Krasniy Vostok Gold
Krasny Vostok

Found in Moscow's biggest discount grocery store, the clear plastic 1/2 liter bottle with a twist off lid like a soda bottle has a blue and gold label featuring two barley stalks underlining the name, in English. The back label makes a big deal about the use of cold filtration. Ingredients conform to the purity law. Best before 9/22/06, I opened it on 5/14/06.

Pours a clear solid gold under a 1/2 finger white head that fades quickly to thin film and small collar. No lace. The nose is strong and unmistakeably raspberry - very sweet. The mouth is light and well-carbonated. There's a sweet as raspberry jam note to the taste, which essentially overwhelms everything else. Both the malt and the hops are noticeable, buried deep in the background but just strong enough to make it clear that this is a malt beverage rather than just fruit juice. It's different. Not good, but different.