Solodoff Classic
Krasny Vostok

Bright yellow-gold with fewer flecks than most (non-Baltika) Russian beer. Sheets of fine bubbles become mere vigorous streams by the several minute mark and do their best to maintain a frothy, cotton white cap that is a mite too soft to result in much lace. A few small splotches and assorted streamers will have to do.

It's difficult to appreciate much in the aroma at all. The usual untoasted graininess is present and accounted for, but the detection of nuances, in either a positive or a negative direction, simply isn't possible. If any overt nastiness was present though, I'd smell it (edit: uh... guess not). That's something at least.

This is definitely not one of the better Euro Pale Lagers that I've had. It doesn't take much for me to grant an average taste score to beer of this style, yet Solodoff falls considerably short of that easy to reach standard. There isn't a great deal of malt and what's present tastes cardboard-like and 'gray' (if flavors can be said to have colors).

I have no idea if this bottle is past its 'best by' date since there's nothing listed on the label or the bottle, but I have a feeling, after tasting numerous Russian lagers, that it's simply bad beer. There's a moderate amount of bitterness that is devoid of any hop flavor; any good hop flavor anyway. This is lousy beer, plainly and simply. I don't even feel like describing the various off-flavors that are making what I hope aren't indelible impressions on my palate.

The body is closer to light than to medium and actually hangs on throughout the mouthful. The spritzy carbonation does what it can to help out what is an otherwise lackluster mouthfeel, but it can only do so much. When the flavor is this unpleasant, there's no way that the mouthfeel has a prayer of reaching average.

Although I didn't expect great things out of Solodoff Classic, I expected more than the classic drain pour that I got. It might not look as nasty as most Russian beer (again, Baltika products excluded), but it sure as hell tastes as vile. The bright green and gold label looks promising and is probably what got me to snag a bottle. Don't take the bait. Trust me on this.

Poorly listed on BA as a “Euro Pale Lager.” This is a czech pilsener and a damned good one at that.

Presenation: 1 Pt, .9 Fl Oz bottle with a green and gold label. This beer should do well in packer country, especially at a dollar nineteen a bottle…

Appearance: Pours a piss yellow with small but steady carbonation streams and a ¼ inch white head with solid retention and lacing that is above average for the style. I hate the color so it gets a two. (I'm being harsh)

Aroma: Pils malt, sugar, green apple, grain, unripened (green) tangelo, green potatoes.

Taste: Pils malt…lots of it. Potatoes, blood sausage, iron, lightly spiced grass hop finish.

Mouthfeel: Light as can be. Playful carbonation on the tongue. Perfectly balanced. Above average as a pils…simply divine as a “Euro Pale Lager.”

Drinkability: Average as a Pils…as a Euro Pale… Fricking awesome.

Note: As listed, this beer rocks hard. What a deal!!!

16.9 ounce bottle. Solodoff Classic pours out a pale yellow color with a large head that quickly fades away. The aroma is mainly grain with a bit of citrus. The flavor is sweet, and there is something that tastes oddly like potatoes. The finish is metallic, almost like blood. All in all, this tastes pretty nasty. Thankfully, the high carbonation hides much of the flavor. Yet another crappy, cheap lager. No chance I'll be buying this one again.

16.9 OZ Brown bottle. Did you notice that the label says “is welded under the recipe of 1903”. Is this a bad translation or am I missing something here?

The beer pours a bright, clear light yellow. It has a large head. The head is made-up of very large bubbles. Someone told me once that the large bubbles are a sign of foaming agents.

The nose is not to bad. There is some pepper smell from the hops and a bit of fresh grain/bread aroma.

The taste is decent. It is slightly sweet with a bit of hops for balance. Seems to have no adjuncts and the beer tastes fresh. Kind of reminds me of the Totally Naked offering from New Glarus except maybe it’s a bit hoppier. Finishes slightly dry.

The beer has a better than average mouthfeel that is crisp. Drinkablity is also better than average. Not a bad beer at all, would be great with Eastern European food (think dumplings and sausage). Well worth the modest investment of $1.29 from Sal’s in Elmhurst, IL

Glistening straw with snowy lace headwork.
Scented of candied yam, raw grain, and toasted honey.
Enters with a scattered pils malt. The dryness is immediately shattered with a sledgehammer of cane sugar, pure and simple. Fragments of white bread and grain still exist, but the sugar quotient is undeniable. Turns towards sweet potatoes and apple candies as it warms, but the roughhousing gas generally vacates the mouth of all flavor and feeling.
Overcharged, oversweet, and headache inducing.
Bad times, all around. A dump-a-roo.