The Golden Oak Beer: Zlaten Dab

Time for another Balkan beer. This time I’m presenting another Macedonian beer, acquired in the beautiful, no that’s an understatement, in the gorgeous city of Ohrid, although the beer originates from the city of Prilep.

• Name: Zlaten Dab
• Brewery: Prilepska Pivarnica
• City: Prilep
• Country: Macedonia

Everytime I see this bottle I immediately think of Heineken. They look so much alike, at least to me. But the sad part is, that the similarities do not stop here. The content itself is also very much Heineken-like. Zlaten Dab has a typical pilsener appearance. A clear, golden color, and a relatively small white head that settles down quickly. The aroma is malty, and perhaps slightly more yeasty than Heineken. The taste is similarly watery and pretty neutral. It starts more on the sweet side, but it perhaps finishes with a slightly higher level of bitterness than its Dutch lookalike.

It can be refreshing when ice cold, but that’s basically all you get from this one. I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed by this beer. It was among the worst beers I drank during my trip across the Balkans. But, if I compare it to Heineken once again, I would much rather prefer Zlaten Dab than the Dutch super-celebrity.

• Style: Pilsener
• ABV: 4,5%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, unmalted grains, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 3,5 / 5
• Smell: 3 / 5
• Taste: 2 / 5
• Overall: 2,5 / 5

• Bottle: 2 / 5

Скопско: Skopsko Svetlo Pivo

From Albania I continued my Balkan Tour to the amazing Macedonia and it’s jewel the Lake Ohrid. There weren’t many Macedonian beers to choose from, but I did manage to try a couple. I decided to go with Skopsko, named after the country’s capital of Skopje, which is by the way a very interesting city.

• Name: Skopsko Svetlo Pivo
• Brewery: Skopska Pivara (Heineken)
• City: Skopje
• Country: Macedonia

Although Skopsko beer probably isn’t anything you haven’t tasted before, it goes damn well with some burek (savoury cheese-filled pastry of a sort). Skopsko looks like a typical lager – a clear, golden color with a finger of white and quickly disappearing foamy head. The aroma is pleasantly grainy and slightly hoppy. The taste is very nice, and quite expected and familiar. Slightly sweet at the beginning, followed by a nice bittery finish.

Skopsko is a very nice and refreshing lager, slightly watery but still with enough taste to make it run down very smoothly. I can’t say for certain that it is the best Macedonian beer, but it certainly is one tasty drink.

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 4,9%
• Ingredients: water, unmalted cereals, barley malt, hops, yeast

RATINGS

• Appearance: 3,5 / 5
• Smell: 4 / 5
• Taste: 3 / 5
• Overall: 3,5 / 5