Zhigulyovskoye
Beer of Yerevan JSC

Clear, yellow color. Nice, big head.Malt, bread, and some metallic notes in the aroma. The same notes follow into taste. Malty, not too sweet. Drinkable.

 

 

 

Clear pale gold color with modest foam in the pint nonic. Smell is the classic skunky Euro hop, more bold than I have encountered in a long time. Watery taste with a bit of herbal stuff and a bitterish touch. Not what you'd call flavorful.

Overall, it's a dishwater experience with the whiff of frolicking white-stripes. But goes down easy after you get used to the taste. And the aroma is rather, uh, fun. And, a new country for me, so why not. From the 500 ml bottle shaped like an elongated "stubby" purchased at Europa Express 2 in San Francisco.

Joint-review by husband and wife:

This beer attracted us because of its unusual origins. Generally we like Armenian food, having tried some of it during a visit to Los Angeles. The cuisine, at least in our experience, was full of bright, tangy flavors and we imagined this beer would pair well with them.

This is a refreshing beer. It has a nice, crisp flavor that has a bite but is not too bitter. It finishes with a lightly sweet honey-like aftertaste.

Zhigulyovskoye is very reasonably priced next to comparable beers. Most people would probably enjoy this beer on a hot summer day with a light but flavorful menu.

Thick two finger of head on a clear, pale straw colored body.
The aroma is honey, butterscotch and dry grain. Nice.
The flavor is quite sweet, too much for me, with nothing to balance it out. Minimal bitterness.
Fairly smooth texture with moderate carbonation and medium body.
If you like sweet lagers, this is for you.

Pours a clear golden yellow with a 2 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a puffy dome of a cap. Distinct thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell starts out with some skunk notes followed by grain and spicy grass aromas. Taste is of sweet grains, grass/hay, and a spicy floral bitterness on the finish. The bitterness lingers on the palate for a while after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly thick feeling moutfeel. Overall, this is an average lager and the first beer I have ever seen or tried from Armenia.

Head is initially small, frothy, white, mostly diminishing. Body is clear medium yellow. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain), lightly hoppy (herbs), with light notes of skunk, dishrag. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately bitter, unclean. Light to medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Not too bad.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with a frothy white head; decent retention and some splashy lacing

Smell: Butterscotch and a touch of earthy hop aromas waft unpleasantly from the brew

Taste: If you have any questions about diacetyl, buy this brew for a sampler as they buttery taste is overwhelming in the forefront of the beer; after the swallow, there are some harsh, grainy tastes and then the whole thing descends into a sour lemony mush

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and moderately carbonated with a bit of a biting, acrid tone

Drinkability: Drain pour; nice label, though