Shtorm
Valott

The name means "storm," but this certainly isn't the king. Brown half-liter bottle with a multi-colored label featuring a sailing vessel caught in a storm but surrounded by sun rays. One corner of the front label is inexplicably dedicated to "Englishman Steve Smith, who fell in love with beer at age 7 and now drinks an average of 50 bottles per day." Huh? Back label says the brewery uses the "Teddy Beer" technology (a homebrew shop/microbrewery in Moscow). Sugar is an ingredient. Best before 8/9/05, I opened it on 5/10/05.

Pours a cloudy dark cola brown under a one finger tan head that manages to linger just a bit but can't generate any lace. Sweet fruity nose, reminiscent of apple. Fairly prickly and quite light in the mouth. The taste is overwhelmingly sweet - could be an apple cider. Not much in the way of malt, but there is a touch of dry hoppy bitterness in the finish. Not enough to overcome the fruitiness, the aftertaste is overwhelmingly sweet. Storm King has little to worry about.