Astika Lux Premium

Formerly brewed at Haskovo (MolsonCoors)
Style: Pale Lager
Haskovo, Bulgaria

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Shaker

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21-Mar-08 (330-ml bottle, Best before 22-Aug-06: Purchased 09-Feb-08 at Ledger’s Liquors in Berkeley, CA) Okay, so I didn’t see the expiration date when I bought this bottle, but while there is a modest cardboard flavor in the finish, the beer is actually fairly malty and enjoyable. It has a fairly bready profile with some mild sweetness, a light spiciness and hint of hops. It really comes across like a Czech pilsener. The nose is very malty, again projecting the typical nose of bohemian pilseners. Medium-bodied, standard carbonation levels, enough spiciness to keep the palate refreshed, the beer has a nice overall mouthfeel. The beer is golden in color and slightly hazy. The rocky, off-white head builds to half an inch before settling to a wide ring. Retention is average, but lacing is minimally spotty. I doubt I’m reading the "best by" date incorrectly, but I suppose it’s possible. But for a lager beer that apparently expired 19 months ago, this is not only quite tasty, but downright enjoyable.

Bottle: Thanks to JoeMcPhee for helping me find this beer. Pours golden with a slight haze and a thin white head. Sweet malt aroma. Some sweet esters and a hint of maize. Flavor is actually decent with a sweet doughy malt hint. Some sweet fruit esters of pear, followed by a flowery, mildly dry finish. I have to say this is impressive for a pale lager, enjoyable.

My first taste of Bulgaria. Deep golden colour wiht athich white head. Aroma is fairly malty, sweet and slightly honeyish. A bit of herbal hoppiness as well. Flavour is less impressive, slightly worty and sweet, but I’ve had worse. Fairly bitter finish helps bring it close to balance. As it warms a toasty bready aroma comes forth along with a minerally herbal finish. Not bad.

50 cl can brought home from Bulgaria. A rather decent lager, more "Lux" than most Bulgarian beers. Watery, some sweet malt, but there are actually some decent hoppiness in the finish.

A faint, slightly skunky aroma, overhopped and unbalanced. Finishes off too bitter for my taste.

Can
Blond color. Malty aroma, some flowers, honey. Quite ordinary taste, strong bitterness. Not so bad.
Thanks Philippe (Bov)!

Pale gold clear under a small white fast dissipating head, some lace. Faint woody hops aroma. Medium to light body with a slightly glycol and soapy mouth feel. Medium strong hop flavoured bitter and middle. Slightly hoppier finish and long (too) bitter dry aftertaste.

Thin, bland and watery. Medium body, taste is neither sweet, nor bitter, neither malty, nor hoppy. Is it a beer?

(50 cl can brought home by a friend from a trip to Bulgaria) Clear golden color, white head. Sweet fruity scent. Grainy soapy taste. Medium mouthfeel and bitterness.