Hapi Wheat Beer
Harbin Brewery Group

 

 

Found in a Vladivostok supermarkt, this white can has gold and copper printing below a picture of a horse-drawn beer cart in front of what is/was presumably the brewery. Printing, in English and Chinese, makes clear that this is the earliest beer brewed in China, since 1900. Ingredients include wheat and rice. The Russian import label identifies this as a "wheat beer," but I find it hard to believe this is an ale. Is there such a thing as a "wheat lager"? Best before 6/21/05, I opened it on 4/12/05.

Pours a clear gold under a very thin off-white 1/2 finger head that fades very quickly. The nose is musty, bready and yeasty, a bit like swamp water. The mouth is light and prickly. This sure ain't no Weizenbier: mild corn and malt flavor, with a touch of sweet fruit. A bit tinny, but not from metallic hops - just metallic. There's no finish and no real aftertaste - just a bit of moldy bread. Disappointing.