves bountiful smaller spots on the glass.

Caramel, semisweet smell. No notable hop.

Rich body with sweeter caramel base. The carbonation is neutral. The hop is far stronger than the style, especially on subsequent sips.

 

Canned in a big tallboy can, purchased from a Polish convenience store
Pours a light brown body with massive slightly off white head
Aroma is brown sugar
Flavour is liquorice and chewing tobacco

Pours a dark amber, near 1" pale head that leaves excellent thick lacing. Nose is toffee, roasted nuts, raisins. Taste is brown bread, light dark fruit, raisins. Sweetness is there, but moderated. Mouthfeel is full, carbonation small, crisp. A solid, darker Märzen that avoids cloying sugars.

 

Look: Orange-red, small head
Smell: Fruity and caramelly smells are the most prominent, I personally didn't get much else though
Taste: Light, slightly sweet, bready caramel taste
Feel: Felt fizzy, light, and not too syrupy despite the taste
Not a bad beer, don't regret my purchase.

April 2007: 500 ml brown bottle, pasteurised, ABV is 6.0%. Courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Ingredients include caramel malts and rice. Dark amber to copper colour, large head. Pleasant aroma with caramel and aromatic hops, hints of oak and alcohol. The flavour has dominant notes of caramel and alcohol, hints of rye bread and oak, moderately bitter finish.

great malty marszen beer inthe old european style

Nice pour into a malt glass, no sign of artificial carbo..and good lacing on the glass as I quaff this excellent amber coloured ale. A very complex ale with fruits ..sweet raisin , malt ..and nice finish.
So good I bought another bottel.
I use Thomas Hardy ale (original)as a benchmark, if this were cellared, close to same.

They call this a "Dark Märzen." Color is quite lovely, a deep red amber with plenty of foam in the pint nonic. Flavor is indeed caramel, from start to finsh with a disturbing oxidized tang. Aftertaste is a bitterish astringency that will win no friends. Faint musty aroma.

After a few sips I find less and less good to say about this. Except the price, which was something over two bucks for the 500 ml bottle. And what a fancy long-neck bottle! I think of Andeckers from the old days. Plus it's from Lithuania, and how cool is that? But to drink, I say I've had enough. Purchased at that rich vein of eastern beers, Europa Express 2 in San Francisco.