Ingvernoye
Gersakh Brewery / Penguin

Served at the brewery's bar in Korsakov, on the southern tip of Sakhalin Island on Russia's Pacific coast, this lovely little product comes out an attractive cloudy amber under a one finger off white head that settles quickly but leaves nice lace. The nose is not strong, but there's a good caramel note to it. The mouth is medium heavy and pretty prickly. The taste is great: fresh, crisp caramel, followed by a smooth yet substantial hoppy bite. The aftertaste was dry and crisp at the back of the throat, making you yearn for the next taste. Very good stuff.

I've had this same brew in the nearby capital of Sakhalin. It was good there, but this is a great example of the fact that beers taste better when tried right at the brewery. Yum!