Country of Origin: Russia
Price comparison: About the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 8%
Cute bottle/label? 25-ounce brown glass with a very short, almost nonexistent neck that was wrapped in a triangle of foil. The whole effect reminded me of a matrioshka doll wearing a babushka, but that may simply have been my subconscious reaction to the beer's origins.
Appearance: Bright, clear gold with thick white head; no lace on the glass but a light film on the surface after the head disappated.
Scent: Nothing distinctive, but very clean and fresh overall.
Flavor: Reminded me a bit of mesclun salad with a hit of sea salt. Crisp and with a slight alcoholic tang, but not overpoweringly so.
Impressions: It looks nice, its aroma and flavors are completely inoffensive, and it's a nice kick for the money spent. On the downside, it's a bit more boring than I'd hoped. If I buy a beer with that many weird letters on the outside, I'd really prefer to be able to say, "I tried it and I was really impressed by it." I tried it and it's not too bad.
Will I buy this beer again? This is probably never going to be a regular player in my home, but if I'm entertaining, I'd certainly feel okay offering this to my guests who prefer lager to ale or stout. And, after all, there are all the weird letters on the outside going for it.
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: November 9, 2003
