Komanda Krepkoye
Baikalskaya Pivovarenniya Kompaniya

Hand-delivered from Vladivostok to Moscow (thanks, Matt), this one comes in a tall brown half liter bottle with a stubby neck and a metallic red and silver label featuring a star under the name, which means "team." "The beer of great victories" appears above. The back label makes sure we know that the water used comes straight from Lake Baikal. (Wonder if Great Lakes Brewing pulls its water right out of the lake. Anyway...) Sugar and rice are ingredients. Best before New Year's Eve 2005, I opened it on 11/19/05.

Pour a clear, slightly reddish gold under a one finger white head that makes you think at first that it might last and/or generate some lace, then fades pretty quickly to nothingness, leaving no traces behind. The nose is strong of bad watermelon. The mouth is very prickly, and somehow manages to be both light and sticky at the same time. The taste? Well, I didn't expect much. It is harsh with metallic hops and alcohol from the start, slightly masked by sweet grape-like malt. The tin can bitterness prevails, leaving a unsatisfying aftertaste that even a handful of peanuts can't cut. No, I'll pass on that second one.