Ochakovo Special
Ochakovo

 

Interesting little find. I love the picture of the guy on the label and the foil neck (I bet his name is Antonius). Too bad I can't read Russian. When you pick it up, you can tell that the glass is thick and heavy, hence the 11.2oz despite it looking like a 12oz bottle. Pours out to a slightly hazy straw golden, forming a large soapy white head with average retention and very nice lacing. Carbonation is mild to moderate. The aroma is of sweet pale malts, a wisp of caramel and a touch of green hay, similar to a Saranac Pils. Floral hops are distant. The mouthfeel is perky with a medium-light body and a watery finish. The taste begins with an interesting industrial tannic off-flavor which is weak and quickly replaced by lemon zest and distilled spirits akin to vodka (is that what the "Special" means?). Straw appears in the middle with mild bitterness. The finish is crisp and dry with a little grassy sweetness hanging in the aftertaste. I feel an inkling of a headache coming on with this one. Additives?

I think this may be my first beer from Russia. "Good" across the board. A decent find, and easy enough to drink. Cool.

This poured poured pretty unimpressively, but maintained an active body and a small, creamy head-top for the duration of my drinking it. The color was a light gold. The bottle featured a big bearded dude toting a huge beer glass, which made me feel like I was out in the woods somewhere in Canada.

The smell was apply and light. After that, I expected a light lager style beer, and that was essentially what I got. The taste was fruity and apply, with light alcohol coming through. A powdery finish wrapped in light bubbles at the end.

A highly drinkable although not that exciting lager.

My bottle poured a clear pale yellow, with a white head full of big bubbles that dissipate quickly. There is a touch of lace going down the glass. The nose reminded me of my paper route - ahh, yes, wet newsprint. There is a definite sweetness in the mouthfeel, which is not too prickly at all. The initial taste impression is of very little hops, and even less malt. The hops do come out in the finish, though. This brew is pretty non-descript.

Pours a hazy yellow-gold (appears to be bottle conditioned with some sediment at the bottom of the bottle) capped by a creamy bright white head that holds fairly well before dropping to a decent collar. The aroma expresses some lightly sweet malt. The body is medium with a very fine carbonation that's gently crisp at first, and then becomes nicely creamy as it warms in the mouth. The flavor displays some minor fruit and a sweetish malt (obviously adjunct ridden) that's balanced by firm bitterness and some earthy/herbal hop flavor. There's a minor touch of ethyl acetate (like nail polish) but it's barely noticeable. It finishes short and dry but without any real bitterness. A somewhat lack-luster beer - but a bit better than their "premium" version.