Ochakovo Originalnoe

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

Bottle. Golden colour with a slim, fast going, white head. Aroma has light malts and hops. Taste’s the same with some acidity. Light bodied. Not offensive particularly, just not very exciting.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 3

Wow.... this is what I get for pushing my luck...

Having had two reasonably interesting Czech Lagers, I figured that I would continue with my exploration of lesser-known Euro-Lagers, with this oddity from downtown Moscow, Russia (purchased at Galco's Old World Grocery in the LA/Pasadena area).

Took some doing trying to figure out what this beer actually was. The original Russian label for Ochakovo Premium was apparently hastily relabled with a secondary label, this one calling the beer "Ochakoff Lager". It also looks like the back label (the one with all the U.S. Gov't Warning Info) was added hasily as well -- a bit off-center and smudged. Well, to be honest, I think folks went through apparently a lot of work to import a beer that doesn't quite deserve such hands-on treatment.

Basically, this beer blows. Overally sweet and medicinal through-and-through..., with the added bonus of this producing something of a headache almost instaneously. Slight sulpheric elements round a beer that has very little going for it....

The various labels also feature a strapping looking man, hoisting a tall mug of (presumably) this beer. Well, cheers to ya mate -- you can have my share....
//TB