Kwas Chlebowy Starolitewski
Vitafan Grupa Chaber

Opaque chestnut brown, limited surface islands of tan. Smell is robust and rustic with the rye bread, some earth and roasted nuts too with a shot of honey. Tastes like sweet tea before the rustic bread comes in, great rye finish. Might be the best simple kvass I have had, not to sweet surprisingly. Feel is light, thin, bready and crushable. Goes great with weselna sausage

(500 ml bottle, best before 13 10 2018 N... poured into a nonic)

L: clear liquid, color of a brown ale; no foam, but a razor-thin collar and some light bubbling... the back label of bottle has a white sticker pasted over it in English with nutrition facts and notes saying "Old Lithuanian Kvass" and "Product of Lithuania"); no visible indication of abv

S: mostly a rich, dark caramel - probably the most expressive caramel aroma I've ever come across in a malt beverage... there is arguably a subtle (dense) brown bread note in the background, with a touch of molasses, which both express more as it goes... no yeasty notes, but overall the smell is quite inviting

T: first sip immediately reveals some robust bread crust flavor - dark melanoidins and light molasses lingers in the aftertaste, along with a subtle apple skin flavor and bitterness as well as a sort of root beer/Dr. Pepper herbal/root note... there is a moderate molasses-y sweetness

F: not much carbonation, so it definitely does not come across like a soft drink... medium-bodied, thinly-syrupy viscosity with a long, slow trail of silky slickness in its finish... despite the lack of sizzle, it doesn't come close to feeling heavy or too filling

O: smells great, tastes great, quite refreshing, and lighter in its fill than its elements would suggest... overall taste doesn't stray to far from the blueprint of the other two Russian kvass I've tried, but this one certainly has the best, most freshest flavors of the three... the Polish deli at which I found this stocks another variety from the same manufacturer, which I will definitely be trying

Contract brewed by an unidentified Lithuanian brewery for Vitafan.
Imported by Adamba Imports Intl. Inc., Brooklyn, NY.

Poured into a large mug, it has a dark garnet highlight, rising carb trails, and sharp clarity. A thin tan head of foam fizzles away after a couple minutes, leaving a thin ring of foam at the edges.

Smells mild and bready, raisins, unique twang of bakers yeast, mineral spring water.

Taste is lightly tart with the addition of lactic acid, with a malty molasses middle and light fruity notes of apple and raisin. There's a light sweetness, but not at all cloying. Thin bodied and fizzy, not unlike soda.

This is pretty good, definitely less artificial than many other commercial kvass brands, and they claim to use only natural ingredients. No preservatives listed, though it is pasteurized. There are a ridiculous amount of "health benefits" claimed on their website, the most amusing was "To be really happy - one must be able to taste - Bread drink boosts your mood".

Overall its worth a try if you see it at a Polish deli.
Kvass #29